Concern over ongoing detention and hunger strike of lawyer Kenia Inés Hernández in Mexico
Lawyers for Lawyers and the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger express deep concern regarding the situation of Mexican human rights lawyer Kenia Inés Hernández Montalván, who has been on hunger strike since 7 September 2025 after being denied permission to attend her mother’s funeral. Ms. Hernández has been held in detention for more than […]
Concerns about the designation of lawyers association as an “extremist formation”
Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L), The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), and the Law Society of England and Wales (LSEW) are seriously concerned about the increasing pressure on the legal profession by Belarusian authorities, most recently marked by the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus’ (KGB) designation of the Belarusian Association of […]
Proceedings against Istanbul Bar Association board a “direct assault” on independence of legal profession
Find the amicus brief here Criminal and civil proceedings against the executive board of the Istanbul Bar Association are incompatible with Türkiye’s international human rights obligations and represent a direct assault on the independence of the legal profession, warned twelve legal and human rights organisations* in a joint intervention to the court. The joint amicus […]
Lawyers for Lawyers’ feedback on the EU Civil Society Strategy
Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to develop a Civil Society Strategy. We strongly support its aim to create a comprehensive framework at both EU and Member State levels to protect and empower civil society actors. We particularly value the Strategy’s commitment to strengthening meaningful engagement, addressing the shrinking civic space, and […]
Deep Concern over incident involving lawyer Zola Ferreira Bambi in Angola
Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Observatory for Lawyers at Risk, the Law Society of England and Wales, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe and the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy & Human Rights are deeply concerned about the latest reports involving Angolan human rights lawyer […]
Disbarment and reprisals against Hong Kong lawyer Kevin Yam amid a broader pattern of intimidation of lawyers defending the rule of law
Lawyers for Lawyers, the Law Society of England and Wales, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, Asian Lawyers Network, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales and The Rights Practice express their grave concern over the disciplinary proceedings and subsequent […]
Marking two years of detention: justice denied for Claudia González Orellana
On 28 August 2023, Claudia González Orellana was arrested at her residence under circumstances that suggest retaliation for her work. Two years later, her judicial process remains unresolved, yet her determination continues to inspire all lawyers who stand for human rights and the rule of law across Guatemala and beyond. A lifetime dedicated to justice […]
Joint letter: Concern over unfair trail against lawyer Xie Yang
Read full letter here On August 27th, Lawyers for Lawyers, together with the Law Society of England and Wales (the Law Society), Chinese Human Rights Defenders, Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), Asian Lawyers Network, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, and the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute sent a letter to the […]
Lawyers for Lawyers urges withdrawal of draft bill criminalising “glorification of terrorism” and public support for terrorist organisations
On 15 August 2025, the Dutch government has published a draft bill to amend the Criminal Code (Wetboek van Strafrecht) introducing new offences related to the “glorification of terrorism” and public expressions of support for terrorist organisations. Specifically, the proposal would add: Article 132a Sr – criminalising public glorification of terrorist offences punishable by life […]
Concern over the stigmatization of lawyers in the context of a lawsuit regarding crimes against humanity committed in Colombia
[Spanish version below] On August 14, Lawyers for Lawyers submitted a motion before the Argentine judiciary in support of the lawsuit filed by Colombian victims and non-governmental organizations in case 3937/2023, “Uribe Vélez Álvaro s/Investigation of a Crime.” This case investigates, under the principle of Universal Jurisdiction, crimes committed in Colombia between August 2002 and […]
Upcoming hearing in the criminal case against Claudia González Orellana
Spanish version available below A hearing will be held on August 12, 2025, in the case of Claudia González Orellana, a Guatemalan human rights lawyer and recipient of the 2023 Lawyers for Lawyers Award. Lawyers for Lawyers will monitor the hearing to ensure that Ms. González’s rights to due process, as established by law, are […]
Chinese government impunity for crackdown on lawyers fuels decade of repression
Lawyers for Lawyers signed on to a joint statement ahead of the 10-year anniversary of the ‘709’ crackdown on human rights lawyers in China The joint statement reads as follows: International action critical for accountability for “709” crackdown, other violations (July 7, 2025) Ten years after the Chinese government’s widespread crackdown on human rights lawyers, […]
HRC59: Situation of lawyers in Venezuela
On 27 June 2025, Lawyers for Lawyers and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute delivered an oral statement during the interactive dialogue regarding the report of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela The statement reads as follows: Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) and the International Bar […]
Concern over latest verdict against Thai lawyer Arnon Nampa
Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) is deeply concerned about the latest developments in the case of prominent Thai human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa. On 25 June 2025, Mr. Nampa was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison under Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code (lèse-majesté). In addition, he was fined THB 10,200 for violations […]
Concern over the continued persecution of Chow Hang Tung amid escalating repression of lawyers in Hong Kong
Click here for the PDF version of this statement (available in Eglish and Chinese). Lawyers for Lawyers and The 29 Principles express grave concern regarding the continued arbitrary detention and judicial persecution of human rights barrister Chow Hang Tung in Hong Kong, who went on a hunger strike in commemoration of the victims of Tiananmen […]
Caravana Filipina launches Black Robes, Red Targets: the report on extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations against legal professionals
Find full press conference statement here THE HAGUE, June 4, 2025 – The Caravana Filipina – an international fact-finding mission led by a coalition of ten legal organisations, including Lawyers for Lawyers–launched its report, “Black Robes, Red Targets”, exposing grave human rights violations against legal professionals in the Philippines between 2016 and 2023. This powerful […]