DOCSLIB.ORG

Jennifer Robinson

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Jennifer Robinson COVER STORY A woman of influence Jennifer Robinson, legal adviser to Julian Assange and the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, is Director of Legal Advocacy for the Bertha Foundation where she established the Bertha Justice Initiative that supports 120 young lawyers in 16 countries to practise “movement lawyering”. JULIE MCCROSSIN speaks to her in London about her work with filmmakers, lawyers and activists and her journey from Bomaderry High on the south coast of NSW to the centre of international legal activism. t Yale Law School they impressive academic record, Robinson funded family foundation where she They take the really tough cases, cases that caste who become lawyers.” Criminal Court regarding allegations of call it “cause lawyering”. graduated from the Australian National works, shared her frustration. (Robinson no corporate law firm will do pro bono. Robinson is quick to offer further mistreatment and torture in Iraq. This Other law journals University with the university medal in will not say who started the foundation, “We provide incentive funding for examples of their work. was the organisation to get the arrest use the term “radical law and a Distinguished Scholar in Asian saying the founder prefers not to be two years to cover salaries, supervision “In the US, we support the Center for warrant for Donald Rumsfeld for torture lawyering”. At the Bertha Studies and won a Rhodes Scholarship to named.) Robinson has spent three years costs and training associated with Constitutional Rights, who I worked and mistreatment in Abu Ghraib and AFoundation it’s “movement lawyering”. Guantanamo.” Oxford where she graduated from Balliol establishing the Bertha Justice Initiative hosting a new lawyer. We support with on the WikiLeaks issues and the Whatever you call it, 34-year-old with a Bachelor of Civil Law specialising program to offer an alternative. organisations that are cutting edge Chelsea Manning case. They’ve done Does Robinson get involved in Australian lawyer Jennifer Robinson in International Law and Human Rights “We set out to create a program to and that give emerging young lawyers fantastic work,” she says. “They did the other aspects of the work of the Bertha does it and her goal is to ensure that and a Masters of Philosophy in Public support young or emerging lawyers to experience in doing this work. ‘stop-and-frisk’ litigation in New York Foundation? The Foundation’s website more human rights lawyers get the International Law. go into public interest legal work and “Unlike a lot of other fellowships and they are doing the case against Scott talks about supporting “enterprise, chance to do it as well. She was encouraged to do two years become human rights lawyers,” she which allow white, predominantly Lively for the persecution of the gay passionate lawyering, storytelling and We meet on a very hot day in late in a corporate law firm and laughs as she says. “We created a two-year fellowship, elite university students to drop into community in Uganda. activists working towards a decent and June on the roof of her office building in remembers her annoyance at this advice. partnering with the most radical human the developing world and get their “In Pakistan, we support the just world”. I ask about the “storytelling” Cavendish Square near Oxford Circus “I was always frustrated by this rights litigating organisations all around experience on the ground doing this Foundation for Fundamental Rights and the role she plays in this work. “On the storytelling side, which I love, in Central London. The park opposite is advice,” she says. “I didn’t want to go the world, to create paid, entry-level work, we’re really committed to building which is seeking accountability for US I get quite involved,” she responds quickly packed with sun-baking office workers and do that. And frankly, I don’t see why opportunities for young lawyers to get local capacity by supporting lawyers drone strikes and to have a former CIA and warmly. “We fund documentary quietly eating their lunch. The small reviewing financial services contracts in their start in this work. Opportunities from the communities in which they station chief prosecuted for ordering films, social justice films and independent roof garden where we talk is surrounded the basement of a magic circle law firm that, unlike in the corporate sector, work and cultivating expertise for local what in effect is extra-judicial murder. journalism. We fund Democracy Now! by flowers of every colour. It is a gentle is ever going to put anyone in good stead didn’t previously exist. people from communities which are We are their primary funder. (a national, daily, independent news setting for a discussion that ranges to litigate on human rights cases. I was “We partner with organisations historically disadvantaged. “In Germany, we support the program in the US). We fund the over many challenging international frustrated that so many bright young that practice what we call ‘movement “In India, for example, we’re European Center for Constitutional and Sundance Film Festival. We fund the legal issues facing some of the most lawyers take this advice and get caught lawyering’. They work together with supporting a number of lawyers from Human Rights which does a lot of trans- disadvantaged people on earth. up in the corporate world.” activist movements and use the law as a the Dalits communities and historically national corporations litigation. They As a young graduate with an The Bertha Foundation, a privately tool to build power for these movements. there has not been a lot of lawyers from also took the UK to the International 26 LSJ I AUGUST 2015 AUGUST 2015 I LSJ 27 FEATURECOVER STORY Clockwise from left: Jennifer Robinson with her horse trainer father Terry on the family’s Berry property; in 2011 with Julian Assange and barrister Geoffrey Robertson in London; on the day she as admitted as a solicitor with her mother Lyndy and father. Sheffield Doc/Fest film festival. We company was accused of bribing local and activists to create social change. n recent years, Robinson has received friendly ones, is not a crime in Australia. go to Sweden and say, ‘He is our citizen. fund a lot of content creation through warlords who were bribing government Because I know as a lawyer, arguing extensive media coverage in her role as In relation to what Robinson describes We don’t want him extradited to the US. grants for social justice documentary officials for access to the park and for one case before a court rarely changes legal adviser to Julian Assange, a role as “the sexual misconduct allegations” Give us an assurance that when he comes films and outreach campaigns to ensure violence and killings of park rangers – and systemic practices causing injustice – look Ishe took up in October 2010. in Sweden, she says, “Julian is waiting to here, he will not be extradited. And we’ll impact with these films. I often assist the film makers had evidence about this at Australia’s system of asylum seeker The founder and publisher of clear his name – he has been offering his take him back to Australia.’ And then what where there are legal issues involved. they wanted to show in the film. detention. Change requires engaging WikiLeaks sought asylum in the testimony since 2010 in order to do so. happens, happens after that.” “We had two films nominated for the “I helped them to develop a legal people, communities and raising awareness Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012 We continue to ask for assurances that, There is another area of international Oscars last year. Citizenfour, which is a advocacy strategy which enabled to create sufficient political support to to avoid extradition to Sweden to face if he were to return to Sweden to face advocacy conducted by Robinson that documentary about Edward Snowden use of the evidence in the film and reform the system. And sometimes, as the allegations of sex crimes. Assange has trial, he would not be extradited to the receives less media attention. Yet it is and Virunga, a film about Virunga the preparation of a submission of a Virunga example demonstrates, storytelling consistently denied wrongdoing in Sweden US. The reality is that he has spent more highly regarded and shaped her as a National Park in the Congo and the complaint to the UK Serious Fraud and awareness raising can achieve outcomes and expressed concern that, if he went to time in detention than he would ever lawyer. It is the situation in West Papua. practices of a British corporation. Office to have the company investigated that filing any single legal case could not.” Sweden, he could face extradition to the have spent had he been found guilty.” Ben Saul, Professor of International law “When one of our supported films under the Bribery Act. On 1 July, a few days after our interview, US to face charges with heavy penalties. In the week before our meeting, an at the University of Sydney Law School, has legal issues and human rights issues “As a result of the film and the broader The Guardian newspaper in the United The key concerns, as identified interview with Assange in the Ecuadorian where Robinson is an adjunct lecturer, says: “Jennifer’s work on West Papua is involved, I will often sit down with the advocacy strategy – and the adverse Kingdom reported that the Church of by Robinson, continue to be the embassy in London by Swedish prosecutor important because it is helping to shine film makers to help them articulate the publicity both have caused – a huge England in the UK had “sold its stake in a (unconfirmed) existence of a secret Marianne Ny was cancelled, to the a light on unfinished business from the issues and help them clarify what their amount of money has been divested British oil and gas company over allegations indictment by the US Department of disappointment of Assange.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Defining Victims of Hate Speech Targeting Religious Minorities Whittney Barth
    Chicago Journal of International Law Volume 19 Number 1 Article 3 8-16-2018 Taking "Great Care": Defining Victims of Hate Speech arT geting Religious Minorities Whittney Barth Follow this and additional works at: https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cjil Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Barth, Whittney (2018) "Taking "Great Care": Defining Victims of Hate Speech arT geting Religious Minorities," Chicago Journal of International Law: Vol. 19: No. 1, Article 3. Available at: https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cjil/vol19/iss1/3 This Comment is brought to you for free and open access by Chicago Unbound. It has been accepted for inclusion in Chicago Journal of International Law by an authorized editor of Chicago Unbound. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Taking Great Care: Defining Victims of Hate Speech Targeting Religious Minorities Whittney Barth Abstract This Comment explores the intersection of race and religion in cases brought before the Human Rights Committee alleging violations of Article 20(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This article proposes a positive requirement for states parties to prohibit hate speech. Specifically, the following analysis considers Committee determinations of standing in cases brought by Muslims living in Europe who sought to challenge a state partys response to discriminatory remarks made by public figures. This Comment argues that these determinations, which appear to implicitly endorse a lower threshold for group standing when both race and religion are under attack (rather than religion alone) lead to three undesirable outcomes: 1) they weaken promised protections for minorities; 2) they fail to acknowledge the internal racial diversity of religious communities and the growing salience of religious identity; and 3) they do not account for the range of ways in which religion, race, and ethnicity are coded in the content and interpretation of the hate speech.
    [Show full text]
  • Mohamed Nasheed, Citizen of the Republic of Maldives
    PETITION TO: UNITED NATIONS WORKING GROUP ON ARBITRARY DETENTION Chairman/Rapporteur: Mads Andenas (Norway) Vice-Chairperson: Vladimir Tochilovsky (Ukraine) Sètondji Roland Adjovi (Benin) José Guevara (Mexico) Seong-Phil Hong (Republic of Korea) HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY In the Matter of Mohamed Nasheed, Citizen of the Republic of Maldives v. Government of the Republic of Maldives URGENT ACTION REQUESTED And Petition for Relief Pursuant to Resolutions 1997/50, 2000/36, 2003/31, 6/4, 15/18, 20/16, 24/71 Submitted By: Jared Genser & Maran Turner Ben Emmerson QC Amal Clooney Freedom Now Matrix Chambers Doughty Street Chambers 1776 K Street, NW, 8th Floor Griffin Building 54 Doughty Street Washington, DC 20006 Gray’s Inn, London London W1CN 2LS United States United Kingdom United Kingdom +1.202.466.3069 (phone) +44.207.404.3447 (phone) +44.207.404.1313 (phone) +1 202.478.5162 (fax) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] @jaredgenser April 30, 2015 1 Resolutions 1997/50, 2000/36, and 2003/31 were adopted by the UN Commission on Human Rights extending the mandate of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The Human Rights Council, which “assume[d]… all mandates, mechanisms, functions and responsibilities of the Commission on Human Rights…” pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251, GA Res. 60/251, Mar. 15, 2006, at ¶ 6, has further extended the mandate through Resolutions 6/4, 15/18, 20/16, and 24/7. 1 Table of Contents Basis for “Urgent Action” Request ................................................................................................. 3 Questionnaire To Be Completed by Persons Alleging Arbitrary Arrest or Detention ...................
    [Show full text]
  • In Conversation with Jennifer Robinson
    In conversation with Jennifer Robinson Her pro bono work spans multiple jurisdictions, she has high profile clients and has attracted pro bono awards. While in lockdown in Australia, I catch up – virtually – with International Human Rights Barrister, Jennifer Robinson Jennifer Robinson is no ordinary lawyer. She’s also no particularly around the right to self-determination. Late ordinary Australian. Jennifer, or Jen, grew up in Berry, 2019 Jen was awarded the International Pro Bono a small country town in New South Wales as the Barrister of the Year Award. “Wenda came with me to oldest of four kids (she’s now the oldest of six). the Awards ceremony. It was really amazing for the Lord She studied law at the Australian National University Chief Justice of England and Wales to be talking about in Canberra, winning the university medal, which my work in West Papua. It’s such a lovely led to her being awarded the prestigious Rhodes recognition of my work, but more importantly Benny scholarship to study at Oxford. Since then she’s been and for his cause,” she says. In the US Elle© Magazine in unstoppable, becoming an award-winning human January 2020, Wenda is quoted as saying, “There are rights lawyer, changing many lives and sacrificing many lawyers [in West Papua], but they feel Indonesia many hours to work pro bono in the public interest. [is too] powerful…But she constantly stands up for the rights of people; she’s really a courageous woman.” I love the fact that our conversation takes place while she walks on a South Coast beach near Berry.
    [Show full text]
  • S/PV.8514 Security Council
    United Nations S/ PV.8514 Security Council Provisional Seventy-fourth year 8514th meeting Tuesday, 23 April 2019, 10 a.m. New York President: Mr. Maas ...................................... (Germany) Members: Belgium ....................................... Mr. Kenes China ......................................... Mr. Ma Zhaoxu Côte d’Ivoire ................................... Mr. Ipo Dominican Republic .............................. Mr. Singer Weisinger Equatorial Guinea ............................... Mr. Nguema Ndong France ........................................ Mr. Delattre Indonesia. Mr. Syihab Kuwait ........................................ Mr. Alotaibi Peru .......................................... Mr. Meza-Cuadra Poland ........................................ Mr. Radomski Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Nebenzia South Africa ................................... Mr. Nkosi United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .. Lord Ahmad United States of America .......................... Mr. Cohen Agenda Women and peace and security Sexual violence in conflict Report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence (S/2019/280) Letter dated 11 April 2019 from the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (S/2019/313) This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council. Corrections should
    [Show full text]
  • In El Salvador
    STATEMENT ON THE RELEASE OF REPORTS ON THE TRIALS OF EVELYN HERNANDEZ AND “DIANA” IN EL SALVADOR Photo Source: CNN Hernandez Trial “Diana” Trial Grade: D Grade: C CHARGES JUNE 25, 2020 The Clooney Foundation for Justice’s TrialWatch initiative monitored Aggravated Homicide criminal proceedings against Evelyn Hernandez and “Diana,”i women charged with murder in El Salvador after being treated for obstetric OUTCOME emergencies after they gave birth in their homes. The two reports released today detail the human rights violations against the two women—one of whom was pregnant as a result of a rape—because of Hernandez: Acquitted El Salvador’s draconian and discriminatory approach to reproductive Diana: Charges Dismissed healthcare. Amal Clooney, co-President of the Clooney Foundation for Justice, said, TRIALWATCH MONITOR “It is unconscionable that El Salvador continues to treat women who are victims of medical emergencies as criminals. El Salvador should reform American Bar Association its law to comply with international human rights norms and respect the Center for Human Rights rights of women.” Though the defendants in these cases were not convicted, their trials are FAIRNESS REPORT part of a pattern of persecution. Over the past two decades, El Salvador courts have convicted and imprisoned dozens of women for up to 40 Co-authored by Professor years because they had an abortion or simply suffered a miscarriage— Juliet Sorensen, Clinical with the majority being women of limited means. Many of these women Professor of Law, Center were brought to the attention of the police by healthcare professionals for International Human who themselves fear prosecution for not reporting abortions or obstetric Rights, Northwestern complications.
    [Show full text]
  • Find out How Famous Couple George and Amal Clooney Celebrated Her 37Th Birthday
    Find Out How Famous Couple George and Amal Clooney Celebrated Her 37th Birthday By Katie Gray Cupid has the latest celebrity relationship news on everybody’s favorite celebrity couple, George and Amal Clooney. The power couple are happier than ever. The iconic actor accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Globes on January 11th. During his acceptance speech, he gushed over his wife. Amal, the savvy lawyer and activist, has been representing Armenia in a trial over genocide denial on top of representing jailed journalist Mohamed Fahmy. The famous couple recently celebrated Amal’s birthday. Rande Gerber, husband of Cindy Crawford, and one of the Clooneys’ close friends told People, “We just had a dinner with a small group of close friends at George’s house.” As for what George did for Amal’s birthday, the entrepreneur revealed that George is “always doing special things for her.” Famous couples have the world at their fingertips when it comes to planning birthday celebrations. What are some ways to make your partner’s birthday special? Cupid has some advice. Cupid’s Advice: Planning a great celebration has nothing to do with your notoriety or net worth. All that matters is the love and dedication you have for your partner. You can make your partner’s birthday celebration special by simply showing you care and spending time with them. It truly is the thought that counts: 1. Surprise: One way to make your partner’s birthday celebration special is by surprising them with a planned out series of thoughtful celebrations or throwing them a surprise party.
    [Show full text]
  • MONDAY 15 JUNE 2020 Amal Clooney
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MONDAY 15 JUNE 2020 Amal Clooney and Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC condemn conviction of Maria Ressa in Manila cyberlibel judgment. Amal Clooney and Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC have, on behalf of the international legal team acting for award-winning journalist Maria Ressa, expressed condemnation following today’s judgment handed down by Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa in the Manila Regional Trial Court, finding Ms Ressa guilty of the criminal offence of “cyber libel”. Ms Ressa, former CNN bureau chief and one of four journalists named Time’s Person of the Year in 2018, stood accused of libelling businessman Wilfredo Keng in an article published on news website, Rappler.com. More information about the case is available here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/06/12/amal-clooney-test-democracy-philippines/. Today, the Court found Ms Ressa and her co-Defendant, reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr, guilty of the crime of cyberlibel. Ms Ressa was sentenced to a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 6 years imprisonment and granted bail pending appeal. A fine of approximately $8,000 (P400,000) was also imposed. Ms Clooney said of today’s verdict: “Today a court in the Philippines became complicit in a sinister action to silence a journalist for exposing corruption and abuse. This conviction is an affront to the rule of law, a stark warning to the press, and a blow to democracy in the Philippines. I hope that the appeals court will set the record straight in this case. And that the United States will take action to protect their citizen and the values of their Constitution.” Ms Gallagher said: “Independent journalism in the Philippines is an act of bravery.
    [Show full text]
  • The Right to Insult in International Law
    THE RIGHT TO INSULT IN INTERNATIONAL LAW Amal Clooney and Philippa Webb* ABSTRACT States all over the world are enacting new laws that criminalize insults, and using existing insult laws with renewed vigour. In this article, we examine state practice, treaty provisions, and case law on insulting speech. We conclude that insulting speech is currently insufficiently protected under international law and regulatedby confused case law and commentary. We explain that the three principal internationaltreaties that regulate speech provide conflicting guidance on the right to insult in internationallaw, and the treaty provisions have been interpreted in inconsistent ways by international courts and United Nations bodies. We conclude by recommending that internationallaw should recognize a "rightto insult"and, drawingon US practice under the FirstAmendment, we propose eight recommendations to guide consideration of insulting speech in internationallaw. These recommendations would promote coherence in international legal standards and offer greater protection to freedom of speech. * Amal Clooney is a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers and a Visiting Professor at Columbia Law School. Philippa Webb is a barrister at 20 Essex Street Chambers and Reader (Associate Professor) in Public International Law at King's College London. We thank Matthew Nelson, Anna Bonini, Katarzyna Lasinska, Raphaelle Rafin, Tiffany Chan, Deborah Tang, Ollie Persey, and Mirka Fries for excellent research assistance. We are grateful to Professor Guglielmo Verdirame, Professor Michael Posner, Professor Vince Blasi, and Nani Jansen for comments. COL UMBIA HUMAN RIGHTS LAW RE VIE W [48.2 INTRODUCTION Freedom of speech is under attack. States all over the world are enacting new laws that criminalize insults and are using existing insult laws with renewed vigour.
    [Show full text]
  • Joint Submission from Wikileaks and the Australian Assange Campaign
    Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security Inquiry into the impact of the exercise of law enforcement and intelligence powers on the freedom of the press Joint Submission from WikiLeaks and the Australian Assange Campaign Section One Introduction and Summary We welcome the opportunity afforded by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (‘the Committee’) to provide a submission on the critical issues concerning journalistic freedom in our democracy. Australia is one of the world’s most successful democracies, with a strong commitment to core values of freedom of speech, association, and the press. It is a country with a strong reputation in the world as an exemplar of these values, and our success sends important messages both in our immediate neighbourhood and globally. Simply put, the eyes of the world are upon us as we tackle the balance of freedom and national security. Thus, we have the opportunity if we can strike the right balance, to provide a model for other democracies across the globe. It is evident that over the years since 2001 many security laws have been passed- at the federal level over 70 pieces of legislation - and we have an obligation to examine their combined impacts on civil society, including on the media. Often such measures were passed with insufficient robust debate around consequences for the health of our democracy so this Inquiry clearly provides an overdue review. 1 In that context, we would urge the Committee ensure public hearings and the publication of all submissions. The idea of an inquiry on press freedom being held in camera is clearly a contradiction in terms.
    [Show full text]
  • Yazidi Survivor Nadia Murad Basee Taha and the Ongoing Yazidi Genocide
    P: +61 7 3346 645• E: [email protected] FEBRUARY 2017 • ISSUE 37 Associate Professor Richard Devetak, Ms Nadia Murad, Ms Nikki Marczak, Mr Ahmed Khudida Burjus, Professor Alex Bellamy SPOTLIGHT ON R2P Yazidi Survivor Nadia Murad Basee Taha and the Ongoing Yazidi Genocide Public seminar - 2016 A survivor of ISIS enslavement and age of 18, she has since travelled the of the plight of Yazidi people. Mr Nobel Peace Prize nominee Na- world and given testimony in front of Khudida gave a short address that dia Murad Basee Taha gave a con- the United Nations Security Council brought home the severity of the fronting, powerful speech at a pub- to raise international awareness of genocide and urged the govern- lic seminar held at the University of the plight of the Yazidi community. ment to commit to taking in Yazidi Queensland late 2016. The seminar, Her experience was part of the on- refugees. Yazda is an organisation organised by the Asia Pacific Centre going genocide of the Yazidi people dedicated to supporting the Yazidi, for the Responsibility to Protect in by ISIS, as its members are forced documenting those who have been conjunction with the Australian In- to convert to Islam or die. Although lost and advocating for increased stitute for Holocaust and Genocide Nadia was one of the lucky ones protection and awareness from Studies, detailed Ms Murad’s horrif- to escape, more than 3,000 Yazidi the international community. Both ic persecution and enslavement at women are still trapped in slavery. Ms Murad and Yazda are currently the hands of Islamic State forces, as represented by Amal Clooney, who She was accompanied by the deputy well as the ongoing genocide per- is seeking to bring about an inves- executive director of Yazda, Ahmed petrated against the Yazidi people, tigation by the International Crim- Khudida Burjus, who has acted as an ethno-religious minority group in inal Court and prosecution for the Nadia’s translator and companion in the Sinjar region of Iraq.
    [Show full text]
  • High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom
    High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom Periodic Report 1: May-September 2020 High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom First periodic report. May – September 2020 The High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom (‘the Panel’) is an independent body that was convened at the request of the UK and Canadian governments. The Panel comprises a diverse group of leading lawyers from around the world. The Chair of the Panel is Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury and the Deputy Chair is Amal Clooney, the UK’s Special Envoy on Media Freedom. The remit of the Panel is to provide advice and recommendations to governments to prevent and reverse abuses of media freedom. The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) acts as Secretariat to the Panel. The Panel has arranged for the IBAHRI Secretariat to produce periodic reports that detail their plans and the work they have undertaken to date. Reports will be therefore be produced until the end of the Panel’s term on this basis. Detailed information about the Panel’s mandate, its terms of reference, and published reports are all available online at the Panel’s webpages. Panel Statements To mark the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May 2020, the Panel issued a statement on the challenges posed to media freedom in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Panel highlighted that ‘false information about the Covid-19 virus is dangerous and can even be deadly, especially when it is spread by governments themselves. But the use of laws purportedly passed to deal
    [Show full text]
  • Download Report
    INDEPENDENT HIGH LEVEL PANEL OF LEGAL EXPERTS ON MEDIA FREEDOM Appointed by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury at the request of the Governments of the United Kingdom and Canada A Pressing Concern: Protecting and Promoting Press Freedom by Strengthening Consular Support to Journalists at Risk Drafted by: the Honourable Professor Irwin Cotler, PC, OC, OQ © International Bar Association 2020 A Pressing Concern: Protecting and Promoting Press Freedom by Strengthening Consular Support to Journalists at Risk An International Bar Association Human Rights Institute Report 16 November 2020 Drafted by: the Honourable Professor Irwin Cotler, PC, OC, OQ With the executive summary and recommendations endorsed by the members of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom: Lord David Neuberger (Chair) Amal Clooney (Deputy Chair) Ms. Hina Jilani Professor Dario Milo Professor Sarah Cleveland Baroness Helena Kennedy Mr. Can Yeğinsu Ms. Karuna Nundy Ms. Galina Arapova Justice Manuel José Cepeda Espinosa Professor Kyung-Sin Park Baroness Françoise Tulkens Ms. Catherine Anite Judge Robert D. Sack, Adviser 2 International Bar Association Human Rights Institute Contents Endorsements 6 Executive summary 7 The importance and imperative of consular assistance as a tool to protect journalist nationals at risk abroad: towards a legal paradigm of home State obligation 9 A legal approach to consular assistance for journalists at risk abroad 10 Journalists’ underlying rights when working abroad 12 What can be done to protect journalists working abroad? 13 TOWARDS A CHARTER OF RIGHTS FOR DETAINED JOURNALISTS: A NEW RIGHTS-BASED PARADIGM 13 PROTECTING JOURNALISTS’ RIGHTS ABROAD: ENSHRINING A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE PROVISION OF CONSULAR ASSISTANCE BY THE HOME STATE 15 Global accountability through an international commissioner 17 I.
    [Show full text]