Challenging the Oppression of Lawyers in Times of Conflict

The aim of this one day conference is to bring together academics, activists, grass-roots expert, legal professionals and students to learn from each other and ignite debate on the issues that lawyers face during time of conflict, the impact of these issues from a human rights perspective and potential ways to address these issues. It seeks to engage a holistic approach that draws from conflict experiences across the globe which at are at various stages in their progression towards peace. As such this conference will bring together experts who have experience in countries which have seen lawyers become specific targets of oppression. Primarily the Basque country, China, Colombia, Northern Ireland, Palestine, Russia, Turkey and South Africa.

The objective of this conference is to tackle five questions:

1)      How are lawyers oppressed? What is the driving force behind the oppression?

2)      What support are oppressed lawyers provided with, if any? Do Law Societies and other official bodies provide assistance?

3)      What role can domestic/regional domestic judicial bodies play in protecting lawyers in these countries? Have they taken action? Has this action been successful?

4)      How could lawyers be better protected? Are there things that could be improved within the current system? Or does the current system require a radical change?

5)      Are the changes suggested specific to a particular jurisdiction? Or are there common issues that lawyers in conflict are facing globally, which could be addressed with similar improvements?”