Weaving European justice: FIBGAR commemorates the European Day of Justice reaffirming the commitment to our projects
October 25 is a significant day in the European calendar. Since 2003, the Council of Europe and the European Commission have decided to celebrate the “European Day of Justice” on this date.
This commemoration reminds us of the importance of justice, human rights and the constant struggle for a more just society. It serves as a reminder that justice has no borders and that collaboration between countries is essential to ensure an effective and equitable justice system. Every year, events, conferences and activities are held throughout Europe to promote access to justice and improve understanding of European legal systems, bringing them closer to citizens.
Coincidentally, October 25 is also European Advocacy Day, a date honoring the crucial work of lawyers in defending citizens’ rights and justice.
As one of Eduardo J. Couture’s “Lawyer’s Commandments” says: “Your duty is to fight for the right, but the day you find the right in conflict with justice, fight for justice”.
It is essential that on this day we reflect on the importance of justice and the defense of human rights in Europe, marking the need to maintain and strengthen one of the fundamental pillars of a democratic, just and egalitarian society.
Justice, in its essence, is a principle that guides our actions and decisions in pursuit of equity and respect for the rights of all individuals.
The Baltasar Garzón International Foundation is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights. We work every day to achieve justice in cases of violations of fundamental rights and to advocate for the clarification of the truth, memory and accountability in relation to the crimes of Franco’s regime in our country. We fight tirelessly to ensure that victims and their families receive the justice they deserve.
That is why we continue to move forward with our projects. Memoria Democrática para una juventud más europea (MEM4EU) y ¡Memorízate!based on the pillars of the truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition, and integrate testimonies and experiences in favor of the memory and against the oblivion of the Spanish Civil War and Franco’s regime.
Currently, we are also deeply engaged in projects that reinforce the concept of justice and the training of legal professionals and human rights defenders. One of these outstanding projects is the Pioneering AntiSLAPP Training for Freedom of Expression (PATFox) Project. Pioneering AntiSLAPP Training for Freedom of Expression (PATFox) Project. which comes to life thanks to co-financing from the European Commission within the framework of the Justice Program. This project is coordinated by our director, Alessia Schiavon.
The PATFox project aims to improve the skills and training of lawyers representing journalists and human rights defenders facing strategic prosecutions that seek to silence public participation, known as SLAPPs. This project stands as the pioneer in the creation of an anti-SLAPP curriculum, designed to train 200 lawyers and young professionals from various European countries. In essence, PATFox embraces justice as its compass, ensuring that human rights defenders have the tools necessary to protect and promote freedom of expression in a complex legal environment.
In short, the European Day of Justice is not only an occasion to reflect on the importance of justice and human rights, but also to reaffirm our commitment, as well as that of many human rights defenders in Europe, to the cause of justice and truth, working tirelessly for a more just, democratic and equitable world.
Javier Graña, collaborator of FIBGAR
