International Day for Judicial Well-being

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...