Margaret Satterthwaite (she/her)

“It reminds me that even if you're not a lawyer, you can be doing highly technical, professional human rights & justice work.”

—Meg Satterthwaite on her formative experience working on Haiti's Truth & Justice Commission in 1995. 🇭🇹

Episode #2 is out now! 🎧
www.sdg16.plus/resources/ep...

#Tunisie: Je suis très inquiète quant à la situation des avocats en Tunisie, particulièrement l’arrestation de l'avocat Ahmed Souab et l'emprisonnement de l'avocate Sonia Dahmani, pour avoir fait des commentaires sur les questions des affaires publiques. www.ohchr.org/fr/press-rel...

UN expert @unsr-judges.bsky.social urges States to formally recognise the right of #Indigenous Peoples to maintain, strengthen, promote & develop their own legal systems & customary law institutions. #HRC59

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Today, I presented my report, “The Right of Indigenous Peoples to Maintain and Develop Justice Systems,” to the 59th session of the Human Rights Council. www.ohchr.org/sites/defaul...

Contributor: What does Juneteenth have in common with today's immigration raids? History shows us that the law is important but reaches its full potential only when the people are informed and use it to defend their rights.

“legal empowerment can address the root causes of authoritarianism…When we use law to tackle problems we face, we reduce the distance between our institutions and ourselves.” Vivek Maru
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...

#USA: UN expert @unsr-judges.bsky.social alarmed at the targeting of judges, lawyers and law firms in an apparent organised effort to interfere in the independence of the U.S. legal and judicial system.

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Margaret Satterthwaite: “En Guatemala hay una sensación de que se está desmantelando el estado de derecho” El informe de la relatora especial de Naciones Unidas registra que más de 600 fiscales fueron sancionados, lo que a su criterio refleja un patrón preocupante de persecución selectiva

Margaret Satterthwaite: “En Guatemala hay una sensación de que se está desmantelando el estado de derecho” elpais.com/america/2025...

Mexicans elect their judges under shadow of crime, corruption Mexicans chose their judges Sunday in unprecedented elections that sharply divided opinion in a country plagued by rampant crime, corruption and impunity.

#Mexico: While judicial corruption already exists, elections may be more easily infiltrated by organized crime than other methods of judicial selection. From @afp: Mexicans elect their judges under shadow of crime, corruption www.france24.com/en/live-news...

#Türkiye: Alarmed at the criminalisation of Istanbul Bar Association and dismissal of executive board, in retaliation for the Bar Association’s statement calling for an effective investigation into deaths of two journalists in a conflict zone. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Guatemala must uphold the integrity of the justice system, end criminalisation: UN expert GUATEMALA – Guatemala’s legal system stands at a pivotal juncture, a UN expert* warned today, stressing that the country’s democratic future hinges on how judicial appointments and criminal law are wi...

Guatemala legal system stands at pivotal juncture: My preliminary observations after official visit, concerning criminalization, improper influence in judicial appointments, voter trading & flawed evaluation processes rewarding political loyalty over professional merits www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

UN expert on independence of judges and lawyers to visit Guatemala GENEVA – The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, will conduct an official visit to Guatemala from 12 to 23 May 2025.During her visit, Satterthwaite...

I will conduct an official visit to Guatemala from 12 to 23 May 2025. www.ohchr.org/en/media-adv...

#Türkiye: Now public--my letter to the Government concerning actions taken against the Istanbul Bar Association and arrest of a Board member, after it called for an investigation into deaths of two journalists. Govt response also available online. spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBas...

A/79/362: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite Justice is not for sale: the improper influence of economic actors on the judiciary In a climate of increasing economic inequality, corporations and wealthy individuals in many places use their financial clout to infringe on the independence of the judiciary by attempting to interven...

On #WorldPressFreedomDay, I recall that action is needed to ensure powerful economic actors cannot misuse justice systems by bringing #SLAPP suits against journalists. Recommendations in my report here: www.ohchr.org/en/documents...

A woman holds a sign reading "Obey Judges -- Don't Jail Judges" in the midst of a crowd in front of a courthouse

#USA: Proud to have joined thousands of lawyers today as we reaffirmed our professional oath to uphold the rule of law. This non-partisan effort of bar associations and lawyers across the country aims to protect judicial independence and the autonomy of the legal profession.

The new US administration must recommit to human rights at home and abroad: UN experts GENEVA – UN human rights experts* today expressed concerns about the new US administration’s recent actions that undermine human rights and fundamental freedoms at both domestic and international leve...

🚨 Dozens of UN human rights experts express alarm at the United States’ escalating attacks on the international architecture of human rights, the rule of law, multilateralism, the principles of sovereign equality and self-determination & vital international agreements. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Discover how U.S. foreign policy is impacting freedoms and human rights on a global scale. Don’t miss out on understanding this critical issue. Read more at the following link and join the conversation! freeassemblyandassociation.net/u-s-foreign-...

With SR Iran and SR EJEs, I call on Iran to halt the execution of Behrouz Ehsani & Mehdi Hassani, whose death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court, following trials reportedly marred by torture and forced confessions.

@UN_SPExperts are in contact with Iranian authorities on this matter.

#Russia / #Ukraine: Without guarantees for #HumanRights and justice, there can be no peace, warn UN experts as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine enters its 4th year & discussions intensify about settling the war without Ukraine’s participation.

lnkd.in/ei5YwPCK

#USA: Very concerned by news suggesting a broad attack on independent justice. Purge of DOJ attys; impeachment articles against a judge solely for his decision; Sec of Defense fired service TJAGs--top lawyers for Army, Navy, USAF. Independent justice is required for rule of law.

On Capitol Hill this week to discuss the importance of an independent and impartial judiciary. #USA

On the anniversary of 1989 murder of Belfast human rights lawyer Pat Finucane, my latest for @humanrightsfirst.bsky.social in today’s New York Law Journal (paywall but one article free)
@finucanecentre.bsky.social @unsr-judges.bsky.social
@cjharvey1.bsky.social
www.law.com/newyorklawjo...

US proposal to ‘take over’ Gaza would shatter fundamental rules of international order, warn UN experts GENEVA – UN experts* today condemned shocking threats by US President Donald Trump to “take over” and “own” Gaza and move the Palestinian population elsewhere, using military force if necessary.“Such ...

#US "proposal" to "take over" #Gaza would shatter fundamental rules of international order & embolden other predatory countries to seize foreign territories, with devastating consequences for peace & #HumanRights globally.

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Solidarity Needed Amid Stranglehold on Belarusian Lawyers Belarus's interference and severe restrictions placed on the country's legal profession risks spilling over to impact the entire legal system.

Solidarity Needed Amid Stranglehold on Belarusian Lawyers--my new post w/SR Belarus Nils Muiznieks and Aloysia Sonnet on @justsecurity.org.web.brid.gy www.justsecurity.org/107571/solid...

#USA: Gravely concerned to see that the President has signed an order to sanction the ICC and its personnel, asserting that the ICC "has engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel." This is wrong under international law and a huge blow to int'l justice.

DOJ fires dozens of prosecutors who handled Jan. 6 cases It’s the latest extraordinary purge of officials Donald Trump has deemed adversarial to his interests.

#USA: Very disturbing news -- DOJ fires dozens of prosecutors who handled Jan. 6 cases www.politico.com/news/2025/01...

Georgia must investigate use of force by police during demonstrations: Experts GENEVA – Independent human rights experts* today urged the Government of Georgia to take concrete measures to prevent further violence and to investigate allegations of excessive use of force by law e...

#Georgia: I join my colleagues in calling on the Govt to prevent further violence and to investigate serious allegations of excessive use of force, torture, ill-treatment & arbitrary detention of demonstrators, journalists & human rights defenders during 2024 protests. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

There is an urgent need to combat impunity for serious int'l crimes in Belarus.

The OSCE Moscow Mechanism & UN experts have called on the international community to support initiatives, such as the IAPB, documenting human rights violations in #Belarus

🟠Learn more www.osce.org/files/f/docu...

Belarus: UN experts alarmed about widespread in absentia trials GENEVA – A group of independent human rights experts* today expressed concern about the growing practice in Belarus of conducting trials in absentia and without basic fair trial guarantees, which can ...

#Belarus: I am deeply concern by the growing # of trials in absentia that violate basic fair trial guarantees. Since 2022, more than 100 people have been convicted in absentia, including members of the political opposition, lawyers, human rights defenders, and activists www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Afghanistan: UN experts welcome ICC Prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants for senior Taliban officials GENEVA – Human rights experts* today welcomed the request by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for senior Taliban leaders Haibatullah Akhundzada and Abd...

Joint statement from UN HR experts welcoming ICC Prosecutor's request for arrest warrants for Taliban leaders. The policies of #genderpersecution being enforced in #Afghanistan are not only unacceptable they may constitute international crimes. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

On the International #DayoftheEndangeredLawyer, I join my colleague, the SR Belarus, in raising alarm about the repression of lawyers in #Belarus, who face threats, disbarment, imprisonment, and exile for defending human rights and upholding the rule of law. Statement: t.co/mZAeDeI5jU