On the occasion of The Day of the Endangered Lawyer, Lawyers Without Borders Canada acknowledges the courage and determination of human rights lawyers all around the world.
In recent years, the rule of law in many of the countries where Lawyers Without Borders Canada operates has suffered an unprecedented erosion. There has been an alarming rise in prosecutions of judges and lawyers for their involvement in the fight against impunity and corruption.
The number of cases of criminalisation of the legal profession, particularly in Latin America, is high and rising. Attacks can take many forms, including judicial frame-ups, unfounded criminal prosecutions, illegal searches, public and media defamation, and threats to their lives and physical integrity. Women judges and lawyers are particularly targeted by these various forms of intimidation and persecution.
Lawyers Without Borders Canada is proud to support, on a daily basis and on the ground, these courageous individuals who continue to be the voice and the hope of citizens seeking justice, despite increasing threats. Human rights lawyers are the last line of defence for people in vulnerable situations. They protect the rights of indigenous communities, victims of violence, human trafficking and corruption, among other human rights violations. Protecting lawyers is protecting people.
Under the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, signatory countries have an obligation to protect those who work to promote, protect and fulfill human rights from reprisals and threats. Institutions must ensure that lawyers can exercise their profession without hindrance, intimidation, harassment or undue interference. The same applies to judges and other judicial officers.
The purpose of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer is to draw attention to the situation of lawyers who, for no other reason than the exercise of their profession, are subjected to unworthy treatment.
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La Cour de justice de la @ecowas_cedeao envoie un signal contradictoire dans sa décision concernant des cas de violences sexuelles liées aux conflits armés perpétrées à Gao, au #Mali.
Notre réaction et celle de notre partenaire @cridecoeurmali:
📰 https://asfcanada.ca/medias/cjcedeao-jugement-gao-mali-violences-sexuelles-conflits-armes-signal-contradictoire/
2023 a vu les besoins redoubler. Conflits armés; crises humanitaires; changements climatiques; effritement de l’État de droit. #Budget2024 fait sa part.
Nous nous joignons à +100 orgs pour accueillir ce nouvel investissement. Un futur durable demande un engagement à long terme.
Nous y serons! 👇
Soyez-y aussi pour y découvrir comment le droit peut être utilisé pour autonomiser les victimes de violences sexuelles, des leçons tirées de nos expériences et celles de nos partenaires en #Afrique.
@MdMCanada @sante_mondiale @vuesdafrique @WalBru_QC
Our partners show, on a daily basis, that justice is still possible in #Haiti. The needs are great. So is what can be achieved. This article is a reminder to not give up hope.
@etiennecp @CanadaDev @CanEmbHaiti @CanadianAid
Nos partenaires démontrent quotidiennement que justice est encore possible en #Haïti. Les besoins sont grands. Les possibles le sont tout autant. Cet article est une invitation à ne pas perdre espoir.
@etiennecp @DevCanada @AmbCanHaiti @CanadianAid
Une rencontre chaleureuse entre notre partenaire #CEPROSAF, l'ambassadrice @efwilliams1 et Pascal Médieu de la @EmbCanCRHNNI🇨🇦, pour parler de leur travail de promotion et défense des droits sexuels et reproducifs des femmes ♀️ au #Honduras🇭🇳.