ARUSHA: Judges from three regional human rights courts in Africa, Europe and the Americas warned on Thursday that escalating geopolitical conflicts are increasingly sidelining international law, raising concerns about the future of democracy and the rule of law worldwide.
The warning came during the Fourth International Human Rights Forum hosted in northern Tanzania by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which has brought together senior judges from the three regional courts to discuss emerging global human rights challenges.
Speaking at the forum in Arusha, Judge Arnfinn Bardsen, Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights, said the current geopolitical climate shows democracy and the rule of law are under growing pressure.
“We are witnessing the massive use of force by powerful entities that were supposed to guarantee peace,” Bardsen said, calling for stronger cooperation among judicial institutions to defend international legal norms.
He pointed to several ongoing conflicts that have raised concerns about the growing reliance on military force in global disputes, including the Israel–Hamas War, the Russia–Ukraine War, and rising tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran in the Middle East.
“These situations raise serious questions about whether the rule of law is being replaced by the rule of power,” he said.
Judge Nancy Hernández López of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights said the world may be approaching a critical moment for democracy and international cooperation.
“Even as global judicial institutions gather in Tanzania to discuss matters of common interest, we see increasing scepticism toward international cooperation,” López said.
She noted that many governments are focusing more narrowly on national interests despite the fact that many modern challenges — including human rights protection, digital privacy and freedom of communication — transcend national borders.
Tanzania hosts Africa’s first global forum on cooperative law
“These are global issues that require collective solutions,” she said.
The forum is being hosted by the president of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Justice Blaise Tchikaya, who emphasised the judiciary’s responsibility to safeguard ordinary citizens during periods of global instability.
“The role of courts is to ensure that even in times of crisis, the rights and dignity of individuals remain protected,” Tchikaya said.
The event, taking place at the Pan African Postal Union Complex, runs from March 2 to March 27 as part of the court’s 80th Ordinary Session.
The forum brings together judges, legal experts and officials from the three regional courts to exchange experiences, strengthen cooperation and discuss emerging human rights issues.
Participants are also examining the growing impact of technologies such as artificial intelligence on governance and human rights, highlighting both opportunities and risks associated with rapid digital transformation.
The biennial forum rotates among the three regions, with previous meetings held in Kampala in 2019, Strasbourg in 2021 and San José in 2023.
During this year’s meeting, the three courts are also expected to renew a memorandum of understanding first signed in San José, reaffirming their commitment to cooperation in promoting and protecting human rights across their respective regions.
Legal experts say the discussions come at a time when international institutions face increasing pressure as geopolitical tensions reshape the global order.