About the BHRC

The Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) is dedicated to promoting principles of justice and respect for fundamental human rights through the rule of law in different parts of the world.

The BHRC believes that the availability of an effective legal profession and infrastructure is a crucial development issue and a pre-condition for civil liberties and human rights. Most of BHRC's efforts seek to inspire, organise, inform and extend the work within the legal sectors of countries.


Objectives

In doing so, the BHRC's main objectives are:

  • To uphold the rule of law and internationally recognised human rights norms and standards;
  • To support and protect practising lawyers, judges and human rights defenders who are threatened or oppressed in their work;
  • To further interest in and knowledge of human rights and the laws relating to human rights, both within and outside the legal profession;
  • To advise, support and co-operate with other organisations and individuals working for the promotion and protection of human rights;
  • To advise the Bar Council of England and Wales in connection with human rights issues

The remit of the BHRC extends to all countries of the world, apart from its own jurisdiction of England and Wales. This reflects the Committee’s need to maintain its role as an independent but legally qualified observer, critic and advisor, with internationally accepted rule of law principles at the heart of its agenda.

BHRC activities

The BHRC carries out a wide range of activities, including

  • Conduct international fact-finding investigations, trial observations, feasibility studies and report on human rights situations;
  • Build capacity through training in advocacy, human rights and humanitarian law;
  • Provide legal resources to help strengthen institutions which have a direct impact on the promotion and protection of human rights and the rule of law;
  • Monitor human rights violations and raise awareness of the plight of victims of human rights violations through the media and public meetings;
  • Participate in international litigation through our International Litigation Unit;
  • Liaise with governmental and independent non-governmental organisations working in the same field;
  • Train and support judges, lawyers, academics, civil society activists and others concerned with human rights;
  • Assist individuals and groups to hold states accountable for abusive practices and to ensure adherence to international human rights norms and practices.

Background and scope

The BHRC was set up by a group of barristers in 1991 with the aims of helping judges, lawyers and legal personnel who are being persecuted or prevented from carrying out their professional duties and protecting the rule of law where it is under attack by governments. Since then, the BHRC has expanded substantially both the scope of its activities and its membership. Today, the Committee counts over 100 members, including an Executive of thirteen, and over 100 associates.

In recent years, the BHRC has successfully implemented a significant number of projects and conducted numerous missions to many countries in different regions globally, including Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine, Syria, Bahrain, Turkey, Iran, Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Colombia, Jamaica, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Sudan. Project funding is secured on an ad-hoc basis with many of our projects funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

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