Alex Neve: A call for Canadian support for the ICC’s work with respect to Palestine/Israel

Republished with permission of the author, Alex Neve, 29 May 2024 I am honoured to be among 375 Canadian law professors, lawyers, legal scholars, academics, civil society, faith and labour movement leaders, and former diplomats and parliamentarians, who have written the following Open Letter to the … [Read more...]

Interview with Reinaldo Villalba on the “historic” ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the “CAJAR v. Colombia” case

Reposted with permission from the International Observatory of Lawyers at Risk On 18 March 2024, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued a “historic” ruling in the “Case of the members of the Lawyers’ Corporation ‘José Alvear Restrepo’ v. Colombia”. The Observatory was very pleased to … [Read more...]

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BC, Canada: Bill 21 “Legal Professions Act” is fundamentally flawed and should be withdrawn.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...]

Ten years after his arbitrary arrest, NGOs call for Waleed Abu al-Khair to be released

Monday, 15 April 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Saudi human rights defender Waleed Abu al-Khair, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence as a result of his peaceful human rights activism. He has repeatedly been ill-treated in prison, including being denied vital medical care. The … [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...]

Colombia violates right to defend human rights | IACtHR

Inter-American Court finds Colombia in violation of the right to defend human rights In a historic decision, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights finds Colombia internationally responsible for violating the right to defend human rights According to the ruling, the Colombian State … [Read more...]

Thailand: Acquittal in SLAPP against whistleblower Chutima Sidasathian

On 6 March 2024, a Thai court in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) province acquitted anti-corruption whistleblower Dr. Chutima Sidasathian on three charges of criminal defamation. The three charges against Dr Chutima were brought by a local elected official, Mayor Thanonthorn Kaveekitrattana, in May … [Read more...]

The Russian Federation’s Systematic Restrictions and Repressive Actions Against Human Rights Lawyers | Joint written statement to the UN Human Rights Council | September 2023

Joint written statement submitted by Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, International Bar Association, Lawyers for Lawyers, non-governmental organizations in special consultative status. OVD-Info, NGO without consultative status, also shares the views expressed in this statement. Submitted to the UN … [Read more...]