News releases

IBAHRI calls on UK Government to ban conversion therapy and to publish timeline

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) supports the United Kingdom Government’s plan to ban conversion therapy as outlined in the 11 May 2021 Queen’s Speech and calls for legislative steps to be taken without delay.

Released on May 28, 2021

Belarus: Forced diversion of flight and arrest of journalist Raman Pratasevich condemned by rights groups

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly condemn the forcible diversion by Belarusian authorities of Ryanair flight FR4978 en route from Athens, Greece to Vilnius, Lithuania on 23 May 2021 and the subsequent arrest and alleged torture of journalist Raman Pratasevich.

Released on May 26, 2021

President Biden support for waiving COVID-19 vaccine patent rights prompts IBA commentary

The International Bar Association (IBA) – the global voice of the legal profession – from different perspectives and legal disciplines analyses President Joseph R Biden’s and the United States Government’s decision to support the lifting of intellectual property (IP) rights for COVID-19 vaccines.

Released on May 21, 2021

IBA and IBAHRI condemn attempted assassination of Mohamed Nasheed

The International Bar Association (IBA) and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) condemn the attempted assassination of former Maldives President, Mohamed Nasheed. The organisations call for an impartial and independent investigation into the attack, and to ensure fair trial standards and due process are observed as the perpetrator(s) are held to account.

Released on May 20, 2021

IBAHRI and Reprieve welcome the abolition of the death penalty in Malawi

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and Reprieve welcome the 28 April 2021 ruling by the Malawian Supreme Court that declared the death penalty to be unconstitutional and in violation of international human rights standards.

Released on May 20, 2021

Belarus: IBAHRI calls for rejection of proposed law amendments threatening human rights

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) calls for the Parliament of the Republic of Belarus to reject proposed amendments to laws that will infringe the independence of the legal profession, stifle freedom of expression, violate human rights and further undermine the rule of law in Belarus.

Released on May 19, 2021

Afghanistan: IBAHRI condemns killings and calls for better protection of girls and women

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) condemns the killing of dozens of schoolgirls in West Kabul, Afghanistan, by targeted explosive blasts and calls on the Afghan government to provide better protection for girls and women.

Released on May 18, 2021

El Salvador: IBAHRI condemns removal of attorney general and top judges by Bukele administration

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) strongly condemns the dismissal of El Salvador’s Attorney General, Raúl Melara and five magistrates of the country’s Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice on 1 May 2021.

Released on May 13, 2021

IBA and IBAHRI condemn anti-Asian hate crimes and call for fortification of anti-racism legal frameworks

The International Bar Association (IBA) and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) condemn the surge in hate crimes targeting Asian communities in countries with minority Asian migrants and descendants who have become discriminatorily associated with the spread of COVID-19.

Released on May 7, 2021

The Need for Independent Judges and a Free Press in a Democracy

The rule of law is arguably the most basic requirement of any civilised society, and an independent judiciary, to which access is available to all citizens, is an essential ingredient of the rule of law. Freedom of expression is also fundamental in a democratic society, in which the courts and the media have vital and complementary institutional roles.

Released on May 3, 2021

IBA announces first recipients of IBA International frontline legal aid fund

The International Bar Association (IBA) and the IBA Foundation have announced the first charities to receive either GBP 10,000 or USD 10,000 from a new funding programme, set up to support frontline legal aid providers around the world during the COVID-19 crisis.

Released on Apr 22, 2021

IBAHRI and BHRC condemn the sentencing of Veteran Hong Kong pro-democracy figures

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and the Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales (BHRC) condemn the prosecution, conviction and disproportionate sentencing of veteran Hong Kong pro-democracy figures, including Martin Lee QC, ‘father of Hong Kong democracy’, politician and legislator; Dr Margaret Ng, barrister; and media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

Released on Apr 16, 2021

Belarus: IBAHRI calls for reinstatement of Lyudmila Kazak after concerning ruling upholds disbarment

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) expresses deep concern that the Ministry of Justice’s Qualification Commission on Advocacy Issues’ (the Commission) decision disbarring the prominent human rights lawyer Lyudmila Kazak has been upheld in Belarus by the Minsk City Court. The IBAHRI calls for Ms Kazak’s professional reinstatement.

Released on Apr 16, 2021

IBAHRI condemns ongoing and escalating violence against protestors in Myanmar

With more than 700 civilians killed by security forces and 3,080 arrested in Myanmar (Burma), as cited by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) again condemns the ongoing and escalating violent attacks against people protesting the 1 February 2021 military coup d’état.

Released on Apr 14, 2021

IBAHRI condemns former South African president Jacob Zuma’s non-compliance with apex court order

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) condemns former South African president Jacob Zuma’s non-compliance with a Constitutional Court of South Africa order to appear before the Commission investigating corruption allegations made against him. The Court’s 28 January 2021 order was handed down after Mr Zuma walked out of proceedings on 19 November 2020, without permission from Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo who is leading the corruption probe.

Released on Apr 9, 2021

IBA and The College of Law Australia launch online anti-harassment training for the legal profession

Following the publication of the 2019 landmark report Us Too? Bullying and Sexual Harassment in the Legal Profession, the International Bar Association (IBA) Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU), in collaboration with The College of Law Australia, have launched a set of e-learning modules designed to guide individuals and workplaces towards making positive cultural changes.

Released on Apr 8, 2021

IBA welcomes removal of sanctions on ICC Prosecutor and senior official

The International Bar Association (IBA) welcomes the repeal of the sanctions placed by United States former president Donald Trump on International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and Phakiso Mochochoko, the Head of the Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division of the Office of the Prosecutor.

Released on Apr 7, 2021

IBA releases interim survey results on wellbeing in the legal profession

The International Bar Association (IBA) has published the initial results of a global evaluation into the wellbeing of the legal profession. A bifurcated approach using two surveys – one for individual lawyers, the other for legal institutions – garnered responses from more than three thousand individuals and over 180 legal organisations, including bar associations, law societies, in-house legal departments and law firms.

Released on Apr 1, 2021

China: IBA salutes advocates standing up for the rule of law

The International Bar Association (IBA) joins the international community in solidarity with those against whom China’s government has levied asset and visa sanctions. Widely regarded as retaliatory measures by the Chinese authorities, individuals, institutions and organisations, that have been critical of the alleged ill-treatment of Uighur Muslims in the Northern province of Xianjiang in China, have been targeted by China’s government.

Released on Mar 29, 2021

IBAHRI condemns the disbarment of Azerbaijani Lawyer Shahla Humbatova

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) strongly condemns the disbarment of Azerbaijani human rights lawyer Shahla Humbatova by the Baku Administrative Court. The decision follows a request made by the Azerbaijani Bar Association (ABA) to disbar her. Critics describe the action as disproportionate and politically motivated.

Released on Mar 26, 2021

Myanmar: IBA condemns elimination of citizens’ rights and calls for release of detained lawyers

The International Bar Association (IBA) strongly condemns the systematic destruction by the junta in Myanmar of people’s legal protections, including the right to life, freedom of expression, assembly, association, privacy, legal representation of one’s choice and a fair trial. The IBA calls for the restoration of citizens’ rights, and for the release of detained protestors and defence lawyers.

Released on Mar 24, 2021

IBAHRI urges governments to utilise universal jurisdiction in case of Jamal Khashoggi murder

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) urges governments around the world to utilise universal jurisdiction to arrest and try Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the revelation that he approved a plan to ‘capture or kill’ the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Released on Mar 22, 2021

IBA elevates partnership with Grotius Centre to stage annual moot court competition

In the context of the rule of law under threat in many jurisdictions, the International Bar Association (IBA) has announced a fortified partnership with the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies of Leiden Law School to annually stage the largest moot competition focussed on international criminal law: the final round of which usually takes place at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

Released on Mar 18, 2021

La IBA lanza el proyecto "50/50 en 2030": un estudio longitudinal sobre la desigualdad de género en la profesión jurídica

Con motivo del International Women’s Day 2021 ( Día Internacional de la Mujer 2021), la International Bar Association (la “IBA”) anunció el lanzamiento de un ambicioso proyecto global de nueve años, el primero de esta envergadura, para determinar las causas fundamentales de la falta de igualdad de género en los puestos de responsabilidad, identificar si las iniciativas de diversidad introducidas para abordar esta disparidad están teniendo algún impacto y proporcionar conclusiones prácticas y orientación a

Released on Mar 15, 2021

BHRC and IBAHRI urge President Joe Biden to rescind Executive Order 13928 signed by former President Trump

The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (“BHRC”) and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (“IBAHRI”) write to urge you to rescind Executive Order 13928 (“the Order”) signed by President Trump on 11 July 2020 following the Decision of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) of 5 March 2020 authorising the investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan.

Released on Mar 12, 2021

IBAHRI submits amicus curiae brief on military jurisdiction to the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil on regional and international human rights law, standards and norms, regarding military jurisdiction over gross human rights violations in peacetime.

Released on Mar 9, 2021

IBAHRI apresenta amicus curiae sobre jurisdição militar ao Supremo Tribunal Federal do Brasil

O International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute – IBAHRI (Instituto de Direitos Humanos da International Bar Association) apresentou uma petição de amicus curiae ao Supremo Tribunal Federal do Brasil sobre as leis, normas e padrões regionais e internacionais de direitos humanos, a respeito da jurisdição militar em face de graves violações dos direitos humanos em tempo de paz.

Released on Mar 9, 2021

IBA launches ‘50/50 by 2030’ project – a longitudinal study into gender disparity in law

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2021, the International Bar Association (IBA) announced the launch of an ambitious first-of-its-kind, nine-year global project to uncover the root-causes of the lack of gender parity at the most senior levels of the legal profession, identify whether diversity initiatives...

Released on Mar 8, 2021

International Women’s Day 2021: IBAHRI reaffirms commitment to addressing the gendered nature of law and discrimination within

In a Resolution passed unanimously by its Council of esteemed judges and international lawyers, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) reaffirms its commitment to address discrimination against women in law, legal systems and legal practice.

Released on Mar 8, 2021

Sri Lanka: IBAHRI and BHRC issue statement on deteriorating human rights situation

The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (‘BHRC’) and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (‘IBAHRI’) are gravely concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka and join calls made during the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council (‘UNHRC’) for Sri Lanka to pursue accountability for past and recent grave human rights violations.

Released on Mar 5, 2021