Report of an Independent International Fact-finding Mission to Turkey examining the Treatment of Lawyers Deprived of their Liberty and Observing Trial Proceedings 6-10 November 2023

Between 6 and 10 November 2023, an international delegation representing 27 law societies, bar associations, human rights groups and legal groups undertook a fact-finding mission to Turkey to interview eight lawyers who have been arrested and detained in circumstances that raise a range of human rights concerns. The delegation also observed two court hearings, the […]

Urgent request for intervention in favour of Mrs Nasrin Sotoudeh

To: Ms. Margaret Satterthwaite UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Email: hrc-sr-independencejl@un.org Ms. Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders Email: defenders@ohchr.org Ms. Marija Pejčinović Burić Secretary General of the Council of Europe Fax: + 33 (0)3 88 41 27 99 Ms. Dunja Mijatović Commissioner for […]

Turkey: Top Court Upholds Rights Defender’s Life Term

Conviction of Osman Kavala and Four Others Needs Urgent International Response (Istanbul, October 10, 2023) – The prosecution of the rights defender and businessman Osman Kavala and four codefendants in connection with mass protests a decade ago has been unfair and essentially a political show trial from the beginning, a group of nine non-governmental organizations […]

Comparison of the legal aid systems in Europe: which standards for an effective legal aid?

Date 29th september 2023 Time : 15h-18h Place : La Fleur en Papier Doré, Rue des Alexiens, 53-55 à 1000 Bruxelles Price: free Legal aid, as the provision of assistance to people who are unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system, is regarded as central in providing access to justice. Legal aid ensures […]

Open letter by over 180 human rights organizations and initiatives together with Tima Kurdi, aunt of Alan Kurdi.

Up to 600 people drown off Pylos, Greece – only days after EU leaders agreed to further erode the right to asylum Today on World Refugee Day, we jointly demand full and independent investigations into the events, clear consequences for those responsible, an end to the systematic pushback practices at the European borders, and justice […]

Criminalisation of Lawyers in Turkey- Report by ÖHD (Lawyers for Freedom) and Diyarbakir Lawyers’ Bar Association

In the morning hours of the 25th of April 2023, during a wide police operation, 191 people, including 25 lawyers and other members of civil society in Turkey were arrested and their houses searched. Of the 25 lawyers initially arrested, 16 have been released under judicial control, following deposition and interrogation procedures. 4 lawyers are […]