Bangladesh: Lawyers arrested and prosecuted following a peaceful commemoration

Mr Monish Kanti Dey and Mr Mizanur Rahman were arrested on the night of 26 March 2026 in Sunamganj. They are facing prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation, alongside several other Bangladeshi lawyers. These arrests took place after a ceremony held on the same day to mark Independence Day. Lawyers had gathered within the Sunamganj court complex […]

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Salvadoran lawyer Ruth López awarded the 2026 Sir Henry Brooke Prize

The OIAD is delighted that the Sir Henry Brooke Prize 2026 has been awarded to Salvadoran lawyer Ruth López, whose nomination was put forward by the OIAD itself. This recognition is particularly significant given that the lawyer has been detained for over ten months. Ruth López is a prominent human rights lawyer and head of […]

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HONDURAS: OIAD endorses joint statement by international organisations supporting the GIEI report on the assassination of Berta Cáceres

The OIAD, together with other international organisations, has signed a joint statement endorsing the report of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI), established under the auspices of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), regarding the assassination of Berta Cáceres. The OIAD took part in the accredited Observation Mission in this case, participating in […]

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GUATEMALA: Presentation of the International Mission of Jurists’ final report on the situation of lawyers and judicial independence in Guatemala City

The final report of the International Mission of Jurists for Guatemala, in which the OIAD participated, entitled “Climate of Fear: The Legal Profession and Judicial Independence at Risk”, is now public. The document was presented on Monday, 9 March in Guatemala City before an audience of more than 50 people, including representatives of the Spanish […]

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Joint Statement condemning Denial of Access to Legal Representation in Iran and the Arrest of Lawyers

We, the undersigned organisations and members of the international legal community, express our grave concern regarding the systematic denial of access to legal representation for protesters arrested in Iran, as well as the arbitrary arrest and detention of lawyers for the legitimate exercise of their professional duties in connection with the recent and ongoing uprising. […]

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2026 World Day for Endangered Lawyers – United States: testing the independence of the defence

The 2026 World Day for Endangered Lawyers brought the United States to the forefront of international attention. While attacks on the independence of the legal profession are often seen as a feature of authoritarian regimes, the 2026 edition highlights an essential reality: no democracy, even an established one, is immune to a decline in the rule of […]

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Pakistan: Arbitrary arrest and sentencing of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha

The undersigned organisations strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest and subsequent conviction of Pakistani human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha and call for their immediate release and measures to ensure the conviction is set aside. On 24 January, a District and Sessions Court in Islamabad sentenced the lawyers to 17 years’ imprisonment […]

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Press release / 2026 World Day of the Endangered Lawyer: United States

As part of the World Day of the Endangered Lawyer on 24 January, the International Observatory for Lawyers at Risk (OIAD)is dedicating its 2026 edition to the worrying situation of lawyers in the United States. Historically considered a stable democracy, the United States is experiencing increased political pressure, smear campaigns and attacks on the independence […]

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World Day of Endangered Lawyers 2026: Not-to-be-missed events

On the occasion of the World Day of Endangered Lawyers 2026 dedicated to the United States, several members of the Observatory have taken action by organising various initiatives (conferences, gatherings, etc.) around the world. Please consult the information board on organised events, which will be updated regularly, and join the initiative that suits you best!   Event: Marcia di solidarietà Focus […]

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GUATEMALA: Joint amicus curiae brief by the OIAD and Lawyers for Lawyers in the case of Claudia González before the United Nations

The International Observatory for Lawyers at Risk (OIAD) and Lawyers for Lawyers jointly submitted an amicus curiae brief to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) regarding the detention and restrictive measures imposed on Guatemalan lawyer Claudia González Orellana, former head of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and human rights […]

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