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During the last weeks of 2021, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada volunteers have been continuing to stand up for lawyers and human rights defenders under threat around the world. We are grateful for your support through memberships and generous donations.
When lawyers are threatened, charged, jailed or attacked for representing victims of human rights abuses, others pay attention. When impunity for threats or attacks against lawyers is permitted, others are emboldened to do the same. The result is that lawyers may hesitate to put themselves at risk, making it difficult for victims of rights violations to obtain needed legal representation. These are the reasons Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada was founded two decades ago – to advocate for the protection of those who defend human rights and the rule of law around the world.
In 2021, LRWC volunteers wrote or joined dozens of letters and statements to government officials and made more than two dozen written or oral statements at the UN Human Rights Council. This year, LRWC focused particular attention on the situations of lawyers and defenders in places where defenders are currently under siege, such as China (including Hong Kong), Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and a number of other countries. We think of colleagues who continue to work for human rights at risk of their lives in the Philippines and Colombia. The dire situations for human rights advocates in Afghanistan and Myanmar continue to call for attention.
There is much more to do. We can’t do it without you. Thanks to those of you who have joined or renewed your membership. Your year-end gift helps us to defend defenders all over the world who risk everything to uphold justice for their clients and their societies.
Catherine Morris
Transitional Executive Director
