Statements and intervention letters
The Bar Council is committed to upholding the rule of law in the UK and around the world.
In support of the rule of law globally, the international team’s activities include:
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A prestigious Annual Rule of Law Lecture, which attracts eminent speakers from around the world; and
Many of the Bar Council’s members are advocates in human rights and constitutional cases in this country and around the world. We speak out whenever and wherever rule of law crises occur and will engage with other lawyers' associations to share best practice on regulatory or professional standards matters.
Previous statements and letters
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Letter to H.E. Mr Benjamin Netanyahu on proposed constitutional reforms in Israel, 26 April 2023
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Bar Council statement on judicial independence in Sri Lanka, 17 March 2023
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Statement on the conviction of Richard Naidu by the High Court of Fiji, 2 December 2022
- Further letter of concern from the Bar Council and BHRC re Judge Tuleya
- Bar Council and BHRC write to the Polish authorities ahead of the rescheduled hearing to waive immunity of Judge Tuleya
- Bar Council and other legal organisations call upon Turkish authorities to immediately release and drop all charges against the 55 lawyers and trainee-lawyers
- Bar Council and BHRC call upon Zimbabwean Magistrate Court to revoke the judgement against renowned human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa
- Bar Council and Law Society write to Chief Executive of Hong Kong over new security law
- Bar Council and BHRC write to the Polish authorities to withdraw the arbitrary motion against Judge Igor Tuleya without delay
- Bar Council expresses grave concern over the future of the rule of law in Samoa
- BHRC, Bar Council and other legal professional bodies call on Hong Kong authorities to release leading human rights lawyers and to discontinue politicised prosecutions immediately
- Bar Council and BHRC urge the Hungarian Prime Minister to reverse disproportionate emergency powers legislation during COVID-19
- Bar Council and BHRC write to the Polish authorities regarding the attacks on the rule of law in Poland
- Hong Kong extradition laws update: Bar Council reaction
- Bar Council and other international legal bodies write to Chinese President Xi JinPing on the detention of Chinese lawyer Wang Quanzhang
- Bar Council and other legal profession bodies write to the President of Guatemala on threats to the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law
- Bar Council urges authorities in Poland to put an end to the ongoing attacks on the independence of the judiciary, and reconsider certain measures in the Supreme Court Act
- Bar Council and BHRC urge Prime Minister Theresa May to raise concerns around prosecution of legal professionals in Turkey with the Turkish President in their meeting (supplementary annex here)
- Bar Council speaks out against the treatment of lawyers in Iran and the ongoing detention of prominent human rights advocates
- Bar Council stands in solidarity with lawyers around the world on the Day of the Endangered Lawyer
- Bar Council expresses grave concern over the shooting of Tanganyika Law Society President
- Bar Council expresses grave concern over the future of the independence of the judiciary in Zimbabwe
- Bar Council calls on the President of Poland to exercise his power of veto over new legislation that will undermine the independence of the Polish judiciary
- Bar Council expresses concern at the arbitrary arrest and trial of lawyer Nkongho Felix Agbor-Balla in the Republic of Cameroon
- BHRC and Bar Council urge Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss ongoing human rights violations in Turkey during her meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
- BHRC and Bar Council raise concerns over abduction of Bangladeshi lawyer
- Bar Council condemns killing of lawyers in Pakistan
- Bar Council responds to mass arrest of judges in Turkey
- Bar Council demand the release of at least 15 Chinses human rights lawyers