Statements and Letters – Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales

Statements and LettersJanuary 28, 2025

Joint Statement by the International Legal and Human Rights Community on the Actions Against the Istanbul Bar Association

The international legal and human rights community is deeply concerned by prosecuting authorities’ recent criminal investigation and lawsuit against the Istanbul Bar Association, particularly its President, İbrahim Kaboğlu, and the executive board. These actions stem from a statement issued by the Bar Association on 21 December 2024, drawing attention to the deaths of journalists Nazım...

Projects Statements and LettersNovember 20, 2024

BHRC responds to Global Rights Compliance legal advisory report and policy guidance on global organ trafficking and forced organ harvesting

This open letter published by the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (“BHRC”) responds to a Legal Advisory Report and Policy Guidance published by GRC concerning organ trafficking and forced organ harvesting around the world. The GRC Legal Advisory Report and Policy Guidance Organ trafficking and forced organ harvesting are pressing international issues....

News Statements and LettersJune 5, 2024

Tahir Elҫi case: UN Urgent Action Letter and Joint Statement

FULL STATEMENT HERE READ THE LETTER HERE 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...

News Statements and LettersApril 5, 2024

Statement concerning UK Government Obligations under International Law

The Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC)1 welcomes the updated Lawyers’ Letter published on the 3rd April 2024 which builds upon the Lawyers’ Letter of the 26th October 2023.2 BHRC has quoted previous versions of the Lawyers’ Letter echoing, in particular, calls for a ceasefire through letters to MPs sent on 15th November 2023 and 20th February 2024,...

News Statements and LettersFebruary 22, 2024

BHRC Statement on the Death of Alexei Navalny

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...

News Statements and LettersFebruary 12, 2024

BHRC Supports International Fair Trial Day and Call for Nominations for Ebru Timtik Award 2024

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...

News Statements and Letters UncategorizedNovember 15, 2023

BHRC endorses powerful legal arguments in advance of MPs’ Gaza ceasefire debate

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...

News Statements and LettersOctober 11, 2023

BHRC condemns atrocities by Hamas and endorses UN High Commissioner on Human Rights’ statement on the situation in Israel and Gaza

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...

News Statements and LettersAugust 2, 2023

BHRC Joins Call for Lao Authorities to Ensure the Immediate Release of Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Lu Siwei

The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) joins many international bodies and organisations in expressing grave concerns regarding the arrest and detention of well-known Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei by Lao authorities since 28 July 2023. There are serious concerns that he is at risk of forced repatriation to China where...

News Statements and LettersJune 21, 2023

BHRC co-signs statement on fair trial rights violations in trial of Hejaaz Hizbullah in Sri Lanka

The Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales joins Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L), the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the International Commission of Jurists, The Law Society of England and Wales, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, the FIDH – International Federation for Human Rights, and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) in expressing...

Older Posts