Human Rights Committee
Defence of the defenders
CCBE Initiatives
Other initiatives
Human Rights Award
Permanent Delegation to the European Court of Human Rights
Human Rights Letters
10/11/2021: Joint call in support of endangered lawyers in Afghanistan
The CCBE with several bars and lawyers’ organisations, together with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, urge the relevant stakeholders to urgently provide adequate protection to endangered lawyers in Afghanistan and underline the need to ensure the maintenance of an independent legal profession and Bar in Afghanistan in order to preserve the independence and integrity of the administration of justice and the rule of law.
2020 initiatives
CCBE Webinar on the situation of the legal profession in Turkey – 10 December 2020:
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.
2021 initiatives
The CCBE supports the 11th 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)
2019 initiatives
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.
The virtual 2021 Award ceremony was held during the CCBE Plenary Session held on the International Human Rights Day on 10 December in the presence of some of the of the recipients and their representatives. It also counted with a video message from Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights who notably underlined the great service done by the CCBE in honouring lawyers all around the world who work in situation of heightened threat to defend the rule of law and human rights.
Video message from Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
The CCBE Human Rights Award 2021 was granted to Belarusian lawyers Lilya Vlasova, Maksim Znak, Dmitry Laevski and Leanid Sudalenko for their courage, determination, and commitment to defending citizens’ fundamental rights and the rule of law in Belarus. With this award, the CCBE extends its support to all Belarusian lawyers who fight for the respect of the rule of law and the core values of the legal profession while risking their freedom and opportunity to practice.
In addition to this, an exceptional Human Rights Award was granted by the CCBE to the endangered lawyers in Afghanistan who have been at the forefront of the defence of fundamental rights of the Afghan population.