Since 2007, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) has granted a Human Rights Award for European Lawyers.

The human rights award 2009, was granted posthumously to assassinated Russian lawyer Stanislav Markelov.

The human rights award 2008, was granted to Li Heping, a well-known Chinese lawyer, and to the group of Spanish lawyers who represented defendants and victims in the trial following the 11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings.

The Award was granted for the first time in 2007 to the lawyers’ organisation Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF).

Why create a CCBE Human Rights award for European Lawyers?

There are numerous human rights awards that exist at international level, but only a few honour lawyers in particular. Moreover, there is currently no human rights award especially designed to recognize the work of European lawyers. The objective of the CCBE is to honour distinguished lawyers/lawyers’ organisations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment and sacrifice to uphold fundamental values. It will also be an effective and useful tool to raise awareness of the core values of the legal profession.

What is the CCBE Human Rights award?

The award, which in principle will be granted yearly, consists of a certificate delivered by the CCBE, the true award being the public recognition of the work undertaken by the lawyer/lawyers’ organisation selected. The certificate will be officially delivered to the winner by the CCBE President at the Plenary Session. The CCBE will cover the travelling and accommodation expenses for collecting the prize.

Who can be granted the CCBE Human Rights award?

The CCBE award shall be granted to a lawyer or lawyers’ organisation that has brought honour to the legal profession by upholding the highest values of professional and personal conduct in the field of human rights. The field of human rights shall be interpreted in the broadest way (this shall allow, for example, the possibility to grant the award to a lawyer who is the victim of human rights violations).

Procedure for the nomination of candidates for the CCBE Human Rights award

• Candidates for the award shall be nominated only through the CCBE’s member or observer Bars and Law Societies.
• The CCBE Human Rights Committee shall be responsible for considering the submissions and for submitting a proposal regarding the winner to the Standing Committee.
• The Standing Committee shall be responsible for taking the decision to attribute the award to a candidate.

Timetable

• Beginning of February: The call for nominations is circulated to the CCBE delegations
• End of April: Deadline for the CCBE delegations to submit candidacies
• Mai: The candidacies are considered by the Human Rights Committee
• September: The winner is selected by the Standing Committee on the basis of the Human Rights Committee proposals
• November: The prize is officially presented to the winner by the CCBE President at the Plenary Session