News releases

Iran: IBAHRI calls for stop to planned executions and sham trials and for UN investigation into ‘suicides’

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) reiterates its call for the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to halt immediately any ‘trials’ and planned executions of protestors, including that of Mohammad Ghobadlou, who is at imminent risk of execution. Furthermore, the IBAHRI calls on...

Released on Feb 1, 2023

A conversation with Georgia Dawson: How can we achieve true equality in the legal profession?

The International Bar Association (IBA) Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) spoke to Georgia Dawson, Senior Partner at law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, on the subject of gender equality at the top of the legal profession in a new podcast published as part of the LPRU’s business and sustainability series.

Released on Jan 25, 2023

Israel: IBAHRI condemns new government plan to curb Supreme Court powers

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) condemns the decision by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to introduce legislation which will enable Israeli Parliament to overthrow decisions of the country’s Supreme Court, severely undermining democratic institutions by removing...

Released on Jan 18, 2023

La española Almudena Arpón de Mendívil asume la presidencia de la IBA, la primera mujer en 20 años

Almudena Arpón de Mendívil y Aldama, socia del bufete Gómez-Acebo & Pombo en Madrid, España, ha sido nombrada nueva Presidenta de la International Bar Association (IBA). Arpón de Mendívil es la primera mujer que ocupa este cargo en 20 años y la segunda en los 76 años de historia de la Asociación.

Released on Jan 12, 2023

Spain’s Almudena Arpón de Mendívil has assumed the presidency of the IBA – the first woman in 20 years

Almudena Arpón de Mendívil Aldama, partner at law firm Gómez-Acebo & Pombo in Madrid, Spain is announced as the new President of the International Bar Association (IBA). Ms Mendívil is the first woman to hold the position in 20 years and only the second in the Association’s 76-year history.

Released on Jan 12, 2023

Iran: IBAHRI condemns hanging of protestors and calls for end to unfair trials and executions

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) condemns the hanging of protestors Mohsen Shekari (8 December 2022) and Majidreza Rahnavard (12 December 2022) by the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran following ‘trials’ that violated their due process rights.

Released on Dec 14, 2022

New IBA report reviews mechanisms to prevent and remedy injustice before international criminal courts and tribunals

The International Bar Association (IBA) International Criminal Court and International Criminal Law (ICC & ICL) Programme has published a new report examining the legal frameworks and practices of international criminal courts and tribunals to remedy international injustice through appeals, retrials, reviews or...

Released on Dec 8, 2022

España: Importante brecha en la proporción de mujeres en los niveles más altos del sector legal, según nuevo informe de la IBA

A new report from the Legal Policy & Research Unit of the International Bar Association indicates that women account for just over half of legal professionals (54 per cent), but only 31 per cent are represented in top positions.

Released on Dec 5, 2022

Spain: Significant gap in the proportion of women in top positions of the legal sector, according to new IBA report

A new report from the Legal Policy & Research Unit of the International Bar Association indicates that women account for just over half of legal professionals (54 per cent), but only 31 per cent are represented in top positions.

Released on Dec 5, 2022

IBA urges states to increase support and re-sources for the International Criminal Court

The International Bar Association (IBA) urges states to increase support and resources for the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the commencement of the 21st annual session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) – the Court's management oversight and legislative body composed of representatives of the states...

Released on Dec 5, 2022

IBA, Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice and Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision announce Memorandum of Understanding

The IBA, Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice and the Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision have announced a joint Memorandum of Understanding setting out terms of support for free legal aid provision in ensuring the effective representation of cases concerning war crimes.

Released on Nov 29, 2022

IBA Miami – what you missed or would perhaps like to see again…a round-up of speeches, photos and videos

The International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference 2022 took place from Sunday 30 October – Friday 4 November at the at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami, Florida.

Released on Nov 15, 2022

An account of the beginnings of IBA Legalbrief Africa as it reaches 20 year milestone

On 4 November 2022, IBA Legalbrief Africa turned 20. It is incredible to think that this publication, which provides a succinct weekly round-up of legal news from across Africa and is delivered each Monday, by email, to people interested in what is happening on the continent, only exists today because of a single...

Released on Nov 7, 2022

China: Jiang Tianyong receives IBA Human Rights Award 2022

Lawyer Jiang Tianyong has received the 2022 International Bar Association (IBA) Award for Outstanding Contribution to Human Rights for his extraordinary dedication to defending human rights in the People’s Republic of China. Over the span of a decade, he has represented Chinese dissidents and activists...

Released on Nov 4, 2022

Mexico: Elba Gutiérrez receives 2022 IBA Pro Bono Award

The recipient of the International Bar Association (IBA) Pro Bono Award for 2022 has been announced as Elba Gutiérrez, Manager of the Greenberg Traurig Global Pro Bono Programme. She is honoured for her instrumental role in delivering and promoting pro bono legal services in Mexico, a country where pro bono...

Released on Nov 4, 2022

The 2022 IBA awardees

Released on Nov 4, 2022

Ghana’s Yorm Ama Abledu wins 2022 IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer Award

The 2022 International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Outstanding Young Lawyer Award recipient has been named as Ghana’s Yorm Ama Abledu, Senior International Attorney at Centurion Law Group and Lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), for her demonstrable passion...

Released on Nov 4, 2022

Debevoise & Plimpton recognised with IBA Group Member Pro Bono Award

International law firm Debevoise & Plimpton has been recognised with an IBA Group Member Award for outstanding pro bono contributions to the work of the International Bar Association (IBA).

Released on Nov 1, 2022

The IBA Annual Conference returns with President Zelensky and Lionel Barber keynotes

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and media heavyweight Lionel Barber, former editor of The Financial Times (FT), are to address delegates attending the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference

Released on Oct 30, 2022

IBA and Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine announce signing of Memorandum of Understanding

The IBA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine on cooperation to ensure accountability for war crimes and other international crimes including the crime of aggression, genocide and conflict-related sexual violence.

Released on Oct 27, 2022

Singapore: IBAHRI and ICJ respond to Ministry of Law and Ministry of Home Affairs on the death penalty and cost sanctions

In an open letter to Singaporean authorities published today, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) reiterated that Singapore’s practices concerning the death penalty fail to comply with international human rights law and standards.

Released on Oct 27, 2022

Law associations to co-host event at COP27: The Role of the Legal Profession in the Climate Crisis

The International Bar Association (IBA), the American Bar Association (ABA), the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) and the Law Society of England and Wales are set to host an event during the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from 0900 – 1400 (EET) on Thursday...

Released on Oct 18, 2022

Iran: Security forces’ violent suppression of protests identical to 2019, says IBAHRI

As protestors in the Islamic Republic of Iran continue to be shot at by the country’s security forces and women outside of Iran cut off locks of their hair in solidarity with the Iranian women protesting for equal rights, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) notes parallels between...

Released on Oct 18, 2022

IBAHRI warns of potential Hazara genocide in Afghanistan and calls for Genocide Convention action by governments

The situation of the Hazara community in Afghanistan is of great concern to the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) following another targeted attack of female students from the minority community on 30 September 2022. Among the victims is a family member of a Hazara female judge...

Released on Oct 17, 2022

IBAHRI engagement and main UNHRC takeaways

With the conclusion of the 51st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the IBAHRI reflects on the key discussions and outcomes of the session, the side events held, and the resolutions passed.

Released on Oct 14, 2022

IBAHRI calls for the immediate release of women imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for social media posts

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) calls for the immediate release of Nourah al-Qahtani and Salma al-Shehab who have been sentenced to 45 and 34 years in prison, respectively, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for allegedly posting comments on social media that were critical of...

Released on Oct 14, 2022

Iran: IBAHRI condemns ongoing violent crackdown of protests, calls for accountability and an end to impunity

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) is alarmed by, and condemns, the widely reported campaign of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention of protestors by Iran’s security forces.

Released on Oct 13, 2022

IBA condemns Russia’s disregard of civilian life and international law amid intensified shelling of Ukraine

As Kyiv officials report that Russian ‘kamikaze drones’ have today struck Ukraine’s capital city, the IBA condemns Russia’s prolonged and intensified bombardment across Ukraine that has resulted in civilian deaths, casualties, displacements and destruction of infrastructure and further violations of international law...

Released on Oct 13, 2022

IBAHRI calls for end to forced confessions as World Day against the Death Penalty is marked

To mark the 20th World Day against the Death Penalty on Monday 10 October 2022, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) calls for universal abolition of the death penalty, ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)...

Released on Oct 10, 2022

eyeWitness to Atrocities app surpasses collection of 20,000 verifiable items of potential human rights violations in Ukraine, and group submits evidence to UN COI

In Ukraine, users of the eyeWitness to Atrocities camera app have safely deposited, in the eyeWitness secure vault, 20,000 verifiable videos, photographs and audio files of alleged war crimes since the start of Russia’s invasion.

Released on Oct 4, 2022