Engaged Trial Observation
An introduction to a practice of sustainable solidarity inside and outside the courtroom
ThSchmidt
ELDH Welcomes the Adoption of the Law of Amnesty for Democratic Coexistence in Venezuela
The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH) warmly welcomes the adoption by the National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela of the Law of Amnesty for Democratic Coexistence, approved on 19 February 2026. ELDH positively values all efforts aimed at promoting democratic coexistence, the de-judicialisation of political conflicts, and …
Joint Statement – Türkiye: Lengthy prison sentences imposed on ÖHD lawyers and TUAD members for lawful professional and human rights work
Download Turkish version The undersigned international legal and human rights organisations strongly condemn the conviction and sentencing of ten lawyers who are members of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (Özgürlük İçin Hukukçular Derneği, ÖHD) and of 20 executives and staff of the Prisoners’ Families Solidarity Association (Tutuklu Aileleri ile Dayanışma Derneği, TUAD) by the Istanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court on 28 January 2026. …
Joint statement – Tunisia: International legal community calls for release of Ahmed Souab ahead of appeal hearing
11 February 2026 The undersigned organisations strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest and subsequent conviction of Tunisian lawyer Ahmed Souab and call for his immediate release and measures to ensure the conviction is set aside, ahead of the second hearing in his appeal. His prosecution and sentencing constitute a grave violation of his right to freedom …
Trial observations – Turkey – February 2026
ReportLawyers and Civil Society Under Attack in Türkiye, Istanbul Court hearings 5 – 6 February 2026, 10 lawyers convicted ReportAdana Courthouse -Turkey 6 February 2026, lawyer Siar Risvanoglu case
ELDH Statement on the Intensification of Unilateral Coercive Measures against Cuba
Download the statement The European Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDH) strongly condemns the recent decision adopted by the United States administration under former President Donald Trump intensifying unilateral coercive measures against the Republic of Cuba, including the imposition of sanctions and punitive tariffs with extraterritorial effect targeting third States supplying fuel and energy …
Pakistan: Arbitrary arrest and sentencing of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha
The undersigned organisations strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest and subsequent conviction of Pakistani human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha and call for their immediate release and measures to ensure the conviction is set aside. On 24 January, a District and Sessions Court in Islamabad sentenced the lawyers to 17 years’ imprisonment …
ELDH Statement: On the escalating violations of international law and the threat to Kurdish population in North and East Syria (Rojava)
Download the statement The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH) expresses its grave concern over the renewed and escalating attacks against Kurdish populations in North and East Syria (Rojava). These attacks constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law and place entire communities at imminent risk. …
Turkey: Drop Bogus Charges against Istanbul Bar Association Leadership (Joint Statement)
The continued prosecution of the president and 10 executive board members of the Istanbul Bar Association, and the prosecutor’s request for their conviction on terrorism charges are a damning reflection of the troubled state of the rule of law and democratic norms in Turkey today, 38 human rights and lawyers’ organisations said today. They called …