International Human Rights Day: An overview of the UN Human Rights System | Webinar on 10 December 2020

UPDATED: See the speaking notes for Marcia Kran's lecture on the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies 10 December 2020 If you attended: 1.5 hours of CPD credits available for BC and Ontario lawyers Organized and hosted by Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada 12:30-2:00 pm Pacific | 3:30-5:00 pm … [Read more...]

Defending Defenders Around the World: An Invitation to join Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada and support its work

LRWC invites lawyers, law students and others to become members of Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada and to support its work through donations  LRWC members defend the rule of law and human rights advocates around the world The work done by LRWC is made possible by the pro bono work of members, … [Read more...]

Turkey: Lawyers Levent Pişkin, Cahit Kırkazak and Ayşe Batumlu acquitted | Welcome developments

Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada welcomes news that on 18 November 2020 a Turkish court  acquitted eleven people including lawyers Levent Pişkin, Cahit Kırkazak, and Ayşe Batumlu, on all charges of membership in a terrorist organization and terror propaganda. In July 2019, LRWC was among 17 … [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...]

ATTACKING DEFENDERS: The Criminalization of Human Rights Advocacy | now available at CanLII

Free .pdf download | Now available on CanLii Foreword by Michel Forst Press release Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada is pleased to announce that ATTACKING DEFENDERS: THE CRIMINALIZATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY A guide to international law rights of human rights defenders is now available on … [Read more...]

Cambodia: Lack of independent courts and misuse of laws to crackdown on dissenters | Oral video statement to UN Human Rights Council

Full PDF (ENG) See video recording  of LRWC statement See the full Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapport on Human Rights in Cambodia Video Intervention: Check against delivery Organization: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada Item: Item 10: Interactive Dialogue, Special Rapporteur on … [Read more...]

Yemen conflict: Cease arms transfers by Canada, France, Iran, US & UK | Oral video statement to UN Human Rights Council

Full text of the oral video statement (.pdf) (ENG) Full oral video statement Full Interactive Dialogue with the Group of Experts on Yemen Video Intervention: Check against delivery  Organization: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada Item: Item 2: Interactive Dialogue, Group of Experts on … [Read more...]

Global Call for the UN to Recognize the Right to a Healthy Environment | Joint letter

Full joint letter (pdf) | See the signatories LRWC was among the signatories of a joint letter to the UN Human Rights Council seeking recognition of the human right of all to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Included in the letter was a concern about protection of … [Read more...]

Turkey: Mass arrest of lawyers in Ankara, Turkey | Joint Statement

Full PDF (ENG) Joint Statement on the Arrest of 48 Lawyers and 7 Intern Lawyers in Ankara, Turkey Through the new “alternative bar associations” legislation and President Erdogan’s own words “Those who act as the lawyers of terrorists may not act like terrorists themselves. If they do so, … [Read more...]

Turkey: Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal ends hunger strike after Supreme Court releases him from prison | Update

LRWC has been advised that Turkish lawyer Aytaç Ünsal called off his hunger strike on 4 September following a stay of his detention order until he has recovered. The order was granted by Turkey's Supreme Court on 3 September due to his state of health. His treatment by independent physicians has … [Read more...]