“It reminds me that even if you're not a lawyer, you can be doing highly technical, professional human rights & justice work.” —Meg Satterthwaite on her formative experience working on Haiti's Truth & Justice Commission in 1995. 🇭🇹 Episode #2 is out now! 🎧 www.sdg16.plus/resources/ep...

#Tunisie: Je suis très inquiète quant à la situation des avocats en Tunisie, particulièrement l’arrestation de l'avocat Ahmed Souab et l'emprisonnement de l'avocate Sonia Dahmani, pour avoir fait des commentaires sur les questions des affaires publiques. www.ohchr.org/fr/press-rel...

UN expert @unsr-judges.bsky.social urges States to formally recognise the right of #Indigenous Peoples to maintain, strengthen, promote & develop their own legal systems & customary law institutions. #HRC59 www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Today, I presented my report, “The Right of Indigenous Peoples to Maintain and Develop Justice Systems,” to the 59th session of the Human Rights Council. www.ohchr.org/sites/defaul...

“legal empowerment can address the root causes of authoritarianism…When we use law to tackle problems we face, we reduce the distance between our institutions and ourselves.” Vivek Maru www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...

#USA: UN expert @unsr-judges.bsky.social alarmed at the targeting of judges, lawyers and law firms in an apparent organised effort to interfere in the independence of the U.S. legal and judicial system. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Margaret Satterthwaite: “En Guatemala hay una sensación de que se está desmantelando el estado de derecho” elpais.com/america/2025...

#Mexico: While judicial corruption already exists, elections may be more easily infiltrated by organized crime than other methods of judicial selection. From @afp: Mexicans elect their judges under shadow of crime, corruption www.france24.com/en/live-news...

#Türkiye: Alarmed at the criminalisation of Istanbul Bar Association and dismissal of executive board, in retaliation for the Bar Association’s statement calling for an effective investigation into deaths of two journalists in a conflict zone. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Guatemala legal system stands at pivotal juncture: My preliminary observations after official visit, concerning criminalization, improper influence in judicial appointments, voter trading & flawed evaluation processes rewarding political loyalty over professional merits www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

I will conduct an official visit to Guatemala from 12 to 23 May 2025. www.ohchr.org/en/media-adv...

#Türkiye: Now public--my letter to the Government concerning actions taken against the Istanbul Bar Association and arrest of a Board member, after it called for an investigation into deaths of two journalists. Govt response also available online. spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBas...

On #WorldPressFreedomDay, I recall that action is needed to ensure powerful economic actors cannot misuse justice systems by bringing #SLAPP suits against journalists. Recommendations in my report here: www.ohchr.org/en/documents...

#USA: Proud to have joined thousands of lawyers today as we reaffirmed our professional oath to uphold the rule of law. This non-partisan effort of bar associations and lawyers across the country aims to protect judicial independence and the autonomy of the legal profession.

🚨 Dozens of UN human rights experts express alarm at the United States’ escalating attacks on the international architecture of human rights, the rule of law, multilateralism, the principles of sovereign equality and self-determination & vital international agreements. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Discover how U.S. foreign policy is impacting freedoms and human rights on a global scale. Don’t miss out on understanding this critical issue. Read more at the following link and join the conversation! freeassemblyandassociation.net/u-s-foreign-...

With SR Iran and SR EJEs, I call on Iran to halt the execution of Behrouz Ehsani & Mehdi Hassani, whose death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court, following trials reportedly marred by torture and forced confessions. @UN_SPExperts are in contact with Iranian authorities on this matter.

#Russia / #Ukraine: Without guarantees for #HumanRights and justice, there can be no peace, warn UN experts as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine enters its 4th year & discussions intensify about settling the war without Ukraine’s participation. lnkd.in/ei5YwPCK

#USA: Very concerned by news suggesting a broad attack on independent justice. Purge of DOJ attys; impeachment articles against a judge solely for his decision; Sec of Defense fired service TJAGs--top lawyers for Army, Navy, USAF. Independent justice is required for rule of law.

On Capitol Hill this week to discuss the importance of an independent and impartial judiciary. #USA

On the anniversary of 1989 murder of Belfast human rights lawyer Pat Finucane, my latest for @humanrightsfirst.bsky.social in today’s New York Law Journal (paywall but one article free) @finucanecentre.bsky.social @unsr-judges.bsky.social @cjharvey1.bsky.social www.law.com/newyorklawjo...

#US "proposal" to "take over" #Gaza would shatter fundamental rules of international order & embolden other predatory countries to seize foreign territories, with devastating consequences for peace & #HumanRights globally. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Solidarity Needed Amid Stranglehold on Belarusian Lawyers--my new post w/SR Belarus Nils Muiznieks and Aloysia Sonnet on @justsecurity.org.web.brid.gy www.justsecurity.org/107571/solid...

#USA: Gravely concerned to see that the President has signed an order to sanction the ICC and its personnel, asserting that the ICC "has engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel." This is wrong under international law and a huge blow to int'l justice.

#USA: Very disturbing news -- DOJ fires dozens of prosecutors who handled Jan. 6 cases www.politico.com/news/2025/01...

#Georgia: I join my colleagues in calling on the Govt to prevent further violence and to investigate serious allegations of excessive use of force, torture, ill-treatment & arbitrary detention of demonstrators, journalists & human rights defenders during 2024 protests. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

There is an urgent need to combat impunity for serious int'l crimes in Belarus. The OSCE Moscow Mechanism & UN experts have called on the international community to support initiatives, such as the IAPB, documenting human rights violations in #Belarus 🟠Learn more www.osce.org/files/f/docu...

#Belarus: I am deeply concern by the growing # of trials in absentia that violate basic fair trial guarantees. Since 2022, more than 100 people have been convicted in absentia, including members of the political opposition, lawyers, human rights defenders, and activists www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Joint statement from UN HR experts welcoming ICC Prosecutor's request for arrest warrants for Taliban leaders. The policies of #genderpersecution being enforced in #Afghanistan are not only unacceptable they may constitute international crimes. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

On the International #DayoftheEndangeredLawyer, I join my colleague, the SR Belarus, in raising alarm about the repression of lawyers in #Belarus, who face threats, disbarment, imprisonment, and exile for defending human rights and upholding the rule of law. Statement: t.co/mZAeDeI5jU

#Egypt: Concerned re cases of human rights lawyer Ms. Hoda Abdel Moneim and lawyer Ibrahim Metwally, both victims of "rotation," in which HR defenders are repeatedly charged with similar, if not identical, terrorism-related accusations. PR by @marylawlorhrds.bsky.social www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Together, we can demand impartial courts, freedom from economic capture and a binding ethics code while defending substantive judicial independence. Thanks @alexaronson.bsky.social + @kimlanelaw.bsky.social + Jason Stanley + @americanprogress.bsky.social + @courtacctability.bsky.social

Disturbing Report: #Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Human Rights Lawyers Amid Growing Repression iranhumanrights.org/2025/01/iran...

#Europe: Un grand pas pour la profession d’avocat : le CCBE s’engage en 2025 sur des sujets cruciaux tels que la signature de la convention internationale pour la protection des avocats et l’intégration de l’intelligence artificielle dans la justice. defendlawyers.wordpress.com/2025/01/10/c...

The tireless work of brave legal professionals at the #ICC ensures accountability and seeks to end impunity. Sanctioning justice personnel for fulfilling their professional responsibilities violates human rights. Statement of UN HR Experts on #USA sanctions bill. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Today is the 5th anniv of the “1000 Robes March” in Warsaw, where judges of many nations marched to support their colleagues whose independence was under attack. I join the Int'l Association of Judges in commemorating this day as “Judicial Independence Day” youtube.com/shorts/Hkgb3...