Paris, 20 October 2016
The annual Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA – International Association of Lawyers) Rule of Law Award was created in cooperation with LexisNexis to honour individuals and organisations who actively contribute to the advancement of the rule of law within the legal community.
The inaugural Award will be presented to the Malaysian Bar for its strong commitment to the defence and promotion of the rule of law as well as its vigilance in demanding and supporting law and justice reform in Malaysia. With this award, the UIA intends to support and encourage the Malaysian Bar which, since its creation and despite adverse circumstances, has courageously and consistently stood for the core values of the legal profession that the UIA promotes and defends.
In the last 25 years, the Malaysian Bar has been at the forefront of many struggles, such as the defence of judicial and lawyer independence, freedom of religion, freedom of expression and the support of several minority communities’ rights, especially in the fight against human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants. More recently, the Malaysian Bar has raised significant concerns about the misuse of counter–terrorist legislation and declared that “compromising or abandoning our own ideals and principles as a response to terrorism makes us no better”.
The UIA also recognizes the commitment of the Malaysian Bar to the fight against the death penalty, particularly through its calls for a moratorium on all executions in light of an impending judicial review of the mandatory death penalty.
In recent remarks about the Malaysian Bar, UIA President Jean–Jacques Uettwillerstated: “Undeterred by threats and allegations of political bias, the Malaysian Bar has always vigorously opposed and rejected any attempt at interference with its independence in order to preserve its mission”.
To mark the occasion of this first annual Rule of Law Award, the UIA and LexisNexis will present the UIA/LexisNexis Rule of Law Award to Steven Thiru, President of the Malaysian Bar, during the opening ceremony of the UIA Congress in Budapest on October 28, 2016.
More about the UIA
The Union Internationale des Avocats (International Association of Lawyers – UIA) was founded in 1927. It is the oldest worldwide legal association and brings together around two million lawyers through its individual members and collective members (bars, federations, and associations) from more than 110 countries.
The main aims of the UIA are to promote the fundamental principles of the legal profession; to contribute to the establishment of an international legal order based on the principle of justice between nations, through law and in the cause of peace; and, to defend lawyers and their clients.
Press contacts:
Laurence Kiffer, Joint Director of Communication [email protected]
Stephen Sidkin, Joint Director of Communication [email protected]
Emmanuelle Hau, Communication Officer [email protected]
Please click here to view the press release, and here to view the acceptance speech by Steven Thiru, President, Malaysian Bar, at the presentation of the Inaugural Rule of Law Award 2016 by the Union Internationale des Avocats (International Association of Lawyers), in cooperation with LexisNexis, to the Malaysian Bar on 28 October 2016, at the Opening Ceremony of the 60th Annual Congress in Budapest, Hungary.