From 4-6 April, a workshop focusing on “Human Rights and Lawyering in Times of Crisis” was held in Kandy.
Organised in collaboration with the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the workshop brought together twenty-five lawyers practising mainly before the courts of first instance to explore the relevance of human rights and methods of a rights-based approach in their work.
The workshop began by defining “crisis” and then explored the roles played by lawyers during such periods, emphasising ethical and professional obligations. The sessions focused on techniques of the rights-based approach, including the relevance of international human rights law, supreme court decisions on fundamental rights, and the use of common law and statutory rights. Participants learned how these techniques can inform different aspects of legal practice, including case strategy, interactions with clients, and legal argumentation. Discussions also covered the various roles and obligations of lawyers, including ethical responsibilities.
The program was delivered by Foundation Research Fellows in collaboration with local experts and senior members of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. A local expert explored applying the rights-based approach in the use of statutes, with a specific focus on the new Online Safety Act. The session explored both its potential and drawbacks and emphasised that a rights-based approach to interpreting and applying the law could prevent its abuse. The workshop concluded with a panel discussion with the newly elected president of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, during which participants were able to raise their questions and suggestions about emerging trends in the legal field.
The sessions combined both theoretical and practical elements, which gave participants a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively serve their clients’ interests and uphold justice using a rights-based framework.
This was the second workshop for lawyers in Sri Lanka under the German Federal Foreign Office-funded project ‘Consolidating the Rule of Law in Sri Lanka: Strengthening the Resilience of Democratic Institutions to Promote Stability in the Face of Crises’.