Charges against Sirikan Charoensiri
Lawyers for Lawyers has grave concerns about the prosecution of Thai human rights lawyer Sirikan Charoensiri. The charges against her appear to relate to the circumstances surrounding Ms. Charoensiri’s provision of legal aid to 14 student activists, who were arrested on 26 June 2015 after carrying out peaceful protests calling for democracy and an end […]
Four lawyers face disbarment
Lawyers Armel Niyongere, Lambert Nigarura, Dieudonné Bashirahishize and Vital Nshimirimana, are seriously threatened in the exercise of their profession, since the Burundi authorities have requested the disbarment of these lawyers. The four lawyers were involved in drafting a report on human rights violations in Burundi. This report was discussed during a session of the UN […]
Oral statement at Human Rights Committee
Lawyers for Lawyers delivered an oral statement to the Human Rights Committee about the situation of lawyers in Colombia. This week, the Committee reviewed the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by Colombia. Lawyers for Lawyers highlighted the failure of the Colombian authorities to ensure the right of access to justice and effective […]
Lawyers sentenced to 23 and 21 years in prison
On 6 October 2016, the Dushanbe City Court sentenced lawyers Buzurgmehr Yorov and Nuriddin Makhkamov to 23 and 21 years in prison. The lawyers were sentenced on a number of charges, including “arousing national, racial, local or religious hostility”, extremism, fraud and forgery. This was reported by Human Rights Watch on their website. Buzurgmehr Yorov was […]
Petition to International Association of Prosecutors
Lawyers for Lawyers, together with a large coalition of organizations, has made an appeal to the International Association of Prosecutors to take the necessary steps to ensure that they comply with the Standards of Professional Responsibility and the Statement of the Essential Duties and Rights of Prosecutors. While recognising the commitment and sacrifice of many […]
Call upon Syrian authorities to release Khalil Ma’touq
On 4 October 2016, 31 organizations, including Lawyers for Lawyers, called for the immediate release of Human Rights Lawyer Khalil Ma’touq and his assistant, Mohamed Thatha. The two men disappeared four years ago, on 2 October 2012. Ma’touq, director of the Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research, is a human rights lawyer who has been defending […]
UPR report
On 21 September, Lawyers for Lawyers submitted a report for the Universal Periodic Review of Indonesia. In the report, Lawyers for Lawyers highlighted that the Indonesian authorities do not always uphold the necessary guarantees for the proper functioning of the legal profession in practice. Lawyers are regularly subjected to improper interference or attempts to put pressure on them […]
Oral statement at UN Human Rights Council
On 22 September 2016, Lawyers for Lawyers delivered an oral statement during the 33th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. During this session, the Universal Periodic Review Outcome Report of Tajikistan was adopted. Earlier, Lawyers for Lawyers had already submitted a NGO-submission for this UPR-session of Tajikistan. The statement reads as follows: Lawyers for […]
Oral statement at UN Human Rights Council
On 22 September 2016, Lawyers for Lawyers, together with the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre and Judges for Judges, delivered an oral statement during the 33th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. During this session, the Universal Periodic Review Outcome Report of Swaziland was adopted. Earlier, Lawyers for […]
Concerns about arrest lawyer Jamshed Yorov
Lawyers for Lawyers is concerned about the arrest and detention of lawyer Jamshed Yorov. We have reason to belief that his arrest is connected to his legitimate activities as attorney, and shared our concerns in a letter to the Tajik authorities. Jamshed Yorov represented Muhammadali Hayit, the deputy chairman of the banned opposition Islamic Renaissance […]
Submission to Human Rights Committee
In October 2016, the UN Human Rights Committee will review Colombia’s compliance with its international human rights obligations. Lawyers for Lawyers submitted a submission for this review, to inform the Committee about the situation of lawyers in Colombia. Due to our participation in the mission Caravana Internacional de Juristas last August, Lawyers for Lawyers was able to […]
Submission to Human Rights Committee
In October 2016, the UN Human Rights Committee will review Azerbaijan’s compliance with its international human rights obligations. Lawyers for Lawyers submitted a submission for this review, to inform the Committee about the situation of lawyers in Azerbaijan. In the submission, Lawyers for Lawyers highlighted that the Azerbaijani authorities do not always uphold the necessary guarantees for […]
Succesful Dam tot Damloop and Mr. Rally
On 17 and 18 September, the Mr. Rally and the Dam tot Damloop took place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Both were fundraising events for Lawyers for Lawyers. We want to thank all the participants and the organization of the Mr. Rally and our L4L-runnersteam of the Dam tot Damloop for their enthusiasm and spirit. With both […]
Joint open letter to President Sisi
This August, lawyers Mahienour el-Massry and Malek Adly were both released. Mahienour had served her 15 months prison sentence; Malek was released pending further investigation in the case against him. However, both of them are facing (additional) charges and/or criminal investigations, as do many more lawyers in Egypt. Lawyers for Lawyers remains gravely concerned about the […]
Good news: Ramazan Demir and Ayse Acinikli released
Ramazan Demir and Ayşe Acinikli were released on 7 September 2016, after five months in pre trial detention on suspicion of terrorist activities. Ramazan Demir previously defended both journalists and lawyers who were prosecuted by the Turkish government in mass terrorist trials. Ramazan Demir and Ayse Acinikli were on trial with Irfan Arason, Huseyin Bogatekin, […]
Increase of threats against lawyers
On 2 October 2016, Colombians narrowly rejected the landmark peace deal between the Colombian government and the FARC. During the conclusion of the agreement, Wout Albers and Marit Balkema joined the ‘Caravana Internacional de Juristas’, a mission of lawyers, prosecutors and judges from 12 different countries took place at the request of endangered Colombian lawyers. […]