To mark the first United Nations International Day for Judicial Well-being observed on 25 July 2025, the International Bar Association (IBA) Professional Wellbeing Commission has emphasised the significance of judicial wellbeing as a cornerstone of justice, judicial integrity and the rule of law globally.
The United Nations has designated 25 July as the International Day for Judicial Well-being to coincide with the adoption date of the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being (the Nauru Declaration), a landmark document outlining seven commitments and principles aimed at raising awareness and promoting strategies to support integrity and wellbeing within the judiciary. The Nauru Declaration was formally adopted in July 2024 during a high-level conference organised by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the Nauru Judiciary and supported by the Department of Justice of Nauru in Yaren, the capital.
In a webinar presented by the IBA Professional Wellbeing Commission and supported by the IBA Judges' Forum , Bar Issues Commission (BIC), Rule of Law Forum and the Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU), global perspectives were shared on how judicial wellbeing strengthens institutions, promotes accountability, and enhances public trust in legal systems. A recording of the webinar is available at the following link .
Steven Richman, Chair of the IBA BIC and founding Co-Chair of the IBA Professional Wellbeing Commission, delivered the webinar's opening remarks emphasising the significance of this recognition. He commented: 'It is fitting that in this 80th year of the founding of the United Nations, the UN affords official recognition to this important global problem. The IBA's own survey reflected common denominators of the impact on wellbeing in the legal profession that transcended national and cultural borders. The Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being addresses the critical point of the IBA's work in this area, namely, to recognise the problem and address it head on, remove the stigmas associated with wellbeing issues and continue the educative efforts to change the paradigm.'
The webinar featured distinguished speakers with international perspectives including Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena, President of the Court of Appeal of Nauru and Adjunct Professor at the Australian Catholic University; Justice Mary-Jane Ierodiaconou, Principal Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria and IBA Professional Wellbeing Commissioner; Justice José Igreja Matos, President of the Court of Appeal of Porto and Vice-President of the Consultative Council of European Judges; and Dr Carly Schrever, Director and Co-Founder of Human Ethos.
Justice Wimalasena, the central architect of the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being and driving force behind the UN's recognition of 25 July as the International Day for Judicial Well-being, commented: 'The 25 July holds significance not simply because it highlights the wellbeing of judges, but because it reminds us of a deeper truth that judicial wellbeing is not merely a personal matter for individual judges. It is fundamentally tied to institutional accountability, judicial integrity, the rule of law, and ultimately, the quality of justice delivered to society.'
The justice emphasised: 'One of the major challenges to judicial wellbeing remains the stigma attached to seeking support. Many judges hesitate to acknowledge stress or fatigue, fearing it may be perceived as a sign of weakness or as a threat to their professional standing or public trust. Observing 25 July is an opportunity to confront that stigma. It sends a clear message that speaking about stress and seeking support is not a vulnerability but a step toward resilience and accountability. This message must extend beyond judiciaries, reshaping the perspectives of lawyers, litigants, and the wider public. That is how we can observe 25 July in a truly meaningful way.'
As concerns about the strength of the rule of law and the safety of judges continue to grow, the IBA Professional Wellbeing Commission remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding judicial independence and the integrity of judges worldwide and reinforcing judicial wellbeing as essential to democracy and the rule of law.
