Call for human rights safeguards in the EU–Thailand free trade agreement
Lawyers for Lawyers has sent a letter to the European Commission urging to ensure that the ongoing negotiations for the EU–Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) include explicit and enforceable human rights safeguards. Such measures are essential to protect lawyers from arbitrary prosecution and to uphold the rule of law. Read the original letter here. The […]
Call on El Salvador to comply with IACHR precautionary measures in favor of detained lawyers
Lawyers for Lawyers sent a letter to the authorities in El Salvador urging the government to immediately and effectively implement the precautionary measures granted by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in favor of lawyers Ruth Eleonora López and Enrique Anaya. Read the original letter in Spanish here. The English translation of the letter […]
Freezing of NGO accounts impacts legal aid and the work of lawyers in Georgia
Download the statement here. Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the Law Society of England and Wales (LSEW), and the International Observatory for Lawyers at Risk (OIAD) are deeply concerned about the recent freezing of bank accounts belonging to several Georgian civil society organisations (CSOs), as part of an ongoing […]
HRC60: Situation of lawyers in Venezuela
On 22 September 2025, Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) delivered an oral statement during Item 4 of the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The statement can be downloaded here and reads as follows: Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) and the International Bar Association’s Human […]
HRC60: Harassment of Belarusian lawyers and misuse of law against the legal profession
On 19 September 2025, Lawyers for Lawyers, The Law Society of England and Wales, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada and the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute delivered an oral statement during Item 4 of the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The statement can be downloaded here and reads as follows: Mr. […]
HRC60: Ongoing repression of human rights lawyers and defenders in China
On 18 September 2025, Lawyers for Lawyers, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), the International Bar Association, The Law Society and the Asian Lawyers Network delivered an oral statement during Item 3 of the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The statement can be downloaded here and reads as follows: Mr. President, Lawyers’ […]
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 […]