A global initiative to support endangered lawyers has been launched by The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe.

The Bar Council is encouraging barristers in England and Wales to offer their support to specific colleagues who have been targeted simply for doing their job.   

Derek Sweeting QC, Chair of the Bar, said: ‘Lawyers should be able to carry out their professional duties without fear of reprisal, intimidation, and harassment. The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe has drawn our attention to a small number of individuals who are at serious risk. They are lawyers who have been detained, targeted and even imprisoned or disappeared. We want to be able to raise awareness of their plight and offer some support.’