Canada Campaigns

Attend LRWC’s Annual General Meeting 7th May 2021: Keynote speaker Marjorie Cohn | Event

Register to attend the online AGM CPD credit available for Keynote presentation (BC and Ontario lawyers) Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada plans to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) Friday 7 May 2021, 1 pm Pacific time (4 pm Eastern). This year’s AGM features keynote speaker … [Read more...]

Canada: Indigenous Nations, organizations and individuals support federal implementation of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples | Open Letter

Full PDF (ENG) Full PDF (FR) LRWC signed an open letter published this week in The Hill Times. The letter was signed by 37 Indigenous Nations and governments and other organizations, and 125 human rights advocates, calling for the timely passage of Bill C-15, the proposed federal legislation to … [Read more...]

Yemen: UN Security Council should refer Yemen situation to the ICC: Oral Statement, 46th Session, UN Human Rights Council | Oral Statement

Full PDF (ENG) Direct link to LRWC statement Link to full debate Organization: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada Item: Item 2: Oral Update of the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen Date: 25 February 2021 Speaker: Catherine Morris Oral Statement to the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights … [Read more...]

In memoriam: Joe Arvay, O.C, O.B.C, Q.C. (1949-2020)

Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada is saddened by the passing of Canadian lawyer Joe Arvay on 7 December 2020. Joe Arvay was a giant in Canada’s civil rights and human rights community and was recognized for his contributions by being invested as an Officer in the Order of Canada. Joe Arvay was counsel on … [Read more...]

Defending Defenders: The Right to Know Rights | The Advocate, January 2021

"Defending Defenders: The Right to Know Rights," by Catherine Morris, The Advocate, January 2021. Abstract: The first two decades in this millennium have seen dramatic increases in risks to those reporting or protesting rights violations or advocating human rights, particularly in relation to … [Read more...]

Doing the two-step on uneven platforms: Successes and setbacks of human rights advocacy

First published by Slaw.ca, Canada's online legal magazine, on 30 December 2020 Human rights advocates are sometimes asked whether human rights advocacy works. Most human rights defenders answer in the form of anecdotes, because empirical research on effectiveness is scarce in a world where human … [Read more...]

A request for your support for Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada: A letter from the Executive Director

Dear friends and colleagues, 2020 has been a year unlike any other. In a time when we have experienced a global pandemic and widespread political conflict, the protection of international human rights has become increasingly crucial. This year has also been a year of solidarity and political … [Read more...]

Defending Defenders Around the World: An Invitation to join Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada and support its work

LRWC invites lawyers, law students and others to become members of Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada and to support its work through donations  LRWC members defend the rule of law and human rights advocates around the world The work done by LRWC is made possible by the pro bono work of members, … [Read more...]

Lawyers in Danger: Threats to Advocates Worldwide | The Advocate, November 2020

This article was originally published in The Advocate, November 2020 edition | See the .pdf article The Advocate is published six times each year by the Vancouver Bar Association and is made available to all lawyers in British Columbia, Canada. NEWS FROM LAWYERS’ RIGHTS WATCH … [Read more...]

Canadian pro bono lawyers amplify the calls for justice worldwide: 30th anniversary of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers | Report from LRWC published in Slaw.ca

Canadian pro bono lawyers amplify the calls for justice worldwide: 30th anniversary of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers Catherine Morris First published at Slaw.ca, Canada's online legal magazine, on 27 October 2020 For the past two decades, Canadian lawyers have been speaking up … [Read more...]