Bonavero Institute – UNESCO International Judicial Symposium on Freedom of Expression

On 29 September 2023, the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organised an International Judicial Symposium on Freedom of Expression. 

Held in Mansfield College, the Judicial Symposium convened 15 Chief Justices, Justices and high-level judges from the five regions of the world, as well as from all Regional Human Rights Courts and Community Courts, namely from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the European Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the East African Court of Justice, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice and the Caribbean Court of Justice. 

The Judicial Symposium served as a platform for Justices and high-level judges representing courts, with a combined jurisdiction of over 4 billion people, to discuss how to further strengthen Rule of Law and Freedom of Expression, cornerstones of democratic societies. The discussion also focused on the main challenges arising from the digital environment, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technological developments.

During the proceedings, participants expressed support to the UNESCO Judges’ Initiative, highlighting that programmes of capacity building, inter-jurisprudence dialogue and knowledge sharing should continue and be reinforced.