The HRC files third-party interventions and amicus briefs in landmark cases before European and domestic courts, ensuring the criminal defence bar shapes the law that governs it.
Fair Trial Standards
Drafting and Publishing Statements
21 Apr 2026 | Current and future initiatives Human Rights Committee, Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Privilege, Safeguarding Independent Legal Institutions
The HRC publishes expert statements on judicial independence, lawyer-client privilege, and fair trial rights – driving policy reform and solidarity across Europe and beyond.
Global Legal Community Calls for the Release of Nasrin Sotoudeh – April 2026
10 Apr 2026 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
On 10 April 2026, the ECBA and a coalition of 30 international legal organisations issued a formal...
ECBA backs call for implementation of ECtHR and CJEU judgments
26 Mar 2026 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
The ECBA joined call for the implementation of European Court of Human Rights / Cour européenne des droits de l’homme (ECtHR) and Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) judgments.
ECBA Meets ECtHR on Case Processing and Expansion
20 Mar 2026 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
Chair Vânia Costa Ramos and Human Rights Officer Alexis Anagnostakis attended the European Court of Human Rights’ Meeting with NGOs and Litigators in Strasbourg.
United States Selected as Focus Country for the 15th International Day of the Endangered Lawyer – June 2025
19 Jun 2025 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Protest Defence Rights
The Coalition for the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer has designated the United States...
Joint Statement by the international legal and human rights community on the actions against the Istanbul Bar Association – January 2025
30 Jan 2025 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Safeguarding Independent Legal Institutions
The international legal and human rights community is deeply concerned by prosecuting authorities’...
ECBA signs open letter to OHCHR against death penalty in Iran for Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani – January 2025
26 Jan 2025 | Death Penalty Opposition, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Protest Defence Rights
The ECBA and its Human Rights Officer, Alexis Anagnostakis, joined 302 distinguished international...
International Day of the Endangered Lawyer 2025 – 24 January, 15th edition
23 Jan 2025 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Safeguarding Independent Legal Institutions
In 2025 the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer focused on Belarus, chosen at the...
ECBA signs urgent request for intervention in favour of renowned Iranian human rights defender Reza Khandan – December 2024
17 Dec 2024 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Protest Defence Rights
Reza Khandan, renowned Iranian human rights activist and husband of the iconic human rights lawyer...
European Criminal Bar Association message on the passing of French lawyer Henri Leclerc – September 2024
24 Sep 2024 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
The European Criminal Bar Association deeply mourns the loss of Henri Leclerc, a towering figure...
Statement from the ECBA Human Rights Officer on the arrest of lawyers Naim Eminoğlu and Doğa İncesu in Türkiye – July 2024
10 Jul 2024 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
would like to express my profound concern over the arrest and detention of two lawyers, Naim...
ECBA successfully intervenes at the ECtHR in case Pietrzak vs Poland – June 2024
5 Jun 2024 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Safeguarding Independent Legal Institutions
The European Court of Human Rights issued its judgment in the case Pietrzak and...
ECBA intervenes before US Military Court against evidence obtained through torture – September 2023
28 Sep 2023 | Death Penalty Opposition, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
The European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA) has intervened as a third party in a significant case...
Statement in support of the Turkish lawyer Günay Dağ – February 2023
10 Feb 2023 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
The ECBA co-signed the Statement issued in support of the Turkish lawyer Günay Dağ. Günay Dağ is a...
ECBA HRC disapproves the default conviction of the Olympian medalist Herasimenia and the lack of fair trials against dissidents in Belarus – January 2023
10 Jan 2023 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Protest Defence Rights
The ECBA Human Rights Committee would like to express its growing concern about the situation...
ECBA HRC Statement about detained French-Palestinian Lawyer Salah Hamouri – December 2022
12 Dec 2022 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
The ECBA has received credible reports that our colleague Salah Hamouri, a French-Palestinian...
ECBA HR Officer at the ECHR hearing in the case Pietrzak v. Poland and Bychawska-Siniarska and Others v. Poland/Hearing – September 2022
29 Sep 2022 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Safeguarding Independent Legal Institutions
The ECBA, represented by its Human Rights Officer Alexis Anagnostakis, appeared before...
Free the Gezi defendants! – joint statement in favour of Turkish human rights activists – April 2022
29 Apr 2022 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Protest Defence Rights
The ECBA signed a joint statement issued at the initiative of the European Association of Lawyers...
The European Court of Human Rights – change of the time-limit for lodging an application with the Court – January 2022
25 Jan 2022 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Safeguarding Independent Legal Institutions
Marialena Tsirli, Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights, announces the change of the...
Request for leave to intervene before the UN Human Rights Committee, December 2021
22 Dec 2021 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
The ECBA Human Rights Committee decided to submit a Request for leave to intervene before the UN...
Report on detained Turkish lawyers by Maria Hessen Jacobsen – November 2021
15 Nov 2021 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
Norwegian lawyer Maria Hessen Jacobsen was on a legal study assignment in Istanbul on behalf of...
The ECBA stands by the prosecuted Turkish lawyers – September 2021
20 Sep 2021 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
The ECBA participated to a Legal Fact Finding mission in Istanbul from 15 to 20 September 2021,...
The ECBA signed the first “International Fair Trial Day” (IFTD) statement – June 2021
17 Jun 2021 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
The first annual “International Fair Trial Day” (IFTD) took place this 14 June 2021. Several...
The ECBA expresses its concerns over the proceedings instigated against Judge Igor Tuleya – October 2020
5 Oct 2020 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Safeguarding Independent Legal Institutions
The ECBA has written to the Supreme Court/ Disciplinary Chamber of Poland to express its concerns...
Joint Statement regarding the Turkish Lawyers on hunger strike – August 2020
13 Aug 2020 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
Please click here for a Joint Statement, co-signed by the ECBA, regarding the Turkish Lawyers on...
Request for leave to intervene as a third party ECHR – January 2020
15 Jan 2020 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Safeguarding Independent Legal Institutions
The ECBA has sent a request for leave to intervene as a third party to Judge Ksenija Turković,...
ECBA Statement regarding the recent sentencing of Iranian Human Rights Lawyer – October 2019
29 Oct 2019 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
The ECBA Human Rights Committee would like to join other international voices and issue a...
Joint-Statement in support of Turkish lawyers – April 2019
5 Apr 2019 | Defending the Defence, Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee
Click here for the Joint-Statement in support of Turkish lawyers co-signed by more than 30...
The case of two Greek soldiers detained by Turkey – June 2018
25 Jun 2018 | Fair Trial Standards, Human Rights Committee, Safeguarding Independent Legal Institutions
A Plea for the Rule of Law and Good Neighbourliness According to a number of reports two Greek...