News releases
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
Statement on the sixth anniversary of the ‘709 Crackdown’ – 9 July 2021
Today, 9 July 2021, we, the undersigned organisations, take the opportunity to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the crackdown on Chinese lawyers and human rights defenders that occurred in the People’s Republic of China on 9 July 2015.
Released on Jul 9, 2021
IBAHRI announces formation of High Level Panel to review trials of political leaders in Myanmar
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has announced the formation of a High Level Panel of internationally renowned lawyers to review the trials of the political leaders State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint in Myanmar.
Released on Jul 1, 2021
Ground-breaking eyeWitness to Atrocities journey detailed in just-released article
In a striking LexisNexis & Professional pictorial feature the eyeWitness to Atrocities app’s journey towards contributions of 22 dossiers to international justice, including investigations by the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, European war crimes units, domestic courts and police forces is detailed by Corinna Bold.
Released on Jun 28, 2021
IBAHRI condemns forced closure of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily newspaper
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) is deeply concerned by the news that crippling asset freezes, imposed by authorities in Hong Kong, have forced the closure of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, after 26 years of operation.
Released on Jun 25, 2021
Defending human rights lawyers in authoritarian times: a panel discussion
The online event is co-organised by the Geneva Human Rights Platform, the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute, the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders and the Ordre des Avocats Genève.
Released on Jun 22, 2021
IBAHRI condemns arrests and raid on Apple Daily newspaper in Hong Kong
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) unequivocally condemns the recent arrests of the editor-in-chief and four directors of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily newspaper under the controversial National Security Law.
Released on Jun 21, 2021
IBA publishes new report on maintaining judicial integrity and ethical standards in practice
As awareness of the importance of judicial accountability increases globally, a new report published by the International Bar Association (IBA) focuses on the concrete processes available to hold judges to account for any misconduct; whether warranting disciplinary action or criminal sanctions.
Released on Jun 21, 2021
IBA President applauds US pledge to donate 500 million vaccine doses to low and lower-middle-income countries
The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, applauds President Joseph R Biden’s decision to donate 500 million COVID-19 vaccines to struggling nations.
Released on Jun 18, 2021
Turkey: IBAHRI condemns the continued arbitrary detention of human rights defender Osman Kavala
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) condemns the continued arbitrary detention of human rights defender Osman Kavala, following the decision of a Turkish court to continue his confinement until his next hearing.
Released on Jun 17, 2021
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights 10th anniversary marked with John Ruggie IBA LPRU podcast
Ten years after the unanimous endorsement by the United Nations Human Rights Council of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), their author Professor John Ruggie (pictured) discusses the ever-changing landscape of human rights due diligence with the International Bar Association (IBA) Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU).
Released on Jun 16, 2021
Panel de Expertos Jurídicos de Alto Nivel sobre libertad de prensa presenta un amicus curiae a la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos en el caso de difamación penal de “El Universo”
Hoy la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos escuchará el caso Emilio Palacio Urrutia y Otros vs. la República del Ecuador. El caso se refiere a la legalidad de la legislación penal sobre el delito de difamación y las sanciones aplicadas a El Universo, uno de los periódicos más consolidados y de mayor circulación de Ecuador, a su columnista y sus tres directores.
Released on Jun 14, 2021
High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom submits amicus curiae petition to Inter-American Court of Human Rights in ‘El Universo’ criminal defamation case
Today the Inter-American Court of Human Rights begins to hear Emilio Palacio Urrutia and Others v. The Republic of Ecuador. The case concerns the lawfulness of criminal defamation statutes as applied to El Universo, one of Ecuador’s most well-established and widely circulated newspapers, its columnist, and its three directors.
Released on Jun 14, 2021
International Fair Trial Day Joint Statement
Today, 14 June 2021, marks the inaugural International Fair Trial Day (IFTD) which will be observed for the first time worldwide.
Released on Jun 14, 2021
IBAHRI expresses concern over chronic police abuse in Rio de Janeiro state in an open letter to the state's attorney general
Open letter to Luciano Oliveira Mattos de Souza, Attorney General of Rio de Janeiro state
Released on Jun 11, 2021
Nepal: Parliament dissolutions and use of ordinance to subvert democratic process of concern to IBAHRI
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) is concerned by the dissolution of Nepal’s parliament by President Bidya Devi Bhandari for the second time in under six months and the ordering of phased general elections in November 2021.
Released on Jun 10, 2021
ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda inspires next generation of criminal lawyers at start of IBA ICC Moot Court
At the opening ceremony of the 2021 International Bar Association (IBA) International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court competition on Sunday 6 June, the ICC’s Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda gave an inspirational speech to the more than 270 students and legal experts gathered online from around the world.
Released on Jun 9, 2021
ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to open virtual annual IBA ICC Moot Court Competition
The International Criminal Court (ICC/the Court) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is to give the keynote address at the start of the annual IBA ICC Moot Court Competition on 6 June 2021.
Released on Jun 4, 2021
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