The 2025 edition of the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer (DEL), honoured annually on 24 January, spotlights the persecution of lawyers in Belarus. In the aftermath of the presidential elections in 2020, numerous lawyers who represented political opposition candidates publicly criticized the government have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms and subjected to relentless harassment, including disciplinary proceedings and disbarment. This government-led crackdown on legal professionals continues to this day and severely undermines the right to access to justice and the rule of law in Belarus.
To mark this year’s edition, Lawyers for Lawyers and partners are organising a series of advocacy events this week, both in person and online:
Wednesday 22 January
- Joint event with the The Hague Young Bar Association
For several years now, The Hague Young Bar Association and Lawyers for Lawyers have successfully collaborated to organise lectures at the Courthouse in The Hague on the occassion of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer. As during previous editions, young lawyers will have the chance to enter into a dialogue with lawyers from the focus country and write cards to colleagues in prison. NB: Only members of the Young Bar Association can attend.
- Online press conference by the DEL coalition & presentation of joint report
Lawyers for Lawyers is a member of the coalition of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer, which consists of more than 30 lawyers’ rights organisations and bar associations. The coalition will be presenting its joint report on the situation of lawyers in Belarus during an online press conference at 14:00 CET (register here). Read the full report or executive summary.
Friday 24 January – Day of the Endangered Lawyer
- Joint online event: ‘The Continuous Repression of Lawyers in Belarus: What should international support look like? (15:00-16:30 CET)
Together with the American Bar Association’s Center for Human Rights, the Law Society of England and Wales, and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, Lawyers for Lawyers is hosting an online event to spotlight the plight of Belarusian lawyers, both in country and in exile. The event will feature various experts speakers, who will discuss the repression faced by lawyers in Belarus as well as ways forward. Register here now. - Protest at the Belarusian Embassy in The Hague organised by the DEL Foundation
The Day of the Endangered Lawyer Foundation will be organising a protest at the Belarussian Embassy in the Hague in light of the persecution of lawyers in Belarus. They invite all lawyers (in robe), human rights activists or other interested parties to join the Foundation at 15:15 CET, in front of the Embassy, on Groot Hertoginnelaan 26, The Hague. For more information, please click here.
