41st JP Memorial Lecture - Human Rights Lawyering in an Illiberal Environment: Can the Law of the Abuser Protect? - Michael Sfard

41st JP Memorial Lecture

at

6.30 pm (India Time) on March 23, 2021 (Tuesday)

on

“Human Rights Lawyering in an Illiberal Environment: Can the Law of the Abuser Protect?”

To be delivered Virtually by

Michael Sfard

(Human Rights Lawyer, Israel)

Globally we are witnessing the rise of populist regimes that do not hesitate to abuse the law and to compromise democratic values to gain power. Seeking justice in such regimes, through the abuser’s Courts, raises many dilemmas for movements and activists. The dilemmas intensify as the regimes grow in power, becoming increasingly illiberal and ever more successful in oppressing dissent and silencing human rights defenders. Under such circumstances, what is there to be gained from litigation and what is its costs? What are the lessons learned from decades of litigation against abuse of rights of Palestinians under military occupation, in the Israeli court system?” The lecture will address these concerns.