Today, 20 of December, a zoom meeting took place with professor Margaret Satterthwait ( UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers), Mr Matos ( President of the IAJ), Mr Oberto ( Secretary General of the IAJ) , Ms Rebecca Riddell ( Legal and Policy Director to Professor Satterthwaite),Dr. Mónica Castillejos-Aragón (Program Manager of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) of the New York Office )and the two assistants to the Secretary General of the IAJ.
The meeting was the first occasion to personally speak with the UN new Rapporteur . After mutual presentations of the respective activities, the main focus was addressed on the common goals aimed at promoting the independence of judiciary worldwide.
A special attention was devoted to the most difficult situations in some countries in the 4 different regional area of the IAJ (EAJ, AFR, IBA and ANAO). Other important issues and fields of interest and activity of the IAJ were raised, such as corruption, discrimination, judicial training, assessment of justice, freedom of expression, rule of law.
Discussion and explanations followed on the IAJ ways of working and intervention in individual judicial cases.
A mutual engagement was finally agreed and future common efforts will be made always in the courageous actions aimed to safeguard the independence of the judiciary and to guarantee human rights and freedom.
