Their joint statement comes at a critical moment – as both international law and the institutions and individuals charged with upholding it face mounting pressure and actions that threaten their independence, authority and effective functioning.

The message is unequivocal: respect for international law must be upheld, judicial independence protected and disputes resolved through law rather than coercion. Defending international justice is a shared responsibility that demands a clear and collective response.

The signatories to the statement are:

• American Bar Association (ABA)
• Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE)
• International Bar Association (IBA)
• Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA)
• Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA)
• Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU)
• Union Iberoamericana de Colegios y Agrupaciones de Abogados (UIBA)
• International Association of Lawyers (UIA)

IBA president, Claudio Visco, said: “This statement is both powerful and profoundly timely. Never before have the rule of law, international law and the global order faced such intense pressure. As I emphasised at the opening of the IBA Annual Conference in Copenhagen, when lawyers, bar associations and law societies from around the world stand united, our collective voice cannot be ignored.

“Sending a clear, unwavering message to those who act irresponsibly and defy international norms is not just our duty, it is the very core of the legal profession’s mission and commitment.”