UN Human Rights Council 62: UK General Comment on the draft resolution on independence and impartiality of the judiciary

Mr President,

The UK is proud to cosponsor Resolution L.15 on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, jurors and assessors, and the independence of lawyers: the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. 

All legal professionals should be able to discharge their professional duties without fear of reprisals.  An independent legal profession and an independent and impartial judiciary are at the heart of the rule of law.  They play a vital role in promoting and protecting human rights.  That role is only enhanced by the balanced representation of men and women at all levels of the legal profession and the UK was proud to cosponsor a side event on “Women in Law” this Session.

We welcome this resolution’s focus on robust judicial selection and appointment processes and the UK was a proud cosponsor of a side event on that topic this Session too.  Rigorous judicial selection and appointment contributes to public trust in the judiciary as an organ of the State, thereby enhancing the rule of law and helping to discharge human rights obligations effectively.  We consider these principles are equally important at the international level, including in the selection of judges to bodies such as the International Court of Justice, where independence, impartiality and expertise are essential. That standard underpins the UK’s support for Professor Dapo Akande’s candidacy.

Finally, we welcome the rationalisation efforts made by the core groups to merge and streamline these two resolutions. 

Happily, this resolution already benefits from wide cosponsorship and we hope it will pass by consensus, as has happened in the past.  We thank Hungary and the Core Group for their leadership on this important issue.

Thank you.