The DAY OF THE ENDANGERED LAWYER 2021 focusses on 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 escaped on a permit granted by the investigating judge before the trial. Another, sentenced to 193 years, escaped while on parole and is at large. The third one, with the same sentence, escaped while on parole, has been extradited from Brazil and recently released. The fourth, sentenced to 63 years, died in prison. All of them were associated with extreme right-wing parties.
This year we will commemorate the 11th anniversary of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer. Since January 24 falls on a Sunday this year, activities will take place before and after the weekend.
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.
| Invitation to an online Seminar – Day of the Endangered Lawyer (Azerbaijan) – Thursday, 21 January 2021, 15h00 to 16h30 CET (2.00-3.30pm (UK time)) 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) Registration Please register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJElceuhrT4iHtBg_bJFGp2644nsXdqOXZkw Please note that you will receive a confirmation email after registration, including instructions on how to join the seminar in the week of 18 January 2021. |
| Friday, 22 January 2021: Protests outside embassies and consulates of the Republic of Azerbaijan 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 (Turkish translation) (German translation) supported by international, European and national lawyers’ organizations will be presented to the respective embassies and sent to the Azerbaijan government. |