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

In 2021, the Global Judicial Integrity Network conducted a global survey exploring the link between judicial integrity and well-being. The results were striking: 69% of respondents believed that discussing mental health or stress remains a taboo topic for judges. 83% of participants felt that the level of support available within their judiciary was insufficient. 89% of respondents acknowledged knowing judicial colleagues who had experienced stress, sadness, or anxiety. Over time, studies conducted in various jurisdictions on judicial well-being , judicial conduct and judicial attitudes have revealed eye-opening findings. These figures highlight a systemic issue - one that, if left unaddressed, could have serious consequences on the quality of justice delivered.

Since 2014, we have been advocating for the promotion of a balanced mind for judicial officers. It was not a popular subject to talk about then. On one hand, judicial leaderships feared that openly discussing judicial stress could affect public perception. On the other, individual judges themselves hesitated to speak openly, fearing it might damage their reputation and professional recognition.

Recognizing the urgency of addressing this issue universally, the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being was introduced to create awareness, acknowledge the problem and take concrete steps toward addressing it. Unlike other legal matters that may differently affect common law and civil law jurisdictions, judicial well-being is a universal concern - transcending legal systems, jurisdictions and other differences. Around 18 senior judicial leaders and experts from across the world, representing all continents, regions and various judicial organizations, came together to draft the Nauru Declaration, which establishes seven core principles aimed at promoting judicial well-being . This declaration is not just about individual judges - it is a matter of ensuring the delivery of quality justice. If judicial stress is ignored - if judges are overburdened, work under unconducive conditions or face persistent harassment, bullying, and deprivation of their rights - the consequences extend ...

The Republic of Nauru submitted a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly calling for the establishment of an International Day for Judicial Well-being . On 4 March 2025, the United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the resolution A/79/L.52 with 71 member states co-sponsoring it to declare 25 July as the International Day for Judicial Well-being - a landmark achievement in the global promotion of judicial well-being. This date was chosen to reflect the adoption of the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being . As we move forward, it is imperative that judicial institutions, judicial leaderships, policymakers and other stakeholders commit to ensuring that judges receive the support they need . Not only that, as emphasized in the Nauru Declaration, judicial well-being is also a responsibility of individual judges. The adoption of this resolution serves as a call to action for the global judicial community to embrace and implement strategies that safeguard the well-b...

One year after the historic adoption of the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being , the global judicial community will commemorate the first International Day for Judicial Well-being on 25 July . This marks the first time that the United Nations has formally recognized judicial well-being as a matter of global significance, through the proclamation of an international day. Fittingly, 25 July was chosen to mark the International Day for Judicial Well-being as it coincides with the adoption of the Nauru Declaration , reaffirming its central role in elevating judicial well-being to the forefront of international discourse. These initiatives underscore a vital truth: judges, too, as human beings, are vulnerable to the profound and unique stresses inherent in their role. Although judicial well-being has gained unprecedented momentum over the past year since the adoption of the Nauru Declaration, both as an institutional priority and as an indispensable element of individual judicial cap...