Thailand: Acquittal in SLAPP against whistleblower Chutima Sidasathian

On 6 March 2024, a Thai court in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) province acquitted anti-corruption whistleblower Dr. Chutima Sidasathian on three charges of criminal defamation. The three charges against Dr Chutima were brought by a local elected official, Mayor Thanonthorn Kaveekitrattana, in May … [Read more...]

Israel Didn’t Even Try to Defend the Legality of Its Occupation to World Court

By Marjorie Cohn , TRUTHOUT, March 6, 2024, republished with permission of the author.  For six days, more than 50 countries, the League of Arab States, the African Union and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation presented testimony to the International Court of Justice (ICJ, or World Court) … [Read more...]

The Russian Federation’s Systematic Restrictions and Repressive Actions Against Human Rights Lawyers | Joint written statement to the UN Human Rights Council | September 2023

Joint written statement submitted by Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, International Bar Association, Lawyers for Lawyers, non-governmental organizations in special consultative status. OVD-Info, NGO without consultative status, also shares the views expressed in this statement. Submitted to the UN … [Read more...]

Thailand: Amicus Curiae Brief in the Case of Chutima Sidasathian | Joint Amicus Brief, LRWC and ICJ

Amicus Curiae Brief in the case of the defendant Dr. Chutima Sidasathian (Black Case Number 970/2566 at Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Court) หนังสือเพื่อนศาล (Amicus Curiae Brief) ในคดีที่ดร.ชุติมา สีดาเสถียร เป็นจำเลย                      (คดีหมายเลขดำที่ 970/2566 ศาลจังหวัดนครราชสีมา) See the … [Read more...]

Thailand: Halt judicial harassment of human rights defenders and whistleblowers | Report

Thailand: Strategic Law Suits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) Criminal defamation SLAPPs against Dr. Chutima Sidasathian and Ms. Phasini Khemmalang Report and Recommendations 25 January 2024 Full report pdf: EN and TH ภาษาไทย Press release .pdf: EN and TH ภาษาไทย FOR IMMEDIATE … [Read more...]

The global problem of enforced disappearances: “Outside all protection of the law” | Written statement submitted to the UN Human Rights Council

Written statement submitted by Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status. Peacemakers Trust,  The 29 Principles,  Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders, Colombian Caravana,  Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre, NGOs without consultative status, … [Read more...]

LRWC condemns the detention of Guatemalan lawyer Claudia González Orellana

LRWC joins 29 organizations condemning detention of Guatemalan lawyer Claudia González Orellana and calling for her immediate release Claudia González was a representative for the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), committed to the fight against impunity of serious … [Read more...]

UPDATED REPORT: Colombia Caravana – Confronting Impunity: Protect Lawyers and Judicial Independence

The VII International Caravana of Jurists has released the final report of the August 2022 delegation of lawyers and judges to Colombia. The latest Caravana focused on the need for an independent judiciary and the protection of human rights lawyers and defenders, to confront impunity and guarantee … [Read more...]

Enforced disappearances: “Every minute counts” | Joint submission to UN CED and WGEID

Full pdf submission On 15 August 2023, LRWC joined a submission to the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearance (CED) and the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance (WGEID). The submission, was initiated by Peacemakers Trust and is also endorsed by the Colombian Caravana, The 29 … [Read more...]

China: Release human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng and end the practice of enforced disappearances | Joint Statement

Full pdf statement with 35 signatories, 11 August 2023 China: Release human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng and end the practice of enforced disappearances We, the undersigned organizations, call on the Chinese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release prominent human rights lawyer Gao … [Read more...]