China: Release arbitrarily detained human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng at the end of his sentence | 中国：当局必须在刑满后释放被任意拘留的人权律师余文生，并确保其充分自由 | Joint statement
09/04/2026
Full pdf joint statement: EN | CN 中国：当局必须在刑满后释放被任意拘留的人权律师余文生，并确保其充分自由 China: Authorities must release arbitrarily detained human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng at the end of his sentence and ensure his full freedom Human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng is expected to be released on 13 April after … [Read more...]
China: Legal and human rights organisations condemn the conviction of Chinese human rights lawyer Xie Yang | Joint statement
06/04/2026
Full pdf joint statement Legal and human rights organisations condemn the conviction of Chinese human rights lawyer Xie Yang The undersigned organisations express deep concern over the conviction of human rights lawyer Xie Yang on 23 March 2026, sentencing him to five years’ imprisonment … [Read more...]
United States: Resume cooperation with the Universal Periodic Review | Joint oral statement to the UN Human Rights Council
23/03/2026
Full pdf oral statement Organization: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada Item: Item 6: General Debate Date: 23 March 2026 Speaker: Joseph Doyle Oral Statement to the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council from Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada and the International Bar Association, NGOs … [Read more...]
Iran: Grave risks to lawyers and prisoners of conscience amid armed conflict | Joint oral statement to the UN Human Rights Council
23/03/2026
Full pdf joint statement Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada Item 4: General Debate 16 March 2026 Speaker: Catherine Morris Oral Statement to the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council from Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, … [Read more...]
Turkey: Call for urgent action by UN Special Rapporteurs to address conviction of lawyers and human rights defenders | Joint letter
14/03/2026
Full PDF joint letter to UN Special Rapporteurs In a joint letter dated 6 March 2026 addressed to six UN Special Rapporteurs, several organisations, including Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada raised concerns over the prosecution and conviction of lawyers and human rights defenders affiliated … [Read more...]
Hong Kong SAR: Arbitrary detention, solitary confinement and ongoing prosecution of barrister Chow Hang-tung | Joint statement
09/03/2026
Full .pdf joint statement Arbitrary detention, solitary confinement and ongoing prosecution of barrister Chow Hang-tung in Hong Kong 9 March 2026 The Law Society of England and Wales, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, Asian Lawyers Network, China Change, Lawyers for Lawyers, Council of … [Read more...]
Sri Lanka: Ensure measurable progress towards accountability | Joint statement to the UN Human Rights Council
02/03/2026
Full .pdf joint statement Organization: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada Item 2: General debate Date: 2 March 2026 Speaker: Harini Sivalingam Oral Statement to the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council from Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), and the International Bar Association’s … [Read more...]
Iran: Reprisals Against Lawyers Amid Armed Conflict | Joint Statement
02/03/2026
Full pdf joint statement Joint Statement on Iran Ongoing Assault on Access to Independent Counsel and Reprisals Against Lawyers Amid Armed Conflict 2 March 2026 We, the undersigned organisations and members of the international legal community, raise urgent concern about the rapidly … [Read more...]
Philippines: Call for urgent safety measures and investigation of death threat against human rights lawyer Rey Gorgonio | Joint Statement
27/02/2026
Full .pdf joint statement Philippines: Call for urgent safety measures and investigation of death threat against human rights lawyer Rey Gorgonio 27/02/2026 The undersigned legal and human rights organisations express their grave concern regarding a death threat directed at Atty. Rey … [Read more...]
Afghanistan: The Taliban Penal Code and Systemic Gender-Based Repression | Joint Statement to the UN Human Rights Council
26/02/2026
Organization: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada Item 2: Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and the Report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Date: 26 February 2026 Speaker: Rahima Toufan Oral … [Read more...]
