The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) welcomes the UN Human Rights Committee’s decision to adopt the Resolution on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, jurors and assessors, and the independence of lawyers.
The Resolution condemns “the increasingly frequent attacks on the independence of judges, lawyers, prosecutors and court officials, in particular threats, intimidation and interference in the discharge of their professional functions”. The Council additionally called on states to guarantee the independence of legal professionals and the ability to perform their professional functions without interference, harassment or intimidation.
Additionally, the BHRC is pleased that the UNHRC Resolution acknowledged the Joint Call for Action cosigned by BHRC, noting:
“the endorsement by bar associations, law societies, and national and international lawyers’ organizations worldwide of a call for action in support of the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, recognizing the vital role that lawyers and the legal profession can play in upholding the rule of law and in promoting and protecting human rights, on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Basic Principles”.
The Joint Call for Action calls on the international community to denounce the growing attacks on independent lawyers worldwide and support their role in upholding free and democratic society. It was issued earlier this month to mark the 30th anniversaries of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and the IBA Standards for the Independence of the Legal Profession.
