GEOPOLITICAL CONFLICTS: Judges raise concern
ARUSHA: JUDGES from three regional human rights courts in Africa, Europe, and the Americas have expressed concern over the growing trend of force replacing the rule of law in global affairs.
Speaking in Arusha, Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Judge Arnfinn Bardsen, said the current geopolitical climate shows that democracy and rule of law are under increasing threat worldwide.
“We are witnessing the massive use of force by powerful entities that were supposed to guarantee peace,” Judge Bardsen said, emphasising the urgent need for judicial institutions to come together and address these challenges.
He cited ongoing global conflicts, including the Israel-Hamas confrontation in the Middle East, RussiaUkraine conflict in Eastern Europe, and recent tensions in Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran, noting that all raise concerns over the excessive use of force over legal processes.
Judge Nancy Hernandez Lopez of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IAHCR) said the world is approaching a critical juncture for democracy and the rule of law.
“Even as global judiciary bodies gather in Tanzania to discuss matters of common interest, there are concerns that international cooperation is increasingly met with skepticism,” Judge Lopez said.
She added that many countries today are focusing narrowly on national interests, even though most global challenges, including human rights, digital privacy, and freedom of communication transcend borders and require international cooperation.
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President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR), Justice Blaise Tchikaya, who is hosting the Forum in Arusha, stressed the judiciary’s role in protecting ordinary people amid ongoing global conflicts.
The AfCHPR is hosting the Fourth International Human Rights Forum, bringing together the African Court, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Forum, taking place at the Pan African Postal Union Complex, runs from March 2 to 27, 2026, as part of the Court’s 80th Ordinary Session.
It provides a platform for the three Courts to exchange experiences, strengthen cooperation, and engage in dialogue on emerging human rights issues.
The biennial Forum rotates among the three regions, with previous editions held in Kampala, Uganda (2019); Strasbourg, France (2021); and San José, Costa Rica (2023).
This year’s event brings together judges, officials, and experts to discuss pressing topics, including the impact of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) on human rights and governance, highlighting both opportunities and risks.
The three Courts will also renew their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), initially signed in San José, to reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing human rights across their regions.
