Report on the 14th IARMJ World Conference

The International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (IARMJ) convened its 14th World Conference in Nairobi from 17 to 19 November 2025, under the overarching theme: ‘Protecting the Integrity of Refugee and Migration Systems.’ The conference brought together over 200 judges, policymakers, academics, and experts from 40 countries, serving as a global platform for exchanging knowledge, harmonising jurisprudence, and strengthening judicial independence in the field of migration and refugee law.

The conference reaffirmed the principle that refugee protection is a shared international responsibility and underscored the critical role of an independent judiciary in ensuring fairness, accountability, and adherence to international law.

Opening addresses

The conference was officially opened by President Dr William Samoei Ruto, who highlighted that judicial decisions extend far beyond the courtroom, shaping lives, preserving families, and safeguarding the credibility of the international protection regime. He stressed that judges play a central role in harmonising refugee law across jurisdictions and must ensure claims are fairly adjudicated while states fulfil their domestic and international obligations.

President Ruto emphasised the importance of integrity in refugee and migration systems, describing it as essential to the safety, dignity, and rights of millions. He highlighted the necessity of fair procedures, access to appeal, impartial hearings, transparency, and resilience against abuse, trafficking, and exploitation. He also underscored regional and international cooperation as critical in addressing cross-border migration challenges, trafficking, and mixed movements.

Chief Justice of Kenya

Chief Justice Martha Koome, President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, highlighted the judiciary’s pivotal role in protecting refugee rights. She referenced the landmark Haki na Sheria Initiative and Others v Attorney General and Others [2025] KEHC 221 (KLR) (21 July 2025) decision, which confirmed that children born to Kenyan-refugee couples are citizens by birth and removed barriers to citizenship for refugee spouses. Chief Justice Koome stressed the importance of non-refoulement, protection from exploitation, accountability, and due process in migration and asylum systems. She also noted emerging challenges such as climate-induced displacement, human trafficking, and ethical considerations in using artificial intelligence in judicial processes.

Statement by President Dr Ruto (Kenya)

President Dr Ruto welcomed delegates and praised the judiciary of Kenya for providing a platform for critical discussions on migration systems. He highlighted the humanitarian urgency of protecting over 120 million displaced people worldwide, the importance of upholding judicial independence, and ensuring that refugee and migration systems are fair, credible, and trusted. He called on judges to remain vigilant, courageous, and committed to justice and compassion in decision-making.

Global human rights perspective

A representative from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Germany, emphasised the close link between judicial independence, access to justice, and human rights protection. Highlighting Germany’s experience as a major host of refugees (3.4 million), the speaker stressed the obligation to protect refugees, grounded in history and constitutional law, and underscored the importance of learning from Africa’s experience in managing mixed migration and displaced populations.

Key presentations and discussions

• Rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs)

Professors Edwin Abuya (Kenya) and Hélène Lambert (Australia) discussed the rights of IDPs, emphasising that IDPs retain all citizen rights but require special protection due to their vulnerability. Core rights include protection from arbitrary displacement, safety, humanitarian assistance, family unity, access to identification, participation in decision-making, and durable solutions such as voluntary return, local integration, or resettlement.

Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa, Justice Dunstan Mlambo, and Judge Aikaterini Koutsopoulou (Greece) discussed mixed movements, where people migrate for diverse reasons – conflict, persecution, economic hardship, and environmental pressures. Africa hosts roughly one-third of the global displaced population, with Uganda hosting nearly two million refugees. South African jurisprudence, including Ashebo v Minister of Home Affairs and Others 2023 (5) SA 382 (CC) and Abraham v Minister of Home Affairs and Another 2023 (5) SA 178 (GJ), highlights the need to assess vulnerability and ensure humane, rights-based approaches.

• Statelessness and internal displacement

Judge Farin Anthony (UK) and Judge Redson Kapindu (Malawi) examined the intersection of statelessness and internal displacement, highlighting three categories:

• Persons with nationality – may risk statelessness if documentation is lost.
• Stateless individuals – face compounded marginalization, limited access to land, services, and legal remedies.
• Persons with unrecognised nationality – e.g., the Rohingya, whose status is disputed or unrecognised.

Legal frameworks such as the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, the Kampala Convention (2009), and the African Union Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Relating to the Specific Aspects of the Right to a Nationality and the Eradication of Statelessness in Africa (2024) provide guidance but require greater integration into IDP protection systems. Participants emphasised the need to mainstream statelessness considerations, particularly in the context of climate-induced displacement and disaster scenarios.

• Asylum, humanitarian considerations, and emerging issues

• Justice Shirzad Ahmed (Canada) and Judge Maria Josefina Torres (Philippines) – addressed balancing asylum and humanitarian considerations.
• Judge Katelijne Declerck (Belgium) – guidelines on social media and judicial well-being.
• Judge John Keith (United Kingdom (UK)) and Christine Cody (Australia) – artificial intelligence in interviews.
• Rachel Levitan (Kenya) and Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh (International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)) – LGBTQ+ rights in asylum claims.
• Wilson Macharia (ICJ) – refugees with disabilities and recommendations for disability-inclusive processes.

• Climate change and displacement

Dr Tamara Wood (Australia) and Nurjehan Mawani (Canada) discussed how climate change exacerbates displacement, destroys livelihoods, and increases protection needs. Justice Ahmed presented a practical toolkit for judges addressing climate-related displacement.

• Child claimants and Refugee Consortium

Johan Berg (Norway) and Jacob van Garderen (South Africa) discussed child claimants, while Judge Martin Treadwell (New Zealand) and Catherine Njoroge presented on the Refugee Consortium of Kenya, a network facilitating coordination and support for refugee protection within the country.

• Re-availment of refugee status

Justice Russel Zinn (Canada) discussed cessation clauses under Article 1C of the 1951 Refugee Convention, noting that recognition as a refugee does not guarantee permanent security. Mechanisms like ‘safe return reviews’ increasingly reassess protection eligibility. Case law emphasises individual assessments, voluntariness, and intention in re-availment scenarios.

• Security, trafficking, and protection

Vice-president Thomas Besson, Cour Nationale du Droit d’Asile (France) and Prof Siobhán Mullally (United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking) addressed trafficking, security, and the protection of vulnerable populations.

Post-conference workshops

Specialised workshops provided practical, skills-focused training for judicial officers, covering:

• Psychology and Evidence in Refugee Status Determination – Dr Hilary Evans Cameron (Canada) and Dr Jane Herlihy (UK).
• Protection Claims and Substandard Prison Conditions – Judge Zione Ntaba (Malawi) and Prof Yukari Ando (Japan).
• Rule of Law and Climate Change Toolkit – Justice Ahmed and Dr Wood.
• Human Rights – Prof Mullally and Kelleen Corrigan (UN High Commissioner for Refugees).
• Migration, Climate Change, and Disaster Displacement – Ms Mawani and Judge Makesh Joshi.
• Statelessness and IDPs – Judge Anthony and Judge Kapindu.

Workshops highlighted underexplored issues, such as statelessness intersecting with internal displacement, climate-induced migration, and protection gaps for marginalised groups.

Visit to the Judiciary Museum of Kenya

Delegates visited the Judiciary Museum of Kenya, located in Nairobi, which documents Kenya’s judicial history from pre-colonial, colonial, post-colonial, to post-2010 constitutional periods. Exhibits include –

• original court records and artifacts;
• judicial robes and historical documents;
• preserved holding cells used for political detainees; and
• displays on landmark cases and legal developments.

The museum forms part of Kenya’s Judiciary Transformation Framework, aiming to educate the public, demystify the justice system, and strengthen civic trust.

Conclusion

The 14th IARMJ World Conference reinforced global commitments to justice, human rights, and integrity in refugee and migration systems. It provided a platform for judicial cooperation, knowledge exchange, and harmonisation of jurisprudence. Participants collectively emphasised –

• upholding fairness, due process, and judicial independence;
• addressing statelessness and IDPs within protection frameworks;
• integrating climate change, trafficking, and emerging challenges into legal responses; and
• promoting inclusivity for marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals and persons with disabilities.

The conference concluded with reaffirmation of the IARMJ’s mission: strengthening the judiciary’s role in protecting refugees, migrants, and stateless persons worldwide through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and adherence to international legal standards. The event was formally closed by outgoing IARMJ President, Justice Isaac Lenaola.

Mohammed Moolla (UKZN) LLM (UWC) is an Executive Member of the Working Committee of the African Chapter of the International Association of Migrant and Refugee Judges.