Council of Europe Opens Landmark Convention for the Protection of Lawyers for Signature

The Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 12 March 2025, was opened for signature on 13 May 2025, during the 134th session of the Council of Europe Foreign Affairs Ministers' meeting held in Luxembourg.

On 13 May, the Convention was signed by Andorra, Estonia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland and Sweden, and, on 14 May, by Belgium, Iceland, the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom. UIA welcomes this new step undertaken in support of the Convention, the first-ever international treaty aiming at protecting the profession of lawyer, and the achievement of several years of intense and effective work undertaken by the Council of Europe's European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) and, in particular, the Committee of Experts on the Protection of Lawyers (CJ-AV).

Our organisation, represented by Mr. Georges Albert-Dal, President of the UIA Think Tank on the Professional Rules and leading UIA’s representation at the CJ-AV, had the honour to attend this major event for the legal profession. François Moyse, UIA Counsellor to the President and Former UIA-IROL Rule of Law Director, whose implication has been instrumental as well, was also part of UIA’s delegation.

The Convention highlights the fundamental role that lawyers and their professional associations play in upholding the Rule of Law, securing access to justice, and ensuring the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It therefore aims at enhancing the protection of the legal profession and guaranteeing lawyers’ right to practice the profession independently, freely, and safely, without discrimination or improper hindrance or interference, and without being the target of attacks, threats, harassment, or intimidation. This instrument is the

At least eight countries, including six member States of the Council of Europe, must ratify it for the Convention to enter into force.

UIA is proud to have supported and promoted the Convention from its inception and will firmly continue to do so.