Interview with Mexican lawyer Juan Carlos Flores Solís: ‘Ensuring the righ to life and self-determination of Indigenous peoples is our main goal’
Photo and illustration: M. A. Fernández y J. Marcos & Joost Hölscher Mexico has one of the highest incidence rates of threats and violence committed against human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers in the world. Juan Carlos Flores Solís, in his capacity as an environmental lawyer, has faced threats and been the victim of numerous […]
Chen Wuquan released from prison
Lawyers for Lawyers welcomes the news that Chinese human rights lawyer Chen Wuquan has been released from prison after five years on February 8, 2023. Chen Wuquan was taken into custody on 9 February 2018, following his “War to Protect the Sea” campaign. Chen Wuquan is a prominent environmental defender and human rights lawyer who […]
The harassment of Zimbabwean lawyer Mr. Kudzayi Erick Kadzere needs to end
Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada are concerned about the judicial and physical harassment of Mr. Kudzayi Erick Kadzere. As a lawyer, Mr. Kadzere works on human rights cases and is a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. He is currently awaiting trial for charges […]
Joint statement calling an end to the ongoing persecution and threats against Mexican lawyer Juan Carlos Flores Solís
Lawyers for Lawyers, joined by the Observatoire International des Avocats en Danger (OIAD), is expressing its deep concern about the harassment faced by Mr. Juan Carlos Flores Solís. Mr. Flores Solís is the primary defense lawyer in the cases brought against the project “Proyecto Integral Morelos” (PIM), an energy and hydro-extractivist megaproject which raises severe […]
Intervention letters – defending lawyers and human rights. Chang Weiping & Ding Jiaxi
Together with the Law Society of England and Wales, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, we have written intervention letters in which we express our concerns about the arrest, detention, prosecution and torture of lawyers Ding Jiaxi and lawyer Chang Weiping. Prior to the arrest and detention of Chang […]
HRCtee 137: L4L submits report on the Arab Republic of Egypt
During its 137th session, from 27 February to 24 March 2023, the Human Rights Committee will consider the 5th periodic report submitted by the Arab Republic of Egypt and adopt concluding observations that will assist the Arab Republic of Egypt in the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In the […]
Israel forcibly deports human rights lawyer Salah Hammouri
Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada are concerned about the forced deportation of Salah Hammouri. As a lawyer, Mr. Hammouri represents political prisoners in Israeli and Palestinian prisons. He has been held in pre-trial detention for nine months and has faced many forms of harassment from […]
Interview Nazeli Vardanyan: “Nothing can stop me as an environmental lawyer, I will fight until justice is done. International solidarity and support will guarantee the safety of environmental lawyers around the world”
Illustration: Joost Hölscher The Armenian environmental lawyer, Nazeli Vardanyan, is admirable for her commitment to protecting Armenia’s environment. She is the founder and director of Armenian Forests Environmental NGO, which is committed to afforestation, reforestation, nature protection, engagement of community members in decision-making processes, protection of human rights, drafting environmental legislation and ecological education. Furthermore, […]
Eswatini human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko brutally murdered
Lawyers for Lawyers received the shocking news that, on 21 January 2023, Eswatini human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko was shot death in his home. This killing was condemned by the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers. Thulani Maseko was a prominent humn rights lawyer from Eswatini. He was a senior member of […]
Venezuelan lawyer Alfredo Romero: judiciary as weapon for political prosecution
by Trudeke Sillevis Smitt The Rule of Law Index 2022 was released at the end of October. In the very last place, number 140: Venezuela. The well-known human rights lawyer Alfredo Romero explains why. “It may sound unbelievable, but in Venezuela you can hear judges say: I can’t make this decision yet, because I haven’t […]
Chinese New Year: Looking back on another year of repression of China’s legal professionals
Today, 22 January, marks the start of the Chinese New Year and the start of the Spring Festival. Hopefully, the start of the Year of the Rabbit will bring a better tide for China’s human rights lawyers compared to the ongoing repression on lawyers in the previous years. However, the outlook is grim. Although the […]
L4L calls upon the Lawyers Council of Thailand to cease the disbarment proceedings against lawyer Arnon Nampa
Lawyers for Lawyers again expressed concerns about the disbarment proceedings against lawyer and human rights defender Mr. Arnon Nampa. Lawyers for Lawyers is concerned about the disbarment proceeding against Mr. Arnon Nampa, a lawyer and human rights defender, that is taking place before the Investigative Committee that was established by the Committee on Professional Ethics […]
Chinese lawyer Tang Jitian released
Lawyers for Lawyers welcomes the news that the Chinese human rights lawyer Tang Jitian was released on 14 January. Tang had been practicing law in Beijing since July 2007. He took on a lot of human rights cases, including those related to the rights of AIDS patients, the labour camp system, peasants’ property rights, and […]
Interview Syeda Rizwana Hasan: “Environmental justice is intrinsic to every other human rights issue”
Illustration: Joost Hölscher Syeda Rizwana Hasan is a renowned environmental lawyer from Bangladesh and the chief executive of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA). As the only environmental justice organisation in Bangladesh, BELA is involved in advocacy and environmental public interest litigation, through which they provide legal assistance to communities affected by environmental issues. Ms […]
Lawyer Tony Germain Nkina released from prison
Lawyers for Lawyers welcomes the news that Tony Germain Nkina has been released from prison after the Supreme Court of Burundi quashed his judgment on 8 December 2022. The well known human rights lawyer from Kayanza, Burundi provided legal assistance to detained persons and victims of human rights abuses. He had been detained since 13 […]
Nominate now for the Lawyers for Lawyers Award 2023!
The Lawyers for Lawyers Award aims to honor lawyers who have made significant contributions to the protection of the rule of law and human rights in challenging environments. Through the Award, Lawyers for Lawyers generates public recognition for the work and outstanding achievements of lawyers at risk. The prize consists of a special token as […]