The Arrested Lawyers Initiative (TALI) and Lawyers Against Transnational Repression (LATR) have welcomed the adoption of the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, hailing it as a historic milestone in safeguarding legal professionals worldwide.
The newly adopted Convention acknowledges the escalating threats faced by lawyers, including attacks, harassment, and improper interference in their professional duties. TALI and LATR commend the Council of Europeโs commitment to ensuring that lawyers can work without fear of intimidation, violence, or undue hindrance.
According to the 2024 Report of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), based on a survey of over 14,500 lawyers across 18 countries:
- 57.65% of lawyers reported experiencing threats or aggression in the past two to three years;
- 35.36% considered leaving the profession due to harassment;
- Threats against lawyers have surged significantly in the last five years, with some regions witnessing near-total erosion of security for legal professionals.
TALI and LATR stress that the systematic repression of lawyers, particularly in authoritarian and hybrid regimes, is an attack on democracy and the right to a fair trial. The wrongful prosecution, surveillance, and intimidation of lawyers under the guise of counterterrorism or national security undermine the justice system. Cases in Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus demonstrate how governments deliberately target legal professionals to suppress dissent and obstruct human rights advocacy.
The two organizations also express concerns over gaps in the Convention, particularly regarding the unlawful surveillance of lawyers and the misuse of spyware such as Pegasus. They call for stronger safeguards to protect attorney-client communications from state interference. Additionally, ALI and LATR highlight the abuse of INTERPOLโs channels, where non-democratic regimes exploit legal mechanisms to harass and persecute lawyers. They urge the Council and signatory states to push for necessary reforms to prevent such misuse.
TALI and LATR call on all Council of Europe Member States and non-member States to sign, ratify, and fully implement the Convention without reservations. They also advocate for additional protections beyond the Convention to ensure lawyers can work without fear of persecution.
โThe protection of lawyers is not just a professional issue; it is a fundamental pillar of democracy, justice, and the rule of law,โ TALI and LATR emphasized in their joint statement. โWe stand in solidarity with our colleagues worldwide who continue their vital work in increasingly dangerous environments.โ
The Arrested Lawyers Initiative and Lawyers Against Transnational Repression hope this Convention will serve as a catalyst for global action, ensuring that no legal professional is prosecuted, harassed, or harmed simply for performing their duties.
Lawyers Against Transnational Repression is an international working group that advocates for the rights of individuals targeted by government requests disseminated via INTERPOLโs channels as well as by requests for international extradition and mutual legal assistance.
The Arrested Lawyers Initiative is a Brussels-based rights group consists of lawyers making advocacy to ensure lawyers and human rights defenders perform their duty without fear of intimidation, reprisal and judicial harassment.ย
Categories: Our Statements