Lawyers for Lawyers delivered five oral statements during the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council. The oral statements discussed the situation of the legal profession in various countries, such as China, the Philippines, Iran, Belarus, Guatemala, and Sri Lanka.
Additionally, during the Human Rights Council session, Lawyers for Lawyers co-sponsored a side event on the legal profession on 26 June. The side event was co-organized by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). During the event current challenges to the independence of the legal profession were discussed. UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Lawyers and Judges Ms Margaret Satterthwaite gave a keynote speech, after which various regional and national legal practitioners shared their experiences. For more information see here.
On 26 June, Lawyers for Lawyers gave a (joint) oral statement during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers. The statement addressed both the pressures on the legal profession experienced in China and in the Philippines. The full statement can be found here.
On 5 July, Lawyers for Lawyers gave two (joint) oral statements. The first was delivered during the Interactive Dialogue with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran. addressed the situation of lawyers in Iran, which has progressively worsened due to the ongoing repressive campaign of the Iranian government to quash protests since the death of Mahsa Amini. The full statement can be found here.
Secondly, on 5 July, Lawyers for Lawyers delivered a (joint) oral statement during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus. In Belarus, multiple lawyers have been subject to arbitrary arrests and imprisonments. Also, more than 100 lawyers have been deprived of the right to practice law for politically motivated reasons. The full statement can be found here.
On 6 July, Lawyers for Lawyers gave (joint) oral statements during the discussion of the UPR outcomes of Guatemala and Sri Lanka. Lawyers for Lawyers is concerned about the situation of lawyers in Guatemala. The laureate of the 2023 Lawyers for Lawyers Award was Guatemalan lawyer Claudia González Orellana, whose case shows the risk that Guatemalan lawyers incur when they pursue accountability for corruptions and human rights abuses. The full statement can be found here.
For Sri Lanka, Lawyers for Lawyers handed in a UPR Report last year, which can be found here. Sri Lankan lawyers are subject to strong pressures when handling politically sensitive cases, such as cases on minority rights and protesters’ rights. Additionally, lawyers have been subject to arbitrary arrest under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The full statement can be found here.
