Lawyers for Liberty

Description

Lawyers for Liberty is a Malaysian human rights lawyers’ organization that defends human rights and the people who stand up for them.

It has been fully established since 2011 and describes itself as a collective of lawyers and activists who believe in the universality of human rights, in human dignity, and in equal treatment as the foundation of a democratic and just society. It is a non-profit, non-governmental organization staffed by employees and volunteer legal workers, and it is governed by a board of advisers. It is funded by a combination of grants and public donations.

The organization works through public campaigning, test case litigation, parliamentary lobbying, research and education to challenge what it calls unconstitutional and arbitrary acts by Malaysian authorities. It has handled or supported cases involving deaths in police custody, fatal police shootings, torture, unlawful arrest and detention, denial of access to lawyers, detention without trial, and issues under the Sedition Act, the Peaceful Assembly Act, and statelessness. Its clients have included opposition politicians, members of Parliament, students, activists, journalists, whistleblowers and stateless people.

It also publishes statements, commentary and reports on human rights and civil liberties issues in Malaysia.