THE GLOBAL SOUTH NETWORK GUEST LECTURE SERIES

SERIES 1: JUDGES GUEST LECTURES SERIES

The Global South Network Judges Guest Lecture Series provides a platform for distinguished judges from the Global South to share insights on legal, constitutional, and judicial issues. It fosters intellectual exchange, deepens understanding of diverse judicial practices, and highlights how judges address unique challenges.

Key Objectives:

• Enhance understanding of legal traditions and judicial processes in the Global South.
• Bridge gaps between legal systems through comparative discussions.
• Amplify voices from the Global South on navigating complex challenges.
• Provide valuable insights to students, researchers, and practitioners.
• Strengthen collaboration among judges, academics, and legal professionals.

The Launch Event of the Global South Network/The First Guest Lecture

Convener/Founder GSN Dr Nauman Reayat organised the launch event/the first guest lecture on Friday 17 March 2023 in the Council Chambers. Justice Ayesha Malik, Supreme Court of Pakistan gave the keynote speech/ the first guest lecture. The complete transcript of the first guest lecture is available here. Legal scholars, political scientists, civil society organisations, and practitioners from Poland, Mexico, Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Chile, South Korea, and Bangladesh presented their introductions.

75 years of Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Challenges and Opportunities for the Global South

Justice Aruna Devi Narain, Mauritius Supreme Court delivered the guest lecture on “75 years of Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Challenges and Opportunities” for the Global South” on Friday 14 April 2023 11:15 am UK.  Dr Nauman Reayat, Convener, GSN was the organiser and moderator.

Reinforcing Democratic Values Through Online Hearings – the Maldives Experience

Honourable Dr Azmiralda Zahir, Justice Supreme Court of Maldives delivered her online talk titled “Reinforcing Democratic Values Through Online Hearings – the Maldives Experience” on Monday 5th of June 2023 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM UK TIME.  Dr Nauman Reayat, the Founder and the Convener of the GSN was the organiser and moderator.

MEXICAN SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE: CURRENT GOALS AND CHALLENGES

Former Justice Mexican Supreme Court  Dr José Ramón Cossío Díaz delivered his online talk titled  “Mexican Supreme Court of Justice: current goals and challenges” on Thursday 29 June 2023 at 15:00  – 16:00  UK TIME.   Dr Nauman Reayat, The Founder and the Convener of the GSN was the organiser and moderator.

The Challenges of Female Judges in Fragile States: Evidence From Afghanistan

Former Afghanistan provincial court judge Mahtab Fazl delivered her online talk on the challenges of female judges in fragile states: evidence from Afghanistan on 12 September 2023 at 11 am UK time. Dr Nauman Reayat, Convener, GSN was the organiser and moderator.

Judicial independence and Judicial activism in the face of Transformative Constitutionalism: Legislative and Executive Inertia and Incapacity

Justice Steven A Majiedt, Constitutional Court of South Africa delivered his talk titled “Judicial Independence and judicial activism in the face of Transformative Constitutionalism: Legislative and Executive Inertia and Incapacity“ face-to-face on Monday 30th of October 2023. Dr Nauman Reayat, Convener, GSN was the moderator and organiser. The highlights and recording of the guest lecture is available here. Full article based on this talk is available here

The Supreme Constitutional Court of Palestine : Past, Present, and Future

Honourable Justice Ali Jamil Muhanna, President Supreme Constitutional Court of Palestine delivered the online guest lecture titled “The Supreme Constitutional Court of Palestine: Past, Present, and Future” on Tuesday 7 May 2024 at 1:00 pm Palestine/ 11:00 am UK time. The full transcript of his talk in Arabic is available here. The English version will be available soon.

Being a Judge in Israel; Taking Judging Seriously

Honourable Justice Ruth Ronnen, Supreme Court of Israel (SCI) delivered the online lecture titled ” Being a Judge in Israel; Taking Judging Seriously” during the Global South Network (GSN) judges guest lecture series on Sunday 25 August 2024 at 10:00 am UK time/12:00pm Israel time.

The Ukraine Supreme Court’s Practice in Cases Related to the War in Ukraine

Judge, Doctor of Law, Professor Vitaliy Urkevych has been the Secretary of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court of Ukraine delivered the guest talk titled the Ukraine Supreme Court’s Practice in Cases Related to the War in Ukraine on 6 September 2024.

North-South: Judicial Cooperation Between the United Kingdom and the Global South

The Rt Hon the Lord Reed of Allermuir, President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom delivered the guest lecture titled “North-South: Judicial Cooperation between the United Kingdom and the Global South” during the Global South Network (GSN) judges guest lecture series on 20 January 2025. See details here and see complete speech of Lord Reed here .

Constitutional Supremacy in Southeast Asia: The Case of Malaysia

The online guest lecture by The Right Honourable Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat, Chief Justice of Malaysia, titled “Constitutional Supremacy in Southeast Asia: The Case of Malaysia.” took place on Friday, 23 May 2025, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM (UK time) / 17:30 to 18:30 (Malaysian time). The Founder and the Chief Convener of the Global South Network Dr Nauman Reayat chaired the session. The complete proceedings of the online lecture are available here.

THE HELLENIC COUNCIL OF STATE (SUPREME ADMINISTRATIVE COURT) OF GREECE AND ITS POSITION IN THE EUROPEAN LEGAL ORDER

Honourable Justice Michail Pikramenos, President of the Hellenic Council of State (Supreme Administrative Court) of Greece  delivered the lecture title “The Hellenic Council of State and Its Position in the European Legal Order” during the GSN Judges Guest Lecture Series on Monday 15 September 2025, 14:30 Greece time (12:30 UK time).

DISCUSSANTS:

The following judges from various jurisdictions delivered brief initial remarks on Justice Pikramenos’s lecture:

1. Honourable Justice Kari Kuusiniemi, President of the Supreme Administrative Court of Finland.
2. Honourable Justice Yves Gounin, the Council of State (Supreme Administrative Court) of France.
3. Honourable Justice Mahube Betty Molemela, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa.
4. Honourable Justice Mykhailo Smokovych, President of the Administrative Cassation Court, The Supreme Court of Ukraine.

Details are available at https://globalsouthnetwork.com/the-hellenic-council-of-state-the-supreme-administrative-court-of-greece-and-its-position-in-the-european-legal-order/

SEA, SURF, SAND: THE CARIBBEAN COURT OF JUSTICE’S DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACHES TO CARIBBEAN CONSTITUTIONALISM

The online guest lecture titled “Sea, Surf, Sand: The Caribbean Court of Justice’s Developmental Approaches to Caribbean Constitutionalism” delivered by the Honourable Justice Peter A. Jamadar, Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice / Vice President (Programming), Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute / Chair, Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers took place as part of the Global South Network (GSN) Judges Guest Lecture Series on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, at 15:00 UK Time (10:00 Trinidad and Tobago Time). See the full recording and related article based on the talk here.

PRECEDENT SYSTEM AND IMPACT OF COMMON LAW ON ADJUDICATION: EVIDENCE FROM CURIA OF HUNGARY

The Honourable Justice Prof. Dr. András Zs. Varga, the President of Curia (Supreme Court) of Hungary, delivered the online guest lecture titled: “Limited Precedent System and the Impact of Common Law on Adjudication: Evidence from the Curia of Hungary” as part of the Global South Network (GSN) Judges Guest Lecture Series on Tuesday, 4 November 2025. See the full recording and related article based on the talk: https://globalsouthnetwork.com/limited-precedent-system-and-the-impact-of-common-law-on-adjudication-evidence-from-the-curia-of-hungary/