UN Human Rights Council: Pursuing Accountability and Justice in Sri Lanka | Oral video statement

Full pdf statement See the debate on Sri Lanka beginning 4 March 2022. See video of continued debate 7 March 2022 (LRWC statement at 01:03:29) Organization:  Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada Item: Item 2: Interactive Dialogue on the OHCHR report on Sri Lanka (HRC res. 46/2) Date: 3 March … [Read more...]

China: Arbitrarily detained lawyer Yu Wensheng released | Update

Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada welcomes the news that Chinese human rights lawyer Mr. Yu Wensheng has been released from prison after completing a four year prison sentence for "inciting subversion of State power." He was reunited with his wife Ms. Xu Yan in Beijing. However, there are significant … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]

Catherine Morris | LRWC Transitional Executive Director June 2020 to January 2022 | Update

Catherine Morris, BA (Alberta) 1974, JD (Alberta) 1978, LLM (UBC) 2001, was appointed Executive Director of Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada on 1 June 2020. Ms. Morris agreed to serve as Executive Director in a pro bono capacity during LRWC's transition from the longstanding leadership of its founder, … [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...]