Statements are among the most immediate and impactful tools available to the HRC. Through carefully researched and precisely drafted public positions, the Committee responds to legislative developments, judicial decisions, and political events that threaten the independence of the judiciary, undermine lawyer-client privilege, or erode the procedural guarantees that define a fair criminal trial. Each statement combines expert legal analysis with a clear advocacy message, directed simultaneously at legal professionals, policy makers, and the broader public.
The reach of these statements extends across Europe and into international legal forums. They are addressed to domestic legislatures considering reforms that could compromise defence rights, to European institutions monitoring rule-of-law compliance, and to the legal community at large as signals of professional solidarity. Over time, the body of published statements constitutes a living record of the Committee’s engagement with the most pressing human rights challenges facing criminal defence lawyers – a resource for practitioners, academics, and advocates who share the commitment to a justice system grounded in fundamental rights.
Coordinator
Alexis Anagnostakis is a distinguished criminal lawyer and Barrister admitted to the Hellenic Supreme Court. His practice focuses extensively on international criminal law, human rights, and high-profile defense cases involving allegations of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.