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The IBA’s response to the situation in Ukraine
The High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom is an independent body that was convened at the request of the UK and Canadian governments. The Panel comprises a diverse group of lawyers, academics and judges from around the world with expertise in international human rights law. The Chair of the Panel is Lord Neuberger, former President of the UK Supreme Court. Panel members have been selected and appointed by him. The Deputy Chair is Amal Clooney. The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute acts as Secretariat to the Panel.
The High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom – names appear below
The Panel’s mandate is to (1) propose initiatives that can be taken by governments to ensure existing international obligations relating to media freedom are upheld, (2) to disseminate elements for model legislation to promote and protect a vibrant free press, and (3) to report on means of raising the cost to those who target journalists for their work.
Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Chair of the High-Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, has stated that:
‘I agree with what Ms Clooney says in her letter of 18 September to the Foreign Secretary. I support her principled response to the shameful attitude of the UK government to its international treaty obligations in the Internal Markets Bill and in ministerial announcements that it is prepared to break international law. Ms Clooney’s deputy chairmanship of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom is quite distinct from her role as the UK’s Media Freedom Envoy, and I look forward to continuing to work with her and the other distinguished members of the Panel in carrying out its important functions. Journalists who are persecuted, imprisoned and even murdered for their work deserve all the help that they can get, including through legal reforms by governments that follow the Panel’s advice. It is in the interest of freedom of expression and the rule of law that they get such help’.
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Director of the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute, Secretariat to the High-Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, has stated that:
‘I fully endorse the statements made in Ms Clooney’s letter of resignation and respect her decision to stand down as Envoy while maintaining her role on the Panel. Members of the Panel are appointed on an unpaid basis as a result of their relevant expertise and the Panel should complete its current mandate’.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
Members of the High Level Panel
Seated left to right:
Standing left to right:
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