The UN has declared 25 July as the International Day for Judicial Wellbeing in what has been described as a ‘historic moment’ for judges around the world. The date was chosen as it was the date when the Nauru Declaration on judicial wellbeing was adopted at a landmark conference.

As the Gazette revealed last year, Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena, president of the Court of Appeal in Nauru, asked the Republic of Nauru if it would be willing to submit a resolution to the UN General Assembly to declare a day for judicial wellbeing, and Nauru agreed. Nauru submitted a resolution to the UN, which was co-sponsored by more than 70 countries, including Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Yesterday, the UN adopted the resolution after 160 member states voted in favour of it. Three abstained. The US voted against it.

Wimalasena said: ‘Judicial wellbeing is not just about individual resilience, it is about safeguarding the independence, integrity, and effectiveness of judicial systems worldwide. This recognition at the UN level is a testament to the growing awareness that a strong, well-supported judiciary is fundamental to justice and democracy. Let this be a call to action for all stakeholders to prioritise judicial wellbeing and ensure that those who uphold justice receive the support they need.’

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Wimalasena was the driving force behind the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Wellbeing, created to support judges worldwide and officially adopted at a conference on 25 July last year.

One of his inspirations was Her Honour Judge Kalyani Kaul KC, a circuit judge in England and Wales. Kaul, who took the Ministry of Justice, lord chancellor and lord chief justice to court over the handling of grievances she lodged against senior judges and court staff, is the founder of the Judicial Support Network, an independent support organisation for judges in England and Wales. She is also acting chair of the global support network.

The lady chief justice told her annual press conference last month that England and Wales would not be formally backing the declaration as the declaration’s priorities and objectives ‘chime exactly’ with the work being done by the judiciary on wellbeing and support.

The latest UK Judicial Attitudes Survey, published last week, revealed a worrying rise in the number of judges concerned about their safety. The number of salaried judges and fee-paid earners who say they have experienced bullying also increased.