January 23, 2015 – Day of the Endangered Lawyer – UIA's Solidarity with Philippine Lawyers

On January 23, 2015, the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer, lawyers from all over Europe protested in solidarity with Philippine lawyers who are threatened and even killed because they defend the rights of the poorest and work on cases of human rights violations. 

Since 2001, 41 Philippines lawyers has been murdered, nine (22%) of whom were directly involved in handling human rights cases or issues.

On top of this, 57 lawyers have been threatened, harassed, intimidated, put under surveillance, labelled and attacked in other forms, a sizable 43 (76%) of whom were directly involved in human rights cases or advocacies. The documented reports about the killings and attacks on Philippine lawyers show an increasing number of killings, harassments and other attacks on the profession. Only very scarcely a perpetrator is arrested and nearly never prosecuted or punished by the courts.

The UIA, represented by its President, Mr. Miguel Loinaz, was in front of the Philippine Embassy in Paris standing in solidarity with our colleagues and invited all its members to protest in front of Philippine embassies and consulates across the world.

Please find below a basic report on attacks against Philippine lawyers and the 2015 Day of the Endangered Lawyer Press release.