A/HRC/RES/44/9
system, and that they should avoid and combat all forms of prejudice, discrimination and
stigmatization based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion,
national or social origin, property, birth or other status,
Emphasizing that the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and the
independence of lawyers and the legal profession are necessary elements in the realization of
Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in
which Member States committed, inter alia, to provide access to justice for all and build
effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels,
Condemning the increasingly frequent attacks on the independence of judges, lawyers,
prosecutors and court officials, in particular threats, intimidation and interference in the
discharge of their professional functions,
Recalling that every State should provide an effective framework of remedies to
redress human rights grievances or violations and that the administration of justice, including
law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies and, especially, an independent judiciary and
legal profession consistent with applicable standards contained in relevant international
instruments, is essential to the full and non-discriminatory realization of human rights and
indispensable to the processes of democracy and sustainable development,
Recalling also that it is essential to ensure that judges, prosecutors, lawyers and court
officials possess the professional qualifications required for the performance of their
functions through improved methods of recruitment, as well as legal and professional
training, and through the provision of all necessary means for the proper performance of their
role in ensuring the rule of law,
Noting the importance of tailored and interdisciplinary human rights training for all
judges, lawyers, prosecutors and other professionals concerned in the administration of
justice, as a measure for avoiding discrimination in the administration of justice,
Stressing the importance of ensuring accountability, transparency and integrity in the
judiciary as an essential element of judicial independence and as a concept inherent to the
rule of law when it is implemented in accordance with the Basic Principles on the
Independence of the Judiciary and other relevant norms, principles and standards,
Emphasizing that judges, prosecutors and lawyers play a critical role in upholding
human rights, including the absolute and non-derogable right to freedom from torture and
other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
Emphasizing also that an independent and impartial judiciary, objective and impartial
prosecution services and an independent legal profession, which foster a balanced
representation of men and women and the establishment of gender-sensitive procedures, are
essential for the effective protection of women’s rights, including protection from violence
and revictimization through court systems, to ensuring that the administration of justice is
free from gender-based discrimination and stereotypes, and to a recognition that both men
and women benefit when women are treated equally by the justice sector,
Acknowledging the vital role of professional associations of lawyers in upholding
professional standards and ethics, protecting their members from persecution and improper
restrictions and infringements and providing legal services to all in need of them,
Recognizing the importance of independent and self-governing bar associations and
professional associations of judges and prosecutors, and of non-governmental organizations
working in defence of the principle of the independence of judges and lawyers,
Noting the endorsement by bar associations, law societies and national and
international lawyers’ organizations worldwide of a call for action in support of the Basic
Principles on the Role of Lawyers, and recognizing the vital role that lawyers and the legal
profession can play in upholding the rule of law and in promoting and protecting human
rights on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Basic Principles,
Expressing its concern about situations where the entry into or continued practice
within the legal profession is controlled or arbitrarily interfered with by the executive branch,
with particular regard to abuse of systems for the licensing of lawyers,
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