At the G7 Justice Ministers' Meeting in Venice, the Lord
Chancellor will acknowledge the unique value the forum brings in
tackling the issues of law and justice currently facing the
international system.
Speaking at the meeting, the Lord Chancellor is expected to say:
The international rules-based order, and so many of the legal
frameworks we rely on for our peace and prosperity, emerged out
of the ashes of World War II –- a completely different world from
the one we live in today. Our nations are now grappling with new,
thorny issues, from how to respond to mass migration as millions
march across the world to the spectre of climate change, and the
advent of new technologies, like AI, with all the opportunities
and risks they bring.
If the law is to be respected by our citizens, it must deliver
for them. Its frameworks must be capable of responding to 21st
century problems. To be irrelevant is to be ignored, or still
worse held in contempt – which risks damaging our freedom, safety
and security.
The Lord Chancellor is expected to discuss the UK government's
priorities on illegal migration and demonstrate the UK's action
as proportionate and necessary:
The Rule of Law isn't just about ensuring all are equal before
the law – important though that is. It also means ensuring that
those who don't abide by the law aren't materially advantaged by
doing so. Illegality must have consequences.
The UK is not alone in facing these pressures – all of us are.
Tackling smuggling gangs requires coordinated sustained
international cooperation, including targeted upstream
intervention.
He will conclude by outlining how the rule of law must help
countries to protect their borders and will describe the law as a
“living instrument” which must be up to date and tailored to
reality:
There will be some who take the view that the law should be no
impediment to tackling irregular migration. But it is important
for all of us here to be the voice that says “no”. We must uphold
the rule of law, but it can also help us to protect our borders
if we approach it in the right way.
The law is a living instrument, not suspended in time. It must
underpin our citizens' rights and freedoms, and to do that, it
must also be up to date, and tailored to reality.
As a group of nations, it's right that we should consider
together the direction of travel for international law, to
reinvigorate the rules-based order, so that it is fit to respond
to the challenges of the 21st century.
The remarks come as the Lord Chancellor attends the G7 in Venice
over the 9 and 10 May. Whilst there, he will meet with his
counterparts to discuss key issues facing the world – including
continued support for Ukraine, and how to best tackle illegal
migration and drug trafficking.
