ARUSHA: Judges from three regional human rights courts have warned that escalating geopolitical conflicts around the world are increasingly undermining democracy and the rule of law.
Speaking during a judicial forum in Arusha, Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights, Judge Arnfinn Bardsen, said the current global climate shows growing reliance on force rather than legal processes to resolve disputes.
“We are witnessing the massive use of force by powerful actors who were expected to guarantee peace,” Bardsen said, adding that the trend poses a serious challenge to international legal norms.
He cited ongoing conflicts including the Israel–Hamas War in the Middle East and the Russia–Ukraine War in Eastern Europe, as well as rising tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran. According to Bardsen, such crises highlight growing concerns over the use of military power instead of legal mechanisms.
Judge Nancy Hernandez Lopez of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights said the world may be approaching a critical turning point for democracy and the rule of law.
“Even as global judicial institutions gather to discuss shared concerns, international cooperation is increasingly met with skepticism,” she said.
Lopez added that many countries are increasingly prioritising national interests, despite the fact that many modern challenges — including human rights protection, digital privacy and freedom of communication — cross borders and require international cooperation.
The event is being hosted by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, northern Tanzania.
Top judges sound alarm over wars undermining international law
President of the court, Justice Blaise Tchikaya, said the judiciary has a critical role to play in protecting citizens during periods of global instability.
“The courts must remain vigilant in safeguarding the rights of ordinary people, particularly in times of crisis and conflict,” Tchikaya said.
The discussions are taking place during the Fourth International Human Rights Forum, a gathering of judges from the African, European and Inter-American human rights courts aimed at strengthening cooperation between the institutions.
The forum, held at the Pan African Postal Union Complex, runs from March 2 to March 27, 2026, as part of the African court’s 80th Ordinary Session.
The biennial meeting rotates among the three regions. Previous editions were held in Kampala, Uganda in 2019, Strasbourg, France in 2021, and San José, Costa Rica in 2023.
This year’s gathering has brought together judges, legal experts and officials to discuss emerging human rights challenges, including the growing impact of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence on governance and human rights protection.
Participants are also expected to renew a Memorandum of Understanding between the three courts, first signed in San José, reaffirming their commitment to cooperation in advancing human rights protections across Africa, Europe and the Americas.
