ECOSOC status

Lawyers for Lawyers

Consultative status

Lawyers for Lawyers was granted consultative status by the UN Economic and Social Council, also known as the ECOSOC status. The status gives us the right to participate in meetings of the Council, its functional commissions and other subsidiary bodies.
About Lawyers for Lawyers’ special consultative UN status

Lawyers for Lawyers has been granted the special consultative status by the UN Economic and Social Council, also known as the ECOSOC status. The status gives us the right to participate in meetings of the Council, its functional commissions and other subsidiary bodies. We can also engage in the Human Rights Council’s (HRC) sessions. This enables us to effectively address human rights compliance issues and violations of the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.

Read more about the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers

What does the consultative status embody?

The UN Economic and Social Council gives the ECOSOC status to NGOs that are able to make a valuable contribution to the council. Thanks to the ECOSOC status, we have the right to:

  • enter United Nations premises;
  • attend meetings, international conferences and events;
  • submit oral and written statements during these sessions;
  • organize so-called side events in UN buildings, which we use to address specific human rights issues with member state representatives and more.
How do we utilize our ECOSOC status?

Thanks to the ECOSOC or special consultative status, we have the right to engage in HRC meetings and more. This helps us in our mission to stand up for  lawyers who are threatened and hindered in their work. The status helps us to lobby with relevant bodies for the right conditions for lawyers to be able to perform their job independently. It also gives us the possibility to directly contact heads of state and other government officials from member states that don’t fully comply with the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers – as well as from other member states that monitor human rights violations.

UN - activities

8 maart 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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15 september 2023

Joint Statement to the HRC on restrictions against HR Lawyers in the Russian Federation

Russian Federation

On 9 August 2023, Lawyers for Lawyers, IBAHRI, and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, submitted a statement to the Human Rights Council 54th Session on the Russian Federation’s systemic restrictions and repressive actions against Human Rights Lawyers. The above-mentioned organisations expressed

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13 september 2023

Joint oral statement on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan

Afghanistan

On 11 September 2023, Lawyers for Lawyers, The Law Society of England and Wales and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada delivered an oral statement during the Interactive Dialogue on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. The Interactive dialogue took place

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13 september 2023

Joint oral statement on the report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar

On 11 September 2023, Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, The Law Society of England and Wales and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada delivered an oral statement during the Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Independent

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31 juli 2023

UPR Submission China & Hong Kong

China

On 18 July 2023, Lawyers for Lawyers jointly submitted a report for the fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of China, including Hong Kong. The next UPR of China will take place in January 2024. The UPR’s key concern is China’s

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24 juli 2023

UPR submission Mexico

Mexico

On 18 July 2023, Lawyers for Lawyers and IBAHRI submitted a report for the fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Mexico. The next UPR of Mexico will take place in January 2024. The UPR’s key concern is of Mexico’s compliance

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10 juli 2023

Oral Statements and Side Event During the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council

Lawyers for Lawyers delivered five oral statements during the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council. The oral statements discussed the situation of the legal profession in various countries, such as China, the Philippines, Iran, Belarus, Guatemala, and Sri Lanka.

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18 april 2023

UPR submission Colombia

Colombia

On 5 April 2023, Lawyers for Lawyers submitted a report for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Colombia. The next UPR of Colombia will take place in November 2023. The UPR report highlights issues regarding Colombia’s compliance with its international

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