The recent pause on US foreign assistance is having profound consequences for organizations committed to defending the rule of law, justice, human rights and fundamental freedoms worldwide. For the ICJ, this suspension affects nearly 30% of our operations, straining our ability to ensure the rule of law is upheld, enable justice for the most vulnerable, and advance accountability in some of the most challenging contexts. Our local partners are also significantly affected, and given their limited financial flexibility, some may have to close completely. We will be covering the costs that we can from our already limited reserves, but call on our supporters everywhere to donate and help us counteract backsliding on fundamental rights and freedoms and provide support to judges, lawyers, and legal professionals facing mounting pressure and threats.
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Tajikistan: ICJ organizes the Human Rights School for Lawyers
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In mid-January, the ICJ, in partnership with the Regional Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR ROCA), the Union of Lawyers of the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Supreme Court of Tajikistan, organized “The Human Rights School for Lawyers”.
This program allows participants to engage in a curriculum based on modules developed by the ICJ, covering a wide range of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, with a special focus on the rights of specific groups, including women, children, and persons with disabilities.
By bringing together legal professionals, trainers, and experts, the program provides a platform for exchanging best practices and fostering networks to apply international human rights law in addressing systemic challenges and advancing justice in Tajikistan.
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Lawyers in Eswatini are facing daunting obstacles in operating independently, amidst serious and ongoing threats to their lives, intimidation, harassment and surveillance.
“In the two years since the killing of Thulani Maseko in his home in front of his wife and children, the authorities have failed to make any real progress in identifying and bringing those responsible to justice” said Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, ICJ’s Africa Director.
The ICJ report highlights attacks on the legal profession in a context of weak rule of law and justice foundations.
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Türkiye: Unlawful Proceedings Against The Istanbul Bar Association
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We express concern over what appears as a pattern of State-led restrictions on lawyers in Türkiye in recent years, the latest of which are the criminal proceedings initiated against the Istanbul Bar Association, including its President, ?brahim Kabo?lu, and members of its executive board. The ICJ also condemns the detention of F?rat Epözdemir, a member of the executive board, who was arrested upon his return from an advocacy visit to Council of Europe institutions. These actions constitute a direct attack on the independence of the legal profession and the rule of law in Türkiye.
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Egypt/Tunisia: Lawyers’ Freedom of Expression & Association is a Non-Negotiable Right
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On the Day of the Endangered Lawyer, the ICJ once again condemned Egypt’s and Tunisia’s resort to “fake news” and “counter-terrorism” laws to arbitrarily arrest, detain and prosecute lawyers solely for carrying out their professional duties and for the legitimate exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and association.
To mark the day, the ICJ highlighted several cases of attacks against lawyers in Egypt and Tunisia in 2024, which reflect the serious nature of the human rights violations lawyers have been subjected to in both countries as a result of their work.
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Russian Federation: Call for Immediate Release of Navalny’s Lawyers
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The ICJ condemns the conviction and sentencing of Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser, and Igor Sergunin, all defense lawyers for the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, to prison terms ranging from three and a half to five and a half years by the Petushinsky District Court in the Vladimir region. The ICJ calls for the quashing of the conviction and their immediate release.
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