Award laureate 2011

Alec Muchadehama

The Award existed of a little sculpture and an amount of 10.000 euros, made available by Allen & Overy. The Lawyers for Lawyers Award was presented on the occasion of the 25-year existence of Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) Foundation.

The presentation of the Award took place at the end of the seminar that L4L had organized on the occasion of the 25th anniversary. During this seminar, which was divided in two sub sessions, around fifteen experts discussed in what ways lawyers are hindered in the execution of their profession, and which strategies are effective in limiting and preventing such hindrances.

During the morning session, the ‘Basic Principles on the role of judges and lawyers’ stood central. Seven expert papers were drafted by some of the experts present, among whom UN Special Rapporteur Gabriela Knaul, Professor Theo van Boven, Phillip Tahmindjis on behalf of the International Bar Association and Wilder Tayler on behalf of the International Commission of Jurists. The papers discuss different subjects relating to the Basic Principles, such as the extent to which lawyers and governments are aware of their existence, how to use them in case of a concrete threat and how (and whether) their legal status should be raised.

During the afternoon session, lawyers Alirio Uribe Muñoz (Colombia), Arnold Tsunga (Zimbabwe), Iyas Maleh (Syria), Edre Olalia (Philippines) and Mohammad Mostafaei (Iran; from left to right on the picture) told about how they have been or continue to be hindered in the execution of their profession. Like was asked to Hans Thoolen (Martin Ennals Foundation), Professor Theo van Boven

and Special Rapporteur Gabriela Knaul, the lawyers were asked what action in their eyes is most effective in such situations. In relation to that, inter alia the role of bar associations and the availability of protective measures were discussed.