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DTSTAMP:20260407T213859Z
DTSTART:20251103T161500Z
DTEND:20251103T173000Z
SUMMARY:Without fear or favour? Independent lawyering under assault
DESCRIPTION:In times of democratic decline\, justice actors often stand a
 s the last line of defence for the rule of law. As fundamental players i
 n safeguarding access to justice\, legal accountability\, and human righ
 ts\, lawyers are essential to the system of checks and balances that uph
 olds democratic governance. Yet in an increasing number of countries – s
 panning from El Salvador to the US\, Türkiye\, Belarus\, Zimbabwe\, the 
 Philippines\, and more recently even EU member states like Poland and Hu
 ngary - lawyers are being harassed\, surveilled\, arbitrarily prosecuted
  and detained\, disbarred\, or even physically attacked for carrying out
  their professional duties.\n\nThis session will look at the recent US c
 ase study of executive orders targeting law firms as a stark example of 
 these broader global patterns. The discussion will focus on how the inde
 pendence of the legal profession is being systematically undermined as p
 art of broader strategies of democratic backsliding. It will also explor
 e global trends and patterns in the intimidation of lawyers\, strategies
  and best practices for resilience\, and tools available for protection 
 and advocacy\, including the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Prote
 ction of the Profession of Lawyer.\n\nThe erosion of lawyers’ independen
 ce is not just a professional concern: it is a democratic one.\n
LOCATION:Room 705\, Level 700\, MTCC
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