Strengthening Demand for the Rule of Law in Post-Conflict Societies

Building the rule of law in the wake of military conflict has proven to be a complex and formidable challenge in countries as diverse as Iraq, Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, and Sierra Leone. It has become clear in these and other situations that strengthening the rule of law is not simply a matter of building institutions-courts, legislatures, and so forth-or enacting better laws. The rule of law also depends crucially on building public trust and confidence in those institutions. Or, to put it another way, strengthening the rule of law is not only a question of the supply side of institutions, but also depends crucially on the demand side: addressing the needs and aspirations of ordinary people, reaching out to them, giving them a stake in the law, and helping to create institutions that are responsive to their concerns and worthy of their trust and confidence