{"id":18332,"date":"2024-07-08T15:27:04","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T15:27:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/protect-lawyers.org\/assemblee-generale-2024-de-loiad-entre-temoignages-et-hommages-aux-confreres-et-consoeurs-menaces\/"},"modified":"2024-07-29T11:29:24","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T11:29:24","slug":"2024-oiad-general-assembly-testimonies-and-tributes-to-threatened-colleagues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/protect-lawyers.org\/en\/2024-oiad-general-assembly-testimonies-and-tributes-to-threatened-colleagues\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 OIAD General Assembly: testimonies and tributes to threatened colleagues"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 Nior\u00e9 and Vanessa Bousardo handed over the presidency of the OIAD to the Consejo General de la Abogac\u00eda Espa\u00f1ola, represented by Alfredo Irujo.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019s profession in their respective countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen are raped, massacred (\u2026) children are enrolled in the armed forces (\u2026). In this context, unfortunately, we are supposed to live (\u2026) but in reality, we try to live because we have no other choice. And it\u2019s complicated when we, the lawyers who are supposed to defend the rights of all these citizens (\u2026) are also the target of the government authorities\u2019 armed forces\u201d, explains Vascos Saasita, a lawyer at the Bar in Tshipo (Democratic Republic of Congo) \u201cI 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 disappearing (\u2026) I live by taking care of myself or by trusting in God to do my work\u201d, says Mexican lawyer Teodomira Rosales.<\/p>\n

The second edition of the OIAD Human Rights<\/strong> Prize was also held on 20 June 2024. This year, the Observatory awarded its prize to the Afghan lawyer Hosain Haydari, for his defence of victims of sexist violence by the Taliban regime and of women\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n

\u201cPolitical and legal anarchy reigns in Afghanistan (\u2026) the doors of schools and universities are still closed to women (\u2026). Even having a relationship with foreign foundations and institutions is considered a serious offence. (\u2026) There are still hundreds of human beings who suffer torture, oppression and injustice at the hands of the Taliban simply because they are campaigning for human rights\u201d, declared the prize-winner.<\/p>\n

As is the custom, the activity and financial reports were presented to the members. Among OIAD\u2019s main activities, the meeting reviewed the observation missions in connection with the assassination trial of the former Bar President of Diyarbakir, Tahir El\u00e7i. Nahit Eren<\/a>, current President of the Diyarbakir Bar, and Adrien Verrier, former President of the Nice Bar and OIAD delegate on one of the trials, discussed the issues at stake in this emblematic trial, which marked the Observatory\u2019s year.<\/p>\n

Sandrine Giroud, Bar President of Geneva, underlined the intensification of the actions of the OIAD within the United Nations. A video message from Margaret Satterthwaite, UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, was also broadcast to members during the General Assembly.<\/p>\n