Independence of constitutional courts discussed at IV Congress of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice in Vilnius

15.09.2017.

From 11 September to 14 September, the delegation of the Constitutional Court, headed by the President of the Constitutional Court Ineta Ziemele, attended IV Congress of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice (hereinafter – the Conference) in Vilnius, Lithuania. The theme chosen for the Congress of this year was “The Rule of Law and Constitutional Justice in the Modern World”.

In the framework of this topic, participants of the Congress discussed understanding of the rule of law prevailing in different countries, as well as assessed the predictable challenges to the rule of law in the near future, focusing, in particular, upon the impact of constitutional legal proceedings upon the state and an individual in a state governed by the rule of law.

The conclusion made at the Congress was that, although the principle of the rule of law is interpreted differently in different countries, this principle is the foundation for all legal systems. It defines fundamental values of a democratic state governed by the rule of law and ensures respect for human rights. Constitutional courts have an enormous influence upon development of the rule of law, because they, within the limits of their competence, in the light of cases that they review reveal and explain to society the essence and the content of the rule of law principle.

At the end of the Congress “Vilnius Communiqué” was adopted, providing a summary of the main findings of the Congress. This Communiqué, in particular, emphasizes the importance that the independence of constitutional courts has in ensuring the rule of law, upon which a secure, democratic and economically developed society is based. Constitutional Courts were urged to not submit to political influence and to review cases on the basis of only principles and values included in the national constitutions.

The Congress was attended not only by representatives of states party to the Conference, but also by other invited participants from the European Court of Human Rights, the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission), as well as from other institutions.

On the World Conference on Constitutional Justice

The Conference was established in 2011, and it unites 110 institutions of constitutional justice from Africa, North America, South America, Australia, Asia, and Europe. The World Conference is the conference of the highest level in the field of constitutional justice. It aims to promote constitutional rule of law and judicial dialogue of a global scale, involving judges of constitutional courts, which is a decisive element of democracy, protection of human rights, and the rule of law. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia has been active in this Conference since 2011.