News releases
Singapore: IBAHRI calls for revocation of scheduled execution of Nagaenthran Dharmalingam
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) calls on Singapore to revoke its decision to execute Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, a Malaysian man with an internationally recognised intellectual disability who has been sentenced to death by hanging for a drug-related offence. His IQ is assessed to be 69.
Released on Nov 8, 2021
IBAHRI welcomes formal abolition of the death penalty in Sierra Leone
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) commends Sierra Leone for passing the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021, formally eradicating the death penalty in the country in law and practice.
Released on Nov 4, 2021
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists: The High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom calls for creation of international investigative task force
To mark the 8th International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists on 2 November 2021, the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom calls on all states, including members of the Media Freedom Coalition, and the international community to strengthen efforts in holding perpetrators of crimes against journalists accountable and for the establishment of an international investigative task force.
Released on Nov 2, 2021
Kenyan lawyer Beth Michoma wins the 2021 IBA Women Lawyers' Interest Group Outstanding Woman Lawyer Award
Released on Oct 28, 2021
Belarus: Lawyers Ludmila Kazak and Maksim Znak win the 2021 IBA Human Rights Award
Released on Oct 28, 2021
UK barrister Michael Polak wins the 2021 IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
Released on Oct 28, 2021
IBA announces winners of 2021 awards
The International Bar Association (IBA) has announced the winners of its four annual Section on Public and Professional Interest (SPPI) awards for 2021. The IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, in recognition of William Reece Smith Jr, is bestowed upon Michael Polak, of the United Kingdom; the IBA Pro Bono Award is received by Geoff Budlender, of South Africa; the IBA Outstanding International Woman Lawyer Award, in recognition of Anne-Marie Hutchinson, is given to Beth Michoma, of Kenya; and the IBA Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Practitioner to Human Rights is jointly bestowed upon Ludmila Kazak and Maxim Znak, of Belarus. All four awards, sponsored by LexisNexis, will be presented by the respective IBA committees during a virtual ceremony on Thursday 28 October, 1315 – 1400 (BST) as part of the IBA Global Showcase.
Released on Oct 28, 2021
South Africa: Anti-apartheid lawyer Geoff Budlender wins the 2021 IBA Pro Bono Award
Released on Oct 28, 2021
High Level Panel raises concerns regarding gagging of lawyers in Myanmar
On 27 October 2021, members of the High Level Panel, consisting of prominent lawyers, raised concerns about recent reports of lawyers representing several political leaders in Myanmar being barred from speaking about the trials.
Released on Oct 27, 2021
Turkey: IBAHRI calls for unconditional and immediate release of the arbitrarily detained Osman Kavala
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) calls on Turkey’s authorities to release Osman Kavala unconditionally and immediately as per the legally binding decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered more than two years ago.
Released on Oct 27, 2021
IBA Covid-19 Legal Policy Task Force releases report on optimising pandemic management
The International Bar Association (IBA) Covid-19 Legal Policy Task Force has released a report detailing the pandemic’s impact in key legal areas and making concrete actionable recommendations to improve pandemic management in the future.
Released on Oct 26, 2021
New IBA report sets out principles for dealing with mental wellbeing crisis in the legal profession
Following the first ever global surveys examining the mental wellbeing of legal professionals at both an individual and institutional level, a new International Bar Association (IBA) report identifies worrying mental wellbeing trends across the profession and provides ten principles for legal workplaces and organisations to help address the crisis.
Released on Oct 26, 2021
IBA Global Showcase to take place 25-29 October 2021
Released on Oct 20, 2021
High Level Panel congratulates Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov on Nobel Peace Prize
Released on Oct 12, 2021
IBA publishes guide for strengthening International Criminal Court and Rome Statute
IBA publishes guide for strengthening International Criminal Court and Rome Statute
Released on Oct 12, 2021
IBA 2021 Aptissimi Award Acceptance Speech
Released on Oct 7, 2021
La IBA recibe el premio Aptissimi 2021 por su contribución al Sector Jurídico y a la Sociedad
La International Bar Association (IBA) ha recibido el premio Aptissimi 2021 por su contribución al sector legal y a la sociedad.
Released on Oct 7, 2021
IBA receives 2021 Aptissimi Award for Contribution to the Legal Sector and to Society
Released on Oct 7, 2021
High Level Panel raises concerns regarding the trials of political leaders in Myanmar
On 30 September 2021, members of the High Level Panel, consisting of prominent lawyers, found that presently, the trials of political leaders in Myanmar fail to meet minimum fair trial standards established under international law.
Released on Sep 30, 2021
Rwanda: IBAHRI condemns unfair trial leading to conviction of Paul Rusesabagina
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) condemns the numerous violations of fair trial rights leading to the 25-year sentence against Paul Rusesabagina, the exiled Rwandan dissident.
Released on Sep 29, 2021
In memory of Professor John G Ruggie
Released on Sep 24, 2021
IBA announces creation of legal policy task force to review response to COVID-19
Released on Sep 6, 2021
IBA Judges' Forum issues statement in support of Afghanistan's Judges
The International Bar Association (IBA) Judges’ Forum strongly endorses the grave concerns expressed by the IBA, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, and numerous other international judicial associations about the situation presently unfolding in Afghanistan.
Released on Aug 20, 2021
Afghanistan: IBA and IBAHRI call for the international community to hold the Taliban to account for pledges made to citizens
During the group’s first official news conference since seizing control of most of Afghanistan on Sunday 15 August 2021, the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has stated the group wants peace, and will respect women’s rights ‘within our religious framework’. With grave concern, the International Bar Association (IBA) and International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) calls on the international community to hold the Taliban to its promises.
Released on Aug 18, 2021
Newly published IBA GEI report on human resources trends includes special COVID-19 analysis
Amid the unprecedented challenges that workplaces have faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ninth annual report by the International Bar Association Global Employment Institute (IBA GEI) has been published with a dedicated section on the impact the virus has had on workplaces across the globe. The section includes analysis of both government-led initiatives and employers’ initiatives to mitigate effects on health and safety in workplaces and for societies in general.
Released on Aug 16, 2021
Attacks on the legal profession in Belarus condemned in new report by IBAHRI and legal groups
The IBAHRI has announced the publication of a new report that analyses 24 cases of retaliatory acts against lawyers who have defended prominent opposition figures or publicly raised concerns about human rights and rule of law violations following the controversial presidential elections of August 2020 in Belarus.
Released on Jul 27, 2021
IBAHRI reflects on key outcomes of the 47th UN Human Rights Council session
With the conclusion of 47th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC47), held from 21 June–13 July 2021, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) reflects on the key outcomes of the session, the insightful side events held, and the resolutions passed.
Released on Jul 15, 2021
Data protection and privacy laws guide released for the legal profession by the IBA African Regional Forum
As the process of safeguarding personal data in accordance with legal principles has become more prominent across Africa, the International Bar Association (IBA) African Regional Forum has released a comprehensive guide on data protection and privacy laws for legal practitioners on the continent.
Released on Jul 14, 2021
Companies’ internal investigations are rising in importance along with calls for increased transparency, says IBA GEI in new report
With businesses under more scrutiny than ever before as allegations of wrongdoing are increasingly being made public, a new report published by the International Bar Association Global Employment Institute (IBA GEI) states internal company investigations are taking on unprecedented importance.
Released on Jul 13, 2021
IBAHRI and Clooney Foundation for Justice's TrialWatch announce monitoring of trial of Ivan Pavlov, lawyer for Alexey Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation
‘TrialWatch will monitor the trial of Russian human rights lawyer Ivan Pavlov’, the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) said today.
Released on Jul 13, 2021