Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) are required to submit quadrennial reports to ECOSOC. LRWC submitted the following quadrennial report to ECOSOC on 25 May 2021. It is LRWC’s fourth quadrennial report since it received ECOSOC consultative status in 2005. LRWC was limited to a maximum of 700 words, using a specific format as indicated below.
Quadrennial Report for the year quadrennial report for year 2017 – 2020
Introduction:
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) is a committee of lawyers and other human rights defenders who promote international human rights and the rule of law through advocacy, education and legal research.
Aims and purposes of the organization:
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada conducts advocacy for human rights defenders at risk and engages in research and education to promote respect, protection and fulfillment of international human rights law and standards related to the role of lawyers and human rights defenders, the rule of law and the integrity of legal systems.
Significant changes in the organization
There have been no significant changes in the organization since the last quadrennial report.
Contribution of the organization to the work of the United Nations:
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada contributed to work and objectives of the United Nations through advocacy, education and research to promote understanding and implementation of international human rights law and standards. LRWC’s contributions to the work of the United Nations were based on results of legal research, in-country investigations, monitoring of hearings and trials, letters, statements, reports and other interventions in cooperation with local and international civil society organizations, Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, United Nations Treaty Bodies, and other United Nations bodies.
Participation in meetings of the United Nations
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada participated in all sessions of the Human Rights Council either in person or through written submission or joint oral submissions delivered in cooperation with other NGOs. Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada delegates attended the 34th, 35th, 36th, 37th, 39th, and 42nd sessions of the Human Rights Council in person and participated in all other Human Rights Council sessions through written statements or joint oral statements delivered by other NGOs. In 2020, LRWC participated in the 43rd, 44th, and 45th sessions through oral video statements or by means of joint oral statements delivered by other NGOs. LRWC submitted nine individual or joint written statements to the 37th, 39th, 42nd, and 43rd sessions of Human Rights Council. LRWC made oral statements or oral video statements at each Human Rights Council session during the reporting period for a total of 62 individual or joint oral statements on situations in more than 21 countries on topics such as independence of judges and lawyers, access to remedies or accountability for human rights violations, and on prevention and remediation of attacks against human rights defenders. Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada provided four joint written submissions for the 31st, 32nd, 35th and 37th Universal Periodic Review sessions. Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada co-sponsored side events at the 34th and 41st sessions of the Human Rights Council. Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada sent a delegate to attend the 16th session of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court, 4-17 December 2017, in New York.
Cooperation with United Nations bodies:
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada cooperated with United Nations bodies through provision of information to Human Rights Council Special Procedures, including meetings with members of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights (2017), the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (2019), and the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (2019). In addition, the organization engaged in correspondence and meetings with numerous other Special Procedures and United Nations officials.
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada cooperated in the work of United Nations Treaty Bodies including joint submissions to the Committee against Torture (2018) and the Human Rights Committee (2018), and a written submission in 2020 to the UN Human Rights Committee on its draft General Comment on Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – Right of peaceful assembly. LRWC participated in the 2020 General Assembly treaty body review by making an oral online statement on 28 August 2020 citing LRWC’s 2020 briefing paper regarding expertise, independence, and impartiality of Treaty Body members. On 10 December 2020, a member of the Human Rights Committee made a presentation at an educational webinar of LRWC explaining the procedures of the Committee.
Initiatives taken by the organization in support of the Sustainable Development Goals:
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada contributed to the Sustainable Development Goals through advocacy for human rights defenders at risk as a result of their work to obtain gender equality (SDG 5), reduce inequality (SDG 10), or combat impacts of climate change (SDG 13). LRWC supported SDG 16 through research, education and advocacy promoting the rule of law, equal access to justice, and in 2020 by promoting rights-based and inclusive approaches in strategies to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
