Spotlight
Essay competition: can human rights be universal and have respect for cultural relativism?
Law students, trainee solicitors and junior lawyers are invited to enter the Law Society's annual Graham Turnbull essay competition. This year's essay title is: Can human rights be universal and have respect for cultural relativism? The deadline for entries is Friday 26 February 2010.
Barbados to abolish mandatory death penalty
Caribbean Net News reports that Barbados is set to abolish the mandatory death penalty following a decision of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Lawyers call for urgent action on juvenile detainees held in Guantanamo bay
The Law Society, the Bar Council, the Criminal Bar Association, the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association and the Bar Human Rights Committee have today called on the Attorney General of the United States of America to take urgent action in cases where those detained in Guantánamo Bay were captured as juveniles. These concerns are set out in a letter sent today to the US Attorney General, Eric Holder.
UK lawyers demand action from Colombian authorities
The Law Society is pleased to have assisted a group of UK lawyers who published a report, on 6 May 2009, into the daily threats to the lives of Colombian human rights lawyers.
Law Society celebrates restoration of Chief Justice and senior judiciary in Pakistan
The Law Society has expressed its delight and satisfaction at the restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other senior judges to their posts in Pakistan.
Law Society reinforces its support for lawyers in Pakistan
The Law Society today repeated its public declaration of support for lawyers and judges in Pakistan to coincide with the Pakistan lawyers “long march”, which takes place this week
The United Nations Human Rights Enforcement Machinery training
On the afternoon of 11th February, the Law Society and Solicitors International Human Rights Group hosted a United Nations Human Rights Enforcement Machinery training event, which acted as an introduction to the UN human rights machinery. It explored the main mechanisms of the UN human rights system, how they advance international standards and promote and protect human rights.
Fixing failed states - the role of lawyers
The Law Society and the Bar Human Rights Committee held the event entitled ‘Fixing Failed States: The Role of Lawyers’ on 26th January 2009 at the Law Society's London Chancery Lane offices.
Zimbabwe event
On 28th January, The Law Society was pleased to welcome Tinoziva Bere, human rights lawyer and Councillor of the Law Society of Zimbabwe to speak about the current state of administration of justice in Zimbabwe.
Law Society marks 10th anniversary of Human Rights Act
On 25 November, the Law Society and the Human Rights Lawyers Association held a meeting at Freshfields to mark 10 years since the Human Rights Act received Royal Assent.