When conflicts, disasters, or political crises arise, courts remain among the few institutions expected to continue functioning, upholding the essential rule of law. Judges persist in hearing criminal cases, protecting constitutional rights, and ensuring accountability, often while enduring the same daily pressures as the communities they serve.

However, for decades, the well-being of judges has received little attention. Hon. Rangajeeva Wimalasena, Judge of the National and Supreme Courts of Papua New Guinea, described the judicial role using an analogy from British Law Lord Edward Pearce: “The judge seems to float along the bench with effortless serenity, like a swan on the mirrored surface of the lake. But beneath that mirrored surface of the lake, there's a very big struggle.”

Ahead of the international day dedicated to recognizing judicial resilience and importance, Judge Wimalasena emphasized that supporting judges is not merely a workplace issue but a foundation for fair, impartial, and effective justice. He noted, “When you say judicial well-being, a lot of people think it's about individual judges’ well-being... making them live in a very comfortable and happy lifestyle. But what is meant by judicial well-being is far deeper and broader.”

The annual observance follows the adoption of the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being, developed through the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2024. This declaration encourages courts and governments worldwide to recognize and address the importance of judicial well-being.

Judge Wimalasena also highlighted that judicial stress was long considered taboo because society expected judges to be superhuman.

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