By Elizabeth R. Auma K

“Chairperson, in 2015, we were in a similar situation and passed the decision to which I make reference. It is only necessary that we do the same.”

Such a statement is common during Policy discussions among Countries.

At the close of 2025, I participated in a regional meeting that placed two Member States on divergent views during a discussion. This is not unusual; differences of interest and interpretation are part of the work of any trade policy engagement. What made this engagement strongly get my attention was a recall of a decision that had been made many years ago. Some believed that the decision-making process had not followed proper procedure. Over time, it had quietly settled into the archives as “acceptable” until then. At the time, the stakes were low. It was considered a learning edge, a minor exception, nothing to worry about. No one imagined that years later, the same decision would start a long debate and threaten a critical outcome.

That is the quiet power of precedent.

Once set, it becomes a point of reference. In future moments, it either serves the greater good or undermines it. The same principle applies in life. There are choices we make that seem fair in the moment, until consequences surface. What once felt harmless begins to be questioned.

That meeting reminded me that leadership in policy and life is not built on convenience or speculation. It is built on evidence, integrity, and the courage to do what is right even when everyone is against it.

Precedent will always be a defense. It is always shaping tomorrow. Therefore, the question we must ask ourselves as policy makers, as women in the boardroom, business, and beyond:

What precedents are our decisions creating today?