Actualidad
Last News
World Day against the Death Penalty: The OIAD and 24 organisations call for universal abolition
On the occasion of the World Day against the Death Penalty, the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger has co-signed, alongside 24 Bars and organisations, a joint declaration calling for the universal abolition of the death penalty. Read the joint statement:
OIAD press release on the Sonia Dahmani trial hearings in Tunisia
Paris, 17 October 2024 – Richard Sédillot, member of the Rouen Bar and Board member of the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger, travelled to Tunisia from 15 to 20 August and from 8 to 11 September to observe the trial of Sonia Dahmani. The Tunisian lawyer was arrested on 11 May 2024 and sentenced to 1 year’s imprisonment for ‘spreading false news’. She is now the subject of 5 legal proceedings for offences of opinion allegedly committed during her television or radio appearances. During her appearance on the ‘Edenya Zina’ (Life is Beautiful) show on 7 May 2024, Ms Dahmani explained that Tunisia’s difficult economic living conditions would in no way attract migrants to settle there, and declared in an ironic tone, in her role as a chronicler: ‘what a great country that would be so attractive to settle in’. On 9 May 2024, the first public prosecutor at the Tunis Court of Appeal opened a judicial investigation. The examining magistrate in charge of the case issued a warrant for the arrest of Dahmani, which was executed by hooded police officers who brutally entered the Tunisian Lawyers’ House on 11 May. On 30 May, the examining magistrate referred Ms […]
GUATEMALA: The OIAD alerts the Guatemalan Bar Association about the situation of human rights lawyers in the country
15 October 2024 The International Observatory for Lawyers at Risk sent a letter on 11 October 2024 to the representatives of the Guatemalan Bar Association and Notaries, requesting a position in support of the persecuted Guatemalan legal profession. This communication refers to the unfortunate news coming from Guatemala regarding the systematic persecution of legal professionals, particularly those who defend the rights of human rights defenders. The Observatory has witnessed with concern a systematic pattern of persecution and unfounded criminalisation of lawyers and other justice operators in retaliation for the legitimate exercise of their profession. In this regard, we call on the Guatemalan Bar Association, as the highest institutional representative of the Guatemalan legal profession, to promote the practice of law that fights for the respect of human rights in Guatemala, as well as to adopt measures within the framework of its competences to support these lawyers.
Joint statement calling for the universal abolition of the death penalty
The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger co-signed the joint statement calling for the universal abolition of the death penalty, alongside 24 Bars and international organisations, recognising the “inherent dignity of each individual and the fundamental right to life“. Read the joint statement:
Interview with Forough Sheikholeslami Vatani, exiled Iranian lawyer
After becoming a lawyer in Iran and dedicating her practice to human rights, Forough was threatened on several occasions for her activities. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison for having defended the ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ movement as part of her work. Sheikholeslami Vatani managed to flee her country, bearing the hope that one day it will regain its freedom. The lawyer opened up to the French newspaper La Vie in a powerful interview. Read the full interview here.
URGENT ACTIONS
Contact the observatory
Procedure to evaluate cases.
When the observatory is informed of the situation of a lawyer at risk, it proceeds to verify the information it receives and to evaluate the context surrounding the case.
Case Verification
The Observatory’s team verifies the nature of the case that has been reported to check whether it falls under its sphere of competence/mandate and attempts to ascertain the veracity of the allegations received.
The Observatory has consolidated an extensive network of contacts with international and regional bodies, civil society organizations, diplomatic representations and bar associations. This network enables it to gather information pertinent to the lawyers’ general situation and that of specific cases.
The Observatory attempts to establish contact with the lawyer in order to understand his or her needs and circumstances in order to organize the appropriate kind of support that can effectively respond to the defense and protection strategy adopted.
Case assessment
Having completed the process of verification and information gathering, the case Evaluation Group performs an overall assessment of the situation, determines the degree of severity of the case, and issues recommendations on the type of action to be taken to procure counsel and effective support.
The verification and assessment process is performed within a limited amount of time in order to address the grave situations requiring urgent action.
Once the Evaluation Group has presented its recommendations, the Observatory proceeds to take action in accordance with these recommendations and in coordination with the lawyer in question and his or her surroundings.
No action is ever taken without the express consent of the lawyer in question.
WHAT IS THE OBSERVATORY FOR ?
Established in 2010 in the framework of the EU funded project “Lawyers serving lawyers”, the Observatory was re-established in 2015.
The Observatory’s basic aim is to uphold the right to practice law freely and totally independently, and to denounce situations where the right to legal counsel is at risk.
The observatory’s work covers warnings, support in the field and training.