The Commission on Human Rights first appointed a Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers in 1994 due to the increasing frequency of attacks on the independence of judges, lawyers and court officials and the link which exists between the weakening of safeguards for the judiciary and lawyers and the gravity and frequency of violations of human rights.

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers was created to:

• record attacks on the independence of judges, lawyers and prosecutors;
• monitor the progress made in protecting and enhancing their independence;
• make concrete recommendations to States and other actors;
• identify ways to improve the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession.

The Special Rapporteur recently issued a call for input from Member States, national human rights institutions, and civil society to provide written submissions for the next thematic report on safeguarding the independence of judicial systems in the face of contemporary challenges to democracy. The report will examine the role of judges, prosecutors, lawyers, including community justice workers, in safeguarding democracy. A special focus will be placed on the ways independent judicial systems provide institutional checks and balances and oversight of the actions of the executive and legislative branches of government.

aditus foundation and The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation submitted the bleow feedback in response to the call for input:

For more information contact Carla Camilleri.