United Nations Human Rights Council
60th Regular Session
General Debate
Item 4
International Commission of Jurists in the General Debate under Item 4
23 September 2025
Thank you Mister President,
The ICJ is gravely concerned at the Tunisian authorities’ continued attacks on lawyers, judges and civil society actors.
As two of this Council’s human rights experts recently warned, lawyers’ situation in Tunisia has seriously deteriorated over the past year, with several being arbitrarily arrested, detained and prosecuted solely for fulfilling their professional duties or for exercising their freedom of expression. This year, in violation of judicial immunity, at least two judges were convicted and sentenced in proceedings marred by fair trial violations. These attacks not only violate the human rights of the judges and lawyers concerned but also contribute to further eroding the independence of judges and of the legal profession, and the fair administration of justice in Tunisia.
The ICJ is also concerned at the Tunisian authorities’ increasing abuse of legal and administrative procedures to hinder civil society organizations’ operations, including through the ongoing arbitrary detention and prosecution of several staff members and leaders; increasing restrictions on their ability to receive foreign funding and access banking services; rampant investigations of associations by administrative and financial authorities; and at least two judicial orders to temporarily suspend two associations’ activities.
This Council must act to address these and other attacks against lawyers, judges and civil society actors in Tunisia.
Thank you.
Statement delivered by: Sandra Epal-Ratjen – International Advocacy Director – ICJ
For more information, contact: Sandra.epal@icj.org
Watch the Statement Delivery:
