In today’s speech to the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Conference in Italy, American Bar Association House of Delegates Chair William C. Hubbard inspired lawyers to re-commit themselves to the hard work of protecting human rights and strengthening the rule of law.

Hubbard said, “Lawyers and human rights advocates struggle with crises old and new … against genocide and mass atrocities and their consequences. … We struggle against terrorism while seeking to protect due process for the accused. … We struggle to help the corporate sector make a positive impact on human rights and remedy conditions that compromise basic human dignity for workers. … We struggle to secure the human rights of women and girls and combat all forms of violence against women. … From wherever we come … lawyers speak the same language.  We defend liberty for all.  We pursue equal justice for the mighty and the lowly.  We share a mission and a common sense of purpose, and we have much work before us.”

Hubbard represented the ABA at today’s meeting at the request of association President Carolyn B. Lamm.  He presented his remarks to international lawyers and legal scholars convening in Rome to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

He stressed the essential connection between a country’s rule of law and its citizens’ daily quality of life.  

“The ABA has long endorsed the founding documents of modern human rights law and supported the international community in its efforts to extend basic legal protections to all people. …  In fact, the ABA regards the promotion of universal human rights and the rule of law as part of its core mission as an organization,” said Hubbard.

Hubbard outlined the ABA’s role in establishing three key entities to track human rights and rule of law around the world:  the ABA’s Center for Human Rights, the Rule of Law Initiative and the now independent World Justice Project with its ever-growing Rule of Law Index.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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