The International Legal Profession Speaks with One Voice for the Protection of International Justice and the Integrity of International Law
Representative organisations of the legal profession from across the world have signed a Joint Statement calling for shared responsibility among States, international institutions and the legal profession to safeguard international law and the independence of international courts and tribunals.
Today, 20 October 2026, representative organisations of the legal profession from across the world published a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, and calling on States and international institutions to protect international courts and tribunals and the legal professionals who work within them.
The statement expresses deep concern about any actions, measures or practices that seek to undermine the independence, authority or effective functioning of international courts and tribunals, or that target judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other legal professionals because of the performance of their professional functions.
The signatories recall that legal standards adopted at the United Nations, including the Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary (1985), the Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors (1990) and the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990), condemn such actions and call on States to protect judges, prosecutors and lawyers from them.
The statement stresses that the protection of international justice is a shared responsibility. States must respect the independence of international courts and tribunals and cooperate with them in good faith. International institutions must safeguard the independence of judicial bodies and ensure that those who work within or alongside them can do so without fear of retaliation. The legal profession, for its part, must defend the independence of courts and lawyers.
On this basis, the signatories call on States and international institutions to respect and protect the independence, impartiality and effective functioning of international courts and tribunals; to refrain from threats, intimidation or any other interference against judges, prosecutors, lawyers and court officials because of their professional functions; and to ensure that international disputes and questions of legal responsibility are addressed through law and legitimate judicial and institutional processes. The full set of commitments is available in the Joint Statement.
The defence of international justice needs a clear and collective commitment, especially at a time when the international rule of law is facing increasing pressure. The international legal profession stands firmly for the protection of international justice and the integrity of international law:
“We reaffirm our collective commitment to an international rule of law where courts are free to exercise their functions independently and judges and legal professionals can perform their duties without fear or interference.”