Activity Report – DAY OF THE ENDANGERED LAWYER 2017

In solidarity with Egyptian lawyers In 2017 ELDH commemorated the Day of the Endangered Lawyer to lawyers in Egypt who were threatened and attacked because they defended human rights activists and victims of human rights violations. Prostests were organized in the following 10 countries: Austria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal, Turkey. The …

Juristinnen und Juristen warnen vor Entstehung faschistischer Diktatur in der Türkei

Aufruf Europäischer Jurist*innen – andere Jurist*innen Organisationen und individuelle Jurist*innen sind aufgerufen zu unterzeichnen Die komplette Ausschaltung der politischen Opposition in einer Gesellschaft, und insbesondere der demokratischen Kräfte, ist ein typisches Kennzeichen für die mögliche Entstehung einer faschistischen Diktatur. Schon seit Jahren werden in der Türkei schwerwiegende Menschenrechtsverletzungen und die Missachtung demokratischer Grundsätze festgestellt. Dies …

For the ratification and implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention)

ELDH – Appeal to European States – 25th November 2016, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH) calls upon European states to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention), …

ELDH report on the activities of the Lesvos Legal Centre

ELDH executive member Carlos Orjuela, as well as jurists from Sweden, France and a lawyer form the US have chosen to open a legal clinic, assisting a Greek lawyer in providing legal information, advice, assistance and representation. They were based in the Mosaik Support Centre, a project in the centre of Mytilini which provides services …

No extradition of Turkish Soldiers to Turkey

ELDH Statement A significant legal and political case is under way in Greece regarding the eight Turkish military officers who surrendered themselves in Greece and sought asylum following the attempted military coup in Turkey. They sought shelter in Greece after participating in the coup attempt by a faction of the Turkish military and were then …

European Lawyers appeal to annul bill lifting immunities of Turkish MP

ELDH[i] is highly alarmed concerning the vote in Turkey’s parliament which approved a bill to amend the Constitution to strip Members of Parliament of their immunity from prosecution, a move that paves the way for the trials of pro-Kurdish and other opposition members of parliament. If the President approves the amendments they will put 138 …

The rights of refugees must be respected – they are not to be bargained away

ELDH Appeal to the WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT The United Nation’s Secretary General has chosen Turkey, which is known for atrocious human rights violations, for the World Humanitarian Summit. The World Humanitarian Summit is taking place in Istanbul on 23 and 24 May 2016. There have been many protests against holding the summit in Turkey. This …

Report – Lawyers Delegation to Diyarbakır – 21 to 24 January 2016

From 21 to 24 of January 2016, a delegation of 10 lawyers from Austria, Belgium, Germany and Italy visited Diyarbakır, Turkey. The mission was coordinated by two European lawyers’ organizations—the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDH) and European Democratic Lawyers (EDL)—and the Unione delle Camere Penali Italiane. It was supported by …

THE INDEPENDENCE OF LAWYERS MUST BE RESPECTED, AND THEY MUST NOT BE IDENTIFIED WITH THEIR CLIENTS – FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, ESPECIALLY THAT OF ACADEMICS, MUST BE RESPECTED BY THE TURKISH AUTHORITIES.

ELDH Statement ELDH is highly alarmed by the new mass arrest of Turkish citizens. According to Turkish media 320 Turkish citizens have been detained this week. Among them are lawyers, academics, politicians and students. They are suspected by the Turkish authorities of supporting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). It seems very likely, according to reports …