News

Paris, 15 November 2024 – The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger has learned that Iranian lawyer Mohammad Najafi was recently admitted to hospital following a serious heart condition. This hospitalisation occurred in a context of continuous pressure and particularly harsh conditions of detention.    Despite his critical condition, Mr Najafi was chained to his hospital bed, his hands and legs shackled, while two security guards watched over him in his room. This particularly inhumane and dangerous method is generally used on political prisoners hospitalised in Iran.   Mohammad Najafi has been repeatedly persecuted since 2016. He has been convicted on several occasions for taking a peaceful stance and defending demonstrators against the regime. His convictions, totalling several decades in prison, are based on spurious and unproven charges aimed at suppressing his freedom of expression and his right of defence.    Mr Najafi’s conditions of detention are particularly worrying: he has been deprived of contact with his family since September 2022, and has also been denied the medical care that health professionals consider necessary. Given his pathology, his treatment during hospitalisation is seriously endangering his life.    The Observatory strongly condemns these inhumane conditions of detention, which violate Mohammad Najafi’s fundamental rights.   […]

As part of the international day against the death penalty on 10 October, the OIAD has co-signed a report analysing the situation of human rights defenders who have spoken out against the lifting of the moratorium on the death penalty in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This report comes as lawyers in the DRC are being targeted for their opposition to the lifting of the moratorium. Read the report:  

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 […]

15 October 2024 The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger 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.  

Sonia Dahmani sentenced on appeal by the Tunisian courts The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger travelled to Tunisia alongside other defence organisations to attend the appeal trial of Sonia Dahmani. The lawyer was sentenced to 8 months in prison. Read the joint press release.

In a joint report, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders—a partnership between the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)—and the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (OIAD) present findings from the judicial observation of the first hearing in the trial of Eren Keskin and Güllistan Yarkın, from the Human Rights Association (IHD). Both were accused of “publicly denigrating the Turkish Nation” following their statements at the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day on April 24, 2021 and acquitted on May 2, 2024. The prosecutor has appealed against their acquittal and the appellate review is ongoing. Paris-Geneva, August 28, 2024 – On February 27, 2024, observers from the Observatory and OIAD attended the first trial of the criminal case against Eren Keskin, Kurdish human rights defender, lawyer and Co-chair of IHD, and Güllistan Yarkın, Kurdish human rights defender, researcher and member of IHD’s Commission against Racism and Discrimination. The trial was held before the Istanbul 51st Criminal Court of First Instance. Both defenders were accused under the notorious Article 301 of the Turkish Criminal Code, which states that anyone who “publicly denigrates Turkish Nation, State of the Turkish Republic, Turkish Grand National Assembly, […]

The Maison des Avocats de Paris hosted the 7th Ordinary General Meeting of the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger on 20 June 2024. Gathered in the Council room of the Paris Bar Association, the Co-Presidents Vincent Nioré and Vanessa Bousardo handed over the presidency of the OIAD to the Consejo General de la Abogacía Española, represented by Alfredo Irujo. The event featured powerful interviews with lawyers from Russia, Mexico, Iran and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who highlighted the challenges and realities of the lawyer’s profession in their respective countries. “Women are raped, massacred (…) children are enrolled in the armed forces (…). In this context, unfortunately, we are supposed to live (…) but in reality, we try to live because we have no other choice. And it’s complicated when we, the lawyers who are supposed to defend the rights of all these citizens (…) are also the target of the government authorities’ armed forces”, explains Vascos Saasita, a lawyer at the Bar in Tshipo (Democratic Republic of Congo) “I must tell you that it is an ordeal to be a human rights defender, to be a defence lawyer in Mexico. Threats, assaults, the risk of being murdered, of […]

Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bern, Bologna, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Colmar, Cologne, Dhaka, Dusseldorf, Gaza, Grenoble, Harlem, London, Madrid, Manila, Mytilini, New Delhi, New York, Nicosia, Paris, Ramallah, Roma, Tokyo–  5 July 2024   The undersigned bar associations, law societies, and lawyers’ rights organizations – representing tens of thousands of lawyers from around the globe – condemn in the strongest possible terms the detention of Progressive Lawyers Association (“ÇHD”) lawyers Naim Eminoğlu and Doğa İncesu, and demand their immediate release and exoneration by the authorities of Turkey. On 2 July 2024, Turkish authorities raided the Istanbul homes of lawyers Naim Eminoğlu and Doğa İncesu, and took the two lawyers into custody. Eminoğlu is an Istanbul Branch executive board member of Çağdaş Hukukçular Derneği – the Progressive Lawyers Association (“ÇHD”), and İncesu is a ÇHD member.[1] In fulfilling their professional duties as lawyers, Eminoğlu and İncesu are present at police stations and courthouses almost every day. Indeed, they were scheduled to attend court hearings in clients’ cases on 2 July.  Despite the fact that there was no risk that the two lawyers would attempt to flee, armed police officers executed early-morning raids on the lawyers’ residences and took them into custody. Their […]

Impunity for attacks on lawyers, prosecutors and judges, as well as smear campaigns against legal and human rights professionals in the Philippines, were highlighted in a panel discussion to mark International Fair Trial Day. Held on 14 June at the University of the Philippines in Manila, the event also highlighted the gaps in anti-terrorism legislation resulting from the so-called “red-tagging” system,, a series of defamation campaigns against legal professionals on social media and in public spaces. The second panel discussion of the day, chaired by Gonzalo Sáenz Quilez, representing the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (OIAD), focused on the impact of anti-terrorism and anti-drug laws on the protection of lawyers, journalists, civil society, activists and other human rights defenders. The event was supported and attended by more than 100 legal associations from around the world, who pledged to highlight the importance of the right to a fair trial and the challenges posed by the rights of the defence. The ceremony also provided an opportunity to award the “Ebru Timtik” human rights prize, which this year went to NUPL (National Union of People’s Lawyers), which includes Czarina Musni, who has been monitored by the OIAD. To find out more about […]

An international “Caravana Filipina” monitoring mission took place from 4 to 14 June 2024, involving 12 international delegations in the Philippines, including the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (OIAD). The main purpose of the Caravan was to investigate and seek justice for the attacks on lawyers, prosecutors and judges in this Asian country from 2016 to date. An agenda of strategic meetings was held with various judicial actors, family members and direct victims of these attacks, who were put in this situation because of their profession. These meetings revealed repeated violations of effective judicial protection for these people, which has led to an unprecedented increase in attacks on lawyers, fostering a “culture of impunity” and a climate of fear through “red tagging” and the repression of civil society and freedom of expression. Following this fieldwork,, the Caravana is working on a fact-finding mission report, which should be published and sent to the international authorities to raise awareness of this serious human rights violation. The “Caravana Filipina” is also constantly monitoring the vulnerability of our colleagues and is always on alert in case a rapid response to an emergency situation is required. The mission’s press release is available at the […]

On 14 June, the International Fair Trial Day will take place in Manila, Philippines, where legal experts from around the world will discuss the challenges to access to justice in Philippine society. The International Fair Trial Day Conference and the Ebru Timtik Award Ceremony will feature a diverse group of the Philippines-based and international panellists and moderators, including prominent representatives of international human rights oversight mechanisms, judges, lawyers, human rights activists, researchers, and academic figures. The moderators are from various international organizations forming the Steering Group of the International Fair Trial Day (IFTD) and Ebru Timtik Award. The keynote speakers and panellists will bring a wide range of expertise and experiences from different legal and human rights backgrounds, ensuring comprehensive and insightful discussions on the pressing fair trial rights related issues in the Philippines and beyond throughout the event. The day will be divided into four sessions covering: the protection of lawyers and judicial independence; the targeting of lawyers, journalists, activists, CSOs and other HRDs in the context of counterterrorism, anti-drug and related policies; arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings; accountability and remedies. The day will conclude with the presentation of the Ebru Timtik Award to […]

On June 14, 2023, around 300 human rights lawyers, judges, reporters, and associations worldwide attended online and in-person to the third edition of the International Fair Trial Day (IFTD) and Ebru Timtik Award. The Conference had the participation as panellists of eminent lawyers, human rights defenders, victims and academics from Mexico, as well as members of the Inter-American Commission and Court of Human Rights and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers. The report released today summarizes the issues addressed at the Conference, especially on the fair trial abuses and violations occurring in Mexico. The panellists addressed issues such as the excessive use of pretrial detention and the constitutional requirement that judges impose mandatory pre-trial detention on some crimes, attacks to judicial independence many courts and judges are facing, the lack of justice in cases of enforced disappearances and torture, as well as the unequal access to justice and the incredible cost for women and indigenous peoples that face impunity. One of the case studies highlighted in the report is the murder of prominent human rights lawyer Digna Ochoa, whose trial before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights was closely followed by the Observatory. The OIAD […]

On 18 March 2024, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued a “historic” ruling in the “Case of the members of the Lawyers’ Corporation ‘José Alvear Restrepo’ v. Colombia”. The Observatory was very pleased to interview prominent human rights lawyer Reinaldo Villalba to understand the content, consequences and scope of this decision.  Reinaldo Villalba Vargas is a lawyer involved in the defence of human rights in Colombia. He has been a member of the well-known Colectivo José Alvear Restrepo (CAJAR) for over 30 years. Throughout his career as a lawyer, he has provided legal support to hundreds of victims of crimes against humanity and serious human rights violations.  Why do you consider the  Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling of 18 March to be “historic”? This judgment is historic because it is the first to qualify the right to defend human rights as an autonomous right; because it reaffirms the State’s obligation to provide enhanced protection for human rights defenders and to provide guarantees for the exercise of the right; because the Court urges the State and all its authorities to exercise control over conventionality[1]; because the judgment defends the right to self-determination in matters of information; because the Court […]

The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger is establishing itself on the international stage at the United Nations Human Rights Council. The OIAD has submitted its first alternative report to the 46th session of the 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review on Afghanistan, in October 2023, on the subject of the legal profession engaged in the defence, protection and promotion of human rights in the country. The Taliban takeover has led to a serious deterioration in the independence of the judiciary. The Afghan Bar Association is controlled by the authorities, and lawyers are subject to threats, persecution and arbitrary detention. Furthermore, the recommendations made to Afghanistan as part of the 3rd cycle of the Universal Periodic Review in 2019 have not been implemented at all. In its alternative report, the Observatory focused on the protection of the independence of the judiciary, including the protection of Afghan lawyers. This protection took the form of recommendations, including the “guarantee of an independent judicial system in which lawyers can exercise their profession effectively“. The OIAD also stressed the importance of Afghan women’s access to the legal profession, pointing to their exclusion from the new qualification process and from the Ministry of Justice […]

February 27, 2024 marked the opening of the first trial following the decision of the Turkish Constitutional Court, which confirmed that Galatasaray Square is a public space where demonstrations are allowed. Lawyer Oya Meriç Eyüboğlu was among the defendants in the trial. For more than 20 years, the Saturday Mothers (Cumartesi Anneleri/İnsanları in Turkish) have gathered peacefully in Istanbul’s Galatasaray Square in the form of a vigil every Saturday at noon to demand accountability for the enforced disappearances that took place in the 1980s and 1990s in Turkey. On 16 November 2022, the Turkish Constitutional Court recognised the legitimacy of the Saturday Mothers gatherings. This decision, confirmed again on 29 March 2023, allowed the movement to demonstrate peacefully on Galatasaray Square. However, the Turkish authorities attempted to suppress the movement by restricting access to Galatasaray Square. Given this blatant restriction of the right to peaceful demonstration, the authorities have not hesitated to attack the lawyers representing the movement. Some of the Saturday Mothers’ lawyers have also been targeted. The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger was in Istanbul, Turkey, with the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) […]

On 27 February, the “Teatro del barrio” in Madrid hosted the preview of the documentary “Desterrados: Voces de Resistencia”, where a glimpse of what this series about the work and life of Colombian lawyer Adil Meléndez could look like was presented. This documentary was co-financed by the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger, to support the visibility of the lawyer’s work defending the rights of Afro-Colombian communities in the Caribbean region. Following the screening, several thematic panels were held, during which experts in the defence of human rights in Colombia analysed the socio-political context and the personal security situation of Adil Meléndez. Gonzalo Sáenz, representative of the OIAD, presented the background to the work that the OIAD has carried out on behalf of the lawyer since 2018. Recently, the lawyer reported that his bodyguards had informed him that the National Protection Unit (UNP)[1] had withdrawn its security plan. As a result, the Observatory has been mobilised to ensure that the lawyer can return to his country with guarantees of safety. “Ever since I began my struggle as a lawyer, I have made sure that I have back-up, always someone behind me to support me, and that is the international organisations. […]

Nasrin Sotoudeh, Amirsalar Davoudi, Khosrow Alikordi, Mohammad Najafi, Saleh Nikbakht: their names resonate as symbols of a relentless struggle against oppression and the violation of fundamental rights in Iran. These lawyers, known for their tireless defence of human rights, face immense risks in their fight for justice. On 24 January, the International Day for Lawyers in Danger was marked by an unprecedented international mobilisation, dedicated this year to the alarming situation of lawyers in Iran. Bars from all over the world, from France to Italy, from the United States to the farthest reaches of Asia, joined forces in round tables, conferences and demonstrations to highlight the threats faced by Iranian lawyers in the exercise of their profession. The Nantes Bar Association hosted a conference where Iranian lawyer Ghasem BOEDI gave a precious summary of his experience. A remarkable show of solidarity took place within the international legal community on this day. “We are all united in this fight for justice,” declared a lawyer present at the rally in Paris in front of the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, embodying the spirit of the day. Blatantly denying the fundamental principles of justice, the government of the Islamic Republic shows […]

On the occasion of the International Day for Lawyers in Danger 2024, which marks the 47th anniversary of the murder of the Atocha lawyers, the “Abogados de Atocha” Foundation has announced the award of its prestigious annual prize to the OIAD, for its unwavering commitment to justice since its creation in 2016. The “Abogados de Atocha” Foundation was set up to perpetuate the memory of the lawyers who were victims of the Atocha Massacre on 24 January 1977, who were fighting for democratic freedoms in Spain. In commemoration of these assassinated lawyers, the International Day of Lawyers in Danger is held every year on 24 January, the date on which the “Abogados de Atocha” award ceremony was held. Victoria Ortega Benito, President of the Spanish National Bar Council and representative of the OIAD, had the honour of receiving the award from the “Abogados de Atocha” Foundation on behalf of the Observatory in Madrid. “The existence of the Observatory is both a daily tragedy and a window of hope. Tragedy because there are lawyers who are threatened, attacked and even murdered for the simple fact of defending human rights; and a window of hope because there is a network working for […]

On 7 December 2023, Edmond-Claude Frety, Secretary General of the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger, participated in the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, organised by the American Bar Association and the Paris Bar Association. As representative of the OIAD, Edmond-Claude highlighted the critical situation of access to justice and the rule of law in Colombia. The persistence of violence and the lack of security guarantees, the weakness of the judicial system and the lack of protection and support for lawyers and human rights defenders are three major obstacles to a genuine rule of law in Colombia, which were highlighted in the report of the VIIth International Caravan of Lawyers, in which Edmond-Claude Frety was able to participate with other representatives of the OIAD in August 2022. 18 delegates from various international non-governmental organisations took part in this initiative, which works tirelessly to promote access to justice and improve the rule of law in a country with a particularly complex context. Far from being a post-conflict country, Colombia faces major challenges, including endemic corruption and uncontrolled powers in certain regions, such as drug traffickers and paramilitaries. In Cartagena, mega-projects carried out by major […]

The European Law Summit brought together EU law professionals with the clear aim of enhancing their knowledge of EU law and amplifying its impact. During a series of in-depth discussions, participants examined the EU’s medium- and long-term challenges, tackling topics such as the Green Pact, legislation on artificial intelligence, relations with Latin America, the health of the rule of law, and the European Pact on Migration. The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger took part in the European Law Summit, contributing to the panel dedicated to “The defence of human rights by persecuted lawyers”. This provided an exceptional platform to promote the protection of lawyers defending human rights around the world. By taking part in this prestigious event, the Observatory extended its influence and attracted the attention of European players, thereby consolidating its crucial role in the protection of lawyers engaged in the defence of fundamental rights. Bénédicte Graulle, a member of the OIAD Board, spoke on 17 November at 9 :30am. Furthermore, the OIAD played a significant role as an observer during the drafting of the Convention on the Protection of Lawyers, currently being negotiated in Strasbourg under the aegis of the Council of Europe. This participation bears witness to […]

24 November 2023   Antonio Fraticelli, lawyer at the Bologna Bar, represented the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger in Istanbul, alongside 21 other NGOs and Bar associations, to show international solidarity with lawyers in Turkey who are being prosecuted, sentenced and imprisoned for practising their profession. Legal professionals, and in particular lawyers, are subject to harassment, arbitrary detention, unfair trials and even torture because of their commitment to human rights. Since 2013, the Observatory has been closely following the trial of 22 lawyers affiliated to the progressive lawyers’ association ÇHD. In November 2022, heavy sentences were handed down against these committed lawyers. The Observatory continues to monitor the situation of lawyers, in particular those currently in detention: it is in this context that visits were made to nine lawyers, members of ÇHD, detained in four separate prisons (between 5 November 2023 and 10 November 2023). In addition to these prison visits, the purpose of the mission was to observe two hearings, that of ÖHD (Lawyers’ Association for Freedom) on 7 November 2023 and that of Gülhan Kaya, a member of ÖHD, on 9 November 2023. A joint statement has been drawn up by the participating organisations, highlighting the seriousness […]

Nathan Guy / Flickr / 2008 21 November 2023 The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (OIAD) is continuing its commitment towards the protection of Endangered Lawyers by participating, as an observer, in the 6th meeting of the Committee of Experts for the creation of a Convention which aims to protect lawyers more effectively from the dangers they face as a result of their profession. The Observatory’s commitment is reflected in its preparation for and participation in all the meetings of the CJ-AV that have taken place in Strasbourg since April 2022. During the 6th meeting from 17 to 19 October, an analytical examination of the 8th version of the draft convention was carried out, looking in particular at Articles 3 (Use of terms), 4 (Professional associations), 5 (Authorisation to practise), 6 (Professional rights of lawyers), 8 (Discipline) and 9 (Protection). The report of the CJ-AV meeting sets out in detail the changes made to the above points. Massimo Audisio, a lawyer and member of the Observatory’s Board, attended the meeting representing the OIAD, providing the recommendations identified on the draft text. This latest version of the text was examined for the first time by the Committee on European Legal […]

2 November 2023   “On Sunday, 29 October, the media broke the news that [Nasrin Sotoudeh] had been arrested while attending the funeral of Armita Garavand, the 16-year-old girl who died after 28 days in a coma following her arrest by the infamous Morality Police in the Tehran metro. She was taken along with other arrested women to the Vozara detention centre, the same one in which Mahsa Amini died last year.”   Read the joint statement. Read the International Observatory for Endangered Lawyers’ alert on Nasrin Sotoudeh.

5 September 2023   “On the morning of 28 August 2023, lawyer Claudia González was arrested, charged with the crime of abuse of authority. The arrest took place following a search of her home ordered by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, as part of the alleged investigation proceedings against her.” Holder of the Lawyers for Lawyers 2023 prize, Claudia González has been the subject of online harassment on social networks and threats of legal action. Claudia González Orellana, former representative of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CIGIC), acted as legal advisor to nine of her former colleagues on the Commission, which allegedly led to her persecution and recent arrest. In view of the critical situation facing the lawyer Claudia González Orellana, the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger and Lawyers for Lawyers supported by 27 other organisations, have signed a joint statement urging the Guatemalan authorities to: “1. Immediately and unconditionally release lawyer Claudia González. 2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the rights to due process, legal defence and access to justice in the case of Claudia González. 3. Guarantee that all lawyers in Guatemala are able to carry out their legitimate professional activities without fear of reprisals […]

Interview with Clara GERARD-RODRIGUEZ, lawyer at FTMS Avocats, on the list of deputy counsel qualified to practice before the International Criminal Court On the occasion of the International Criminal Justice Day, OIAD had the opportunity to interview Clara Gérard-Rodriguez, associate lawyer at FTMS Avocats, consultant for Global Rights Compliance and on the list of deputy counsel of the International Criminal Court. Answering our questions, Ms. Gérard-Rodriguez shed light on the practice and implementation of international criminal justice, which is sometimes faced with complex challenges. Portrait of Clara Gérard-Rodriguez After graduating with a master’s degree in international public law in Amsterdam, Clara Gérard-Rodriguez began her career at the ICC, where she worked for 4 years as a legal officer, first as part of a defense team (in the case of The Prosecutor v. William Samoei Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang), then as part of the victims’ representation team in the Al Mahdi case, which was about the destruction of the Timbuktu mausoleums. At the end of this trial, Clara left the ICC to return to France. She joined the Paris Bar in 2019. Clara is now an associate at FTMS Avocats and advises on general criminal and business law cases. Clara […]

‘709 Crackdown 2.0’ : Global call against China’s renewed crackdown on human rights lawyers Today, we mark China Human Rights Lawyers Day, in remembrance of the Chinese government’s roundup of over 300 human rights lawyers and legal assistants in the days following July 9, 2015, in what is known as the ‘709 crackdown’. UN experts are dismayed that ‘the profession of human rights lawyer has been effectively criminalised in China.’ Human rights lawyers are a cornerstone of China’s human rights movement. From Uyghurs, Tibetans and Hong Kongers, to religious minorities, LGBTQI and feminist advocates, journalists, and political dissidents: human rights lawyers defend the full spectrum of civil society. They accompany and empower the most vulnerable against land evictions, discrimination, health scandals, or extra-legal detention. They embody the promise of rule of law and hold the government accountable to its commitments under China’s constitution, laws, and the international human rights treaties it has ratified. They ensure that no one is left behind. Today, we call for urgent global attention to the Chinese government’s new wave of repression against human rights lawyers unfolding over the past three months. Read the full statement in english and chinese :           […]

The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (OIAD) has sent a statement to the Nicaraguan authorities expressing its concern at the Supreme Court’s decision to disbar more than 25 legal professionals who have defended political prisoners and opponents of Daniel Ortega’s government since 2018. The Observatory denounces the fact that in Nicaragua “there are currently different patterns of human rights violations”, and regrets that 94 people have been declared “stateless” and “traitors to the homeland”, including these lawyers, who were stripped of their professional licence and nationality on 11 May. It expresses its “concern about the lack of judicial independence in the decisions taken by the Supreme Court of Nicaragua”. “In particular, it is concerned about the lack of sufficient grounds for stripping a justice system player of his status as a lawyer on the basis of his statelessness, which inevitably reflects the political interests of the magistrates of this court”, states the communication sent to President Daniel Ortega. It therefore urges the government to take “all necessary measures to guarantee access to the practice of law in Nicaragua, as well as the safety and physical and psychological integrity of the lawyers mentioned”. It also asks them to “guarantee, in […]

“Confronting impunity: Protect Lawyers and Judicial Independence” is the title of the  VII International Caravan of Jurists Report in Colombia, in which 6 delegates from the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger participated. The full report is now available in English and is summarised below.  Executive Summary of VII Caravane Report This report  documents the findings of the visit in August 2022 by the VII International Caravana of Jurists to Colombia. The backdrop to the Caravana was the high murder rate of human rights defenders (HRDs) and social leaders, the alarming increase in territorial violence, and the acceleration of repression and criminalisation of social protest in recent years. As the delegation commenced, the incoming Petro government was promising to fully implement the Peace Agreement. Delegates were also aware of concerns about the Duque government’s failure to fulfill key commitments in the Agreement. With this in mind, the VII Caravana focused on the need for an independent judiciary and the protection of human rights lawyers and defenders, to confront impunity and guarantee access to justice for all. Convening first in Bogotá for preliminary meetings with Colombian colleagues, the Caravana delegates travelled to four regions, Bolívar (Cartagena), Norte De Santander (Cúcuta), Santander […]

“I would like to see more extraditions from the country through diplomatic channels for those who are in danger” 28 february 2023 When the Taliban took the power, Hossain Haydari was arrested and all his belongings seized because of his work as a criminal lawyer and defender of women victims of gender-based violence. During his 16 weeks in prison, he was tortured and harassed. After his release, he managed to flee to Iran. Thanks to the support of the Fundación Abogacía and the Observatory (OIAD), he has just arrived in Spain, where he will seek asylum and international protection. We spoke to him about the complex situation in his country and the current state of justice.    How is the practice of law in Afghanistan?    There is no judicial system that corresponds to a state under the rule of law, and all the power to judge a case is in the hands of a judge, who has no legal knowledge. Laws have been repealed and the legal profession has been reduced by 99%. Despised by judges, lawyers can no longer practice their profession. For most criminal offences, such as theft, murder, kidnapping, political opposition or armed struggle, defendants are not entitled […]

The Left / Flickr / 2012 In a joint article published on the website of “La Croix” on 22 December 2022, Jerôme Gavaudan, President of the Observatory (OIAD), and Jean-Claude Samouiller, President of Amnesty International France, denounced the decision of Israel to expel the lawyer Salah Hamouri.  Read the full article below: “Nine months. It has been more than nine months since the French-Palestinian lawyer Salah Hamouri was arrested, then placed in administrative detention in an Israeli prison. Without the right to a fair trial, without any charges being brought against him, and under the pretext that he “would threaten the security of the region”, he has seen his prison sentence renewed every three months by decision of a military court since March.  This Sunday, he was deported from Israel to France, without further trial, while the hearing to set the date of his deportation was scheduled for January 1st. Today, we ask the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision, by allowing him to return to work in his country, and live in his native land with his family.  A dangerous precedent  The revocation of his right of residence and his expulsion from Israeli territory, which had been hanging over […]

  Every year on the 24th of January, the International Day of the Lawyer in Danger mobilises the international community on the difficulties and threats to the practice of law. The situation of lawyers in Afghanistan was chosen for the year 2023. Lawyers have been targeted since the Taliban government took power on 15th of August 2021. The impossibility or even the prohibition for women to practice their profession and the obligation for men to obtain a new licence under the control of the terrible Taliban Ministry of Justice, undermine the free exercise of lawyers’ profession. Not to mention the dramatic deterioration of the rule of law, jeopardising the lives of thousands of Afghans, including many lawyers, forced to flee or hide in the country. On the occasion of this international day, the OIAD is organising a virtual conference on the 20th of January 2023 entitled “The defence of defence in times of crisis”, which will provide an opportunity to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, but also in Ukraine and Iran. *** Join us online for this mobilisation day. The debates will be fully translated into English, French, Spanish and Italian. We also invite you to participate in the OIAD’s […]

Every year on the 24th of January, the International Day of the Lawyer in Danger mobilises the international community on the difficulties and threats to the practice of law. The situation of lawyers in Afghanistan was chosen for the year 2023. Lawyers have been targeted since the Taliban government took power on 15th of August 2021. The impossibility or even the prohibition for women to practice their profession and the obligation for men to obtain a new licence under the control of the terrible Taliban Ministry of Justice, undermine the free exercise of lawyers’ profession. Not to mention the dramatic deterioration of the rule of law, jeopardising the lives of thousands of Afghans, including many lawyers, forced to flee or hide in the country. On the occasion of this international day, the OIAD is organising a online conference on the 20th of January 2023 entitled “The defence of defence in times of crisis”, which will provide an opportunity to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, but also in Ukraine and Iran. *** Join us online, for this mobilisation day. The debates will be fully translated into English, French, Spanish and Italian. We also invite you to participate in the OIAD’s workshops. […]

On 15 June 2022, a delegation from OIAD, the Geneva Bar Association and secretaries of the Paris Bar Conference attended the 5th hearing of the defendants in the Barrister Tahir Elçi assassination case. Tahi Elçi was elected as the President of the Diyarbakir Bar Association in 2012 and had been working with national, international and non-governmental organisations especially on the the Kurdish resolution process (peace process) in Turkey and promoting the rights of the people in the Kurdish region, mainly in Diyarbakır. On 28 November 2015, Tahir Elçi was shot dead while holding a press conference he had organised at the “four-legged minaret” in Diyarbakır to denounce the serious human rights violations committed during the curfews in Cizre, Sur, Silopi and Nusaybin, and to make a public appeal for the protection of cultural property and heritage during the conflict. In September 2021, Ahmet Davutoğlu, former Prime Minister stated regarding the causes of Tahir Elçi’s death: “This is an assassination plot against Tahir Elçi. The target is clear, it is Turkey. The second possibility is that, following the terrorists’ attack, our police officers fired shots in order to protect the population there and Tahir Elçi was caught in the crossfire. There […]

The Observatory, together with the International Caravan of Jurists, Lawyers for Lawyers, Lawyers Rights Watch Canada and Global Justice Association, has informed the Colombian authorities of its concern about information received regarding the situation of Luz Estella Romero Villalba and the rest of the members of the Asociación Colectivo Mujeres al Derecho (ASOCOLEMAD or Collective Association of Women in Law), composed of lawyers and human rights defenders in their country. In the communication, the OIAD and the other organisations have urged the Colombian institutions and authorities to: Take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety and physical and psychological integrity of those who make up ASCOLEMAD, within the framework of protection programs and international standards; Guarantee, under all circumstances, that human rights defence lawyers in Colombia can carry out their activities in defence of human rights without fear of reprisals and without restrictions and with respect for the United Nations Basic Principles of the Role of Lawyers, signed in Havana in 1990. Likewise, in particular, we have urged the Office of the Attorney General to observe due diligence and guarantee the rights to due process, defence, access to justice and the right to information in the investigation of the reported […]

After two years of working remotely, on 20 May 2022 the International Observatory for Lawyers at Risk finally convened in Rome for its annual General Assembly. Members of the Observatory were able to participate in person or online in the meeting as well as in an open conference organised the day before to make the work of the OIAD more visible.   Conference on the role of lawyers in building the rule of law  On Thursday 19 May, the conference on the role of lawyers in the construction of the rule of law was held. Maria Masi, President of the Consiglio Nationale Forense, welcomed the participants and praised the work of the Observatory. Francesco Caia, President of the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger, introduced the conference by stating that “The best way to exert effective pressure on governments and authorities is to multiply debates and meetings, involving citizens; to publicise the facts and circumstances that lead to the erosion of the rule of law in many countries of the world, telling the stories, the intimidation, the unjust arrests, the arbitrary convictions and, unfortunately, in the most serious cases, the violence and murders of lawyers. “  David Ermini, vice-president of […]

On May 19, 2022, the Observatory organizes an online and in person conference from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm (CET)

The Observatory and its members, the French National Bar (CNB), the Paris Bar and the Bologna Bar, were present on 23 March 2022 at the trial of the “Progressive Lawyers Association” (CHD) at the Silivri high security prison complex (Turkey).   In this case, 22 lawyers, members of the CHD association, have been prosecuted since 2013 based on the Turkish anti-terrorist law. Ebru TIMTIK lost her life after a 238-day hunger strike, launched to obtain a fair trial. Selçuk KOZAGACLI, former president of the CHD and Barkın TIMTIK, lawyer and Ebru’s sister, have been imprisoned for almost 6 years.    Since the beginning of this case, the lawyers have denied all its elements; the protagonists of the case, the investigation, the evidence, and the witnesses.   The prosecutor who prepared the indictment was sentenced to life imprisonment for “belonging to the Gulenist movement” and is currently on the run.   The Deputy Director of the Istanbul Anti-Terror Division and police officers serving in the division are being prosecuted for, among other things, “forgery”, “fabrication of false evidence” and “altering illegally obtained digital data”.   The main investigator, the police officer who carried out the instructions of the said prosecutor, was dismissed and prosecuted for “forgery” […]

 The Observatory supports women lawyers   March 8 is the International Women’s Rights Day. On this occasion, the Observatory wishes to put forward profiles of women lawyers who fight for the recognition of their rights in their country.    Many women lawyers are persecuted in the world, the Observatory affirms its support. As members of the profession, these women must be recognized the same rights as their colleagues.     The Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders held in Havana (Cuba) in 1990 reaffirms in its preamble that: ““the peoples of the world affirm, inter alia , their determination to establish conditions under which justice can be maintained, and proclaim as one of their purposes the achievement of international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion”.  Some of our colleagues have recently been victims of violence and intimidation in the course of their work.  In Afghanistan, Latifa Sharifi was threatened for her fight against domestic violence against women.   In the Philippines, Czarina Musni, committed to the protection of vulnerable people and […]

The Observatory and the Fundación Abogacía Española invite you to their round table on the asylum procedure for lawyers in danger. The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (IOLD) and the “Fundación Abogacía Española” have identified the need and interest to deepen and provide knowledge on the particularities of the asylum procedure when the applicant is a lawyer in danger. Indeed, the exercise of the legal profession in certain countries and contexts is a high-risk activity, which sometimes leads to the forced exile of these professionals. The aim of this meeting is to present the current legal framework of the asylum procedure in Spain, reflecting on the possibility and necessity of arguing the condition of a lawyer in danger as an asylum seeker. To do this, we will have recourse to experts in the field, as well as the testimony of a Nicaraguan lawyer in exile and seeking asylum in Spain. The event will take place in Madrid in the Assembly Hall of the General Council of Spanish Lawyers on 24 February 2022 at 16:30. The event will be broadcast live on the internet. Please register at the following link to access the event online: REGISTER Link to the programme. […]

On the 24th of January, The Observatory held its webinar dedicated to Colombian Lawyers. ➡️Watch the replay on our youtube channel The webinar is also available in French, Spanish, Italian

What are the risks for lawyers in Colombia ? Adil Meléndez is a environment and human rights lawyer in Colombia. Denouncing the action of the State, Adil is highlighting the threats that suffers lawyers in their daily job.

25 January 2022 The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has issued a new ruling condemning Mexico for violating the right to life, the guarantees of judicial protection and the right to honour and dignity of human rights defenders. This is the case of Family of Digna Ochoa y Placido v. Mexico, in which the Court ruled on the responsibility of the State and its lack of diligence in the investigation of the  murder of human rights lawyer Ms. Ochoa, occurred in October 2001,  and the violation of her family’s right to know the truth about the facts. In May 2021, the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger, together with the Spanish Lawyers’ Foundation, presented an Amicus curiae brief before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in collaboration with the legal team of the victim and her relatives, led by lawyer Karla Micheel Salas. The brief highlighted the prejudice suffered by the family of the Mexican lawyer due to errors in the investigation and the failure of the Mexican State to act despite the numerous requests filed by the family. This judgment obliges Mexico to complete the investigation to determine the circumstances of the murder of Ms. Digna Ochoa in 2001 […]

On the occasion of the International Day of the Lawyer in Danger dedicated to Colombia which will be held on January 24th, the Observatory and its founding members address the following statement to the Colombian authorities. Read the press release. 

On 24 January 2022, on the occasion of the International Day of the Lawyer in Danger, the Observatory is organising an online conference from 5pm to 6.30pm (CET) translated into English, French, Italian and Spanish.   Read the programme.   Link to register for the conference : https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_k6GzW1M6RT-ccVH1av9hcA  To learn more about the International Day, we invite you to read the Observatory’s documentation.

Farid Ershad/ Unsplash / 2021 November 23, 2021 On Tuesday, November 23, 2021, fifty armed Taliban took control of the Afghanistan Independent Bars Association (AIBA) by force. During their violent intrusion, they ordered the verification of all contracts signed by the Bar Association with foreigners. The Taliban also seized funds belonging to the 2,500 lawyers who finance the Bar Association. These actions seriously jeopardize the integrity of the Bar Association and professional secrecy. AIBA is one of the only bar associations in the world that has a quota of women on all executive committees and at least one vice president must be a woman. At this time, it is unclear what impact the “nationalization” of the Afghanistan Bar Association will have specifically on women leaders of the Bar Association. This attack against the bar is part of the process of deconstruction of the rule of law in Afghanistan since the seizure of power by the Taliban on August 15, 2021, and follows in particular the takeover of the Ministry of Justice on access to the profession. Indeed, from now on, all lawyers in the country who have a license with the AIBA will have to acquire a new license from […]

[Unsplash / Mathias P.R. Reding / May 2020]. The Observatory has sent a letter to the authorities of France, Italy, Switzerland and Spain expressing its opposition to the candidacy of Mr. Herminio “Harry” Roque Jr. to the United Nations International Law Commission. As an official spokesperson for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity for extrajudicial killings and other violations in his so-called “war on drugs”, Mr. Roque has publicly defended and justified attacks on human rights, justice, due process and the rule of law. Access the full document HERE.

From 15 to 20 September 2021, an international delegation of lawyers representing several organisations, including the OIAD, returned to Turkey in the course of a fact-finding mission to visit imprisoned lawyers and attend their trials. This mission followed the last trial monitoring mission, carried out in April 2021, which concerned the OCH (Law Office for the People) and CHD I (Association of Progressive Lawyers) cases, involving lawyers who are members of human rights associations. The arrest and imprisonment of these lawyers has already been denounced by the OIAD and many international actors for violating the principles of a fair trial, and the rights of the defence. For more details, see the mission report recently published by the OIAD. On September 15, 2021, Jacopo Ograbek, mandated by the OIAD, attended the hearing of lawyers Selçuk Kozağaçlı and Barkın Timtik, who have been in pre-trial detention for 5 years for, among other things, “belonging to a terrorist organization”. They are being tried by the Istanbul Criminal Court n°18, after a review by the Turkish Court of Cassation which decided to overturn the appealed judgment. They are appearing in two cases that were irregularly joined following the decision of the Court of Cassation. […]

Alexander Lukashenko’s election for a sixth term in August 2020, after being in power for 26 years, has raised a wave of protests and demonstrations in Belarus. Indeed, his 80% election victory raised serious doubts as to the legality of the election. Consequently, the climate of tension that prevails since the election between the demonstrators and opponents of the regime on the one hand and government forces on the other has increasingly worsened lawyers’ working conditions. Lawyers who provide legal assistance to anti-government protesters are being threatened with arrest, license suspension and even disbarment. According to the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), since the summer of 2020, more than 23 lawyers have been disbarred. The justifications for these disbarments are often debated. For example, the Belarusian lawyer Mikhail Kirilyuk, who provided legal representation to a protester, was threatened and had his license revoked for making “rude comments” and “unacceptable public statements” about government officials. More recently, on 6 September 2021, the lawyer Maksim Znak was sentenced to 10 years in prison for “plotting to seize power by unconstitutional means”, “creating and leading an extremist group”, and “calling for actions undermining national security” on the media. He had been providing […]

A massive data breach reveals that the Pegasus spyware, designed by the Israeli company NSO Group, has been used by governments to surveil lawyers, journalists, human rights activists and politicians around the world. The leak of a database, created since 2016, with more than 50,000 phone numbers, suggests that these professionals and activists were selected to be tapped through the Pegasus spyware. NSO Group’s creation, once installed on the victim’s phone, allows the attacker to access all the phone’s activity, as well as record it. For its part, the company insists that Pegasus is only intended for the prosecution of terrorists and criminals. However, it is alarming that the tool has been sold to some of the countries with the highest number of international complaints of human rights violations and that the profiles of those selected as surveillance targets are mostly lawyers, journalists, human rights activists and government opponents. These actions are particularly serious as they are attacks against operators who work for the defence of human rights in their respective professions. The OIAD particularly regrets the number of lawyers targeted in the leaked data, including London-based lawyer Rodney Dixon, who represents high-profile human rights cases[1]. In addition, enquiries also […]