Preliminary conclusions of the International Mission of Jurists for Guatemala

Guatemala, 29 October 2025 – For several years, international organisations, independent missions and civil society organisations have been warning about the progressive deterioration of the rule of law in Guatemala. Six months ago, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers made an official visit to Guatemala and warned of serious risks […]

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Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Legal Profession

Speech by Leonardo Arnau, President of the OIAD Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Legal Profession 36th National Congress of Lawyers Turin, 15 October 2025   I am very pleased and honoured to be able, on behalf of the OIAD, to deliver a welcome message to today’s conference, which represents a welcome […]

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Belarus: Human rights lawyers’ association declared “extremist” amid intensifying crackdown

Belarusian authorities have designated the Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers (BAHRL) as an “extremist formation,” imposing severe legal sanctions and intensifying pressure on the legal profession.   On 18 August 2025, the State Security Committee (KGB) issued a decision[1] labelling the BAHRL as extremist, effective 21 August 2025. Shortly after, the Ministry of Internal […]

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Joint Statement/Georgia

Joint Statement/Georgia – Freezing of NGO Accounts and Impact on Legal Protection and the Work of Lawyers In response to the freezing of the bank accounts of several civil society organisations in Georgia and the misuse of the law on grants, several organisations defending the defence have joined Lawyers for Lawyers to highlight the serious […]

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DRC: In eastern Congo, defending justice is risking your life

Amid intensifying fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, human rights defenders, especially lawyers, have become prime targets for armed groups. According to information gathered and verified by the Observatory, there has been a disturbing pattern of threats, intimidation and serious violence. Free criminals, exposed lawyers Mass escapes in several cities, including Bukavu and Goma, […]

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Türkiye: Proceedings against Istanbul Bar Association board a “direct assault” on independence of legal profession

Twelve legal and human rights organisations intervene in proceedings against the executive board ahead of trial* Criminal and civil proceedings against the executive board of the Istanbul Bar Association are incompatible with Türkiye’s international human rights obligations and represent a direct assault on the independence of the legal profession, warned 12 legal and human rights […]

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ANGOLA: Joint press statement expressing deep concern at the incident involving lawyer Zola Ferreira Bambi

Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Observatory for Lawyers at Risk, the Law Society of England and Wales, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe and the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy C Human Rights are deeply concerned about the latest reports involving Angolan human rights […]

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TURKEY: Ebru Timtik, remembering a lawyer who devoted her life to justice

27 August marks another year since the death of Ebru Timtik, a lawyer who died after 238 days on hunger strike to demand a fair trial in Turkey. Ebru Timtik was part of a group of 18 lawyers who were members of the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD), which was the subject of relentless legal proceedings. […]

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DRC: Joint press release on the arbitrary detention of lawyers at the Kinshasa-Gombe Bar Association

The OIAD and Lawyers for Lawyers, in collaboration with the signatory Bars and organisations committed to the defence of lawyers’ rights, express their deep concern regarding the arbitrary detention of Congolese lawyers Guillaume Muyembe, Patrick Katebe and Médard Palankoy by the authorities. The three lawyers, all members of the Kinshasa-Gombe Bar, were arbitrarily detained incommunicado […]

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PHILIPPINES: Report on International Fair Trial Day 2024 in the Philippines

Date of the event: 14 June, 2024 Report date: March, 2025 Description: On 14 June 2024, around 300 legal professionals, bar association representatives, academics, criminal justice experts, human rights advocates and journalists from around the world gathered online and in person in Manila, the Philippines to participate in the 2024 International Fair Trial Day and […]

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