Luxembourg Among 1st Signatories to World-First Treaty on Protection of Lawyers

On Tuesday 13 May 2025, Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and acting Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Xavier Bettel, added Luxembourg’s signature to the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer.

The event, held at the Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean (MUDAM) in Luxembourg-Kirchberg, welcomed multiple members of the Council of Europe to participate in the signing of the Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. Under the convention, the first of its kind, states must ensure that lawyers can carry out their professional duties without being the target of any form of physical attack, threat, harassment or intimidation or any improper hindrance or interference. 

To allow the convention to come into force, it must be ratified by a minimum of eight countries, including six member states of the Council of Europe.

Before the signing ceremony, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, welcomed the attendees and spoke of the importance of the convention in protecting the rights of lawyers, judges and democracy.

Luxembourg’s Minister of Justice, Elisabeth Margue, then addressed the attendees and described the occasion as a “truly historic moment” and noted that “this is the first international legal instrument specifically dedicated to lawyers. The fundamental principles that guide the exercise of the profession by lawyers are enshrined in this convention”.

During his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Bettel spoke of his personal experience as a lawyer, the importance of the law and the significance of the convention in ensuring the protection of judges and lawyers during a time where populism across Europe is rising. He emphasised that “it is important to be able to have a defence that we can assure”.

Deputy Prime Minister Bettel was then invited to add Luxembourg’s signature to the convention, followed by the representatives for Andorra, Estonia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland and Sweden. Representatives for Belgium, Iceland, the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom will sign the Convention on Wednesday 14 May 2025.

The signing of the convention officially concluded the cycle of conferences organised by Luxembourg during its six-month Presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers. Luxembourg will officially hand over the presidency of the council to Malta after the opening of the 134th Session of the Committee of Ministers on Wednesday.