International Day for Judicial Well-being

Today, the  United Nations (UN)  General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 25 July as International Day for Judicial Well-Being. UN Office on Drugs & Crime

The success of the due administration of justice relies on the ability of key stakeholders within the justice system to perform at optimal levels. Unlike in the past, judges today face mounting challenges due to rapid advancements in technology, the pervasive influence of social media and the rise of artificial intelligence. In addition to these, judiciaries worldwide continue to grapple with numerous socio-economic, political, religious and context-specific challenges such as natural disasters, conflict situations and financial constraints. Despite these difficulties, judges must maintain their independence, impartiality, integrity and composure in the public eye. However, the toll this takes on them is rarely discussed in many parts of the world.

The Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct were introduced a few decades ago in response to the increasing challenges faced by the judiciaries and to further the objectives of Article 11 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption . These principles sought to establish universal standards for judicial conduct, focusing on independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality, and competence and diligence. Later, a commentary was developed to provide further context to these six core principles. Notably, paragraph 194 of the commentary recognized judicial well-being as a critical factor that reinforces diligence and competence in the judicial role . This acknowledgment was a step forward, yet judicial well-being remained a taboo subject within many judicial circles. Over the last ten years, different jurisdictions such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean have gradually begun addressing judicial stress and other aspects affecting judicial well-being t...