The possibility that more than half of the United States could ban abortion if the contents of a leaked draft opinion become reality and Roe v Wade is overturned is of concern to the IBAHRI.
Released on May 11, 2022
A report published by the International Bar Association (IBA) sets out the critical legal aspects of climate change adaptation and how, specifically, policy can play a crucial role in strengthening resilience and shaping the effectiveness of reducing people’s vulnerability to the harmful effects of climate change. Emphasis is placed on the importance of pursuing integrated, multidisciplinary, multilevel approaches and good governance, as well as how climate adaptation can complement climate mitigation in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement – the international treaty on climate change.
Released on May 9, 2022
The role of the legal profession in implementing the Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering (the Méndez Principles), which aim to prevent torture, ill-treatment and resulting miscarriages of justice caused by coercive interrogation techniques and forced confessions, was the focus of a recently held panel discussion in support of the wide adoption of the Principles.
Released on May 5, 2022
On World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2022, the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom participated in a number of activities to highlight the grave challenges facing the press globally and to showcase its recommendations to the Media Freedom Coalition. The High Level Panel stands in solidarity with the independent press, including the journalists risking their lives to bring facts and the truth to the public forum.
Released on May 4, 2022
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) condemns the decision of Turkey’s Istanbul Heavy Penal Court on 25 April 2022 to sentence human rights defender Osman Kavala to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Released on Apr 27, 2022
The Rt Hon Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Chair of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, has appointed three new members to serve on the High Level Panel.
Released on Apr 21, 2022
The International Bar Association (IBA) has announced law firms Al Tamimi & Company, Anderson Mōri & Tomotsune, Clayton Utz, JunHe, Shin & Kim and Trilegal as winners of the IBA Group Member Awards for the MENA and Asia Pacific regions. The Awards were given in recognition of these law firms’ exceptional support and contributions to the work, projects, key objectives and aspirations of the IBA.
Released on Apr 12, 2022
The government of Ukraine has announced the formation of the Legal Task Force on Accountability for Crimes Committed in Ukraine to support the country’s authorities in delivering justice for victims of any international crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.
Released on Apr 7, 2022
On 14 March 2022 the United Kingdom’s Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, after reserving its decision for more than a year, handed down two judgments rejecting marriage equality for LGBTIQ people in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.
Released on Apr 7, 2022
IBAHRI at the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council - Key takeaways
Released on Apr 1, 2022
Incidents of Guatemala’s judges and prosecutors being forced to resign, dismissed, harassed, intimidated, arrested and judicially persecuted are being recorded with increased frequency. Notably, all those affected in the reports have been involved in investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating large-scale high-level corruption and gross human rights violations.
Released on Mar 28, 2022
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) calls on the international community to suspend extradition treaties with Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (HKSAR or Hong Kong) amid alleged intimidation by Hong Kong authorities of human rights defenders.
Released on Mar 23, 2022
As Russia’s war against Ukraine rages and allegations of war crimes grow, gathering evidence that can later be used in a court of law to bring any transgressors to justice becomes ever more necessary. To this end, the eyeWitness to Atrocities app is being used in Ukraine to capture potential evidence of crimes committed in a verifiable format to be submitted in future cases.
Released on Mar 18, 2022
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) strongly condemns the mass execution of 81 people in a single day in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The executions took place over the course of 24 hours on Saturday 12 March 2022, the largest known mass execution in the country’s modern period. A reported 41 of those executed belonged to the Shiite minority and had taken part in anti-government protests in 2011-2012.
Released on Mar 16, 2022
The International Bar Association (IBA) – the global voice of the legal profession – condemns the Association of Lawyers of Russia for its recent issuance of a pro war statement. Furthermore, the IBA reiterates its condemnation of the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Released on Mar 9, 2022
The International Bar Association (IBA) Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) has released its first set of findings into the lack of representation of women in senior roles across the legal profession – private practice, in-house legal teams, public sector institutions and the judiciary – in England and Wales. Overall, the England and Wales Pilot Interim Results Report reveals that women in the law make up 51 per cent of the profession, but only occupy 32 per cent of senior roles.
Released on Mar 8, 2022
The International Bar Association (IBA) War Crimes Committee and the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) are to hold a live Hearing – on Friday 4 March 2022 in Washington DC, United States – to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the International Criminal Court (ICC), or a special international tribunal, to open an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed in North Korea by ‘Supreme Leader’ Kim Jong-un, high level government officials, internal security officials and low-level prison guards.
Released on Mar 4, 2022
The International Bar Association (IBA) – the global voice of the legal profession – reaffirms its condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine amidst alleged indiscriminate attacks on civilians and continued violations of international law.
Released on Mar 3, 2022
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) condemns the ongoing and unjustified military invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign state, by the Russian Federation, as a flagrant violation of international law.
Released on Feb 25, 2022
The International Bar Association (IBA) – the global voice of the legal profession – condemns in the strongest terms Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ordered by President Vladimir Putin.
Released on Feb 24, 2022
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) commends the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea’s decision to repeal the death penalty. Offences such as murder, treason, piracy and aggravated rape will now be punishable by life imprisonment without parole, or parole after 30 years.
Released on Feb 22, 2022
Two years on from its establishment, it is clear that the work of The High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom is beginning to have an impact on state practice in the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC).
Released on Feb 17, 2022
Mark Stephens CBE has taken up the position of Co-Chair of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI). He succeeds the Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, former Justice of the High Court of Australia
Released on Feb 15, 2022
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) calls on Sudan’s self-appointed Ruling Council leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Sudanese military to cease immediately the use of lethal force against peaceful demonstrators...
Released on Feb 8, 2022
A new report from the International Bar Association (IBA) has revealed that of 3,000 young lawyers – defined as aged 40 and under – surveyed around the world, a significant number of them are either leaving or considering leaving their current job in the next five years.
Released on Jan 31, 2022
The International Bar Association (IBA) has released a statement in defence of lawyer-client confidentiality, following a number of recent attacks on the principle from high-profile international organisations.
Released on Jan 18, 2022
The International Bar Association (IBA) has released a statement in defence of lawyer-client confidentiality, following a number of recent attacks on the principle from high-profile international organisations.
Released on Jan 17, 2022
In an open letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the IBA expressed grave concern over the Taliban take-over of the AIBA and has appealed for the ‘unparalleled voice’ of the UN to...
Released on Dec 15, 2021
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) welcomes the Council of Europe (CoE)’s vote in favour of launching infringement proceedings against Turkey over its failure to release human rights defender Osman Kavala from arbitrary detention.
Released on Dec 14, 2021
Following the publication of the OECD’s guidance on compliance with anti-bribery laws, a subcommittee of the IBA’s Anti-Corruption Committee has commenced Project Roll Out.
Released on Dec 9, 2021