Malaysia: Plaintiff withdraws SLAPP against lawyer Charles Hector
15/04/2021
On 14 April 2021, LRWC welcomed news that two corporations withdrew contempt of court charges they had filed against Malaysian human rights lawyer Charles Hector and eight environmental rights defenders represented by Mr. Hector. Two logging contractors, Beijing Million SDN BHD and Rosah Timber … [Read more...]
USA revokes sanctions against International Criminal Court
07/04/2021
Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada welcomes the US government's revocation of sanctions against personnel of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 2 April 2021. The previous administration of Donald J. Trump had issued Executive Order 13928 imposing sanctions on the ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou … [Read more...]
Philippines Supreme Court and Senate denounce attacks against jurists
31/03/2021
On 23 and 24 March 2021, Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada welcomed the statement of the Philippines Supreme Court and a Senate resolution denouncing the alarming number of attacks and killings of jurists in the Philippines since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in July 2016. On 23 March 2021, … [Read more...]
Thailand: Southern Peasants’ Federation wins court case after thirteen years | Welcome developments
26/03/2021
On 19 March 2021, after thirteen years, the land rights defenders of the Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand (SPFT) won an verdict from the Thai Administrative Court ordering the Department of Land and its affiliated authorities to revoke title deeds for 23 plots that have been unlawfully … [Read more...]
Saudi Arabia: Women’s rights defender Loujain Al-Hathloul released after three years in prison | Welcome Developments
11/02/2021
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada welcomes the release of women’s rights defender, Loujain Al-Hathloul, after 1001 days of imprisonment on spurious charges. She was released on 10 February 2021 after persistent international pressure, including interventions by LRWC. Ms Al-Hathloul was arrested in May … [Read more...]
USA: Lawyers’ organizations convene public inquiry into racist police violence in the US | Update
29/01/2021
More information about the International Commission of Inquiry, 18 January to 6 February 2021. Register here to attend online hearings. | Videos of hearings on Facebook. Three lawyers’ organizations based in the United States (US) have assembled a group of experts from twelve countries to conduct … [Read more...]
Iran: Temporary release of human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh | Updates
04/12/2020
UPDATE: On 1 December 2020, Nasrin Sotoudeh was ordered back to prison despite ongoing health concerns. UPDATE: In October 2020, a new film was released focusing on the work of Nasrin Sotoudeh. A virtual screening of the film is to be held Monday, November 30th at 12:00 pm EST, hosted by the … [Read more...]
United Nations Guidance Note: Protection and Promotion of Civic Space | Welcome Development
04/12/2020
UN_Guidance_Note (PDF) (UN Link to Guidance Note) | UN_Guidance_Note_Executive_Summary (PDF) (UN_Link to Executive Summary) Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada welcomes the launch of the UN Guidance Note on Protection and Promotion of Civic Space. The Guidance Note affirms the role and responsibility … [Read more...]
Turkey: Lawyers Levent Pişkin, Cahit Kırkazak and Ayşe Batumlu acquitted | Welcome developments
20/11/2020
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...]
Thailand’s SLAPP suits against defenders: One acquittal and one case dropped | Update
03/11/2020
In Thailand, people who report human rights abuses are regularly subjected to criminal defamation charges. During the last week of October, 2020, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) welcomed developments in two of Thailand’s well-known cases of Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation … [Read more...]
