PURPOSE: The Republic of Nauru submitted a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly calling for the establishment of an International Day for Judicial Well-being. On 4 March 2025, the United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the resolution A/79/L.52 with 71 member states co-sponsoring it to declare 25 July as the International Day for Judicial Well-being - a landmark achievement in the global promotion of judicial well-being. This date was chosen to reflect the adoption of the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being. As we move forward, it is imperative that judicial institutions, judicial leaderships, policymakers and other stakeholders commit to ensuring that judges receive the support they need. Not only that, as emphasized in the Nauru Declaration, judicial well-being is also a responsibility of individual judges. The adoption of this resolution serves as a call to action for the global judicial community to embrace and implement strategies that safeguard the well-being of judicial officers. It acknowledges that judicial well-being is essential for upholding integrity, independence and the efficiency of justice systems worldwide. Judges have always faced significant stressors, including the burden of consequential decision-making, exposure to disturbing evidence, and isolation. While every judicial assignment has its own mix of concerns, challenge is a constant. Recurrent experiences of serious stressors place judges at risk of burn-out, secondary trauma, poor mental and physical health, and substance use disorders. Historically, such issues have been addressed primarily in the context of judicial fitness - that is, only when individual judges were suffering to the degree that they could no longer competently perform their duties would the system respond, and then usually for the purpose of discipline or removal. In recent years, though, the focus has shifted. Judicial leaders, health professionals, judge and lawyer assistance programs, and social scientists have called for broader, nonpunitive attention to the stressors faced by all judges, not only those who have become impaired.
FORUM: “Judicial well-being matters for the quality of justice and public trust.” International Day for Judicial Well-being 2025. Over the past decade, a growing global conversation has emerged around these concerns, driven by ground-breaking research and proactive judicial leadership. Empirical research conducted across various jurisdictions, vividly underscores the magnitude of judicial stress. The 2019 National Judicial Stress and Resiliency Survey, conducted in the United States among 1,034 judges, paints a sobering picture. Using a custom-built Sources of Stress Scale, the study identified that nearly 80% of judges experience stress from the gravity of their decisions, followed closely by heavy caseloads (73.2%), unprepared attorneys (67.6%), and self-represented litigants (62.5%)—all of which highlight the systemic pressures inherent in judicial work. Problematic alcohol use among judges, while not widespread, remains a notable concern too. The same Survey found that 9.5% of judicial respondents fell into higher-risk categories on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), with 0.5% at possible dependence. Though most judges reported moderate or low-risk alcohol use, a small group disclosed patterns of binge drinking and associated functional impairments, such as memory blackouts, guilt, or failing to meet responsibilities. Evidence-based research consistently shows that the isolation inherent in the judicial role is a universal factor that undermines judicial well-being. This isolation can significantly affect mental health, increasing the risk of anxiety and depression, which in turn can impair judicial performance and decision-making. Both physical and emotional isolation continue to present serious barriers to judicial well-being, underscoring the need for targeted strategies to break this harmful cycle. Join us to raise awareness of the unique challenges faced by judicial officers and to emphasize the need for a supportive and inclusive judicial culture. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #25July, #JudicialLeader, #JudicialWellbeing, #judicialstress, #mentalhealth, #secondarytrauma,#InternationalDayforJudicialwellbeing.
EVENTS: On July 25th, an event will be held to mark the International Day for Judicial Well-being 2025. The event brings together judicial leaders and policymakers to develop concrete tools and strategies for integrating well-being into court systems worldwide. The United Nations General Assembly encourages member states, UN agencies, judicial institutions, and other stakeholders to observe the day through various activities, including public awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, and wellness programs. Register to participate!
PUBLICATIONS: Explore the United Nations International Law Documentation.
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
PARTNERSHIPS
Fittingly, July 25th was chosen to mark the International Day for Judicial Well-being as it coincides with the adoption of the Nauru Declaration, reaffirming its central role in elevating judicial well-being to the forefront of international discourse. the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being marked a critical milestone, recognizing that the causes of judicial stress are not merely isolated anomalies affecting individual judges, but systemic issues that undermine judicial effectiveness, integrity, and the overall quality of justice. Yet even today, translating awareness into meaningful change remains a significant challenge, particularly due to factors such as the persistent stigma associated with seeking support and entrenched institutional cultures that deprive judges of fair, ethical, and inclusive working conditions. Many judges believe that acknowledging stress or fatigue could be perceived as a sign of incompetence, and as a threat to their professional standing or public trust. These enduring barriers underscore the importance of observing this inaugural international day as a catalyst for sustained and transformative reform.
Promote Judicial Well-Being by Prioritizing Judicial Well-being, Empowering Judges, Enhancing the Quality of Justice.
Advocate for the promotion of a balanced mind for judicial officers.
Invite the General Public to explore the link between judicial integrity and well-being.
Help the stakeholders within the justice system to perform at optimal levels.
Offer a practical, judge-led approach to sustaining professional reflection in a complex and evolving judicial environment.
Establish universal standards for judicial conduct, focusing on independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality, and competence and diligence.
The International Day for Judicial Well-being is co-organized by the United Nations General Assembly, the Department of Global Communication, the United Nations Office on Drugs and crimes (UNODC), the UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals, the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Ad hoc Criminal Tribunals, the UN Administration of Justice (The UN Dispute Tribunal and the UN Appeals Tribunal), the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). With the collaboration of National Tribunal courts, Judges and prosecutors, registrars and Workers of the Justice System..With the participation of Judicial leaders, health professionals, judge and lawyer assistance programs, and social scientists.