Views

This section contains opinion pieces written by Global Judicial Integrity Network participants, who are members of judiciaries worldwide. The pieces focus on the personal opinions and experiences of these external experts on issues related to judicial integrity. All opinion pieces written in 2018-2019 have been compiled in one review journal, available here. To read a selection of the articles in other UN languages, please select the language from the navigation bar at the top of the page. Please click here for Portuguese and Korean.

Please note that all opinions expressed in this section of the website are the opinions of the authors, who are external experts, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of UNODC. 

 

Solidarity Among Judges
April 20, 2020

Solidarity Among Judges

As the President of the Second High-Level Meeting of the Global Judicial Integrity Network and in my personal capacity, it pains me to see the whole world suffer under the terrible weight of this catastrophic COVID-19 virus. The images on television and in the newspapers show our world valiantly coping with the unknown. Doctors, nurses and health professionals in the world are teaching us all a lesson of sacrifice, solidarity and generosity. Let us be part of the world efforts in this fight for human life.  

COVID-19 and the Administration of Justice: A Reflection on Ethical Judicial Conduct
April 16, 2020

COVID-19 and the Administration of Justice: A Reflection on Ethical Judicial Conduct

With the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic, many countries have opted to implement either full scale or partial lockdowns in an effort to control the spread of the virus. The case of access to the Ugandan justice system is no different from the rest of the world, as even before the confirmation of any COVID-19 cases in the country, the general population was being advised to follow a number of recommended WHO safety precautions, which include self-isolation and social distancing. The above measures invariably affected the general day-to-day functioning of court activities. 

The Gendered Face of COVID-19: Women and Access to Justice
April 7, 2020

The Gendered Face of COVID-19: Women and Access to Justice

Women bear a disproportionate brunt of health crises, environmental disasters and gender-based violence. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 global pandemic could follow this pattern-having devastating implications for women's access to justice. What are courts and governments doing to address these challenges?  As the pandemic unfolds, heads of judiciaries are constantly weighing options in order to make the best decisions.

Access to Justice in Times of Judicial Lockdown
March 31, 2020

Access to Justice in Times of Judicial Lockdown

The terrible time we are living in with the coronavirus pandemic poses arduous challenges for those who work in the judicial system. The worldwide extent of the Covid-19 crisis has confronted us, again in our history, with the eternal fragility of humanity.

The International Association of Judges (IAJ) represents associations of 92 countries from five continents. The global dimension of our organization implies a particular obligation to reiterate the grave duties of judges in relation to this pandemic.

Judicial Immunities Promote Fair and Impartial Judgments
March 23, 2020

Judicial Immunities Promote Fair and Impartial Judgments 

Judicial immunity has  always  been a  highly relevant  issue  for judges around the world. In recent years,  however,  judicial immunity has become an even more crucial, even existential ,   question  for judges in many countries .