On May 27, representatives of the Bar Associations and Law Societies in the G7 countries unanimously adopted the following statement regarding the war in Ukraine:
“We, the representatives of the Bar Associations and Law Societies in the G7 countries (the “G7 Bars”), meeting on 27 May 2022 for the G7 Bars summit in Berlin,
- unequivocally condemn the war against Ukraine as perpetrated by the Russian Federation which represents an egregious unlawful attack undermining the Rule of Law in the region and internationally. All countries must respect the fundamental obligations, values, principles and freedoms set out in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Geneva Conventions as well as general principles of public international law and international humanitarian law. The war against Ukraine by military forces of the Russian Federation infringes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, violates the fundamental and generally accepted principles of international law and represents an egregious attack on the Rule of Law.
- stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people who are defending their freedom, their families and homes at the front lines, as well as those who have been displaced by the war.
- stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian National Bar Association and all Ukrainian lawyers, as they and their families are displaced and in situations of extreme personal risk. We deplore the barriers to their exercising their profession or participating in a legal system.
- express our support for all Ukrainian legal professionals who continue upholding the Rule of Law, defending the fundamental rights of their clients in Ukraine, and securing the continued operation of the criminal and civil justice systems in Ukraine under unimaginably difficult circumstances.”
This statement was signed by the Canadian Bar Association, Law Society of England and Wales (LSEW), Conseil national des barreaux (CNB), Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer (BRAK), Deutscher Anwaltverein (DAV), Consiglio Nazionale Forense (CNF), Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA), the American Bar Association (ABA), and Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE).
The CBA will continue to stand with its colleagues in Ukraine and with the entire Ukrainian-Canadian community across the country. We reiterate the importance of the rule of law as the foundation that supports democracy, human rights and freedoms.