On 20 March 2025, Lawyers for Lawyers, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, The Law Society of England and Wales, and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, delivered an oral statement during the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council’s General debate.
The statement reads as follows:
Mr. President,
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, The Law Society of England and Wales, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, and Lawyers for Lawyers are alarmed by recent threats to the independence of judges, prosecutors, and lawyers in the United States.
Judges have been discredited and have faced moves for impeachment in retaliation for rulings the government deems unfavourable.
Department of Justice lawyers have faced dismissals, demotions and intimidation due to their past work. Several prosecutors have resigned following instructions to drop charges in a notable corruption case.
Executive orders have revoked security clearance and access for several law firms to government buildings, in retaliation for their work which the government finds unfavourable.
Immigration detainees have been denied timely access to lawyers, and some have been subjected to enforced disappearances, and deportations without due process and/or in violation of judicial orders.
Finally, we condemn the sanctions imposed by the US on International Criminal Court (ICC). We ask all Council member States:
- To urge the United States to ensure compliance with US court orders, and immediately halt all vilification, harassment, intimidation and threats to the independence of judges, prosecutors and lawyers, and
- To condemn and reject sanctions against the ICC.
Thank you.
