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Welcome Developments
Sri Lanka: Prevailing Impunity and Lack of Accountability for Human Rights Violations | Oral Statement to the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
25/02/2021
Full PDF (ENG) Direct link to LRWC statement See full debate on Sri Lanka: 24 February and 25 February 2021. Organization: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada Item: Item 2: Sri Lanka – Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Date: 25 February 2021 Speaker: Harini … [Read more...]
Turkey: Continued Deterioration of the Rule of Law and Persecution of Lawyers and Human Rights Defenders | Joint Written Statement to the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council
24/02/2021
Full PDF (ENG) Full pdf on UN website Background Corrosion of the rule of law in Turkey began prior to an attempted coup of 15 July 2016 but since then has escalated dramatically. Human rights defenders (“defenders”) in Turkey, including lawyers, are facing dire and far-reaching … [Read more...]
Cambodia: Discard the Sub-Decree on the Establishment of the National Internet Gateway, set to detrimentally impact human rights online in Cambodia | Joint Statement
24/02/2021
Full PDF (ENG) JOINT STATEMENT Discard the Sub-Decree on the Establishment of the National Internet Gateway, set to detrimentally impact human rights online in Cambodia Phnom Penh, 18 February 2021 – We, the undersigned national and international non-governmental organizations and … [Read more...]
Iran: Arbitrary Imprisonment of Dr. Reza Eslami | Joint letter
18/02/2021
Full PDF (ENG) 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 17 February 2021 Joint open letter to His Excellency, Ayatollah Ali Hosseini … [Read more...]
South Sudan: Extend the mandate of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan | Joint Letter
12/02/2021
To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council 5 February 2021 Re: Extend the mandate of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan Excellencies, We, the undersigned non-governmental organisations, write to urge your … [Read more...]
Saudi Arabia: Women’s rights defender Loujain Al-Hathloul released after three years in prison | Welcome Developments
11/02/2021
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada welcomes the release of women’s rights defender, Loujain Al-Hathloul, after 1001 days of imprisonment on spurious charges. She was released on 10 February 2021 after persistent international pressure, including interventions by LRWC. Ms Al-Hathloul was arrested in May … [Read more...]
Myanmar: Restore elected authorities, release detainees, and protect freedoms of information, expression, and assembly | Statement
08/02/2021
Full .pdf Statement Myanmar: Restore elected authorities, release detainees, and protect freedoms of information, expression, and assembly LRWC calls for concrete action by the UN Human Rights Council STATEMENT 8 February 2021 Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) welcomes the UN … [Read more...]
Turkey: International law obligations to release arbitrarily detained lawyer Mr. Aytaç Ünsal | Letter
08/02/2021
Full PDF (ENG) 8 February 2021 Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan The President of Turkey Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesi 06560 Beştepe- Ankara-Turkey Fax : (+90 312) 525 58 31 E-mail: contact@tccb.gov.tr Mr. Abdulhamit Gül Minister of Justice 06659 Kizilay Ankara, Turkey Fax: +90 (0312) 419 … [Read more...]
USA: Lawyers’ organizations convene public inquiry into racist police violence in the US | Update
29/01/2021
More information about the International Commission of Inquiry, 18 January to 6 February 2021. Register here to attend online hearings. | Videos of hearings on Facebook. Three lawyers’ organizations based in the United States (US) have assembled a group of experts from twelve countries to conduct … [Read more...]
In memoriam: Joe Arvay, O.C, O.B.C, Q.C. (1949-2020)
15/01/2021
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...]
