Tuesday 22 June 2021

What: Defending human rights lawyers in authoritarian times: a panel discussion

Where: Online and in-person at Geneva Academy, Villa Moynier, 120B Rue de Lausanne, Geneva

Date: Thursday 24 June 2021

Time: 13:30 – 15:00 Zurich (CEST)

The online event is co-organised by the Geneva Human Rights Platform, the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute, the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders and the Ordre des Avocats Genève.

In the past 10 years, a worrisome trend towards authoritarianism has grown in certain democracies, while well-established authoritarian regimes have been emboldened to clamp down further on their societies. ‘Strong man’ governments typically employ the rule of law and its trappings – courts, police, and security apparatus – to exert control. Rather than be seen as valuable pillars of the rule of law, hundreds of lawyers inside these regimes are routinely harassed, intimidated, jailed or even killed for defending human rights cases and causes. Increasingly such regimes are unresponsive to outside pressure, and indifferent to diplomatic sanctions or public outcry.

An expert panel will discuss:

  • Growing authoritarianism
  • What strategies and tactics can effectively defend and support human rights lawyers? and
  • How can Geneva play a role to protect lawyers from intimidation in their home countries?

Welcome remarks:
Felix Kirchmeier
, Executive Director, Geneva Human Rights Platform

Moderator:
Sandrine Giroud, Chair of the Human Rights Committee, ODAGE

Speakers:

  • Xu Yan, wife of lawyer Yu Wensheng, Martin Ennals Award Laureate 2021, China
  • Ayşe Acinkli, Lawyers Association for Freedom, Turkey
  • Tatsiana Khomich, Human Rights activist, sister of Belarussian political prisoner Maria Kalesnikava
  • Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Director, International Bar Association Human Rights Institute, Member of the House of Lords, UK
  • Diego García-Sayán, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers
  • Phil Lynch, Director, International Service for Human Rights

Due to COVID-19, in-person spaces are limited at Villa Moynier and participants are encouraged to join online. If you would like to attend in person, please email chloe.naret@geneva-academy.ch

To register your participation online via Zoom please click here.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

  1. The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), established in 1995 under Founding Honorary President Nelson Mandela, is an autonomous and financially independent entity, working to promote, protect and enforce human rights under a just rule of law, and to preserve the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession worldwide.
  2. Find the IBAHRI (@IBAHRI) on social media here:
  3. The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, it was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world's bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice.

    The IBA acts as a connector, enabler, and influencer, for the administration of justice, fair practice, and accountability worldwide. The IBA has collaborated on a broad range of ground-breaking, international projects with the United Nations, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, The Commonwealth, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, among others.

  4. Find the IBA (@IBAnews) on social media here:

For further information, please contact:

Romana St. Matthew - Daniel
Press Office
International Bar Association

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United Kingdom

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IBA website page link for this item:
Short link:
 tinyurl.com/tmvnkrbm