South African president urges renewed commitment to international rule of law

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warned on Thursday that global conflicts and displacement were testing the principles of justice and international law, urging a renewed commitment to the international rule of law.

Ramaphosa made the remarks at the Access to Justice International Conference in North West Province, calling for stronger international dialogue, cooperation and innovation to improve justice systems worldwide.

"We must therefore reaffirm our commitment to the international rule of law. International law must apply equally to all nations," he said.

Ramaphosa noted that millions of people around the world were suffering from conflict and displacement, while those responsible for violating international law were not being held accountable.

He called for the protection of civilians and stressed that accountability and human dignity should not be compromised or determined by the political influence, economic power or status of those involved.

"There cannot be one standard of justice for the powerful and another for the weak. The credibility of the international legal order depends on its fairness, its consistency and its independence," he said.

Ramaphosa also reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to multilateralism and called for stronger international institutions to improve access to justice.

"We believe that respect for international law is essential to building a more peaceful, just and equitable world," he said.

He highlighted the importance of ensuring access to justice for ordinary people, including workers facing workplace challenges, women experiencing violence, consumers involved in contractual disputes and families facing eviction.

The three-day conference, which runs from Wednesday to Friday, coincides with the 30th anniversary of the adoption of South Africa's Constitution.