UK Government amendments to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill raise serious concerns about prosecutorial independence, judicial oversight and victims’ rights
Download the statement The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH) expresses its grave concern regarding a number of UK Government amendments proposed during parliamentary consideration of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. As organisations of lawyers committed to democracy, the rule of law, human rights and access to justice, ELDH believes…
Defending and Strengthening the International Criminal Court – against US-Sanctions
Download the statement The ELDH condemns the US sanctions against the International Criminal Court. The Court and its officials urgently require appropriate protective measures, particularly from the States Parties to the Court. 1. The independence of international criminal justice must be protected The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a cornerstone of the international system of…
ELDH condemns death-threats against Fabio Marcelli
Download the Italian translation The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH) strongly condemns the death threats directed against lawyer Fabio Marcelli, Co-President of our member organisation, the Centre for Research and Elaboration for Democracy (CRED). Fabio Marcelli has been at the forefront of exposing crimes committed against the Palestinian people…
ELDH Statement: HUNGER-STRIKE-OF-THE-GDEIM-IZIK-SAHRAWI-CIVILIAN-PRISONERS
Download the statement I. Immediate situation On 23 September 2026, nine Sahrawi civilian prisoners belonging to the Gdeim Izik group announced an open-ended hunger strike. Their principal demand is their transfer to prisons in Western Sahara. They have also called for implementation of findings and recommendations adopted by United Nations mechanisms, adequate medical care, respect…
EUROPEAN LAWYERS IN SOLIDARITY WITH RAJIV MENON KC!
The European Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDH), with members in 23 European countries, are deeply concerned that the experienced and highly respected criminal defence barrister Rajiv Menon KC (Kings Counsel), called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1993, and appointed Queens Counsel (senior barrister) in 2011, is facing a prosecution for…
ELDH Statement on the Garvaghy Road Parade
Download the statement ELDH expresses its serious concern at the decision of the Parades Commission to permit an Orange Order procession along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, and at the legal and institutional process which has resulted in the reopening of a dispute carrying profound historical significance for the local community and for Northern Ireland…
Pakistan: End the cycle of detention and judicial harassment of lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha
Joint statement by international civil society organisations working on the protection of lawyers, human rights defenders and freedom of expression We, the undersigned international civil society organisations, express grave concern at the continued arbitrary detention of Pakistani human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha since January, despite the Supreme Court of Pakistan suspending…
ELDH Statement: Welcoming the New Turkish Legislation as a First Step Towards Peace
Download the statement We welcome the approval of the new legislation on disarmament and reintegration as an important and long-awaited first step towards addressing the Kurdish question and consolidating the emerging peace process in Turkey. For the first time, the current process has reached the stage of concrete legislation, creating a basis on which a…
Urgent International Joint Call for the Immediate Release of Lawyers Semra Demir, Kürşat Bafra and Doğa İncesu
We, the undersigned organizations, express our deep concern over the simultaneous pre-dawn police raids conducted in Ankara and Istanbul on the morning of June 23, 2026, which resulted in numerous individuals being taken into police custody, including three lawyers from the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD). Lawyer Doğa İncesu, a member of the ÇHD Istanbul Branch,…
ELDH mourns the passing of the lawyer Aurora D’Agostino
ELDH mourns the passing of the lawyer Aurora D’Agostino, co-President of the National Association of Democratic Jurists (Associazione Nazionale Giuristi Democratici, Italy) and member of the ELDH Executive Committee. For decades, she was committed to the defence of women, migrants and political activists, to international observation activities, and to solidarity with the Kurdish and Palestinian…