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...]
Turkey: Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal ends hunger strike after Supreme Court releases him from prison | Update
04/09/2020
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...]
Canada: Federal Court invalidates Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement saying its impact “shocks the conscience” | Update
24/08/2020
UPDATE: 21 August 2020: LRWC is disappointed that Canada's federal government has chosen to appeal the 23 July 2020 Federal Court of Canada ruling that the Canada-US does not measure up to Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair issued a statement on Friday 21 … [Read more...]
UN Human Rights Council: Urgent Debate on systemic racism, police brutality and violence against peaceful protest | Joint Oral Statement
18/06/2020
Update 19 June 2020: UN Human Rights Council adopted by consensus resolution A/HRC/43/L.50 requesting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights "to prepare a report on systemic racism, violations of international human rights law against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement … [Read more...]
UN Human Rights Committee publishes interpretation on the right of peaceful assembly | Update
UN Human Rights Committee General Comment 37 on the right of peaceful assembly [off this site] LRWC 20 February 2020 comments on the Draft Commentary. PDF (ENG) LRWC welcomes the publication of the UN Human Rights Committee's new General Comment on the right of peaceful assembly. On 20 … [Read more...]