The CCBE decided to grant the 2024 Human Rights Award to the lawyers of the Legal Clinic of the Panzi Foundation. This award recognises their exceptional commitment to ensuring all victims of sexual violence as a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) receive comprehensive, non-discriminatory legal representation, and access to justice.
The CCBE President, Pierre-Dominique Schupp, will present the award during the CCBE Plenary Session on Thursday 21 November 2024, in Brussels. In conferring this award, the CCBE recognises the outstanding work of the lawyers of the Panzi Foundation’s Legal Clinic in upholding the fundamental values of the legal profession, as well as defending and advocating for human rights and the respect for the rule of law, despite the ongoing conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The CCBE President, Pierre-Dominique Schupp, declared today:
"All the lawyers at the Panzi Foundation’s Legal Clinic are truly deserving of this award as they have brought honour to the legal profession by upholding the highest values of professional and personal conduct in the field of human rights. The CCBE would like to pay particular tribute to the Legal Clinic’s innovative and unique model, which provides large-scale reception, care, support, rehabilitation, and reintegration of survivors of sexual violence. This model offers quality, person-centered services — including medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and socio-economic reintegration — within a single ‘One Stop Centre’. With its strong commitment and compassion, the Legal Clinic of the Panzi Foundation serves as a powerful inspiration, empowering survivors and communities affected by conflict while upholding human rights."
The purpose of the CCBE Human Rights Award
The CCBE Human Rights Award aims to highlight the work of one or more lawyers or lawyers’ organisations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment and sacrifice in protecting fundamental values.
The award is granted to those who have brought honour to the legal profession by upholding the highest standards of professional and personal conduct in the field of human rights.