Egypt/Day of the Endangered Lawyer: SCC honorary chairman appointed to CRCICA board

February 9, 2018

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LIFE AFTER REVOLUTION

One aspect of the changing market for legal services relates to relations between government and civil society groups and lawyers, showing.  Egypt is not without its problems, particularly for lawyers practicing in Egypt.

Some Egyptian lawyers have been denied the rights to a fair trial and freedom of expression and assembly because of broad security legislation passed since 2013, as well as facing travel bans and prosecution for carrying out their professional duties, in support of human rights.

On 24 January 2018, the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer, which focuses on the rule of law issues in the legal profession internationally, was dedicated to Egypt. The American Bar Association (ABA) and both the English and Welsh legal representative bodies, as well as a consortium of international lawyers, spoke out, calling for the role of lawyers and the rule of law to be respected in the country.

In a statement released local time, ABA president Hillary Bass said that lawyers should be able “to work without intimidation, harassment or improper interference and to ensure that they are adequately safeguarded when their security is threatened”, citing United Nations principles justifying such protection. Those taking comfort from Franke’s appointment will hope that Egypt addresses those concerns, as well as promoting its ability to resolve those of investors.

https://www.africanlawbusiness.com/news/7941-scc-honorary-chairman-appointed-to-crcica-board

 

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UK: Tony Fisher: ‘Rights are precious and are easily lost’

January 31, 2018

LIFETIME achievement awards are not given out lightly. The recipients are often shining lights in their fields who have, as the name suggests, a lifetime of achievement behind them.

For Tony Fisher, senior partner at Colchester law firm Fisher Jones Greenwood, recognition at this year’s Modern Law Awards is a token of his tireless enthusiasm.

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Towards the end of the cases he realised he was not going to be able juggle it all. He stopped the European case work but joined the Human Rights Committee at the Law Society, the representative body for solicitors.

He became chairman of the Human Rights Committee in 2007, making interventions on behalf of lawyers being persecuted in other countries. Other challenges include a lack of opportunities for younger trainees.

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http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/15907322.Top_lawyer_____Rights_are_precious_and_are_easily_lost___/

https://www.modernlawawards.co.uk/2017-18-winners

https://www.modernlawawards.co.uk/

Egypt/Day of the Endangered Lawyer: Endangered lawyers: Climate of intimidation ‘re-emerging’ in Northern Ireland

January 24, 2018

Attacks on Northern Ireland solicitors and law officers in press and parliament have led to harassment and credible death threats against lawyers, the Gazette has been told. As the legal profession worldwide marks the ‘Day of the Endangered Lawyer’, alleged UK government indifference has attracted international criticism.

Highly personalised attacks on lawyers involved in ‘legacy’ cases from the Troubles, through inquests, civil actions or prosecutions, have been made in the Daily Mail and the Sun. The Sun has named and photographed a number of solicitors and their offices and published details of the value and rough location of family homes. A piece in the The Sunday Times’ Dublin edition labelled lawyers the ‘legal auxiliaries’ of the Sinn Fein-IRA ‘family’.

Criticism in parliament has included a reference to ‘extreme nationalist-leaning individuals in the Northern Ireland justice system’, taken to be a reference to Northern Ireland’s first Catholic DPP Barra McGrory.

Pádraig Ó Muirigh, director of Belfast human rights firm O’Muirigh Solicitors, was told by police to review his personal security three years ago, as his movements were being monitored. Others, including solicitors from Belfast firm KRW, report death threats and abuse on the streets and online following press coverage. ‘It’s become more difficult in recent times,’ he added.

A strongly-worded letter on the subject sent last summer to the Prime Minister and to then-Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire by the president of the 24,000-member New York City Bar, John Kiernan, has been seen by the Gazette. Kiernan expressed ‘a series of concerns surrounding the recent climate of intimidation that has been re-emerging for lawyers in Northern Ireland’.

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https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/endangered-lawyers-climate-of-intimidation-re-emerging-in-northern-ireland/5064500.article

On the #DayOfTheEndangeredLawyer, we stand in solidarity with all lawyers across the globe who are being subject to threats and harassment for simply exercising their profession.

In 2018 the focus is on lawyers in #Egypt, who have to live with constant surveillance, smear campaigns and intimidation from state-affiliated media and authorities.

We encourage everyone today to show your support and join the demonstrations outside of your local Egyptian embassies, or attend one of the many interesting events!

#WeAreAllHumanRightsDefenders — Standing up for lawyers!

(Justice and Peace Netherlands Facebook)

http://dayoftheendangeredlawyer.eu/

Turkey: Detention of 9 human rights defenders in Turkey – Law Society of England & Wales

September 21, 2017

On 12th September 2017, the Law Society sent an intervention letter to President Erdogan on the case of detention of 9 human rights defenders in Turkey.

In the letter, the Law Society expressed its concern over the ongoing detenion fo 9 human rights defenders who were remanded in custody on 6th June adn 5th July 2017. The Law Society had been informed that the detained have been charged with “aiding an armed terrorist organisation”.

Read the full letter below.

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http://communities.lawsociety.org.uk/human-rights/interventions/2017/detention-of-9-human-rights-defenders-in-turkey/5062895.article

https://www.turkishminute.com/2017/09/22/detention-warrants-issued-for-44-including-lawyers-over-gulen-links/

Cameroon: Cameroon Letter – Law Society of England and Wales

September 21, 2017

 

On 21st September 2017, the Law Society sent an intervention letter on the ongoing case against lawyers in Cameroon.

Read the full letter below.

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http://communities.lawsociety.org.uk/human-rights/interventions/2017/cameroon-letter/5062897.article

Cameroon/Turkey/Azerbaijan: UN side event “The independence of the legal profession”

April 5, 2017

On 16 March 2017 the Law Society, making use of its ECOSOC consultative status, organised a side event with Lawyers for Lawyers on “The independence of the legal profession” at the United Nations in Geneva.

The side event was held in the margins of the 34th Human Rights Council session and was co-sponsored by the Missions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Paraguay and Australia.

Mr Diego García-Sayán, UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, appointed in December 2016, was the keynote speaker. It was Mr García-Sayán’s first public speech in that capacity. He outlined the importance of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and emphasised the principle that lawyers should be able to practise their profession independently, without fear of external interference and/or intimidation, and without being identified with their clients. Mr García-Sayán also highlighted some priority areas, which he would be exploring further during his mandate, such as corruption and the role played by non-state actors in undermining the rule of law and the independency of the judiciary.

Lawyers from Turkey, Cameroon and Azerbaijan also shared their experiences and extensively discussed the serious challenges facing the legal profession in their respective countries.

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http://communities.lawsociety.org.uk/human-rights/news-and-events/un-side-event-the-independence-of-the-legal-profession/5061260.article