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Permanent Delegation to the European Court of Human Rights

Human Rights Letters

2020 initiatives

CCBE Webinar on the situation of the legal profession in Turkey – 10 December 2020:

Program of the event

10/12/2020: CCBE Statement on the situation of the legal profession in Turkey

On the occasion of International Day for Human Rights, the CCBE urges the Turkish authorities to uphold the rule of law by bringing an end to the persecution of lawyers and by refraining from taking any measure which would have the effect of hindering the independence, integrity and freedom of expression of the legal profession in Turkey.

CCBE President statement in support of Turkish lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal

Threats on the Legal Profession

05/04/2021 : Keynote speech of CCBE’s President, Dr. Margarete von Galen, to the International Memorial Event for Ebru Timtik organised by the Progressive Lawyers Association: A life dedicated to the struggle

02/03/2021 : Letter to the UN Special Rapporteurs on the case concerning Tahir Elçi's killing

Save the Date: The 1^st edition International Fair Trial Day and the Ebru Timtik Award on 14 June 2021

4/01/2021: 11^th Day of the Endangered Lawyer – Azerbaijan

The CCBE supports the 11^th Day of the of the Endangered Lawyer with this Petition in supports of lawyers in Azerbaijan

2020 initiatives

Joint Statement in support of lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh (04/12/2020)

10/11/2020: Joint Statement in support of the Turkish lawyers in the CHD I trial

Statement in connection with the detention of Belarusian lawyers Ilya Salei and Maksim Znak

Statement by Birgit Van Hout, UN Human Rights Regional Representative for Europe at the CCBE Plenary Session of 4^th September 2020: “International human rights, the rule of law and civic space in the EU”

Letter to UN rapporteurs in support of Turkish lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal

Joint statement in support of Turkish lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal

Turkey: Fact-finding mission on CHD’s trials

Petition - Day of the Endengered Lawyer 2020 - Pakistan

2019 initiatives

Press release: European Fact-finding mission to clarify the circumstances leading to the conviction of 18 Turkish lawyers

Joint Statement – The Philippines: Attacks against lawyers escalating

UIA - AIJA - CCBE Joint Statement Situation of Lawyers in Iran

Joint call to the UN for urgent action in support of Turkish lawyers

Free Nasrin Sotoudeh

Every year since 2007, the CCBE has granted a Human Rights Award. The objective of the CCBE is to honour distinguished lawyers/lawyers’ organisations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment and sacrifice to uphold fundamental values. It is an effective and useful tool to raise awareness of the core values of the legal profession. The Award is officially delivered to the winner by the CCBE President at the Plenary Session.

At its online Plenary Session on 27 November, the CCBE granted its CCBE Human Rights Award 2020 to Egyptians lawyers Haytham Mohammadein, Hoda Abdelmoniem, Ibrahim Metwally Hegazy,  El-Massry, Mohamed El-Baqer, Mohamed Ramadan and Zyad El-Eleimy for their courage, determination and commitment to defending human rights in Egypt.

In addition to its 2020 Human Rights Award, the CCBE exceptionally granted a posthumous Human Rights Award to Turkish lawyer Ebru Timtik who died following the hunger strike she started fighting for and defending the right to a fair trial in Turkey.

Background document of Egyptians lawyers

Background document of Ebru Timtik

Press release

Speech from Diego García-Sayán, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers

Previous awards