The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) is utterly shocked by the murder of Dutch lawyer Derk Wiersum this morning.
He was shot dead near his home in Amsterdam.
Derk Wiersum was the lawyer of a key witness in a criminal case.
The murder of lawyers while exercising their professional duties is an unacceptable attack on the legal profession which role is essential to guarantee access to justice and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all citizens - particularly through the protection of the rights of the defence and the guarantees of a fair trial.
Attacks against lawyers are attacks against the Rule of Law.
The CCBE will continue to fight to obtain that all lawyers are able to perform their professional duties without fear of reprisal, hindrance, intimidation or harassment, in order to preserve the independence and integrity of the administration of justice and the rule of law.
About the CCBE: The CCBE represents the Bars and Law Societies of 45 countries, and through them over one million European lawyers.
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