News releases
IBA condemns the imposition of additional US sanctions against International Criminal Court judges and officials
The International Bar Association (IBA) condemns the imposition of additional sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC or ‘the Court’) judges and officials by the United States administration as an attack against the global rule of law and the independence of judges…
Released on Aug 21, 2025
IBA-founded eyeWitness to Atrocities welcomes Professor Leila Nadya Sadat to Board of Trustees
The International Bar Association-founded eyeWitness to Atrocities (eyeWitness), dedicated to documenting and promoting accountability for atrocity crimes, has announced the appointment of Professor Leila Nadya Sadat to its Board of Trustees (Board).
Released on Aug 19, 2025
IBAHRI to co-host UK Parliament roundtable on justice and accountability in Syria
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the University of Lancaster’s Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) project and the Foreign Policy Centre will host a roundtable on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic on Tuesday 9 September 2025…
Released on Aug 15, 2025
New book highlights the enduring relevance of the UN Charter in its 80th year
This year, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations Charter (the Charter) – a landmark document that continues to serve as the bedrock of international law and global cooperation. In honour of this milestone, the International Bar Association (IBA)…
Released on Aug 14, 2025
IBAHRI joint statement on the arbitrary detention of lawyers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has signed a joint statement expressing deep concern for the arbitrary detention of Congolese lawyers Guillaume Muyembe, Patrick Katebe and Médard Palankoy. For weeks, the lawyers were detained incommunicado without any legal basis.
Released on Aug 12, 2025
Vietnam: IBAHRI welcomes reduction in scope of death penalty and calls for full abolition
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has welcomed amendments to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s Criminal Code which, as of 1 July 2025, abolished the death penalty for eight offences. On 25 June 2025, Vietnam’s National Assembly adopted legislation to reduce…
Released on Aug 8, 2025
IBAHRI joint letter to end the forced starvation and targeted killing of journalists in Gaza
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has issued a joint letter to governments, international organisations, media institutions and civil society demanding an end to the forced starvation and targeting of journalists in Gaza by Israel…
Released on Aug 7, 2025
New insight report: Global war, global trade: an IBA Global Employment Institute perspective
A summary of the challenges posed to global trade, workforces and employee wellbeing by ongoing conflicts and political tensions around the world has been published by the IBA Global Employment Institute.
Released on Aug 4, 2025
The IBAHRI calls for justice and support for Yazidi community on 11th anniversary of genocide
Sunday 3 August 2025 marks the 11th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide. Genocide is defined as the prohibited acts committed with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. On this day in 2014…
Released on Aug 3, 2025
As a summer of horrors unfolds in Gaza, IBAHRI asks the international community: if not now, when will it be time to act?
Death, starvation, displacement and destruction continue to engulf Gaza as the summer of long horrors unfolds. The announced ten-hour ‘tactical pauses’ from Israeli military operations in certain parts of the Strip are wholly inadequate to address the scale of the crisis…
Released on Aug 1, 2025
IBAHRI launches Black Robes, Red Targets: a report and film spotlighting extrajudicial killings of legal professionals in the Philippines
A disturbing pattern of extrajudicial killings, harassment and systematic human rights violations targeting legal professionals in the Philippines has been revealed in a new report, Black Robes, Red Targets (the Report), published by the Caravana Filipina – an international fact-finding mission….
Released on Jul 29, 2025
IBA working group launches Phase 2 of AI Impact Survey
With the aim of gathering insights from law professionals worldwide on how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the legal sector, the International Bar Association (IBA) Section on Public and Professional Interest (SPPI) Artificial Intelligence Working Group (‘the Working Group’) has launched…
Released on Jul 28, 2025
Inaugural UN International Day for Judicial Well-being marked by the IBA Professional Wellbeing Commission
To mark the first United Nations International Day for Judicial Well-being, the IBA Professional Wellbeing Commission has emphasised the significance of judicial wellbeing as a cornerstone of justice, judicial integrity and the rule of law globally.
Released on Jul 25, 2025
Join the IBA co-sponsored Free Criminal Justice Summer School in Kyiv
The International Bar Association (IBA) – the global voice of the legal profession – is co sponsoring the Criminal Justice Summer School for legal students in Ukraine with Just Group – a Ukrainian non government organisation focused on human rights. The Summer School will be FREE to participants.
Released on Jul 24, 2025
IBAHRI joint statement on strong push back against US sanctions on the International Criminal Court at UN Human Rights Council
The IBAHRI has issued a joint statement with Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists on the strong pushback against US sanctions on the International Criminal Court at the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council...
Released on Jul 21, 2025
Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri’s arrest gives Libya’s victims hope for justice
The arrest of Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri on 16 July 2025 by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for victims of serious international crimes.
Released on Jul 18, 2025
Nelson Mandela International Day: Celebrating the legacy of a global icon and the work of IBAHRI
Today, on Nelson Mandela International Day, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) proudly commemorates the enduring legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who dedicated his life to the relentless pursuit of justice, equality and human dignity. As the…
Released on Jul 18, 2025
IBAHRI at the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council: key takeaways
With the conclusion of the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), held from 16 June to 8 July 2025, the IBAHRI reflects on the key discussions and outcomes of the session, the side events held and the resolutions passed.
Released on Jul 17, 2025
States should commit to justice for victims on International Criminal Justice Day
17 July is the Day of International Criminal Justice – dedicated to honouring the creation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 1998. This day underscores the vital role of the ICC as the world’s only permanent court…
Released on Jul 17, 2025
IBA and the Ukrainian Bar Association launch mentoring programme to support war crimes legal professionals in Ukraine
The International Bar Association (IBA) and the Ukrainian Bar Association (UBA) have partnered to develop a pilot mentoring programme aimed at supporting legal professionals working on war crimes cases in Ukraine. This collaboration involves global experts in international humanitarian law and…
Released on Jul 17, 2025
At the UK Parliament, IBAHRI launches Standing Group on Atrocity Crimes
On 14 July in the United Kingdom’s Houses of Parliament, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), together with the Accountability Unit and the Coalition for Genocide Response, launched a new initiative — the Standing Group on Atrocity Crimes (Standing Group).
Released on Jul 16, 2025
IBA focuses on digital skills and young lawyers’ empowerment as UN World Youth Skills Day is celebrated
To mark the 2025 United Nations World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) on 15 July, the International Bar Association (IBA) – the global voice of the legal profession – emphasises the importance of equipping young legal professionals with digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills…
Released on Jul 15, 2025
The IBA revisits international justice on the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide
On 11 July, designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica (the Day of Reflection), the International Bar Association (IBA) considers the significance of justice and legal accountability as the 21st century presents…
Released on Jul 11, 2025
Afghanistan gender apartheid: IBAHRI continues global awareness-raising campaign
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) is actively engaging international actors, including United Nations mechanisms, parliaments and inter-parliamentary organisations, on the issue of gender apartheid, following the publication of SHATTERING WOMEN’S RIGHTS, SHATTERING LIVES…
Released on Jul 10, 2025
Namibian lawyer Carli Schickerling talks to the IBA
Carli Schickerling, Namibian lawyer and Officer of the International Bar Association (IBA) LGBTQI+ Law Committee, is the latest guest to be featured in the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) podcast series, Inspirational Legal Women.
Released on Jul 4, 2025
Belarus: IBAHRI joint submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has made a joint submission alongside the Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review on Belarus.
Released on Jul 3, 2025
IBAHRI joint statement on the unlawful detention of lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has signed a statement strongly condemning the arbitrary detention of Turkish lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan, defence counsel to detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and the intensifying reprisals against members of the legal profession in Turkey.
Released on Jul 3, 2025
IBAHRI and British parliamentarians publish report on sexual violence, minerals and child labour in the DRC
A new report titled Responses to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been published by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on International Law, Justice and Accountability…
Released on Jul 3, 2025
IBA Pro Bono Committee launches: ‘The impact of pro bono interview series'
The IBA Pro Bono Committee has launched a new project, The impact of pro bono: interview series, which will feature short conversations with individuals describing what impact the pro bono work of lawyers has had on their lives.
Released on Jul 2, 2025
IBA extends partnership with Grotius Centre, organiser of the annual IBA ICC Moot Court Competition
The IBA and the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies at Leiden Law School have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding extending their partnership regarding the organising of the IBA ICC Moot Court Competition.
Released on Jul 1, 2025