[2] It was established at the first World Law Congress, held in Athens, Greece, in June/July 1963, chaired by founding president Charles S.
[2] The WJA is based on cooperation among its members, to work collaboratively to strengthen and expand the rule of law and its institutions globally.
[2] Members and congress attendees aim to share not only technical knowledge but, most importantly, according to president Javier Cremades, "a vision of the world based on one idea: stable peace can only be achieved through law".
[5] The WJA plays a role in preserving freedoms and human dignity, and counteracting violence and disorder.
[14] In 2019, the Peace & Liberty Award was presented at the World Law Congress to King Felipe VI of Spain for his response to the sovereignty challenge in Catalonia.
[11][14] In 2020, it was awarded to US Supreme Court judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg,[15][16] and in 2021, to "Colombian society" (Sociedad Colombiana) on the 30th anniversary of its democratic constitution, received by its then president Iván Duque Márquez.
[17] In 2023, there were two awards given: to American civil rights activist and politician Andrew Young, and to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.
[21] President of the WJA, Javier Cremades, was the recipient of the 2023 National Jurisprudence Award from the Mexican Bar Association.