Human rights lawyers to demonstrate at U.S. Consulate in Amsterdam

Global lawyers are expressing serious concern over threats to the legal profession and judiciary in the United States. To highlight the plight of human rights lawyers in the U.S., over 40 legal organizations are marking the 16th “Day of the Endangered Lawyer.”

The report will be presented on Friday afternoon, along with a petition, to the U.S. consul in Amsterdam. Ahead of this, human rights lawyers will demonstrate in robes at the U.S. consulate on Museumplein in Amsterdam.

The report Keep Your Hands Off the Lawyers, released on Thursday, warns that “the current situation for lawyers and the U.S. legal system shows a sustained, coordinated effort to undermine the independence of the legal profession, the judiciary, and associated institutions.”

There have been “targeted purges within the U.S. Department of Justice and efforts to weaken and undermine bar associations,” the report states. The researchers call these actions “unprecedented in modern U.S. history,” referring to presidential directives targeting law firms, intimidation, political retaliation, and discriminatory measures.

These concerns are consistent with international norms. The UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which safeguard the independence of the legal profession, state that lawyers should not face intimidation, obstruction, or undue influence from the state while practicing their profession. This principle is regarded as fundamental to ensuring both the right to a fair trial and a functioning legal system.

The International Day of the Endangered Lawyer is observed annually on January 24 to highlight threats to lawyers defending human rights and the rule of law. It has previously focused on countries including Iran (2010), Colombia (2022), the Philippines (2015), and Belarus (2025), among others.