When: Tuesday, 25. April 2017
To: Tuesday, 25. April 2017
Where: Strasbourg, Palais de l’Europe, room 5 (2nd floor)
More info: www.defendersorviolators.info

Judges and prosecutors in a number of Council of Europe memberstates ignore human rights and abuse their powers to silence government critics, in systematic violation of professional standards.

In 2016, the Bureau of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) and the Bureau of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) issued a joint report “Challenges for judicial independence and impartiality in the member states of the Councilof Europe”. The report overlooks large-scale legal harassment, arbitrary indictments, and convictions of human rights defenders, brought about or abetted by politicised judiciary and prosecution authorities in countries such as Azerbaijan and Russia.

The Netherlands Helsinki Committee, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and Human Rights House Foundation kindly invite you to a side event presenting observations to the joint CCJE and CCPE report.

The discussion will focus on:

  • lacking procedures to secure compliance of public prosecutors and judges with human rights standards;
  • the role of the CCJE and the CCPE and other Council of Europe bodies;
  • possible measures to maintain judicial standards and prevent politically-motivated prosecutions in Council of Europe member states.

Speakers: Anar Mammadli (Azerbaijan), Konstantin Baranov (Russia), Sergey Golubok (Russia), Harry Hummel (the Netherlands)

Sponsored by: Tiny Kox

Documents:

  • Flyer: Defenders or Violators?

    Lack of Independence of Judicial Officials and Prosecution of Human Rights Defenders in Member States of the Council of Europe