On 7 May 2026, the Opening Session of the World Law Congress Albania 2027, organised by the World Jurist Association, took place in Tirana, bringing together high-ranking government officials, judges, jurists, academics, and law experts.

In a video address, the President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, highlighted the role that courts can play in addressing armed conflict and in fostering peace. He recalled that, over the past decades, the European Court of Human Rights has been called upon to examine numerous situations of armed conflict in Europe.

“There have been over 30 inter State cases since the European Convention on Human Rights entered into force in 1953. In addition, over the course of its history, the Court has received well over 18,000 individual applications concerning armed conflicts,” he said.

Referring to Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia as an emblematic case decided by the Court, President Guyomar added that the Court has also helped indemnify victims, for example in Cyprus and in Georgia, and solidify peace, for example in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Northern Ireland.

He concluded his address by emphasising that human rights always matter, in peacetime and in times of war.

The judge elected in respect of Albania, Darian Pavli, participated in person in the event and shared his insights during a high level panel. Judge Pavli highlighted the Court’s case law relating to the vetting of magistrates, cases of constitutional significance, and cases involving excessive delays in judicial proceedings.

• Video: address by the President Mattias Guyomar