Rule of law: Developments and trends in Central Europe
Meeting
- Date:
- Location:
- Budapest, Hungary
- Organized by:
- OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
- Source:
- OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
- Fields of work:
- Democratization, Rule of law
About the event
An independent and accountable judiciary is essential to protecting people’s rights and ensuring fair trials. Effective safeguards enable judges to carry out their work free from undue interference and help build public confidence in the justice system.
ODIHR is bringing together legal professionals, civil society representatives and international experts for a roundtable in Budapest to examine rule of law developments in Central Europe. Participants will exchange experiences, discuss common challenges and identify practical ways to safeguard judicial independence and support lasting reforms.
The meeting is one of two regional roundtables focusing on Central and Southern Europe, organized through ODIHR’s partnership with the EEA and Norway Grants. The initiative supports regional co-operation on judicial reform, access to justice and the right to a fair trial, in line with international human rights standards and OSCE commitments.
What the meeting will cover
Participants will discuss:
- Recent rule of law developments, trends and challenges in Central Europe
- Judicial independence and accountability, including judicial appointments, disciplinary liability and dismissal
- The administration of justice and the role of judicial self-governing bodies
- Institutional and legislative safeguards against undue interference
- Responses to rule of law backsliding and ways to sustain reforms
- Access to justice and protection of the right to a fair trial
Expert presentations and moderated discussions will draw on ODIHR’s experience in supporting judicial reform and reviewing legislation, as well as its Recommendations on Judicial Independence and Accountability (Warsaw Recommendations).
The discussions will contribute to practical recommendations to support national and regional efforts to strengthen the rule of law.
Participants
The meeting will bring together judges, representatives of judicial councils and other judicial self-governing bodies, lawyers, academics, civil society representatives and international experts working on rule of law issues in Central Europe.
Participation is by invitation only.
Contact
For questions about the event, please write to Wilson von Kessler, ODIHR Rule of Law Officer, at Wilson.VonKessler@odihr.pl.
Contact
