Earlier this month we supported the Bar–Bench Conference in Livingstone, Zambia. The conference, whose theme was “A Future-Ready Justice System: Safeguarding Judicial Independence and Ethical Practice in a Challengng Landscape”, was organized by the Law Association of Zambia. The event brought together over 300 national judges and legal practitioners and was part of a broader series of activities aimed at enhancing the administration of justice and judicial preparedness ahead of the 2026 General Elections.
The Bar–Bench Conference, in which Erini-Maria Gounari (Senior Electoral and Legal expert) delivered an insightful contribution, provided a structured platform for engagement between the Bench and the Bar on issues of shared concern regarding the effectiveness, efficiency, mutual accountability and credibility of the justice system. In a context marked by increasing public scrutiny of judicial processes and the growing complexity of litigation, the forum enabled open and constructive discussions on professional ethics, procedural challenges and judicial independence.
ECES’ support and participation to the Bar–Bench Conference was provided within the framework of its broader assistance to the Judiciary of Zambia on Electoral Dispute Resolution (EDR) preparedness. The conference was strategically integrated into a wider judicial capacity-building programme aimed at improving consistent application of electoral laws and procedures and reinforcing a collaborative professional environment where judges and lawyers could act with a joint engagement on time-bound matters such as electoral disputes.
By promoting constructive engagement between several judicial and legal entities across the country, we sustain our role as a trusted partner to national institutions in strengthening democratic governance and the rule of law.
