The DAY OF THE ENDANGERED LAWYER 2021 focusses of Azerbaijan. Protests and seminars will be organised in solidarity with human rights lawyers in Azerbaijan.
The DAY OF THE ENDANGERED LAWYER is commemorated each year on 24 January.
On that Day, 24 January 1977 four trade union lawyers and an employee were murdered in their office in Madrid, Spain, simply for doing their job. One of the killers, who was associated with extreme right-wing parties and organizations, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, another fled to Brazil and the third one ended up in jail in Bolivia for drug smuggling.
This year, on January 24, 2021, we will commemorate the 11th anniversary of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer.
In past years, the Day has focused on the following countries: China, Colombia, Egypt, Honduras, Iran, Pakistan, The Philippines, Spain/Basque Country, Turkey, Pakistan.
On this special day, the organizers ask their international colleagues to
1) raise awareness about the number of lawyers who are being harassed, silenced, pressured, threatened, persecuted, and in some countries tortured and murdered for their work as lawyers; and
2) initiate, or further develop a national discussion about ways to protect lawyers.
Protests outside embassies and consulates of the Republik of Azerbaijan on 22 January.
Due to the Corona pandemic and the associated restrictions in most countries, such protests will only be possible in compliance with the applicable hygiene regulations. In the past, such protests have been carried out in over 40 countries. A petition supported by over 30 international, European and national lawyers’ organizations will be presented to the respective embassies and sent to the Azerbaijan government.
| Invitation to an online Seminar – Day of the Endangered Lawyer (Azerbaijan) – 21 January 2021, 15h00 to 16h30 CET This seminar addresses some of the challenges faced by lawyers there in practising their profession. In particular, this seminar will address: (i) the legal profession in Azerbaijan and access to justice, (ii) admission to the Bar, (iii) disciplinary proceedings, including disbarment, (iv) lawyers’ right to freedom of expression, and (v) cases of Azeri lawyers before the European Court of Human Rights. Speakers: · Shahla Humbatova (lawyer, Azerbaijan) · Emin Abbasov (lawyer, Azerbaijan) · Jessica Gavron (legal director, European Human Rights Advocacy Centre) Moderated by: Dr. Marina Brilman (international human rights adviser, Law Society of England and Wales) |