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Welcome Developments
ATTACKING DEFENDERS: The Criminalization of Human Rights Advocacy | LRWC publication
03/06/2020
Free .pdf download | Also available on CanLii Read the Foreword by Michel Forst Press release ATTACKING DEFENDERS: THE CRIMINALIZATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY A guide to international law rights of human rights defenders Foreword After 13 years of negotiation, the United Nations … [Read more...]
Turkey: Discontinue criminal investigations against Ankara and Diyarbakir Bar Associations | Joint letter
29/05/2020
Full PDF (ENG) Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada is among ten lawyers' organizations expressing concern about criminal investigations launched in Turkey against the Ankara Bar Association and the Diyarbakir Bar Association for “openly disrespect[ing] the religious belief of a group” (article … [Read more...]
Hong Kong: Independent investigation of police use of force required by law | Letter
27/05/2020
Full .pdf letter Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor Chief Executive of Hong Kong Via email to: ceo@ceo.gov.hk Ms Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah Secretary of Justice for Hong Kong Via email to: sjo@doj.gov.hk Dear Chief Executive Lam and Secretary of Justice Cheng; Re: Independent investigation … [Read more...]
Turkey: Release Lawyer Turan Canpolat from Unlawful Detention | Joint Letter
17/05/2020
Full PDF (ENG) Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada on 15 May 2020 endorsed a letter with eleven other human rights organizations calling on for the release of lawyer Turan Canpolat, detained without trial for more than four years in violation of international human rights law binding on … [Read more...]
Cambodia: Civil society seeks changes to State of Emergency Law to comply with international human rights law | Joint Statement
15/05/2020
Full PDF (ENG) | Full PDF (Khmer) Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada on 13 May 2020 endorsed a joint statement of more than 60 Cambodian civil society organizations and community groups outlining concerns about Cambodia's recently passed State of Emergency Law and calling on the Royal Government of … [Read more...]
Turkey: International law obligations to release Lawyers and others Illegally Imprisoned | Letter
14/05/2020
Full PDF (ENG) LRWC calls for the immediate release of prisoners unlawfully detained and convicted under anti-terrorism laws. As those convicted under these provisions were denied internationally protected rights essential to a fair trial, there is no legal justification for their detention. … [Read more...]
Yemen: Overturn Death Sentence of Four Journalists Say Over 150 NGOs | Joint Statement
13/05/2020
Full PDF (ENG) / Full PDF (ARA) / Full PDF (FRE) / Full PDF (SPA) Human right NGOs call on United Nations mechanisms and member states to help save the lives of four Yemeni journalists who were sentenced to death in April 2020 in the capital Sana’a on charges of “spying” and “spreading false … [Read more...]
Hong Kong: Arrest and Prosecution of Pro-Democracy Figures Contravenes International Law Obligations | Letter
12/05/2020
Full PDF May 12, 2020 Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor Chief Executive of Hong Kong Office of the Chief Executive 1 Tim Wa Avenue Tamar, Hong Kong Email: ceo@ceo.gov.hk Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah Secretary of Justice for Hong Kong Department of Justice 5th floor, Main Wing, Justice … [Read more...]
COVID19: The Survival of Indigenous Peoples is at Risk
05/05/2020
Link to Statement Over 20 organizations urge governments across the Americas to adopt culturally appropriate, timely and effective responses to guarantee the rights of indigenous peoples in the face of the pandemic April 21, 2020. In the face of the emergency caused by the spread of … [Read more...]
China: Released Chinese rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang finally reunites with family
27/04/2020
Human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang was released from detention on 5 April 2020. He was arrested during the “709 Crackdown” (which started on July 9th in 2015). After being secretly detained in a secret location for more than 1200 days, Wang Quanzhanghe was tried behind closed doors on 26 December … [Read more...]
