The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) is an association of practicing barristers, legal academics, and law students dedicated to protecting the rights of advocates, judges, and human rights defenders around the world, and to promoting the principles of justice and respect for fundamental human rights internationally through the rule of...
In 2021, a group of lawyers and lawyers’ organisations came together to establish an annual International Fair Trial Day (IFTD) to be observed every year on 14 June. This initiative is supported by more than 100 legal associations across the world, all of which are committed to the vital importance of the right to...
The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (“BHRC”) is delighted to announce that Stephen Cragg KC, former Chair of BHRC, has joined our Advisory Board. Stephen was the Chair of BHRC from 2022-2023, and Vice Chair of BHRC and a member of the Executive Committee for four years prior to that. Steve stepped down...
The Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales is pleased to publish its Biennial Report for 2022-2023, which highlights and spotlights the extraordinary work, activities, initiatives and advocacy of BHRC, our partners and our members in this two-year reporting period. With a foreword by the immediate past Chair Stephen Cragg KC, Barrister at...
BHRC is delighted to announce the appointment of the following Executive Committee members as Officers of BHRC in 2024-25: Gráinne Mellon – Vice Chair Joanne Cecil – Vice Chair Jodie Blackstock – Treasurer Theodora Christou – Secretary Shanthi Sivakumaran – Membership Secretary Michael Ivers KC, incoming BHRC Chair of 2024-25, looks forward to working closely...
The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) is delighted to announce that Michael Ivers KC has been elected as chair of BHRC from 1 January 2024. The following (in alphabetical order) have been elected as EC members from 1 January 2024: Rachel Barnes KC Soraya Bauwens Jodie Blackstock Bill Bowring Joanne...
The Bar Human Rights Committee notes that MPs are due to debate the situation in Gaza, including voting in relation to a ceasefire. BHRC notes that a lawyers’ letter, signed by over 1,000 legal practitioners and academics, and originally sent to the Prime Minister on 26 October 2023, has now been sent to all Members...
The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued a statement yesterday (10 October) on the human rights situation in Israel and the OPT. The Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) endorses the High Commissioner’s condemnation of recent Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians, shares his concerns about the consequences of a siege on Gaza, and...
On 18th August 2023 the Military Commission in the case of United States of America v Al-Nashiri gave a ruling on a request for the suppression (or exclusion) of statements made by Mr Al-Nashiri to US Government officials in January 2007 after he was officially returned to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility following four years...
The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (“BHRC”) is seeking an energetic and experienced professional with confidence in project management, fundraising and governance to join the team as a part-time Project Officer. The successful candidate will work closely with BHRC’s Executive Committee and Project Team on the day-to-day coordination of BHRC’s varied programme...
The Bar Human Rights Committee is the independent,
international human rights arm of the Bar of England
and Wales, dedicated to promoting justice and respect
for human rights through the rule of law.