China: Yu Wensheng must be fully free on March 1st: No ‘non-release release’ from prison for Chinese human rights lawyer | Joint statement

See the full statement in English or Chinese 余文生必须在3月1日获得完全的自由 中国维权律师的出狱不能是“伪释放” On 16 February 2022, LRWC joined a statement by ten human rights organizations, led by the International Service for Human Rights, urging China's government to ensure that lawyer Yu Wensheng is able … [Read more...]

South Sudan: Extend the mandate of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan | Joint letter to member and observer States of the UN Human Rights Council

Full .pdf joint letter (EN) | (FR) UPDATE: Resolution extending the mandate of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, 1 April 2022 To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council 10 February 2022 Re: Extend the … [Read more...]

United Nations: 349 NGOs call for positive elections to UN body that opens doors to civil society

Full pdf joint letter (EN) (FR) (ES) On 10 February, Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada joined a group of 349 national, regional and international NGOs calling for  States to take NGO participation seriously and vote accordingly.  In April, 2022, elections will be held to the UN Committee on … [Read more...]

Myanmar: Resist Myanmar’s digital coup: stop the military consolidating digital control | Joint Statement

Full pdf statement (EN) One year ago, as the Myanmar military sent tanks down the streets and rounded up government officials and activists, it shut down the internet, mobile phone networks, radio, and television channels. As it plunged the country into a communications blackhole, the junta … [Read more...]

Canada: Gidimt’en land defenders made a submission to UN about ongoing rights violations by BC and Canada | Press release and submission

See full .pdf submission to the UN (EN) Scroll down for the list of signatories and 26 endorsing organizations, including LRWC. Gidimt’en land defenders make submission to United Nations about ongoing rights violations by BC and Canada; Urge UN to visit Wet’suwet’en … [Read more...]

Myanmar: International brands must urgently cease production in Myanmar | Joint Statement

See the list of signatories. International brands must act urgently and cease all production in Myanmar to weaken the military dictatorship and force it to step down On February 1st 2021, the military in Myanmar carried out a coup and arrested the elected government … [Read more...]

Turkey: Urgent Action letter to UN Special Procedures: Imminent risk to health and life of ill prisoner Aysel Tuğluk | Joint letter

See the full urgent action letter (EN) On 20 January 2022, LRWC was among 43 human rights organizations signing an urgent action letter to six UN Special Procedures mandates to express grave concern over the treatment of the seriously ill prisoner, a human rights lawyer, Aysel Tuğluk … [Read more...]

Iran: Arbitrary detention of lawyers and human rights defenders | Joint letter

Full .pdf letter 18 January 2022 His Excellency Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran The Office of the Supreme Leader Tehran Province, Tehran, District 11, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: contact@leader.ir His Excellency Amin Hossein … [Read more...]

Discussion on the UN Guidelines for Lawyers in Support of Peaceful Assemblies | Online event 24 January 2022

Discussion on the UN Guidelines for Lawyers in Support of Peaceful Assemblies 24 January 2022 13:30-15:00 (Zurich) 07:30 - 9:00 am (Eastern -- North America) This event will take place online: Register here. This event is co-organized by the Geneva Human Right Platform, the International Bar … [Read more...]

Saudi Arabia: Release lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair from arbitrary detention | Update

January 2022 marks seven years since the 15-year prison sentence of human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair was confirmed by Saudi Arabia’s Specialized Court of Appeal on 12 January 2015. He was targeted for imprisonment because of his representation of clients unpopular with Saudi Arabia's monarchy … [Read more...]