Baku, October 13, 2025 – The Europe Today: The 67th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Judges (IAJ) officially commenced at the Baku Convention Center, bringing together nearly 300 representatives from 71 countries, including judges, lawyers, government officials, international organization representatives, and distinguished legal experts.
The opening ceremony began with Chairman of the Azerbaijan Judges Union Ramiz Rzayev reading out President Ilham Aliyev’s address to participants. In his message, the Azerbaijani leader highlighted the association’s global role in safeguarding judicial independence and strengthening the rule of law.
In his keynote remarks, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan Inam Karimov underscored the country’s enduring commitment to judicial reform since regaining independence.
“Under the visionary leadership of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the Constitution firmly established the rule of law and the separation of powers — restoring dignity and stability to the judiciary,” he said. “This foundation has been further strengthened by the ongoing reforms initiated by President Ilham Aliyev, which have transformed the administration of justice into one of the most dynamic pillars of our statehood.”
Karimov emphasized the growing importance of global judicial cooperation, noting that the challenges confronting justice increasingly transcend national borders.
“For more than sixty years, the International Association of Judges has been at the forefront of efforts to develop, strengthen, and improve the judiciary in countries across the world,” he said. “Through its tireless work, it has fostered dialogue among judges, promoted judicial independence, and upheld the universal values of justice and the rule of law.”
He also addressed the evolving role of the judiciary in an era defined by technological advancement. “Technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping how we live and govern. These tools can improve efficiency and fairness, but they must always be guided by human conscience. No technology can replace the wisdom, integrity, and moral responsibility of a judge,” Karimov remarked.
He further noted that today’s judiciary must take on shared responsibility in addressing global issues such as environmental protection, cyber threats, and human rights.
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Justice, Farid Ahmadov, in his speech, emphasized that the judiciary remains the guarantor of society’s most fundamental values. Meanwhile, IAJ President Duro Sessa reiterated the necessity of upholding proper justice under all circumstances.
The opening session concluded with the presentation of the Judicial Independence Award, presided over by IAJ Secretary General Giacomo Oberto.
The week-long event, running until October 17, features a comprehensive agenda that includes elections for the organization’s governing bodies, exchanges of best practices, and discussions on pressing issues within legal and judicial systems worldwide.
As the host nation, Azerbaijan will also showcase its judicial and legal achievements to the international participants. On October 14, an international conference on “Relations between the Judiciary and Other Branches of Government” will take place, exploring the judiciary’s role in upholding the rule of law.
In parallel, an exhibition titled “Symbols of Justice” will run from October 12 to 17, displaying robes, orders, badges, stamps, and banknotes belonging to approximately 150 judges, lawyers, and public prosecutors from 80 countries.
Founded in 1953, the International Association of Judges is a professional, non-political international organization that unites national associations of judges, aiming to safeguard judicial independence as a cornerstone of human rights and freedom.
The decision to hold the 2025 Annual Meeting in Baku was made last year in Cape Town, South Africa, following a secret ballot by the Association’s members.
