The 67th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Judges, held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 12 to 16 October, served as a unique platform bringing together judges from across the world to discuss the relationship between the judiciary and the other two branches of government.

The Ukrainian delegation was represented by the Vice-Presidents of the Ukrainian Association of Judges - Olena Yevtushenko and Oleh Prysiazhniuk - together with members of the Association: Maryna Barsuk, Olha Hulevets, Mariia-Margaryta Pylaieva, Larysa Sokurenko and Oksana Tsarevych.

Judges from Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America discussed the challenges facing judicial systems and explored ways of ensuring effective interaction with the other branches of government. As was rightly emphasised during the discussions, maintaining a proper balance between the branches of power requires the judiciary to remain independent while also being open to dialogue and institutional communication.

The first day of the Congress opened with addresses delivered on behalf of the President of the country, the President of the Supreme Court and the Minister of Justice. The speakers underlined the vital role of the judiciary within the system of state governance and reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding judicial independence and institutional autonomy.

The Ukrainian delegation also addressed the international judicial community. Representatives spoke about the work of the Ukrainian judiciary during wartime, highlighting its resilience, the stability of state institutions and the uninterrupted administration of justice despite extraordinary conditions.

An important part of the Congress was the election of the President and members of the Presidium of the International Association of Judges. Walter Barone of Brazil was elected President, while Dorota Zabłudowska of Poland was elected Vice-President. The newly elected members of the Council were Roland Kempfle (Germany), Clayton Conlan (Canada) and Mohamed Redouan (Morocco). Sabina Matejka of Austria was elected President of the European Regional Group.

Another significant development was the admission of Nigeria as a new member of the Association. The organisation now unites representatives from 93 countries worldwide.

Following five days of proceedings at the 67th Congress of the International Association of Judges in Baku, the regional groups and the Central Council of the AIJ adopted a number of resolutions and statements:

- The Assembly of the European Association of Judges adopted three resolutions concerning Spain, Romania and Albania. The resolutions expressed concern over increasing pressure on the judiciary, including political statements, public smear campaigns, and the dissemination of negative material through the media and social networks.

- The Central Council of the International Association of Judges also adopted a statement entitled On the Relationship between the Branches of Government. The statement emphasised the importance of maintaining a proper balance between the legislative, executive and judicial branches of power. In addition, resolutions concerning Chile, Italy, Niger and Peru were adopted, reflecting the position of the international judicial community on respect for the rule of law and judicial independence in those countries.

(The full texts of the adopted resolutions and statement are provided below in the appendix to this publication.)

Latif Huseynov, the judge of the European Court of Human Rights representing Azerbaijan, highlighted in his address one of the key aspects of judicial independence — the limits of a court’s accountability to society. He noted that courts should not be held responsible for shortcomings in legislation adopted by parliament or for failures of the executive branch, as the primary role of the judiciary is to apply the law.

At the same time, Đuro Sessa, Honorary President of the International Association of Judges, stressed that the Association has no mandate to interfere in the internal functioning of national judicial systems. However, he emphasised that the organisation does possess effective legal mechanisms aimed at protecting judges and safeguarding judicial independence worldwide. As an example, he referred to the experience of the Czech Republic. Following the adoption of a resolution by the European Association of Judges in Yerevan in May 2025 concerning reductions in judicial remuneration, the Czech Constitutional Court ruled the relevant legislative provisions unconstitutional and ordered compensation for the withheld payments.

Following a vote of the Assembly, Portugal, with Lisbon as the host city, was selected to host the next annual congress in 2026.

At the same time, during the 67th Congress of the International Association of Judges, two judges from Ukraine joined the Association’s editorial working group on a voluntary basis. The group is responsible for drafting the Association’s resolutions and official documents. This step reflected the proactive position of the Ukrainian judicial community and its commitment to taking an active part in professional dialogue within the international judicial sphere.

In addition, a meeting was held during the Congress between the authorised representatives of the national associations of judges from Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Poland and Ukraine — the parties to the Memorandum of Understanding on Multilateral Cooperation. During the meeting, Decision No. 1/2025 was adopted, introducing amendments to Articles 4, 7, 8, 10 and 11 of the Memorandum. In particular, the parties clarified the procedure for holding annual meetings, refined the mechanism for the rotation of the Secretariat, and introduced updated rules governing the coordination of joint activities between the associations.

One of the highlights of the Congress was the exhibition of judicial robes, which featured more than 120 robes from around the world. The exhibition reflected the diversity of legal traditions while also symbolising a shared commitment to the administration of justice.

The organisers extended exceptional hospitality to the participants, arranging visits to the Supreme Court, Parliament, the Philharmonic Hall and a number of the country’s cultural landmarks. Particularly noteworthy was the warmth and respect shown towards Ukraine, which was repeatedly acknowledged by representatives of different national delegations.

The Ukrainian delegation represented the country’s judicial community with distinction, sharing its experience of judicial reform and engaging with international colleagues on contemporary challenges facing the administration of justice.

Discussions with judges from different parts of the world demonstrated that threats to judicial independence remain common across jurisdictions, regardless of continent or political system. Respect for judicial independence, professional safeguards and the protection of judges’ rights continue to form the foundation of the judiciary in every democratic society.

The Congress became an important step towards strengthening professional cooperation, fostering trust between judicial communities in different countries, and reinforcing the unity of the international judiciary.

The unity of the world’s judges lies in a shared belief in the rule of law, justice and human dignity. Ukraine remains part of this international judicial community, which continues to demonstrate that even in times of war, justice must endure.