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JUSTICE
IN THE WORLD |
No.3 |
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JUSTICE
IN THE WORLD |
No.3 |
EDITORIAL
Dear
colleagues A year has already passed ... time goes by so fast at the International Association of Judges and for the Foundation ... A
year at the end of which we have organised a new way of managing the
Foundation. The
"Justice in the World" Foundation was founded under the
auspices of the International Association of Judges and draws on its
image. Due to this, the founders thought it natural for the Chairmanship
of the Foundation to be embodied in the President of the International
Association of Judges. However,
the Foundation is a Spanish body, and its activities take place in Spain
due to the Spanish donors. Under such conditions, after the change of
President of the International Association of Judges, it became evident
that management would have to be entrusted to a Spanish Executive
Chairman, for which office Mr Ramón Rodríguez Arribas was naturally
proposed. By
maintaining Spanish management, with the influence of a President of the
International Association of Judges of a different nationality and
culture, it full that the Foundation will continue to develop at the
service of Judges worldwide and in all the judicial systems. When
this magazine is published, almost a year will have gone by since the
sad moment when dear Philippe
(Philippe
Abravanel) left us. A part of this issue is dedicated
to his memory and many have been able to remember his immense work
throughout his life for the cause of Justice: firstly in favour of the
independence of Judges in Switzerland, in his post as Chairman of the
Swiss Judges' Association, and later to support the judicial power in
other countries on all five continents. At
his side, the young and not so young Judges of the International
Association of Judges have preciaty to know his conviction as to the
need of an independent judicial power as the unavoidable pillar of all
true democracies. Many of us share that conviction within the
International Association of Judges; however, it was he who made it a
constant factor in his struggle. He also did not cease to remind others
that Justice is only made for those judged, depending on their needs,
and not for the judges themselves. Philippe
is no longer with us, but he has left us the legacy of the strong flame
of his convictions. We shall continue to walk the same path, to
increasingly convince the political authorities and our colleagues, so
they may open up to other judicial cultures and other ways of reasoning
. Within
a few months, we shall face the end of the century together, an
essential, unique moment for all of us. This is the time to sum things
up, although it may be best to leave that task to thinkers and
historians. For those of us who are active workers, the step from one
century to another is also a change of millennium, which represents a
leap into a future that should always be better in the quest for
universal respect for the rule of law and human rights. We must imagine
that future. The mission of the International Association of Judges in
that effort at visionary creation is very special, as we are the only
NGO that represents judges in almost all the judicial systems. We are
thus an extraordinary forum for reflect. We shall seek inspiration from
all this, obren in the year 2000, we will begin the first
Philippe-Abravanel conference to reflect on the justice of the
future. There is no lack of themes for theses Conferences, be they
political and philosophical, as well as the need to develop the judicial
powers across the continents, more practical themes, such as the impact
of new networking technologies to improve file processing and treatment
conditions of cases, etc... We
look forward to your ideas and suggestions. Páquerette
GIRARD, |
