The President of the European Court of Human Rights, Mattias Guyomar, met his counterpart at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane, in The Hague on Thursday 15 October.

During the meeting, President Guyomar expressed his solidarity – both personally and on behalf of the European court – with the ICC at a time when the court in The Hague and a number of its members are subject to sanctions.

President Guyomar underlined the importance of standing together with judges who face attacks and come under pressure because of their work, emphasising that peace should be defended through law and justice.

“Without judges, there can be no rule of law and no democracy”

Speaking to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in September, President Guyomar said that when judges are subjected to pressure, threatened or discredited, it is, ultimately, the credibility of international law itself that is undermined.

“At times like these, there is a need for judges to stand together,” he said. “Because without judges, there can be no rule of law and no democracy.”

 How does the European Convention on Human Rights help you?

 Learn more about the Council of Europe’s work with other regional and international organisations