DEFEND

EMPOWER

INFLUENCE

About us

Lawyers for Lawyers

Our vision: Every lawyer must be able to practice their profession freely and independently. To provide people the legal assistance they are entitled to. To uphold the rule of law. And to protect human rights.

We are committed to upholding a free and independent legal profession. In every corner of the world. Whenever the rights and freedoms of lawyers are under pressure, we take action. Connecting lawyers who are threatened or prosecuted for their work, to their colleagues in the Netherlands. Always independent: by lawyers, for lawyers.

 The rights of lawyers are protected through the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. However, not all states comply with these international agreements. The Basic Principles form the basis for Rule of Law, which is why they’re the guiding principle in everything we do.

Situations may arise where lawyers are threatened and prosecuted, just for doing their job. Dutch lawyers support these colleagues around the world. We do this by working across three pillars: Defend, Empower & Influence.

 

DEFEND | EMPOWER | INFLUENCE

 

14 March 2024

Interview with Mr. Ritwick Dutta; leading figure in environmental law in India for the past 20 years and founder of LIFE (Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment)

India

Ritwick Dutta, an environmental lawyer with over 20 years of legal experience in India, established his own organisation: the Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE) in 2008, with a specific focus on environmental litigation.  LIFE, a non-governmental organization (NGO),

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12 March 2024

UN Experts Call for Truth and Justice 20 years after Somchai Neelapaijit Enforced Disappearance

Thailand

The 12th of March 2024 marks 20 years since the enforced disappearance of Thai Human Rights Lawyer, Somchai Neelapaijit. His fate is still unknown. Somchai went missing on the 12th of March 2004, only one day after he had publicly

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8 March 2024

Joint oral statement during the interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on Myanmar

Myanmar

On 1 March 2024, Lawyers for Lawyers, The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, the Law Council of England and the Law Council of England delivered an oral statement during the Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner  on Myanmar. The

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7 March 2024

First hearing in the trial against lawyer Süleyman Şahin: Diyarbakir 15.2.2024

Türkiye

On 15 February 2024, Lawyers for Lawyers representatives attended a hearing at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court, which marked the start of the trial against lawyer Mr Süleyman Şahin. As part of an international delegation, L4L was requested to

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5 March 2024

Risks of impunity: hearing in Tahir Elçi case on 6 March

Türkiye

Lawyers for Lawyers expresses deep concern regarding the upcoming trial of the late human rights advocate Tahir Elçi, highlighting Turkey’s failure to ensure fair proceedings and the consequent risk of impunity. Mr. Elçi, a prominent Kurdish lawyer, was assassinated in

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27 February 2024

Statement on the arrest and detention of Palestinian human rights lawyer Diala Ayesh

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) expresses grave concern regarding the recent arrest and detention of Diala Ayesh following her arbitrary arrest on January 17 2024. Diala Ayesh is a dedicated Palestinian human rights lawyer known for her advocacy on behalf of

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26 February 2024

Joint statement calling for greater protections for human rights lawyers in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

In a joint statement, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) have welcomed the decision of the Zimbabwean authorities to drop charges brought against two human rights lawyers, Douglas Coltart and Tapiwa Muchineripi. This

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21 February 2024

Adil Meléndez Márquez Loses Security Detail Following Prestigious Award Win

Colombia

On January 23, 2024, Colombian lawyer Adil José Meléndez Marquez was honored with the Sir Henry Brooke Award by the Alliance for Lawyers at Risk, following a nomination from Lawyers for Lawyers. This prestigious accolade recognizes legal practitioners or human

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