CCBE/European Convention on the Profession of Lawyer: Milestone document anniversary marked

December 11, 2018

The 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been marked this week as a milestone document in the history of human rights.

Drafted by representatives with varied legal and cultural backgrounds, the declaration sets out a common framework for all signatories concerning human rights after the atrocities experienced during the Second World War.

 

The year 1948 was the first time in history that countries came together to protect fundamental human rights.
Inherent dignity

According to its preamble, the declaration recognises the “inherent dignity” and the “equal and inalienable rights” of humankind, stressing that “human rights should be protected by the rule of law”.

The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) said this week that adequate protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights – whether economic, social and cultural, or civil and political – requires that everyone has effective access to legal services provided by independent lawyers.The CCBE is working in support of threatened lawyers worldwide, and makes an annual human rights award each year.

Violations

The CCBE also regularly writes to national authorities when lawyers are victims of human-rights violations. This year, the CCBE has already sent more than 50 letters to 31 countries where lawyers have gone missing, have been assaulted, harassed or even murdered.

The CCBE also supports the work currently carried out by the Council of Europe on a proposed European convention on the profession of lawyer and welcomed the recommendation adopted in January by the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), inviting the committee of ministers to draft such a convention.

Binding instrument

The CCBE considers that such a binding instrument is needed in order to respond to attacks against the role of lawyers, which have grown over recent years.

Such a convention would strengthen the rule of law and, thereby, the protection of the profession of lawyer, whose mission is fundamental in the administration of justice and the safeguarding of fundamental rights.

 

https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/Top-Stories/milestone-document-anniversary-marked/

http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-EN.asp?fileid=24466&lang=en

https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/Top-Stories/ccbe-concern-over-rule-of-law-backsliders/

https://www.ccbe.eu/

https://www.lemondedudroit.fr/institutions/61135-prix-droits-homme-2018-ccbe-miko%C5%82aj-pietrzak.html (FRANCAIS)

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India: Elgaar Parishad case: Pune police files chargesheet against 10 accused

November 15, 2018

Those chargesheeted include activist Rona Wilson, Nagpur-based lawyer Surendra Gadling, Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen, former ‘Prime Minister Rural Development’ fellow Mahesh Raut and Sudhir Dhawale of Republican Panthers.

Pune city police Thursday filed a chargesheet against five activists arrested in June this year for their alleged Maoist links in the ongoing investigation of Elgaar Parishad case.

Among those named in the 5,000-page chargesheet include activist Rona Wilson, Nagpur-based lawyer Surendra Gadling, Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen, former ‘Prime Minister Rural Development’ fellow Mahesh Raut and Sudhir Dhawale of Republican Panthers. Also, five alleged underground Maoists who are absconding — Milind Teltumbde, Prakash alias Ritupam Goswami, Prashant Bose alias Kishan da, Manglu and Deepu — were named in the chargesheet.

Investigating officer ACP Shivaji Pawar filed the 5000-page chargesheet in the court of Additional Sessions Judge KD Vadane.

The FIR in the case, lodged by Pune resident Tushar Damgude on January 8, had initially named Harshali Potdar and Dhawale of Republican Panthers, Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor, Jyoti Jagtap and Deepak Dhengle of the Pune-based Kabir Kala Manch. The FIR claimed that the accused, as per the strategy of the CPI-Maoist, “mislead the Dalits and spread thoughts of violence” in their minds.

On June 6, police had arrested Wilson, Gadling, Sen, Raut and Dhawale in connection with the case. Cops alleged these suspects played a role in providing funds of banned CPI-Maoists to Elgaar Parishad. All were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

On August 28, in the second round of arrests, police conducted raids at the houses of and arrested five prominent activists Sudha Bharadwaj, Vara Vara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira and Gautam Navlakha, alleging them to be active CPI-Maoist members

…

Elgaar Parishad case: Pune police files chargesheet against 10 accused

https://www.latestly.com/india/news/bhima-koregaon-case-pune-police-files-chargesheet-against-surendra-gadling-sudhir-dhawale-and-three-other-activists-489609.html

https://scroll.in/latest/902278/bhima-koregaon-case-pune-police-file-chargesheet-against-five-accused-who-were-arrested-in-june

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/court-to-hear-bail-pleas-of-3-activists-on-saturday/articleshow/66626597.cms

Posted by Free ALL Bhima Koregaon arrestees on Thursday, November 15, 2018

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surendra_Gadling

https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/infog-charge-shit-against-surendra-gadling-shoma-sen-mahesh-raut-sudhir-dhavale-rona-wilson-5982223.html (HINDI)

https://www.amarujala.com/india-news/bhima-koregaon-violence-case-pune-police-files-chargesheet-against-the-five-accused (HINDI)

#UrbanNaxals

#SurendraGadling

The Pune Police filed a chargesheet against the five accused, advocate Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Sudhir Dhawale and Rona Wilson, in Pune Sessions Court in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case

Read More: https://t.co/mgr4oJQiLG pic.twitter.com/eHcn5U4tSo

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) November 15, 2018

#Inde : Surendra Gadling, #avocat et #défenseur des #droitsdelhomme, a été arrêté en juin. Comme l'a indiqué le #CCBE, @narendramodi doit prendre des mesures pour garantir le libre exercice de la profession d'avocat en Inde et s'assurer de la libération immédiate de Gadling. pic.twitter.com/MRqP2OZmkJ

— CCBE (@CCBEinfo) November 15, 2018

Bangladesh: Bangladesh arrests prominent government critic

October 22, 2018

Bangladesh police on Monday arrested a prominent critic of the government who recently helped the country’s embattled opposition parties forge an alliance amid fears that dissent is being stifled in the South Asian nation.

Police said Moinul Hosein, a top lawyer and a publisher of an English daily, was detained from Dhaka’s Uttara neighbourhood hours after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina slammed him for his comments against a pro-government female journalist.

“He has been arrested after a warrant of arrest was issued against him”, a senior Dhaka Metropolitan Police officer told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Hosein, 78, who does not belong to any political party, emerged as a top critic of the government in recent months and was a key organiser of the recently formed alliance between the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and other centrist parties.

Premier Hasina on Monday attacked Hosein for his comments against the woman journalist whom he described as “characterless”, accusing him of collaborating with Pakistan during Bangladesh’s war of independence against the Islamic republic, the state-run BSS news agency reported.

She asked female journalists to protest Hosein’s remark and urge them to file cases against him.

…

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-6304369/Bangladesh-arrests-prominent-government-critic.html

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/dhaka/2018/10/22/barrister-mainul-arrested

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/384373-bangladesh-arrests-prominent-government-critic-moinul-hosein

https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/bangladesh-jatri-kalyan-samity-secretary-mozammel-hoque-chowdhury-gets-bail-1632400

https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2018/09/13/court-dismisses-explosives-case-against-mozammel-hoque-chowdhury

http://m.thedailynewnation.com/news/193496/scba-demands-immediate-release-of-barrister-mainul

http://m.thedailynewnation.com/news/194086/barrister-mainul-gets-divn-1-in-jail

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainul_Hosein

The #CCBE urges Prime Minister #SheikhHasina to guarantee that all #lawyers in #Bangladesh are able to practice law without fear of reprisal, including #lawyer Mozammel Hoque #Chowdhury: https://t.co/mReuwd2aOQ pic.twitter.com/2tQwNoZ85M

— CCBE (@CCBEinfo) October 23, 2018

Cuba/CCBE: Situation of lawyers in the Republic of Cuba

October 1, 2018

…

I am writing to you on behalf of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), which represents the Bars and Law Societies of 45 countries, and through them more than 1 million European lawyers. The CCBE places great emphasis on respect for human rights and the Rule of Law, and is particularly concerned with the situation of human rights defenders around the world.
The CCBE would like to express its concern regarding the situation of lawyers in Cuba.
According to the information received by the CCBE, the criminal justice system is being used to harass lawyers and human rights defenders who have been critical of the Cuban authorities. The use of broad provisions in the Penal Code such as “dangerousness”, are regularly used to threaten or charge people who are perceived to be a threat to the State.
The CCBE understands that lawyers can only work in the public system and that it is difficult for independent human rights lawyers to work legitimately as it is problematic for them to obtain licenses for legal self-employment.

…

https://www.ccbe.eu/fileadmin/speciality_distribution/public/documents/HUMAN_RIGHTS_LETTERS/Cuba_-_Cuba/2018/EN_HRL_20181001_Cuba_Situation-of-lawyers-in-the-Republic-of-Cuba.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_system_of_Cuba

http://www.onbc.cu/ (ESPANOL)

https://centrocubalex.com/ (ESPANOL)

https://www.cubanet.org/noticias/abogado-julio-ferrer-recibe-respuesta-minrex/ (ESPANOL)

CCBE/European Lawyers Day 2018: Why Lawyers Matter: Defending the defenders of the Rule of Law

September 26, 2018

European Lawyers’ Day (ELD) 2018 is exactly one month away! ELD is organised by the CCBE and celebrates the legal profession’s intrinsic role in defending the rule of law. Please visit our website to find out more: https://t.co/VIp7sjMOLe @CAK_cz @Abogacia_es_ue @Asianajajat pic.twitter.com/h46uSfz4xE

— CCBE (@CCBEinfo) September 25, 2018

La Journée européenne des avocats 2018 a lieu dans exactement un mois ! La Journée, organisée par le #CCBE, célèbre le rôle indissociable de la profession d’avocat dans sa défense de l’état de droit. Consultez notre site pour en savoir davantage : https://t.co/M0hwcQPLOK pic.twitter.com/jxk2JjxCtf

— CCBE (@CCBEinfo) September 25, 2018

https://www.lawsoc-ni.org/europeans-lawyers-day

CCBE: 2018 European Lawyers Day – 25/10/2018

About European Lawyers Day

In 2014, the CCBE introduced the idea of coordinating an annual Europe-wide event that would encourage its member bars and law societies to organise national and local activities based around a central theme to promote the rule of law, and a lawyer’s role in upholding its legal principles, to citizens. European Lawyers Day celebrates the common values of lawyers and their intrinsic role in the defence and promotion the rule of law, as well as their contribution to the justice system.

European Lawyers Day programmes and activities are organised by national and local bars, or any person or group working with a national or local bar (bar members, courts, law schools and students, youth groups, and community organisations) that would like to educate the public on the crucial role of the rule of law and the legal process in protecting citizens’ rights. Each member bar and law society is asked to encourage its members to organise events, publish educational material and/or conduct other programmes that promote citizens’ awareness of the European Lawyers Day theme.

2018 European Lawyers Day – 25/10/2018

What is European Lawyers Day? Why do lawyers matter? Watch the interview to find out!

In this interview, Antonín Mokrý, the President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), talks about the 2018 European Lawyers Day.

European Lawyers Day (ELD) celebrates lawyers’ role in upholding the rule of law and expresses how these professionals defend citizens’ interests.

In the interview, the President also highlights the work of the Council of Europe concerning the profession of the lawyer and explains how lawyers are essential actors in the justice system

…

https://www.ccbe.eu/actions/european-lawyers-day/

https://www.ccbe.eu/fr/actions/journee-europeenne-des-avocats/ (FRANCAIS)

Egypt/CCBE: Detention of lawyer Haytham Mohamadeen

August 17, 2018

…

Your Excellency,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), which represents the bars and law societies of 45 countries, and through them more than 1 million European lawyers. The CCBE places great emphasis on respect for human rights and the rule of law, and is particularly concerned with the situation of human rights defenders around the world.
The CCBE would like to express its concern regarding the detention of lawyer Haytham Mohamadeen.
According to the information received, on 15 May 2018, Haytham Mohamadeen was arrested in El Saf in Giza Governorate. He was detained in an unknown location. On 19 May 2018, the Supreme State Security Prosecution in Cairo ordered a detention of 15 days pending an investigation on charges of “aiding a terrorist organisation” and “calling for illegal protests”.
We understand that Haytham Mohamadeen did not take part in protests and that he offers pro-bono legal advice to workers. He is also a member of El-Naddim Centre for the Rehabilitation of Victims of  Violence, an Egyptian NGO dedicated to combating torture and providing medical and legal aid in support of victims of human rights’ abuses.

…

https://www.ccbe.eu/fileadmin/speciality_distribution/public/documents/HUMAN_RIGHTS_LETTERS/Egypt_-_Egypte/2018/EN_HRL_20180817_Egypt_Detention-of-lawyer-Haytham-Mohamadeen.pdf

https://www.ccbe.eu/fileadmin/speciality_distribution/public/documents/HUMAN_RIGHTS_LETTERS/Egypt_-_Egypte/2018/EN_HRL_20180817_Egypt_Continued-detention-of-lawyer-Ibrahim-Metwaly-Hegazy.pdf

https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/Comment/2018/5/28/In-Sisis-Egypt-collective-punishment-tears-entire-families-apart

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/aegypten-deutscher-an-einreise-gehindert-und-festgenommen-a-1222976.html (DEUTSCH)