International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)

About the IBAHRI

The International Bar Association (IBA), established in 1947, is the world’s leading organisation of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. The IBA influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world.

The Association has a membership of 55,000 individual lawyers and more than 190 bar associations and law societies spanning all continents, and has considerable experience in providing assistance to the global legal community.

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) works with the global legal community to promote and protect human rights and the independence of the legal profession worldwide.

What we do

We provide human rights training and technical assistance for legal practitioners and institutions, building their capacity to effectively promote and protect human rights under a just rule of law.

A leading institution in international fact-finding, we produce expert reports with key recommendations, delivering timely and reliable information on human rights and the legal profession.

We support lawyers and judges who are arbitrarily harassed, intimidated or arrested through advocacy and trial monitoring.

A focus on pertinent human rights issues, including the abolition of the death penalty, poverty, and sexual orientation forms the basis of targeted capacity building and advocacy projects.

Why we are here

Lawyers and judges play a fundamental role in facilitating access to justice, ensuring accountability of the state and upholding the rule of law. When the legal profession is not able to function independently or effectively, this gives rise to human rights violations, impunity and injustice. As part of the world’s leading organisation of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies, the IBAHRI is uniquely placed to build the capacities of the legal profession to promote and protect human rights and professional independence worldwide. The IBAHRI’s objectives include:

The promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights under a just rule of law
The promotion and protection of the independence of the judiciary and of the legal profession worldwide
The adoption and implementation of standards and instruments regarding human rights accepted and enacted by the community of nations
The acquisition and dissemination of information concerning issues relating to human rights, judicial independence and the rule of law
The practical implementation of human rights and the rule of law worldwide such as through capacity building initiatives

IBAHRI activities

The IBAHRI has a number of core projects working towards our objectives. Core activities include: capacity building with under resourced bar associations and law societies; high-level fact-finding missions to countries where there are signs of a deterioration of the rule of law; trial observations; and training for judges, lawyers and prosecutors. In addition, the IBAHRI undertakes a wide range of thematic programmes to further advance our objectives.

Abolition of the death penalty

Advice on proposed legislation

Amicus curiae briefs

Capacity building with bar associations and law societies

Fact-finding

Freedom of expression

International terrorism

Interventions

Poverty and human rights

Parliamentary strengthening

Sexual orientation and human rights

Training