NIHR Participates in a Symposium on the Independence of the Judiciary in the Middle East
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The National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) Secretariat-General has participated in the regional dialogue symposium entitled “the Independence of the Judiciary in the Middle East and North Africa in light of International Human Rights Standards”, which was held virtually, organized by the Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in cooperation with the Arab Organization for Human Rights.
The symposium included a group of stakeholders, members of the judicial and legislative authority, civil society organizations, a number of national human rights institutions and international partners. It aimed to discuss challenges and opportunities for legislative reform to enhance the independence of the judiciary, and to shed light on successful experiences in the region. The symposium also sought to facilitate dialogue between the main stakeholders on challenges and opportunities to enhance the independence of the judiciary through legal reforms, while stating the efforts undertaken by the majority of countries in the region in the context of international human rights law and standards related to the independence of the judiciary. The course of the symposium was divided into two main sessions, preceded by an opening speech. The first session dealt with the independence of the judiciary in light of international standards, while the second session discussed the challenges and experiences within the framework of reforms related to the independence of the judiciary in the region.
It is worth mentioning in this regard that the independence of the judiciary is one of the most essential international standards that must be met to guarantee the right of an individual to enjoy the guarantees of a fair trial before, during and after the trial stage, since the trial cannot be considered fair or recognized for justice unless it fulfills at least two conditions. The first is that all trial proceedings should be guided from beginning to end by the constitution, the local legislation regulating its work, and the instruments established by the international community. The second is that an independent and impartial judicial authority must implement these proceedings regulating it.
