In his speech at the J20 Summit, President of the Constitutional Court Mr. Kadir Özkaya stated: “Universal virtues based on human rights, freedoms, and the rule of law are also essential elements of democracies. Therefore, for democracies, it is an absolute necessity to safeguard these virtues by establishing independent courts and by providing adequate legal frameworks and guarantees.”

President Özkaya participated in the J20 Summit of Constitutional Courts and Supreme Courts of the G20 members held in Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, between 2 and 5 September 2025.

The Summit, themed “Justice in a time of change: Independence, Innovation and Co-operation”, convened the heads of constitutional and supreme courts from G20 countries, as well as representatives from invited countries. The Summit featured in-depth discussions on a range of topics, including “Advancing Judicial Independence and Accountability”, “Balancing Artificial Intelligence Innovation with Fundamental Freedoms in Judicial Systems”, “Climate Change Justice through Judicial Collaboration” and “Combating Cybercrime”.

Participants exchanged experiences from their respective countries and engaged in discussions on how judicial authorities are responding to evolving global dynamics.

Cooperation bears critical importance for ensuring the administration of justice on a global scale

In his speech titled “Rethinking Human Rights Adjudication in a Changing World”, President Özkaya noted that in today’s globalised world, constitutional justice was shaped not only within national boundaries, but also by universal legal norms and the jurisprudence of international courts. He further stated “Therefore, cooperation among constitutional courts and supreme judicial bodies of different countries bears critical importance for strengthening the rule of law, safeguarding individual rights more effectively, and ensuring the administration of justice on a global scale.”

Emphasizing the need to learn from history by recalling the consequences of the World War II, President Özkaya remarked: “The true value of peace was deeply understood. This realisation strengthened cooperation among societies. A universal awareness emerged on the protection and promotion of human rights. In response to these tragic events, multilateral agreements were signed to safeguard the international order and human rights. Existing structures of international cooperation were further strengthened. New international mechanisms were established. As today’s generation, we have a responsibility to build the future with these lessons of the past in mind. Therefore, we must look back and learn from history in order to cultivate a lasting culture of coexistence. We must continue our pursuit of hope and goodness for humanity, and ensure that values such as solidarity, love, and trust remain strong and intact. All of this is crucial for the shared future of humanity.”

Judiciary is the fundamental guarantor of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law

President Özkaya, noting that as an independent power, the judiciary is the fundamental guarantor of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, also stated: “universal virtues based on human rights, freedoms, and the rule of law are also essential elements of democracies. Therefore, for democracies, it is an absolute necessity to safeguard these virtues by establishing independent courts and by providing adequate legal frameworks and guarantees. Moreover, across the world and within every society, the foremost safeguard of the constitutional and social identity of a society lies in the existence of an independent and impartial judiciary.”

Touching upon the recent developments worldwide, President Özkaya stressed that fundamental rights and freedoms were currently under serious threat across the globe. He further noted: “As stated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in his message for the 2024 International Day of Democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms are currently under serious threat across the globe. Freedoms are being eroded, the civic space is diminishing, polarisation is deepening, and mistrust is on the rise.”

President Özkaya, expressing that this situation dealt a serious blow to international peace and order, further stated: “Humanity must respond with a united conscience by taking action together. All relevant authorities and stakeholders worldwide must work collaboratively to cultivate an international order, rooted in justice and moral values. They must also take the necessary steps to foster a legal culture that prioritises humanity, and upholds the rule of law, without compromising the balance between security and fundamental rights and freedoms.

True and lasting peace can only be achieved in a world governed by morality and justice

Concluding his speech, President Özkaya underlined the significance of justice and moral values, and stated: “We should bear in mind that true and lasting peace can only be achieved in a world governed by morality and justice. The shared future of humanity and the prospect of enduring peace depend on a renewed commitment to moral values and upholding justice across the globe.”

During the summit, President Özkaya, accompanied by Deputy Secretary General Dr. Mücahit Aydın, engaged in fruitful discussions with the heads of constitutional and supreme courts of G20 member countries to enhance bilateral relations.

Click for the full text of the remarks delivered by President Kadir Özkaya.