UN Side Event: 30 Years Protecting Legal Professionals

Judges, lawyers, prosecutors and human rights: 30 years of UN action

Tuesday 15 September 2015, 1600 – 1800

Room XXII, Palais des Nations, Geneva

Followed by a drinks reception hosted by the IBA’s Human Rights Institute
in Bar Serpent, Palais des Nations

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) invite you to attend a side event at the Palais des Nations marking the 30th Anniversary of the Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary and the 25th Anniversary of the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors. This side-event, taking place during the 30th session of the Human Rights Council, will look back on the progress that has been made in the protection of judges, lawyers and prosecutors over the past 30 years and the continuing challenges for implementation of the UN standards.

Side Event, 1600-1800

Opening remarks:

Her Excellency Zsuzsanna Horváth Ambassador of Hungary

Speakers:

Monica Pinto Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers
Anne Ramberg Secretary General, Swedish Bar Association
Irene Petras Executive Director, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
Nazir Afzal Former Chief Crown Prosecutor, North West England

Drinks Reception, 1800

The IBA’s Human Rights Institute will host a drinks reception in Bar Serpent, Palais des Nations, with a number of high-level speakers to follow the side event to the 30th session of the Human Rights Council.

Speakers:

Her Excellency Patricia O’Brien Ambassador of Ireland
His Excellency Mothusi Bruce Rabasha Palai Ambassador of Botswana (TBC)
Monica Pinto Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers

*Side event co-sponsors include:*
Association pour la Prévention de la Torture Avocats Sans Frontières Colombian Commission of Jurists Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association International Legal Assistance Consortium Judges for Judges Lawyers for Lawyers	Australian Permanent Mission to the UN Permanent Mission of Hungary to the UN Permanent Mission of Ireland to the UN Permanent Mission of Thailand to the UN Permanent Mission of the Republic of Botswana to the UN Council of Europe