The AIRE Centre warmly congratulates Judge Mattias Guyomar, elected as the next President of the European Court of Human Rights. He will assume office on 30 May 2025, succeeding Judge Marko Bošnjak.
Judge Guyomar’s distinguished career, including decades of judicial leadership at the French Conseil d’État and his long-standing commitment to European legal cooperation, makes him exceptionally well placed to lead the Court at a time when the protection of human rights across Europe is facing profound challenges. His deep grounding in public and comparative law, coupled with a clear and principled judicial approach, will be vital to upholding the European Convention on Human Rights in the years ahead.
The European Court of Human Rights remains a cornerstone of the rule of law in Europe. It ensures that fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, access to justice, equality before the law, and protection against violence are safeguarded in practice, not only in principle. The work of the Court continues to have a real and tangible impact on the lives of individuals across the continent.
“We are confident that under Judge Guyomar’s leadership, the Court will continue to serve as a beacon of justice, ensuring that Convention rights are upheld with clarity, fairness, and consistency,” said Biljana Braithwaite, Director of the AIRE Centre’s Western Balkans Rule of Law Programme. “We look forward to deepening the dialogue between Strasbourg and national courts, especially in the face of today’s growing human rights challenges.”
Judge Guyomar has served on the European Court of Human Rights since 2020 and was elected President of Section in 2024. Prior to joining the Court, he held several senior positions at the Conseil d’État, served as Secretary General of the French Electoral Commission, and contributed to legal education as a professor of public law. His role as a national focal point within the Court’s Superior Courts Network reflected his long-standing dedication to strengthening judicial cooperation across Europe.
The AIRE Centre had the honour of welcoming Judge Guyomar as a keynote speaker at the 3rd Gender Equality and Western Balkans Judicial Forum in March 2025, where he addressed the critical role of the judiciary in combating gender-based violence and femicide. His contribution underscored the importance of linking regional initiatives with the broader human rights framework championed by the Court.
The AIRE Centre remains committed to supporting the effective application of the European Convention across national legal systems. Through judicial training, legal research, and regional dialogue, we will continue to promote the Convention’s values case by case and court by court.
