Event information

24 June 2021, 13:30-15:00

Downloads

Flyer >

Defending Human Rights Lawyers in Authoritarian Times

Event

The Geneva Human Rights Platform logo evo bleu      HRI Logo      logo avocats      MEA LOGO PORTRAIT LARGE PNG  

In the past 10 years, a worrisome trend towards authoritarianism has grown in certain democracies, while well-established authoritarian regimes have been emboldened to clamp down further on their societies. ‘Strong man’ governments typically employ the rule of law and its trappings – courts, police, and security apparatus – to exert control. Rather than be seen as valuable pillars of the rule of law, hundreds of lawyers inside these regimes are routinely harassed, intimidated, jailed or even killed for their defense of human rights cases and causes. Authoritarian regimes are also increasingly hard to influence from the outside, they may be impassive to international outcry and indifferent to diplomatic pressure.

In a context of growing authoritarianism, this online event – co-organized by the Geneva Human Rights Platform, the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute, the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders and the Ordre des Avocats Genève – will discuss:

  • What strategies and tactics can effectively defend and support human rights lawyers?
  • How can Geneva play a role to protect lawyers from intimidation in their home countries?

WELCOME REMARKS

  • Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director, Geneva Human Rights Platform

MODERATOR

  • Sandrine Giroud, Chair of the Human Rights Committee, ODAGE

SPEAKERS

  • Xu Yan, wife of lawyer Yu Wensheng, Martin Ennals Award Laureate 2021, China
  • Ayşe Acinkli, Lawyers Association for Freedom, Turkey
  • Tatsiana Khomich, Human Rights activist, sister of Belarussian political prisoner Maria Kalesnikava
  • Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Director, International Bar Association Human Rights Institute, Member of the House of Lords, UK
  • Diego García-Sayán, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers
  • Phil Lynch, Director, International Service for Human Rights

VIDEO

Defending Human Rights Lawyers in Authoritarian Times

This event, co-organized by the Geneva Human Rights Platform, the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute, the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders and the Ordre des Avocats Genève, discussed the strategies and tactics to effectively defend and support #humanrights lawyers who defend human rights cases and causes in their countries.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Human Rights Tiles News

From Signals to Action: Strengthening the UN's Conflict Prevention Efforts

31 March 2025

Our recent research brief series explores how the United Nations' human rights system can enhance its role in early warning and conflict prevention.

Read more

soldiers News

New Publication Examines the Effects of Private Military and Security Companies

12 March 2025

Our latest research brief examines how Private Military and Security Companies have reshaped warfare, international law, and global stability.

Read more

Open dump Training

Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

15-19 September 2025

Participants in this training course will gain practical insights into UN human rights mechanisms and their role in environmental protection and learn about how to address the interplay between international human rights and environmental law, and explore environmental litigation paths.

Read more

Town Hall Meeting Training

Localizing International Human Rights

8-10 October 2025

This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.

Read more

Session of the UN Human Rights Committee Project

Treaty Body Review 2020 and Beyond

Started in January 2018

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributes to this review process by providing expert input via different avenues, by facilitating dialogue on the review among various stakeholders, as well as by accompanying the development of a follow-up resolution to 68/268 in New York and in Geneva.

Read more

Panel Discussion: Project

Treaty Body Members’ Platform

Started in January 2014

The Treaty Body Members’ Platform connects experts in UN treaty bodies with each other as well as with Geneva-based practitioners, academics and diplomats to share expertise, exchange views on topical questions and develop synergies.

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

Briefing N° 25: Localizing Multilateralism

published on March 2025

Domenico Zipoli, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Kamelia Kemileva

Read more