Who defends the defenders? On endangered lawyers
| Author | Nicola Canestrini |
| Published date | 01 March 2021 |
| Date | 01 March 2021 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/2032284420972809 |
| Subject Matter | Analysis/Opinion |
Article
Who defends the defenders?
On endangered lawyers
Nicola Canestrini
CanestriniLex, Italy
Venni minacciato da migliaia di haters in coda ad un commento di un politico italiano, parlamentare
europeo, che attaccava la funzione difensiva. E Scott Cosby non ha esitato un momento per scegliere di
supportarmi, prendendo carta e penna e da presidente in pectore del comitato per i diritti umani della
European Bar Assocoation ECBA scrisse al Parlamento europeo affinch´e intervenisse con il governo
italiano a mia tutela. Non lo dimenticher`o mai, non Ti dimenticher`o mai Scott, arrivederci.
I was threatened by thousands of haters because of a comment I made to a statement by an Italian
politician, a European parliamentarian, who broadly attacked defence lawyers and the work they do.
And Scott Cosby did not hesitate a moment to choose to support me, took pen and paper, and as
President of the human rights committee of the European Bar Association ECBA wrote to the European
Parliament asking to intervene with the Italian government to protect me. I’ll never forget it, I’ll never
forget you Scott, goodbye.
Over 30 years have passed since the adoption of the Basic Principles of the United Nations on
the role of the defender, or Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which took place in Havana on
7 September 1990.
The basic principle n. 16 states that ‘Governments shall ensure that lawyers ( ...) are able to
perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper
interference’ and that defenders ‘shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or adminis-
trative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized profes-
sional duties, standards and ethics’.
1
However, intimidations, obstacles, violence and improper interference have not only not dimin-
ished but increased – as documented frankly by The Endangered Lawyers Day Foundation and in
the annual publications of the ‘Observatoire Mondial des Droits de la D´efense et des violations des
droits des avocats’, run by the Institut des Droits de l’Homme des Avocats Europ´eens French.
Corresponding author:
Nicola Canestrini, CanestriniLex, Rovereto, Italy.
E-mail: nicola.canestrini@canestrinilex.com
1. UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers <https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/blog/document/basic-principles-on-the-
role-of-lawyers/> accessed 14 October 2020.
New Journal of European Criminal Law
ªThe Author(s) 2020
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/2032284420972809
njecl.sagepub.com
NJECL
NJECL
2021, Vol. 12(1) 96 –98
Analysis/Opinion
To continue reading
Request your trial