News releases

IBAHRI joint letter in support of the renewal of the Special Rapporteur on Russia at UN Human Rights Council

The International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has issued a joint letter in support of the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation during the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council…

Released on Sep 15, 2025

IBAHRI joint statement of concern over incident involving lawyer Zola Ferreira Bambi in Angola

The IBAHRI has issued a joint statement of concern regarding Angolan human rights lawyer Zola Ferreira Bambi, following the discovery of a bullet lodged in the windshield of his vehicle. The circumstances surrounding the case remain unclear, raising concerns about the protection of lawyers…

Released on Sep 11, 2025

New report from the IBA Communications Law Committee explores the ‘fair share’ debate in internet infrastructure funding

A new comprehensive report from the International Bar Association (IBA) Communications Law Committee examines the ongoing global debate over who should bear the cost of internet infrastructure, expansion and maintenance. It is a controversial issue revolving around whether…

Released on Sep 10, 2025

Türkiye: Proceedings against Istanbul Bar Association board a ‘direct assault’ on independence of legal profession

Criminal and civil proceedings against the executive board of the Istanbul Bar Association are incompatible with the Republic of Türkiye’s international human rights obligations and represent a direct assault on the independence of the legal profession, warned the IBAHRI…

Released on Sep 10, 2025

Qatar: IBAHRI Director issues letter calling for release of Remy Rowhani

In a joint letter, Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC, Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), together with other legal experts, has called for the immediate release of prominent Qatari Baha’i citizen Remy Rowhani, and for the conviction to be quashed.

Released on Sep 8, 2025

IBAHRI highlights gender apartheid regime in Afghanistan after four years under Taliban

Four years have passed since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, with the milestone reached on 15 August 2025. As Afghan women and girls face systematic rights violations and a worsening humanitarian crisis, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) underscores…

Released on Aug 29, 2025

President Zelenskyy honours IBAHRI Director Baroness Helena Kennedy KC with the Order of Merit of Ukraine

The IBAHRI has announced that its Director, Baroness Helena Kennedy of the Shaws LT KC, eminent British barrister, life peer and member of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords, has been awarded the Order of Merit of Ukraine of the III degree...

Released on Aug 27, 2025

IBA condemns the imposition of additional US sanctions against International Criminal Court judges and officials

The International Bar Association (IBA) condemns the imposition of additional sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC or ‘the Court’) judges and officials by the United States administration as an attack against the global rule of law and the independence of judges…

Released on Aug 21, 2025

IBA-founded eyeWitness to Atrocities welcomes Professor Leila Nadya Sadat to Board of Trustees

The International Bar Association-founded eyeWitness to Atrocities (eyeWitness), dedicated to documenting and promoting accountability for atrocity crimes, has announced the appointment of Professor Leila Nadya Sadat to its Board of Trustees (Board).

Released on Aug 19, 2025

IBAHRI to co-host UK Parliament roundtable on justice and accountability in Syria

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the University of Lancaster’s Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) project and the Foreign Policy Centre will host a roundtable on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic on Tuesday 9 September 2025…

Released on Aug 15, 2025

IBAHRI joint statement on the arbitrary detention of lawyers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has signed a joint statement expressing deep concern for the arbitrary detention of Congolese lawyers Guillaume Muyembe, Patrick Katebe and Médard Palankoy. For weeks, the lawyers were detained incommunicado without any legal basis.

Released on Aug 12, 2025

Vietnam: IBAHRI welcomes reduction in scope of death penalty and calls for full abolition

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has welcomed amendments to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s Criminal Code which, as of 1 July 2025, abolished the death penalty for eight offences. On 25 June 2025, Vietnam’s National Assembly adopted legislation to reduce…

Released on Aug 8, 2025

IBAHRI joint letter to end the forced starvation and targeted killing of journalists in Gaza

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has issued a joint letter to governments, international organisations, media institutions and civil society demanding an end to the forced starvation and targeting of journalists in Gaza by Israel…

Released on Aug 7, 2025

New insight report: Global war, global trade: an IBA Global Employment Institute perspective

A summary of the challenges posed to global trade, workforces and employee wellbeing by ongoing conflicts and political tensions around the world has been published by the IBA Global Employment Institute.

Released on Aug 4, 2025

The IBAHRI calls for justice and support for Yazidi community on 11th anniversary of genocide

Sunday 3 August 2025 marks the 11th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide. Genocide is defined as the prohibited acts committed with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. On this day in 2014…

Released on Aug 3, 2025

As a summer of horrors unfolds in Gaza, IBAHRI asks the international community: if not now, when will it be time to act?

Death, starvation, displacement and destruction continue to engulf Gaza as the summer of long horrors unfolds. The announced ten-hour ‘tactical pauses’ from Israeli military operations in certain parts of the Strip are wholly inadequate to address the scale of the crisis…

Released on Aug 1, 2025

IBAHRI launches Black Robes, Red Targets: a report and film spotlighting extrajudicial killings of legal professionals in the Philippines

A disturbing pattern of extrajudicial killings, harassment and systematic human rights violations targeting legal professionals in the Philippines has been revealed in a new report, Black Robes, Red Targets (the Report), published by the Caravana Filipina – an international fact-finding mission….

Released on Jul 29, 2025

IBA working group launches Phase 2 of AI Impact Survey

With the aim of gathering insights from law professionals worldwide on how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the legal sector, the International Bar Association (IBA) Section on Public and Professional Interest (SPPI) Artificial Intelligence Working Group (‘the Working Group’) has launched…

Released on Jul 28, 2025

Inaugural UN International Day for Judicial Well-being marked by the IBA Professional Wellbeing Commission

To mark the first United Nations International Day for Judicial Well-being, the IBA Professional Wellbeing Commission has emphasised the significance of judicial wellbeing as a cornerstone of justice, judicial integrity and the rule of law globally.

Released on Jul 25, 2025

Join the IBA co-sponsored Free Criminal Justice Summer School in Kyiv

The International Bar Association (IBA) – the global voice of the legal profession – is co sponsoring the Criminal Justice Summer School for legal students in Ukraine with Just Group – a Ukrainian non government organisation focused on human rights. The Summer School will be FREE to participants.

Released on Jul 24, 2025

IBAHRI joint statement on strong push back against US sanctions on the International Criminal Court at UN Human Rights Council

The IBAHRI has issued a joint statement with Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists on the strong pushback against US sanctions on the International Criminal Court at the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council...

Released on Jul 21, 2025

Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri’s arrest gives Libya’s victims hope for justice

The arrest of Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri on 16 July 2025 by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for victims of serious international crimes.

Released on Jul 18, 2025

Nelson Mandela International Day: Celebrating the legacy of a global icon and the work of IBAHRI

Today, on Nelson Mandela International Day, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) proudly commemorates the enduring legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who dedicated his life to the relentless pursuit of justice, equality and human dignity. As the…

Released on Jul 18, 2025

IBAHRI at the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council: key takeaways

With the conclusion of the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), held from 16 June to 8 July 2025, the IBAHRI reflects on the key discussions and outcomes of the session, the side events held and the resolutions passed.

Released on Jul 17, 2025

States should commit to justice for victims on International Criminal Justice Day

17 July is the Day of International Criminal Justice – dedicated to honouring the creation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 1998. This day underscores the vital role of the ICC as the world’s only permanent court…

Released on Jul 17, 2025

IBA and the Ukrainian Bar Association launch mentoring programme to support war crimes legal professionals in Ukraine

The International Bar Association (IBA) and the Ukrainian Bar Association (UBA) have partnered to develop a pilot mentoring programme aimed at supporting legal professionals working on war crimes cases in Ukraine. This collaboration involves global experts in international humanitarian law and…

Released on Jul 17, 2025

At the UK Parliament, IBAHRI launches Standing Group on Atrocity Crimes

On 14 July in the United Kingdom’s Houses of Parliament, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), together with the Accountability Unit and the Coalition for Genocide Response, launched a new initiative — the Standing Group on Atrocity Crimes (Standing Group).

Released on Jul 16, 2025

IBA focuses on digital skills and young lawyers’ empowerment as UN World Youth Skills Day is celebrated

To mark the 2025 United Nations World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) on 15 July, the International Bar Association (IBA) – the global voice of the legal profession – emphasises the importance of equipping young legal professionals with digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills…

Released on Jul 15, 2025

The IBA revisits international justice on the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide

On 11 July, designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica (the Day of Reflection), the International Bar Association (IBA) considers the significance of justice and legal accountability as the 21st century presents…

Released on Jul 11, 2025

Afghanistan gender apartheid: IBAHRI continues global awareness-raising campaign

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) is actively engaging international actors, including United Nations mechanisms, parliaments and inter-parliamentary organisations, on the issue of gender apartheid, following the publication of SHATTERING WOMEN’S RIGHTS, SHATTERING LIVES…

Released on Jul 10, 2025