The second high-level meeting of the Global Judicial Integrity Network concluded yesterday issuing ‘Doha Declaration on Judicial Integrity’ which focuses on enhancing judicial integrity through global partnerships.
The second high level meeting of Global Judicial Integrity Network hosted by Supreme Judiciary Council was attended by hundreds of participants from over 120 countries.
The Doha Declaration on Judicial Integrity represents a global reference document that complements the journey of the Bangalore Principles for Judicial Conduct 2003 and also enriches it with new indicative components that are the first of the kind in the process of finding a unified international perspective related to the right to a fair and equitable trial within the framework of a clear and dominant role of law in a professional and independent institutional judiciary. The Doha Declaration stresses the importance of training, research and studies programmes that would enhance the work of judges.
Addressing the closing ceremony, the President of the Supreme Judiciary Council and President of the Court of Cassation, H E Dr. Hassan bin Lahdan Al Hassan Al Mohannadi (pictured), praised the outcomes of the meeting.
“The Doha meeting offered an opportunity to complete the foundation building of the Global Judicial Integrity Network, which is the first initiative of its kind in the history of international judicial work.”
He further said that the meeting also represented an opportunity to exchange experiences and expertise and review the developments in the field of judicial integrity and judicial work.
Referring to the declaration of intent signed between the State of Qatar and the United Nations to establish a Doha-based UN center for research and training related to judicial integrity, he said that the centre would work to benefit all judges.
He added that the Supreme Judiciary Council signed a number of bilateral agreements between Arab and international judicial bodies and institutions with the aim of exchanging experiences and expertise in all fields related to the judicial work.
The Representative of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Project Director of the Global Network for Judicial Integrity, Marco Acehera, praised the Supreme Judiciary Council for hosting the second high-level meeting of the Global Judicial Integrity Network and the support provided by the State of Qatar to the Network.
“The judicial integrity is a complex issue that needs combined efforts and capabilities. These efforts should be multiplied through real partnerships, and the second meeting in Doha presented an appropriate opportunity to establish real partnerships in this regard.”
Talking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the meeting, Justice Mushir Alam of Supreme Court of Pakistan said that the meeting was a wonderful experience. “You learn by attending such conferences. The integrity of judiciary which is always questioned will find a way forward through this meeting.”
Justice Mushir Alam further said: “We can improve the judicial integrity and perception of judiciary among general public by this meeting. I will take my experience from this high level meeting back to Pakistan on how perception of a judge should improve and how judges should improve while delivering justice,” he added.
He said that the meeting would have an impact on judicial integrity worldwide as the participants would try to implement the declaration.
