The Bar Human Rights Committee hosted an engaging and thought-provoking seminar at this year’s Annual Bar Council Conference on 8th November, entitled ‘Human Rights and Reconciliation: mediation on the world stage’. Chaired by Kirsty Brimelow QC, the panel of high-level speakers included: Professor Philippe Sands QC of University College London and Matrix Chambers Mark Muller...
On 6 November 2014, the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) sent an open letter to the Prime Minister of Nepal in response to the arrest and prosecution of Madhesi activist Chandra Kant Raut. On 14 September 2014, Dr Raut was placed under detention and then subsequently charged for allegedly inciting separatism...
The BHRC was praised during a debate in the House of Lords for its work proposing and advising on civil orders for FGM. Over the last year the BHRC working group on FGM has submitted reports to the Home Affairs Committee, the Ministry of Justice and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. See...
During the second week of October 2014, the BHRC turned its attention to Zimbabwe by holding two inspiring events featuring renowned Zimbabwean human rights lawyers. The first event was a visit from David Coltart, a human rights lawyer from Zimbabwe who has represented many people facing politically motivated prosecutions throughout the years of Robert Mugabe’s rule. In the...
On Tuesday 1st October 2014, the Opening of the Legal Year in England in Wales commenced with a breakfast at the Law Society for leaders of bar associations and law societies across the world. Chair of the Bar Council, Nicholas Lavender QC, gave a speech in which he commended the work of the BHRC. See...
In reponse to a call for submissions from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on the theme “Towards a better investment in the rights of the child”, the BHRC submitted a report on female genital mutilation (FGM). Sent on 3rd October 2014, the submission will be considered by the OHCHR...
On 29 September 2014, the Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) and the International Senior Lawyers Project UK (ISLP-UK) wrote to the Minister of Peace and Reconstruction in Nepal to express their concerns about the Truth and Reconciliation Act 2014. Whilst the Act seeks to move forward the process of setting up a Truth and Reconciliation...
On 20th August, the Bar Human Rights Committee submitted an Amicus Curiae brief to the Supreme Court of Colombia in the case of David Ravelo Crespo, a Colombian human rights defender who has been in prison since 2010. Mr Ravelo is a member of CREDHOS, a regional human rights organisation in the Magdalena Medio region....
Public international law and criminal law Q.C.s and Professors based in Britain join with the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales to urge the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to initiate a preliminary investigation into crimes being committed in the Gaza Strip. In response to the extreme gravity of the situation...
On Thursday 24th July, Kirsty Brimelow QC, Chair of the BHRC, appeared on Al Jazeera’s news bulletin to talk about the international legal implications of Israel’s military offensive against the Gaza Strip. Watch the interview here
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.