World Law Day

What Is World Law Day?

September 13 is "World Law Day." At the Second World Conference on World Peace Through Law, held in Washington, D.C., from September 13 to 20, 1965, September 13 was declared "World Law Day." The day is based on the idea of establishing world peace by ensuring the rule of law in international relations.

How World Law Day Came About

The day was the result of several years of work by legal professionals around the world.

• 1961, Tokyo: The establishment of a "World Law Day" was proposed at the Asian Conference on World Peace Through Law held in Tokyo.
• 1963, Athens: The proposal was adopted at the First World Conference on World Peace Through Law in Athens, Greece. That conference also led to the founding of the World Peace Through Law Center, known today as the World Jurist Association.
• 1965, Washington: At the second world conference, September 13 was declared World Law Day.

Japan's "Law Day" Is October 1

Separately from World Law Day, Japan has observed October 1 as "Law Day" (Hō no Hi) since 1960. Around that time, courts, prosecutors' offices and bar associations across Japan hold events such as legal consultations and facility tours.

Law Trivia

• The oldest law code: The Code of Hammurabi (around 1750 BC), known for "an eye for an eye," is famous, but the oldest surviving law code is the Code of Ur-Nammu, believed to be about 350 years older.
• What "an eye for an eye" meant: This provision of the Code of Hammurabi is often explained as a limit on retaliation, forbidding revenge greater than the harm suffered.
• The rule of law: The idea that even those in power must obey the law. In international relations, it expresses the ideal of settling disputes between states through law rather than force.
• Challenges beyond borders: For issues no single country can solve, such as environmental problems and the use of outer space, nations continue to build international rules through treaties and agreements.
• Protecting intellectual property: Legal systems such as patents and copyright protect intangible ideas and creative works, laying the groundwork for new technologies and creations.

Tips for Spending World Law Day

• Review the rules and agreements in your workplace and think about why each one exists.
• When reading the news, notice which laws or rules are involved.
• Look up events that courts and bar associations hold around Japan's Law Day on October 1.
• Talk with family or colleagues about what "fairness" means.

Fair Rules Support Freedom and Security

September 13 is a day to think about "law," the foundation that allows us to live freely and safely. Law is not only something that binds us; it is also a system that ensures everyone is treated fairly and protects us from unjust power. Remembering that legal professionals from around the world established this day under the banner of "peace through law," take a moment to reconsider the meaning of the rules and promises around you.