The American Bar Association (ABA) has secured a $1.8 million (£926,000) donation from Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates' charity to finance a project to advance the rule of law in the US and around the world.


The funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be put towards the nascent World Justice Project.



Its short-term goals include developing an index measuring countries' adherence to the rule of law, a public education campaign to raise awareness of the rule of law's importance, and research into how it links with peace, economic development and reduced corruption.



The project will also organise an international conference to develop networks and incubate other initiatives bolstering the rule of law.



ABA president-elect William Neukom said recent events in the US, such as at Guantanamo Bay, and elsewhere - including terrorism and the threat of pandemics - showed 'the growing urgency' of strengthening the rule of law around the world.



He added: 'The rule of law is needed to make communities safe, lift people out of poverty, root out corruption, protect people from disease and open up classroom doors to all.'