On 4 March 2025, Fátima Rodríguez, head of the international sanctions department at Lupicinio International Law Firm, was invited by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to participate in the event ‘Impact of Unilateral Sanctions on Access to Justice and Effective Judicial Protection’.
The event, organised by the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, Alena Douhan, with the aim of evaluating the negative impact of coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, brought together leading experts to analyse the legal and human complexities arising from the imposition of international sanctions. The conference addressed how these sanctions affect the work of lawyers, the political turmoil behind restrictive measures and the limitations on human rights guarantees.
During his speech, he offered an in-depth analysis of the effects of Article 5n of Regulation 833/2014 of the European Union, which prohibits the provision of legal advice services to sanctioned persons. She explained how the restrictive interpretation of the case law of the General Court of the European Union, which understands access to justice solely as access to the courts, generates uncertainty for legal professionals about the legal services permitted in these contexts.
She also highlighted how the narrative underlying the imposition of sanctions can, in itself, constitute a limitation on the right to effective judicial protection, making it difficult for those affected to defend themselves and be properly represented in court.
Fátima Rodríguez’s participation in this important international forum reaffirms our commitment to the defence of human rights and to supporting legal professionals in an increasingly challenging environment. We will continue to promote critical reflection and informed debate on these crucial legal and ethical issues.
You can access her speech from minute 9:10 at the following link.
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