L4L
On 31 May 2012 the IBA Bar Leaders Conference was held in The Hague. The conference paid attention to ensuring the independence of bar associations, in the Netherlands as well as other countries.
L4L chairman Phon van der Biesen talked about the independence of national bar associations. L4L has experienced this to be a global problem in the many countries where it assists lawyers who cannot exercise their profession in freedom. At the recommendation of L4L, the Iranian human rights lawyer Shadi Sadr was also invited to speak of the (lack of) independence of the Iranian Bar Association.
After the conference, various L4L volunteers had the opportunity to meet important contacts. Members of the focus group South-East Asia talked to the Malaysian dean, while members of the focus group Zimbabwe could exchange their thoughts with the Zimbabwean dean.