British Columbia, Canada: Analysis of Bill 21 shows clear violation of international law and standards on independence of lawyers

Full pdf 17 April 2024 briefing paper (16 pages) | Full 17 April 2024 pdf letter to Attorney General of BC (AGBC) | Media release .pdf See briefing notes (3 pages) Also see LRWC's 12 April 2024 pdf letter | Letter 10 April 2024 | Brief 10 April 2024 | 10 April 2024 press release | LRWC … [Read more...]

Canada: British Columbia’s proposed legislation (Bill 21) violates international human rights law and standards on independence of the legal profession

Note: LRWC's 10 April 2024 letter and brief were published before LRWC was aware of the almost simultaneous tabling of Bill 21 in the British Columbia (BC) legislature on 10 April 2024. See LRWC's analysis of Bill 21 in its briefing paper of 17 April 2024.  LRWC sent a 12 April 2024 follow up … [Read more...]

United States v. Steven Donziger: Report of Monitors of a hearing in New York, 5 October 2020

Update: see final report dated 24 January 2022 Full report .pdf (EN) Report of monitors: United States v. Steven Donziger, No. 19-CR-561 (LAP); 11-CIV-691 (LAK), United States Federal Court, South New York Trial Division Pilot Project to establish International Monitoring Panels to Evaluate … [Read more...]

States Must Ensure Independent Judiciary | Joint Oral Statement to the 35th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Full PDF Version Video Stream Available Here (Chapter 1, at 04:34) The following statement was delivered by Laure Elmaleh of the International Bar Association, on behalf of Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada and other NGOs. United Nations Human Rights Council 35th Regular Session 06 June to … [Read more...]

UN Side Event “The Independence of the Legal Profession” | UN Side Event

Event Leaflet (PDF) On 16th March 2017, Lawyers for Lawyers, in partnership with the Law Society of England and Wales, is organising a UN side event at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. LRWC is co-sponsoring the event along with various other NGOs. The side event will focus on … [Read more...]

Canada: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada calls on Prime Minister and Minister of Justice to respect and ensure the independence of judiciary in Canada | Statement

Full .pdf version Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) is a committee of lawyers who promote human rights and the rule of law internationally. LRWC is deeply troubled by recent, unwarranted attacks on Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin of the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC). Prime Minister … [Read more...]

Colombia: Protecting Access to Justice, Report of the Third International Caravana to Colombia, 21 May 2013 | Report

Full PDF Version The report of the third Colombia Carvana contains the findings of the delegation of lawyers and judges who visited Colombia in August 2012 to for the purposes of: investigating risks faced by judges, lawyers and other human rights defenders in Colombia, providing support and making … [Read more...]

Colombia: Report of Judge Delegates of the Colombia Caravana | Report

PDF Version In April, 2013 the judge delegates of the Colombia Caravana issued the report of their findings. The Honourable Carol Huddart, retired justice of the BC Court of Appeal, attended the Caravana on behalf of LRWC. The judges found, inter alia, that: "[i]n all regions visited by the … [Read more...]

Burma: Restore professional licenses of thirty-two lawyers & dismiss contempt proceedings against U Kyaw Hoe and Daw Thinza Hlaing | Letter

Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) and Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L)[1] have been following current statements and efforts of the government of the Union of Myanmar towards reform and respect for human rights. Several positive steps have been taken, such as the establishment of a national human rights … [Read more...]

Spain: Statement to the Human Rights Council: Obligation to investigate the prosecution of Judge Baltasar Garzón

Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) Statement to the Human Rights Council: Obligation to investigate the prosecution of Judge Baltasar Garzón (Garzón) for opening an investigation of 114, 266 unresolved enforced disappearances and extra-judicial executions (disappearances) by the Franco regime … [Read more...]