The 67th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Judges (IAJ) commenced at the Baku Convention Center.
Chairman of the Azerbaijan Judges Union Ramiz Rzayev read out President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev’s address to the event participants.
In his opening remarks, Inam Karimov, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan, said that since the restoration of its independence, Azerbaijan has undertaken the great task of rebuilding its judicial system on the pillars of democracy, legality, and fairness.
“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. 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,” he noted.
“Today, more than ever, judiciaries around the world need to deepen their cooperation. As the challenges confronting justice increasingly cross borders, no judiciary can remain isolated. Cooperation becomes the very foundation of global justice.
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. 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.
Today, the judiciary worldwide stands at a historic crossroads and faces new and complex challenges. Our mission must respond to changing realities, but the values we defend remain timeless. The world around us is evolving faster than ever, and we must ensure that justice continues to hold its true meaning in this new era,” Inam Karimov mentioned.
“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.
At the same time, we recognize that today’s judiciary must address challenges that go beyond national borders. Issues such as environmental protection, cyber threats, and human rights demand shared responsibility and collective action,” he emphasized.
Farid Ahmadov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Justice, underscored that the judiciary is a guarantor of any society's most fundamental values.
Duro Sessa, President of the International Association of Judges, stressed the necessity of never neglecting proper justice.
The event concluded with Giacomo Oberto, Secretary General of the International Association of Judges, presiding over the presentation of the "Judicial Independence Award."
The opening ceremony of the Meeting was attended by nearly 300 representatives from 71 countries - judges, lawyers, government officials and representatives of international organizations, as well as famous legal experts.
The agenda of the Annual Meeting, which runs until October 17, is comprehensive: it includes elections for the organization's governing bodies, an exchange of positive experiences, and discussions on current problems within the legal and judicial systems of various states.
As the host country, Azerbaijan will also use this opportunity to showcase its own judicial and legal system to attendees.
An international conference on "Relations between the Judiciary and other branches of government" is scheduled for October 14. The conference will extensively analyze the role of courts in upholding the rule of law.
The event will also feature an exhibition titled “Symbols of Justice,” running from October 12 to 17. This exhibition will showcase robes, orders, badges, stamps, and banknotes belonging to approximately 150 judges, lawyers, and public prosecutors from 80 countries worldwide.
Founded in 1953, the International Association of Judges is a professional, non-political, international organization, bringing together national associations of judges, not individual judges, approved by the Central Council for admission to the Association. The main aim of the Association is to safeguard the independence of the judiciary, which is an essential requirement of the judicial function, guaranteeing 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 organization’s members.
