The 6th Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Day in 2022

The 6th Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Day in 2022 will be held online on July 9 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time (9:00 PM Taiwan Time). In 2017, human rights organizations in the United States, Taiwan, and Hong Kong concerned about the situation of human rights lawyers in China established this event to commemorate the massive roundups, detentions, and torture of Chinese human rights lawyers that began on July 9, 2015. To this day, the Chinese government's imprisonment and torture of lawyers has not only continued unabated, but over the past few years, it has systematically deregistered and revoked the licenses of more than 40 human rights lawyers, further deteriorating the overall working environment for lawyers. This demonstrates the Chinese government's attitude toward human rights lawyers and its determination to prevent them from practicing.

Chinese human rights lawyers persist in their ideals in a country without the rule of law, paying a tremendous price without regret. The significance of Lawyers Day lies in the fact that we must see these lawyers and support them, because their fate is inextricably linked to the beliefs in freedom and the rule of law that we cherish. Over the past six years, Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Day has strived to showcase the plight of Chinese lawyers to international legal peers, the academic community, international human rights organizations, and relevant individuals, while discussing how to provide support for them.

Last year, in addition to watching a video on the persecution of Chinese lawyers, we heard remarks live from legal professionals across various countries, including opening remarks by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI). International legal bodies such as the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) and numerous legal scholars specializing in China studies also participated in the discussion. In addition, members of the European Parliament and the U.S. Congress delivered video addresses expressing their admiration, concern, and encouragement for Chinese lawyers.

The 6th Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Day will be live-streamed on the YouTube channel of the Judicial Reform Foundation. Participants will include lawyers, academic professors, and parliamentarians from Europe, the United States, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Topics will include the Chinese authorities' detention of lawyers and the unlawful deprivation of their right to practice, the UN standards on the role of lawyers and their relevance to China, and how the international community can support and protect Chinese human rights lawyers.

The Organizing Committee of Lawyers Day will also present two Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Awards. Friends who are interested are welcome to participate online!

Time

July 9, 2022, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM Eastern Time (9:00 PM–12:00 AM Taiwan Time)

How to Participate

No prior registration is required; join via the YouTube live stream

Co-organizers

International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (London)
Humanitarian China (USA)
China Aid Association (USA)
China Change (USA)
Judicial Reform Foundation (Taiwan)
The 29 Principles (UK)
New School for Democracy (Taiwan)
Taiwan Support Network for Chinese Human Rights Lawyers