Maria McCloskey

Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI), founded and supported by the solicitors’ and barristers’ bodies north and south of the border, has highlighted its work ahead of International Women’s Day this Sunday.

The NGO works in long-term partnership with national justice actors to advance institutional reform, judicial training and improved coordination across the justice chain. Its approach prioritises local leadership, sustainability and the embedding of reforms within national systems.

In Tanzania and Zambia, IRLI supports judicial training focused on trauma-informed and survivor-centred approaches in cases involving sexual and gender-based violence.

Through cascade training models and peer-to-peer exchanges, national institutions strengthen courtroom practice, reduce harmful questioning and improve protection for vulnerable witnesses.

In Malawi, IRLI chairs the Malawi Irish Consortium on Gender-Based Violence (2025–2028), supporting strengthened coordination between justice institutions and civil society actors.

As part of this work, the Consortium advances a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping initiative to identify where gender-based violence services exist — and where access gaps remain — helping to inform national planning, coordination and reform.

IRLI’s model is grounded in partnership and comparative learning. Drawing on expertise from Ireland and Northern Ireland, the organisation facilitates peer-to-peer exchanges between justice actors, enabling reform momentum to be shaped and led by national institutions.

Maria McCloskey, executive director of IRLI, said: “Survivor-centred justice requires strong institutions. Our role is to work alongside justice actors as they lead reforms that are sustainable, nationally owned and grounded in local realities.

“Through peer exchange and professional collaboration across jurisdictions — including expertise from across the island of Ireland — we support reform processes that are shaped and driven by our partners.”

IRLI’s strategy for 2026–2030 places localisation, gender equality and systems reform at the centre of its work.

Against a backdrop of global rule-of-law decline and growing pressure on justice financing, the organisation focuses on consolidating proven approaches and embedding reforms within legislation, institutional frameworks and professional training systems.

Rooted in the legal professions across the island of Ireland, IRLI continues to deepen its all-island identity while strengthening partnerships with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Irish embassies in programme countries.

Ahead of International Women’s Day, IRLI said it reaffirms its commitment to justice systems that uphold human rights, ensure fairness, and treat people with compassion.