The President of the International Association of Judges (IAJ), Judge Walter Barone, and the President of the Ibero-American Group (IBA), Judge Adriana Orocú, participated in the opening ceremony of the Inter-American Judicial Year of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, held on 26 and 27 January 2026 in San José, Costa Rica.
On this occasion, President Barone attended the inauguration ceremony of the new President of the Court, Judge Rodrigo Mudrovitsch, and the Vice-President, Judge Patrícia Pérez Goldberg, reaffirming the strong institutional ties between the IAJ and the Inter-American human rights system.
During the same period, Judge Barone also took part in the Inter-American Seminar “Human Rights and Their Challenges” (“Derechos Humanos y sus Desafíos”), which brought together judges, legal professionals, and representatives of judicial associations from across the region to discuss contemporary issues related to the protection of fundamental rights and judicial independence.
The event was also attended by representatives of member associations from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, and Paraguay, as well as by the President of FLAM, Mr. Marcelo Gallo.
In addition, the IAJ delegation was received by the President of the Supreme Court of Costa Rica for a meeting and an institutional visit to the Court, providing an opportunity to exchange experiences and strengthen cooperation between judicial institutions.
On the margins of the activities at the Inter-American Court, President Barone also met with Mr. Diego Sayán, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, and with Judge Blaise Tchikaya, Vice-President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, further reinforcing the IAJ’s commitment to international judicial dialogue and cooperation.
Through its participation in these important events, the IAJ reaffirms its dedication to promoting judicial independence, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights worldwide.
