A similar type of crisis has afflicted countries across Europe and around the world: courts have been influenced; sometimes arbitrary judgments are given; people in positions of authority seem to act with impunity; some politicians even rail against the idea that the law itself should apply; law is used to harass political opponents; people feel that the system is unfair; and all this has led to an erosion of confidence in in our democratic societies.
Sometimes these upheavals are seen as flaws in democracy; in actual fact, these crises could be summarised as crises of the rule of law. Indeed, the rule of law has increasingly come under pressure in Europe and worldwide. Many people however either take the rule of law for granted or do not fully understand its importance. To fix this, the rule of law needs to be understood.
But what is the rule of law?
In short, the rule of law means that the law rules.
It is a guarantee of justice and accountability as well as the human rights and freedoms of every individual under the law.
But what does that mean in practice? In order to make this concept, which can sometimes seem quite abstract or legalistic, accessible to broad audiences, a new guide - The rule of law and why it matters - EXPLAINED - has been produced.
The guide aims to strengthen understanding among the majority of citizens who do not oppose the rule of law, but who need clear, relatable explanations of why it matters in their daily lives.
The guide has been produced by the Council of Europe together with communications professionals of eight other leading European organisations working on human rights.
How does the rule-of-law explainer work?
The various principles of the rule of law are connected like a metro map that keeps a city intact. At first glance, it is just a map of coloured lines and stations. But once you step onto it, you realise it is what keeps the whole city moving.
Each line represents one principle of the rule of law: equality before the law, preventing abuse of power, and so forth. Most of the time, we do not think about them - we get on with our lives and expect the system to work. If you sign a job contract, rent a flat, open a business, or go to court, for example, you are stepping onto that train network and you trust that it will carry you to your destination.
All of these rule-of-law lines are interconnected, and none can work on their own. If one breaks down, disruption and chaos spread. If laws are unclear, people cannot plan their lives. If courts are not independent, trust collapses. If state power remains unchecked, repression is inevitable and the system eventually becomes unstable and unsafe.
As in a metro system, the failure of one track slows everything down and can bring the entire system to a grinding halt. But when all the rule-of-law principles are respected and clearly signposted, citizens can go about their lives with confidence, in the knowledge that the system works for everybody. That is why fairness - legal equality - is the essence of the rule of law.
Who is the rule-of-law explainer for?
The explainer is designed primarily for civil society, governments, international organisations, human-rights institutions, equality bodies, and educators: anyone who needs accessible, accurate ways to explain the rule of law.
Ultimately, the broader public should benefit, particularly young people and citizens who are unclear about the relevance of the concept. Respecting the rule of law is crucial in a democratic society, from which we all benefit.
The principles are explained simply but not simplistically, and are illustrated by concrete everyday examples of the rule of law, ranging from employment contracts and business regulations to media freedom and artificial intelligence, to demonstrate why the rule of law matters for everyone, and how societies can strengthen adherence to the rule of law.
Which organisations were involved in the creation of the explainer?
The explainer has been produced by the C11 group, an informal network that brings together senior communications experts from Europe's key international and quasi-governmental organisations working on human rights, including the Council of Europe, UN, EU, OSCE, and others. The network pools expertise and coordinates outreach to strengthen the impact of human rights communication across Europe. The group previously developed the successful 10 Keys to effectively communicating human rights, which has been translated into some 30 languages.
Map version of "The rule of law and why it matters - EXPLAINED"
Read "The rule of law and why it matters - EXPLAINED" in full
