Joint Statement: BC Government Must Withdraw Bill 21 (Legal Professions Act)

Canada: British Columbia government’s sweeping changes to the legal profession undermine the international human rights and the rule of law Full PDF Version Statement 15 May 2024 The undersigned are deeply concerned by sweeping changes to the legal profession proposed by the government of … [Read more...]

BC, Canada: Bill 21 “Legal Professions Act” is fundamentally flawed and should be withdrawn. Why? | Briefing Notes

Full PDF briefing notes on Bill 21 (3 pages) | See more on Bill 21 Briefing Notes on Bill 21, “Legal Professions Act.” Catherine Morris, member and former Executive Director, Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada 23 April 2024 Bill 21 “Legal Professions Act” is fundamentally flawed and should be … [Read more...]

British Columbia, Canada: Analysis of Bill 21 shows clear violation of international law and standards on independence of lawyers

Full pdf 17 April 2024 briefing paper | 17 April 2024 pdf letter to Attorney General of BC (AGBC) | 18 April 2024 Media release .pdf 24 April 2024 briefing notes Also see LRWC's 25 September 2024 briefing for BC election candidates | 12 April 2024 pdf letter | Letter 10 April 2024 | Brief … [Read more...]

Canada: British Columbia’s proposed legislation (Bill 21) violates international human rights law and standards on independence of the legal profession

Note: LRWC's 10 April 2024 letter and brief were published before LRWC was aware of the almost simultaneous tabling of Bill 21 in the British Columbia (BC) legislature on 10 April 2024. See LRWC's analysis of Bill 21 in its briefing paper of 17 April 2024.  LRWC sent a 12 April 2024 follow up … [Read more...]

United States v. Steven Donziger: Report of Monitors of a hearing in New York, 5 October 2020

Update: see final report dated 24 January 2022 Full report .pdf (EN) Report of monitors: United States v. Steven Donziger, No. 19-CR-561 (LAP); 11-CIV-691 (LAK), United States Federal Court, South New York Trial Division Pilot Project to establish International Monitoring Panels to Evaluate … [Read more...]

States Must Ensure Independent Judiciary | Joint Oral Statement to the 35th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Full PDF Version Video Stream Available Here (Chapter 1, at 04:34) The following statement was delivered by Laure Elmaleh of the International Bar Association, on behalf of Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada and other NGOs. United Nations Human Rights Council 35th Regular Session 06 June to … [Read more...]

UN Side Event “The Independence of the Legal Profession” | UN Side Event

Event Leaflet (PDF) On 16th March 2017, Lawyers for Lawyers, in partnership with the Law Society of England and Wales, is organising a UN side event at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. LRWC is co-sponsoring the event along with various other NGOs. The side event will focus on … [Read more...]

Canada: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada calls on Prime Minister and Minister of Justice to respect and ensure the independence of judiciary in Canada | Statement

Full .pdf version Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) is a committee of lawyers who promote human rights and the rule of law internationally. LRWC is deeply troubled by recent, unwarranted attacks on Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin of the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC). Prime Minister … [Read more...]

Colombia: Protecting Access to Justice, Report of the Third International Caravana to Colombia, 21 May 2013 | Report

Full PDF Version The report of the third Colombia Carvana contains the findings of the delegation of lawyers and judges who visited Colombia in August 2012 to for the purposes of: investigating risks faced by judges, lawyers and other human rights defenders in Colombia, providing support and making … [Read more...]

Colombia: Report of Judge Delegates of the Colombia Caravana | Report

PDF Version In April, 2013 the judge delegates of the Colombia Caravana issued the report of their findings. The Honourable Carol Huddart, retired justice of the BC Court of Appeal, attended the Caravana on behalf of LRWC. The judges found, inter alia, that: "[i]n all regions visited by the … [Read more...]