Protecting Environmental Lawyers: Advancing Climate Justice
Side event, UN Human Rights Council, Geneva 22 September 2025 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (CET) (5 am Eastern time). Watch online.
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada is co-sponsoring a side event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday 22 September 2025. The panel is organized by the Netherlands-based Lawyers for Lawyers. Speakers will discuss the risks faced by environmental lawyers and will explore how to protect them and ensure access to environmental justice. This event has been organized by Lawyers for Lawyers. See the list of speakers and co-sponsors below.
Monday, 22 September 2025 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (CET) (5 am Eastern time)
Keynote speakers:
- Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention
- Astrid Puentes Riaño, UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to a Healthy Environment
Panelists:
- Cătălina Rădulescu, Environmental lawyer from Romania
- Maureen Harris, Senior Advisor, International Rivers
- Sandra Epal Ratjen, International Commission of Jurists
- Xenia Rivkin, Geneva Bar Association
- Concluding remarks by Francesca Restifo, International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute
- Moderated by Tara Fiechter, Lawyers for Lawyers
Co-sponsored by:
- LAWYERS FOR LAWYERS
- International Service for Human Rights
- GIEL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
- International Commission of Jurists
- Human Rights Institute
- Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
- 13C* Ordre des Avocats Genève
- Franciscans International
