Colombia: Protection of Human Rights Lawyers and Defenders | Oral Statement to the 39th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

September 20, 2018

Organization: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
Date: 20/21 September 2018
HRC section: 39^th Session (Agenda Item 6)
Speaker: Mr. Paul Scambler

Oral Statement to the 39th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Regular Session – Oral Statement Item 6: UPR Outcomes: Colombia

Mr. President,

Lawyers for Lawyers [1] and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada [2] welcome the decision of Colombia to support [3] many recommendations made during its 3^rd UPR relating to the protection of human rights lawyers and defenders and the investigation of attacks and threats against them. We welcome Colombia’s voluntary commitment to continue adopting measures required for the protection of human rights lawyers and defenders [4]. We call on Colombia to effectively implement these recommendations [5] without delay.

Despite the November 2016 Peace Agreement,  there has been an increase in threats and attacks against human rights lawyers and defenders in Colombia. Since November 2016, hundreds of defenders have been killed and Colombian’s Ombudsman has stated that a human rights defender is killed every three days [6].

Lawyers who are defending vulnerable communities are the subject of threats, harassment and attacks, and are not always given sufficient protection measures to ensure they can perform their professional activities effectively and safely.

…

https://www.lrwc.org/columbia-protection-of-human-rights-lawyers-and-defenders-oral-statement-to-the-39th-session-of-the-un-human-rights-council/

https://reliefweb.int/report/world/human-rights-council-holds-general-debate-human-rights-situations-require-councils-0

https://www.ishr.ch/news/hrc39-l-states-largely-decline-cite-specific-cases-during-councils-first-discussion-reprisals

https://lawyersforlawyers.org/en/joint-oral-statement-on-upr-outcome/

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India/Switzerland: Adv Deepika to attend Human Rights Session at Geneva

September 16, 2018

The International Human Rights Association of American Minorities (IHRAAM)-an ECOSOC affiliated Organization has invited Advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat to attend the 39th Session of the Human Rights Council at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from 10–28 September-2018.
Advocate Deepika Sing Rajawat, hailing from middle class Kashmiri Pandit family of Karihama, Kupwara, Kashmir (now settled in Jammu) is scheduled to attend, research and participate in the 39th session of the Human Rights Council on 19th of September.
It is imperative to mention herein that Deepika has been torchbearer in recent brutal rape and murder case of eight year old girl of village Rasana district Kathua.
Advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat has been conferred with Women of the Year Award by Indian Merchants Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ladies Wing, Mumbai in June 2018 at Mumbai for her contribution in women welfare initiatives. She has also been awarded with Humanitarian Award 2008 by Trinjan at festival of Mothers and Daughters at Vancouver BC Canada on June 24th 2018.
Deepika has been awarded with Women of the Centaury Award at Salute Success 2018 Thalilulam Block Panchayath Kazhimbram, Kerala on 17th June 2018 at Kochi for being a courageous woman.
Rajawat who has been working for Human Rights specially Child Rights and Women Rights since 2008, has also been awarded with Rippen Kapoor Fellowship in 2008 by Child Rights and You (CRY) for working on the Child Rights Violations in the militancy infested J&K.
She was also awarded with Sonjoy Gosh Media Fellowship by Charkha Foundation in 2008 for conducting study on the Child Rights Violations in the militancy infested areas of Jammu province.

…

http://www.knskashmir.com/Adv-Deepika-to-attend-Human-Rights-Session-at-Geneva-29910

https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/kathua-rape-victim-s-counsel-invited-at-human-rights-session-at-geneva/296616.html

http://thekashmirimages.com/2018/09/17/kathua-rape-victims-lawyer-invited-to-human-rights-session-at-geneva/

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/aidwa-members-take-out-rally-against-modi-regime/article24867291.ece

https://qrius.com/thousands-of-women-marched-in-delhi-a-week-ago-but-this-may-be-the-first-youre-hearing-about-it/

https://www.scoopwhoop.com/badass-indian-female-lawyers/#.0o4q05h7h

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/at-un-rajawat-seeks-support-against-women-abuse/655649.html

Turkey: Turkish gov’t jails not only journalist Karaca, but also his lawyers and judges who ruled to release him

March 7, 2018

The trial of Turkish journalist Hidayet Karaca (55) has already taken its place in judicial history because not only has he been persecuted by the Turkish government led by autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan but also both his lawyers and the judges who ruled to release him from jail have been imprisoned.

Hidayet Karaca, Ph.D., is an experienced Turkish broadcaster who also served as chairman of the board of directors of number of media associations such as Television Broadcasters Association and Television Audience Measurement (TİAK) in Turkey for years. After working as the bureau chief of the Zaman daily in İzmir and Ankara provinces, he was transferred to the Samanyolu Broadcasting Group in 1999 and served as Executive Director of the group for 17 years.

However, he was taken under custody by the police officers, who raided the television where he was in charge on December 14, 2014. He has been deprived of his freedom for about 4 years. Karaca was sentenced to 31 years of imprisonment in a trial. He has also been tried for another another case with almost the same accusations. This time aggravated life sentence has been demanded for him.

“I am defending myself under very difficult circumstances. Some of my lawyers have left, some of them were arrested. I could not even find a lawyer to write a petition for me,” said Hidayet Karaca during a hearing at a Turkish court where he was tried in August 2016.

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https://stockholmcf.org/turkish-govt-jailed-not-only-journalist-karaca-but-also-his-lawyers-and-judges-who-ruled-to-release-him/

https://stockholmcf.org/intl-bar-associations-urge-turkish-govt-to-stop-arbitrary-detentions-torture/

https://stockholmcf.org/commentary-erdogan-govt-attacks-un-for-raising-rights-violations-in-turkey/

https://turkeypurge.com/outspoken-lawyer-banned-taking-gulen-linked-cases

https://stockholmcf.org/turkish-govt-detains-8-more-lawyers-43-people-over-alleged-links-to-gulen-movement/

http://communities.lawsociety.org.uk/human-rights/interventions/2018/intervention-letter-on-cases-of-detention-of-lawyers-and-human-rights-defenders-in-turkey/5064419.fullarticle

Seven respected international organisations address a joint statement to the United Nation on the mass arrests of Turkish lawyers, judges & prosecutors

https://ahvalnews.com/torture/international-lawyers-demand-un-action-torture-turkey

https://ahvalnews.com/press-freedoms/chilling-turkish-trial-slammed-press-groups

https://rsf.org/en/news/istanbul-trial-ends-jail-sentences-25-turkish-journalists

ICJ: The role of judges, lawyers and prosecuters in preventing human rights abuses

February 27, 2018

The head of the ICJ’s Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Matt Pollard, highlighted the role of judges, lawyers and prosecutors in preventing human rights abuses, at a UN expert workshop in Geneva.The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) organised the expert workshop, 21 to 22 February 2018, to discuss the role and contribution of civil society organizations, academia, national human rights institutions and other relevant stakeholders in the prevention of human rights abuses, drawing on the conclusions and recommendations of OHCHR’s study on the prevention of human rights violations.

The workshop, mandated by the Human Rights Council resolution 33/6, covered topics such as: a framework approach to prevention; human rights education; abuses by private actors, national and regional practices, planning and monitoring tools; human rights impact assessments; and the role of UN institutions.

The presentation on the role of judges and lawyers can be downloaded in PDF format here: UN-ExpertMeeting-JudgesLawyersPrevention-2018

More information about the expert workshop is available by clicking here.

https://www.icj.org/the-role-of-judges-lawyers-and-prosecuters-in-preventing-human-rights-abuses/

https://www.icj.org/themes/centre-for-the-independence-of-judges-and-lawyers/

https://www.icj.org/

Thailand/ICJ: End proceedings against lawyer Sirikan “June” Charoensiri

September 21, 2017

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council, the ICJ today urged Thailand to end criminal proceedings against lawyer Sirikan “June” Charoensiri, that are based on her professional activities as a human rights defender and lawyer.

The statement came during general debate at the Human Rights Council on, among other things, the report compiling cases of individual complaints that have been raised by the Special Procedures (independent experts) appointed by the Council. The statement read as follows:

“Among the many cases covered by the Communications Report of Special Procedures (A/HRC/36/25) is that of Thailand lawyer and human rights defender, Sirikan “June” Charoensiri. She was charged with sedition and other offences for actions taken, in her professional role, to protect human rights. With other lawyers, she had observed and provided legal assistance to participants in a peaceful protest.

In April, four Special Rapporteurs sent a joint communication (AL THA 2/2017) to Thailand about her case, and the related issues of restrictions on fundamental freedoms put in place following the military coup of May 2014, and prosecution of civilians in military courts.

Thailand’s response to the communication (No.52101/483) attempts to justify the charges against her by, among other things, appearing to associate her with the persons to which she and her colleagues were providing legal aid.

Principle 18 of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers states that, “lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions.”

The International Commission of Jurists considers that the case against Ms Charoensiri is incompatible with these and other international human rights standards.

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https://www.icj.org/thailand-end-proceedings-against-lawyer-sirikan-june-charoensiri/