Blogs

In the Case of Szücs v. Austria the European Court of Human Rights observed that ‘[t]he ability of citizens to access court decisions protects against the administration of justice in secret, and is a means to maintain public confidence in courts.’ Free access to court decisions in the African context was the topic of a presentation to a gathering of continental judicial leaders on the sidelines of the 4th African Union Judicial Dialogue in Kampala, Uganda last week.

This set of reports on human trafficking across the globe offers the latest statistics and trends. They make absorbing reading, with their insight into how armed conflict affects trafficking and the extent of the problem in sub-Saharan countries.

Perhaps the most challenging session for delegates concerned the “conservatism” of too many judges in Africa, despite the potentially liberating effect of new constitutions. “Judicial timidity” and an “enthusiastic abdication of judicial responsibilities” in the face of a determined executive meant that the rule of law, constitutionalism and democracy itself were all at risk. In our view, training of judicial officers is crucial to address this problem: in a safe and supportive environment, judges need to reflect on what their judicial independence actually means.