Toolkit on Lawyers at Risk

Friday 24 January 2020

Toolkit for Lawyers at Risk

On the occasion of the International Day of Endangered Lawyers, the IBAHRI launched a Toolkit on Lawyers at Risk to further advance its protection of lawyers’ mandate.

Protection and promotion of the independence of lawyers lies at the core of the mission of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI). Since the IBAHRI’s foundation 25 years ago, our programming has striven to advance the protection of lawyers, both nationally through our country programmes, as well as internationally.

On 24 January, the Day of the Endangered Lawyer, the IBAHRI in cooperation with its long-term partners – the Bar Human Rights Committee, Human Rights House Foundation, Lawyers for Lawyers and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada – launched the Toolkit on Lawyers at Risk.

“The freedom of lawyers to practise their profession without undue hindrance is an essential component of a democratic society...”

European Court of Human Rights

The Toolkit on Lawyers at Risk is a unique tool aimed at facilitating the efforts of those seeking to protect lawyers at risk – that is, attacked for performing their professional duties and representing their clients’ interests – as well as to support and assist the targeted legal profession in their struggle.

There is no doubt that lawyers play a key role in ensuring access to justice, the right to a fair trial, the presumption of innocence, equality before the law and the court, and respect for human dignity and human rights. For lawyers to fully perform their professional activities, states must ensure their independence, as well as lawyers’ safety and security.

Toolkit for Lawyers at Risk

The Toolkit is split into three modules, alongside a Legal Digest and a directory of organisations.

Module 1:
International legal protection of lawyers and those exercising lawyers’ functions

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Module 2:
Risk assessment and risk management in the exercise of lawyers’ functions

Download русский

Module 3:
The response chain to violations against lawyers

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International Legal Digest: Lawyers’ protection and states’ obligations

Download

Check back soon when the directory is available

Launch event

Geneva, Switzerland

The event kicked off the commemoration year of the 30th Anniversary of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and IBA Standards for the Independence of the Legal Profession and provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges encountered by lawyers worldwide.

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