In a landmark move for the legal profession, the Council of Europe has opened for signature the first-ever international treaty dedicated to protecting lawyers: the Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. The announcement came during a ministerial meeting in Luxembourg amid rising concerns about threats, harassment, and political interference targeting legal professionals across Europe.
The Convention has been signed by over a dozen countries—including France, Italy, Ireland, Poland, and Sweden—with additional states, including the UK and Belgium, expected to sign shortly.
The treaty mandates that states must:
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Guarantee lawyers’ right to practice without intimidation or interference;
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Investigate attacks or threats against legal professionals as potential criminal offenses;
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Ensure that bar associations function as independent, self-governing institutions.
Crucially, the Convention also safeguards lawyers’ freedom of expression, disciplinary protections, and professional autonomy, reinforcing their role in defending human rights and upholding the rule of law.
The treaty will enter into force after ratification by at least eight countries (including six Council of Europe member states), and its implementation will be monitored by an expert body and a committee of the parties.