About the Rule of Law
Although it was a 19th century British jurist, Albert Venn Dicey, who coined the phrase “rule of law,” the concept is an ancient one. The philosopher Aristotle wrote that “law should govern” — a principle as vital today as it was in ancient Athens.
“The rule of law is the underlying framework of rules and rights that make prosperous and fair societies possible. The rule of law is a system in which no one, including government, is above the law; where laws protect fundamental rights; and where justice is accessible to all.”
Rule of Law and Civil Society
The history of liberty, as the American jurist Felix Frankfurter noted, is largely synonymous with the history of fidelity to the rule of law. Without just and binding laws, society devolves into authoritarianism or anarchy, sweeping aside the institutions that would otherwise protect ordinary people from capricious rulers or unreasoning mobs.
This fundamental principle is often overlooked. When Western leaders and journalists speak of brutal regimes, they talk of repression, corruption, and the need to spread democracy. Yet democracy has never taken root where the rule of law is honored in the breach. Without it, there is no foundation for free and fair elections, much less basic human rights. There is also no bedrock on which to build a civil society. Denied equal justice before the law, ordinary people turn inward — or, if outward, against each other. Even economic relations flounder in the absence of the rule of law.
One person who recognizes the rule of law’s centrality is Beatrice Mtetwa. Her arena is Zimbabwe, but her message is universal: the rule of law is the foundation for democracy, human rights, social harmony, and economic development.
About the Documentary
Beatrice Mtetwa and the Rule of Law is an award-winning documentary film that follows Zimbabwe’s most celebrated human rights lawyer as she defends journalists, activists, and opposition politicians against a government determined to silence dissent. The film has been screened internationally and used as an educational resource by human rights organizations, law schools, and press freedom groups worldwide.
The film documents Beatrice Mtetwa’s defense of clients including Jestina Mukoko, Gift Phiri, Roy Bennett, and Elias Mudzuri — all targeted by the Mugabe government for their work as journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition politicians. Their cases illustrate how authoritarian governments weaponize the criminal justice system against civil society.
To learn how the film has reached audiences globally, visit our Distribution & Outreach page. To meet the filmmakers and creative team, see our Principals page. To learn about the organizations and individuals who made this film possible, visit our Funders page.
For a current look at where the people in the film are today, read our feature: Where Are They Now? The People Behind Beatrice Mtetwa and the Rule of Law in 2025.