On 18 July, the President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, addressed the participants of the third Liverpool Summer School in the Law of the Council of Europe, hosted by the Law School of the University of Liverpool. In his closing keynote address on the topic of “Judges as Guardians of Democracy”, the Court President highlighted the role of judges in defending pluralism, preventing arbitrariness, and protecting human rights.

Elaborating on the broader context, the President of the Court noted that, at a time when the ideals of peace and justice are once again being shattered across the European continent, democracy and respect for human rights remain—more than ever—the only way forward for humanity.

The Liverpool Summer School in the Law of the Council of Europe is an initiative of the Council of Europe Days: telling the Council of Europe’s story launched to raise awareness of the Council of Europe in its member states and supported by the Open Council of Europe Academic Networks (OCEAN) Programme.