Lawyers targeted worldwide for upholding the rule of law
To commemorate the Day of the Endangered Lawyer* (24 January), the Law Society of England and Wales draws attention to the risks lawyers face across the globe.
There are lawyers that are targeted by certain governments looking to dismantle the justice system and erode the independence of the legal profession. The Day of the Endangered Lawyer this year sheds light on the persecution of lawyers in Belarus.**
Following the presidential election and mass protests in 2020, the Belarusian government targeted its critics and dissidents. The state machinery sought to punish lawyers that it said threatened state interest – preventing them from exercising their profession freely.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “The Day of the Endangered Lawyer is a reminder that there are lawyers who put their lives at risk to defend the rule of law and ensure the vulnerable and oppressed have access to justice.
“We are gravely concerned about the hostile environment for lawyers in Belarus, as they face criminal sanctions, arbitrary detention and systematic harassment. This persecution of lawyers has had a chilling effect on the independence of the profession.
“We hope today draws attention to the endemic mistreatment of legal professionals in Belarus and beyond. The Law Society’s annual intervention tracker shows that we took 42 public actions relating to mistreatment of lawyers in 14 countries in 2024 alone.***
“We will continue to stand up for the advocate, the defender and the confidant. Lawyers play a critical role in championing the rule of law and we hope to play our part in supporting strong, fair justice systems everywhere.”
Notes to editors
- * Learn more about Day of the Endangered Lawyer here.
- ** This year’s report of the Coalition for the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer, which focuses on the situation for lawyers in Belarus, can be provided upon request.
- *** Most of our actions highlighted concerns relating to arbitrary arrest or detention (68%) followed by violation of fair trial guarantees (50%), though individuals at risk often face a range of interrelated human rights violations. The highest number of actions involved countries in Europe and Central Asia (50%), followed by Africa and the Middle East (21%) and Northeast Asia and the Pacific (14%). Our intervention tracker is launched annually on 24 January and is illustrative of the actions taken through the Law Society’s Lawyers at Risk programme, which aims to respond to the challenges and dangers lawyers face routinely. Learn more about our Lawyers at Risk programme here.
About the Law Society
The Law Society is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law.
Press office contact: Shanzeh Haque | 020 7242 1222