Submission to UN Human Rights Committee – Turkey
In 2021, the UN Human Rights Committee will review Turkey’s compliance with its international human rights obligations, and more in particular the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Lawyers for Lawyers has taken the opportunity to file a submission on the list of issues prior to reporting to inform the Committee […]
Concerns about Sexual Offenses Bill in Uganda
On 3 May 2021, the Parliament of Uganda passed the Sexual Offences Bill 2019. Members of the Ugandan human rights community have shared their distress that the bill further criminalizes sex work and same-sex relationships. Lawyers for Lawyers is concerned that the Bill will make the work of Ugandan lawyers representing sex workers and members […]
Disbarment of Shahla Humbatova and Irada Javadova overturned
Lawyers for Lawyers welcomes the decision of the Presidium of the Azerbaijani Bar Association (ABA) to withdraw the claims against Shahla Humbatova and Irada Javadova. Shahla Humbatova On 5 March 2021, Ms. Humbatova was disbarred by the Baku Administrative Court following a request for Ms. Humbatova’s disbarment by the ABA. Ms. Humbatova is a prominent […]
Statement on the judicial harassment of Ivan Pavlov
Lawyers for Lawyers and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) condemn the judicial harassment of human rights lawyer Ivan Pavlov. On 30 April 2021, Federal Security Service (FSB) officers of the Russian Federation raided the hotel room of human rights lawyer Ivan Pavlov in Moscow. According to the information received, items were seized that contain information […]
Contempt of court action against Charles Hector withdrawn
On 6 April 2021, Lawyers for Lawyers reported that the Malaysian lawyer and human rights defender Charles Hector potentially faced contempt of court charges. According to the information received, the contempt proceedings against Charles Hector were withdrawn by the two logging companies on 14 April 2021. Charles Hector is a well-known lawyer and human rights […]
Letter on the alleged enforced disappearance of Gao Zhisheng
In a joint letter Lawyers for Lawyers and The Law Society of England and Wales express their concern about the alleged enforced disappearance of lawyer Gao Zhisheng. Gao Zhisheng has taken on cases concerning religious minorities, freedom of expression, forced evictions, and corruption. Since 2017, Gao Zhisheng’s whereabouts are unknown. Gao Zhisheng was first served […]
Concerns about disbarment Liudmila Kazak
Lawyers for Lawyers is concerned about the arrest, detention, and disbarment of Liudmila Kazak, a prominent human rights lawyer who has led the defense of political prisoners, human rights defenders, and journalists throughout her 22 years of practice, including opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova. According to our information, on 24 September 2020, Ms. Kazak was detained […]
Lawyers who have represented Belarusian opposition leaders are subject to persecution
Lawyers for Lawyers is concerned about the situation of the lawyers Maxim Znak, Ilya Salei, Alexander Pylchenko, Liudmila Kazak and Siarhei Zikratski. These lawyers have represented leaders of the democratic movement in Belarus and are believed to be the subject of persecution in connection to their professional activities. Maxim Znak represented Viktor Babariko, a potential […]
Letter on the continued detention and the precarious health of Hoda Abdelmoneim
In a letter to the Egyptian authorities Lawyers for Lawyers expressed concern about the continued detention and the precarious health of 63-year-old human rights lawyer Mrs. Hoda Abdelmoneim. Mrs Abdelmoneim has been arbitrarily detained for over two years. Prior to her arrest, Mrs. Abdelmoneim was a human rights defender and a respected member of the […]
Letter on the arrest and continued detention of Haitham Mohamadein
In a letter to the Egyptian authorities Lawyers for Lawyers expressed concern about the arrest and continued detention of Egyptian human rights lawyer and labor rights defender Haitham Mohamadein. Through his affiliation with the El Nadim Centre for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence Haitham Mohamadein provided pro bono legal assistance to victims of human […]
Contempt proceedings against Charles Hector
It has been reported that the Malaysian lawyer and human rights defender Charles Hector potentially faces contempt of court charges. These potential charges are in relation to a letter he sent to an officer of the Jerantut District Forestry Office in the context of his trial preparation for a civil lawsuit against two companies which […]
Statement on the situation of lawyers in Turkey
On this day, 5 April 2021 – celebrated as ‘Lawyers’ Day in Turkey – Lawyers for Lawyers takes the opportunity to strongly condemn the on-going crackdown against lawyers in Turkey. In spite of a Human Rights Action Plan, that was recently announced by the Erdogan administration, the situation of lawyers in Turkey remains worrying. Lawyers […]
Hearing of lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah postponed for the second time
According to our information , the court hearing in the case against Sri Lankan lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah has been postponed for the second time. The hearing was originally scheduled for 3 March, had been postponed to 18 March and has now been postponed again. On 14 April 2020, Mr. Hizbullah, minority rights advocate and legal […]
Abdullah Al-Shamlawi prohibited from practicing law for one year
It has been reported that the Lawyers’ Disciplinary Board in Bahrain decided to prohibit prominent human rights lawyer Abdullah Al-Shamlawi from practicing his profession for one year in hearing held on 22 March 2021. Al-Shamlawi is a legal consultant and an experienced lawyer who has practiced law for more than 40 years and has defended […]
UPR submission Tanzania
On 25 March 2021, Lawyers for Lawyers submitted a report for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Tanzania. This review of Tanzania will take place in November 2021. In the report, Lawyers for Lawyers highlights that Tanzania is currently not consistently upholding the necessary guarantees for the proper functioning of the legal profession and is […]
Joint UPR submission Hungary
On 25 March 2021, Lawyers for Lawyers together with the International Bar Association submitted a report for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Hungary. The UPR of Hungary will take place in November 2021. In the report, Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) and the International Bar Association (IBA) emphasize that Hungary is currently not fulfilling all […]