WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2022 — Today, the American Bar Association joins with the world community to commemorate the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer, a day set aside to honor legal professionals around the globe who work to ensure that governments respect human rights obligations and commitments, often at great personal risk
This year, the Day of the Endangered Lawyer focuses on Colombia, where the persecution of human rights lawyers continues. We also pay tribute to brave legal professionals who uphold justice and the rule of law in many other parts of the world including but not limited to Hong Kong, Iran, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Belarus. Lawyers continue to endure harassment, intimidation, kidnapping, professional discipline, criminal prosecution and even physical harm for practicing their profession. The U.N. Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers call for all steps necessary to ensure that lawyers can fulfill their professional responsibilities without improper interference and are adequately safeguarded when their security is threatened.
We call on all legal professionals to support the inspirational prosecutors, judges and lawyers who dedicate themselves at great personal cost to championing justice, defending human rights and protecting the rule of law.
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