UN Human Rights Council: Urgent Debate on systemic racism, police brutality and violence against peaceful protest | Joint Oral Statement

Update 19 June 2020: UN Human Rights Council adopted by consensus resolution A/HRC/43/L.50 requesting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights "to prepare a report on systemic racism, violations of international human rights law against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement … [Read more...]

Thailand: Dismissal of criminal defamation cases against human rights defenders Ms. Sutharee Wannasiri and Mr. Nan Win | Update

On 8 June 2020, the Bangkok Criminal Court in Thailand dismissed charges of criminal defamation brought by Thai poultry company Thammakaset Co., Ltd, (Thammakaset) against human rights defenders Ms. Sutharee Wannasiri and Mr. Nan Win. LRWC welcomes the dismissal of these charges. Thammakaset has 30 … [Read more...]

Cameroon: Dismissal of human rights defender Mr. Felix Agbor Nkongho from University of Buea | Joint Letter

Full PDF (ENG) 9 June 2020 His Excellency Mr. Paul Biya President of the Republic of Cameroon Presidency of the Republic, Palais de l’Unité 1000 Yaoundé Republic of Cameroon Email: cellcom@prc.cm; contact@presidenceducameroun.com His Excellency Mr. Joseph Dion Nguté Prime … [Read more...]

USA: Request for UN Human Rights Council inquiry into US Police Violence | Joint Letter

Full PDF (ENG) Led by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) more than 600 civil society organizations from around the world, including Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, joined family members of victims of police violence in the United States (US) in a joint letter calling on member states … [Read more...]

Bahrain: Human rights defender Nabeel Rajab released from prison | Update

Full PDF (ENG) On 9 June, human rights defender Nabeel Rajab was released from Bahrain's Jaw prison to serve a non-custodial sentence, after spending nearly four years in arbitrary detention in relation to tweets and media interviews criticising Bahrain’s human rights record. Along with … [Read more...]

Bangladesh: Investigate the murder of lawyer Mr. Asadul Hoque | Joint Statement

Full PDF (ENG) BANGLADESH: 24 International organizations and individuals condemn the murder of lawyer Asadul Hoque The Committee on Attacks on Lawyers, International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL), Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), JusticeMakers Bangladesh, Lawyers … [Read more...]

Thailand government must end judicial harassment against woman/human rights defenders | Press Release | Joint Letter

Full PDF Letter (ENG) | Full PDF letter (Thai) June 7, 2020 Thailand government must end judicial harassment against woman/human rights defenders Immediate release Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada is among 53 groups and 23 individuals urging the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights and … [Read more...]

UN High Level Political Forum: Ensure meaningful civil society participation | Joint letter to UN member States

Full PDF (ENG) LRWC was among 460 civil society organisations from 115 countries signing a letter to UN member States seeking their support to ensure effective participation of civil society during the upcoming UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF) scheduled for 7-16 July 2020. June … [Read more...]

ATTACKING DEFENDERS: The Criminalization of Human Rights Advocacy | LRWC publication

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...]

Milestone Transition: LRWC appoints Catherine Morris as Executive Director

Milestone transition: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada LRWC appoints Catherine Morris as Executive Director Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada’s (LRWC) founding Executive Director Gail Davidson is taking a 3-month sabbatical before moving to a new role as Research Director of LRWC after twenty … [Read more...]