The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, has launched a new educational initiative aimed at empowering young people to understand, value and defend the rule of law as global indicators show continued democratic backsliding and the weakening of legal institutions around the world. The IBA Rule of Law Educational Project, an IBA presidential initiative developed in collaboration with the Danish Bar and Law Society , is being piloted in seven secondary schools across Denmark to raise awareness among students and inspire them to uphold rule of law principles throughout their civic lives.
The initiative comes at a critical moment. According to the World Justice Project , the rule of law declined in 68 per cent of countries between 2024 and 2025 - the eighth consecutive year in which more countries experienced a deterioration, rather than an improvement. Against this backdrop, the IBA's new Rule of Law Educational Project aims to equip the next generation with the knowledge and tools necessary to play a pivotal role in strengthening legal systems and institutions, defending fundamental rights and safeguarding democratic societies.
Running from 3 March to 4 May 2026, the pilot will engage 10 classes and more than 400 students aged 15-19. The programme for Denmark is structured in five phases:
- Pre-workshop phase - remote (teacher-led)
Students review introductory materials on the rule of law, including the IBA Rule of Law video series , to build foundational knowledge ahead of the in-person workshops.
- One-day workshop phase - in person at school (lawyer-led)
Students participate in a one-day, in-person workshop combining interactive legal instruction, dilemma-based discussions and creative exercises. Each workshop will be led by a practising lawyer, fostering direct dialogue between students and legal professionals, and will bring rule of law principles to life through practical examples. Working in groups, students will draft storylines for videos with narratives focused on the rule of law, with a view of having them professionally produced.
- Selection phase
A selection committee evaluates all student narratives and selects the five best concepts, which will be professionally produced in collaboration with a video production company.
- Video production phase - in person at the production company (video production expert-led)
The students who authored the five winning narratives collaborate with professional video production experts to adapt their written narratives into short videos illustrating one or more rule of law principles.
- IBA Annual Conference - in person at the event (IBA member-led)
As the 2026 IBA Annual Conference is due to take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, the project will culminate in all participating students attending the event where they will meet international legal practitioners and engage in discussions on the state of the rule of law worldwide. This experience is designed to deepen students' understanding of legal principles while demonstrating the global legal community's commitment to upholding them.
The project will be evaluated following the Danish pilot with a view to adapting and expanding it to other jurisdictions.
Claudio Visco, President of the IBA, commented: 'Around the world, we are witnessing the sustained erosion of legal safeguards and institutional independence. If we are serious about protecting democracy and fundamental rights, we must begin with education. Empowering young people to understand and defend the rule of law is one of the most powerful and enduring investments we can make in our collective future. Through the IBA Rule of Law Educational Project, the IBA is making that investment in future guardians. By engaging students directly with practising lawyers and real-world dilemmas, we are helping to build a generation that will recognise threats to the rule of law and have the confidence and courage to stand up for it. The IBA is delighted to be partnering on the pilot of this important initiative with the Danish Bar and Law Society, an entity reflecting a shared commitment to the rule of law.'
President Visco added: 'The IBA reaffirms its long-standing commitment to strengthening legal systems globally and attempts to fill the gap in young generations' awareness of the importance of the rule of law and the consequences of losing the protection offered by the latter. The rule of law can only be sustained where it is not only upheld by legal professionals, but understood, valued and defended by society as a whole.'
Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the IBA, said: 'The rule of law is not an abstract legal doctrine - it is the foundation of fairness, accountability and equal justice in everyday life. Building a strong culture of the rule of law requires long-term commitment, and education is central to that effort. By engaging students at a formative stage, the IBA Rule of Law Educational Project aims to foster critical thinking, civic responsibility and a deeper understanding of the principles that underpin liberal democracies. We want the next generation to carry forward these principles, embedding them today to safeguard justice for tomorrow.'
Federica D'Alessandra and Robert Bernstein, Co-Chairs of the IBA Rule of Law Forum , jointly stated: 'With the rule of law being challenged and tested around the world, understanding it is critical to defending it, and education plays an increasingly vital role. By bringing together secondary-school students and lawyers in a multi-step programme combining teaching, dilemma-based discussions and creative activities, the IBA Educational Project empowers students to grasp the significance of the rule of law and helps the next generation look after it.'
Martin Lavesen, President of the Council of the Danish Bar and Law Society, added: 'The rule of law is often strongest where people rarely think about it - because it works. But that also means it can easily be taken for granted. Through this joint initiative with the International Bar Association, we want to bring the principles of the rule of law directly into the classroom and give young people a deeper understanding of the values that underpin democratic societies. When students engage with real-life dilemmas and reflect on issues such as freedom of expression or equality before the law, they begin to see that the rule of law is not an abstract legal concept - it is the foundation of a fair and trustworthy society. Strengthening that understanding among the next generation is essential if we want to safeguard these principles for the future.'
Per Hemmer, Chair of the International Committee of the Council of the Danish Bar and Law Society, explained: 'Across the world we are seeing increasing pressure on the rule of law and on the institutions that safeguard it. This makes education about these principles more important than ever. By bringing the rule of law directly into classrooms, this project connects global discussions about democracy, rights and accountability with the everyday experiences of young people.'
'It also reflects the legal profession's responsibility to engage with society beyond the courtroom. If future generations understand why independent courts, fair laws and access to justice matter, they are better equipped to defend those principles when they are challenged.'
Morten Winther Ravn, Principal of Gribskov Gymnasium, Helsinge, said: 'As a school, we have greatly benefited from the collaboration with the Danish Bar and Law Society. The programme gives our social science students valuable insight into the importance of an independent justice system in a democracy, while also introducing them to career paths within the legal sector. Students have responded very positively to the workshop, particularly the dilemma game and storyboard activity, and we hope the cooperation can continue beyond the IBA conference in October.'
Anya Eskildsen, CEO of Niels Brock Copenhagen Business College, stated: 'Democracy, freedom of expression and the rule of law are values we often take for granted in Denmark - but they are far from a given everywhere in the world. That is why it is so valuable when young people have the opportunity to engage with these questions and reflect on their importance. At Niels Brock, we are proud that our students are taking part in this initiative and meeting legal experts from across the world. It gives them an international perspective and a deeper understanding of why democratic rights must be understood, discussed and protected.'
Per Møller, Principal of Munkensdam Gymnasium, Kolding, added: 'As a school, we are very pleased to participate in this project on rule of law principles. Although only one class is currently involved, Munkensdam Gymnasium sees strong potential in working more extensively with this topic. In today's world, it is more important than ever to make young people aware of the fundamental principles on which our democracy rests - such as freedom of expression, equality before the law, fair trials and independent courts.'
Alexia Dubreu, Project Lawyer at the IBA, oversaw the development of the Rule of Law Educational Project, working closely with the Danish Bar and Law Society to help shape the programme's concept, develop its educational content and support its implementation in schools. She explained: 'While the rule of law provides the essential framework for our human rights to exist, it can often seem distant or abstract. By engaging students through a comprehensive programme that combines different pedagogical approaches, the Rule of Law Educational Project aims to make its principles clear, relevant and memorable for secondary school students, empowering them to understand and protect the rule of law.'
