News – Page 3

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Tunisia: The international legal community condemns the detention of lawyer and human rights defender Ayachi Hammami

21 undersigned legal organisations, including the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (OIAD), express their deep concern following the arbitrary detention and conviction on 2 December 2025 in Tunisia of lawyer and human rights defender Ayachi Hammami, sentenced to five years in prison solely for representing defendants in the so-called “conspiracy” case. For several decades, […]

TURKEY: Urgent Joint Call for the Immediate Release of Lawyer Naim Eminoğlu

We express our deep concern over the police operation conducted on the morning of 10 December 2026 against the People’s Law Office and the arrest of lawyer Naim Eminoğlu, a board member of the Progressive Lawyers’ Association – (ÇHD) Istanbul Branch and an active member of the association’s International Relations Commission. According to the information verbally […]

United Kingdom: Concerns over rising threats and violence against lawyers

The OIAD is extremely concerned about the increase in attacks and threats against lawyers in the United Kingdom. Mark Evans, President of the Law Society of England and Wales (LSEW), recently reported a growing hostile climate against legal professionals, particularly those specialising in criminal, immigration and human rights law. In their survey to be published […]