In Equatorial Guinea, human rights lawyers Gemma Jones and Angel Obama have faced suspension from the Bar Association due to political interference, significantly impacting the independence of the legal profession. Their cases underscore the challenges lawyers face in advocating for human rights within an oppressive political framework. The international community calls for immediate action to rescind their suspensions and uphold commitments to human rights standards.
In Equatorial Guinea, membership in the national Bar Association is mandatory for practicing law. However, political interference has severely jeopardized the rule of law and the protection of human rights. Recently, this interference has directly targeted two human rights lawyers, Gemma Jones and Angel Obama, who have faced suspension from the Bar Association, highlighting the ongoing threats to legal independence in the country. Gemma Jones, a 40-year-old lawyer originally from Madrid, became involved in human rights in Equatorial Guinea after establishing her law practice in Malabo in 2018. Following the publication of a TikTok video titled “Wake Up” on November 24, 2023, which condemned the state of affairs regarding public employee salaries and arbitrary detentions, she found herself the subject of a disciplinary process initiated by the Bar Association. This led to her temporary disbarment on July 10, 2024, on allegations of serious infractions, a decision that has drawn concern from international observers, including Margaret Satterthwaite, the UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. Undeterred by her suspension, Jones has demonstrated great resilience despite facing intimidation and harassment related to her legal work, previously enduring arbitrary detention in 2021 for defending women’s rights. Her ability to practice law is emblematic of the critical need for a robust and autonomous legal profession, which is essential for a functional justice system. Similarly, Angel Obama, who has served as a full-time attorney since 2018, has dedicated himself to advocating for human rights, often representing clients who have suffered from various forms of abuse by the state. His commitment to defending accused individuals and human rights defenders has placed him under threat. In August 2023, the Bar Association warned him about potential suspension for representing organizations deemed “illegal” by the current regime. Just days later, Obama was temporarily suspended due to these actions, further evidencing a systematic effort to cull legal representation for human rights advocacy in the nation. The structural issues within Equatorial Guinea’s Bar Association are manifest in the intertwined relationship between the Bar’s leadership and the country’s political elite, with the President of the Bar also serving in a high-ranking governmental role. This duality undermines the independence that should be inherent to legal proceedings and the protection of lawyers. Equatorial Guinea remains a signatory to several international human rights treaties, which obligate states to uphold the independence of the legal profession. Consequently, it is imperative for the government of Equatorial Guinea to immediately revoke the suspensions of Gemma Jones and Angel Obama and fulfill its commitments to human rights norms. Amnesty International continues to advocate for the upholding of freedoms essential to legal practice, emphasizing that lawyers must operate without fear of repercussions when advocating for justice or highlighting human rights violations.
The situation of human rights lawyers in Equatorial Guinea highlights significant challenges to legal independence and the rule of law. The authoritarian nature of the political environment has resulted in a climate where lawyers who dare to challenge government actions face severe repercussions, including suspension from professional practice. This degradation of the legal profession not only impacts individual lawyers but also undermines the justice system as a whole, limiting access to legal representation and protecting human rights.
In conclusion, the case of Gemma Jones and Angel Obama illustrates the critical dangers facing human rights lawyers in Equatorial Guinea. Their suspensions from the Bar Association reflect a broader pattern of interference that threatens the legal profession’s independence and the protection of human rights. It is essential that the authorities respect international obligations and allow legal practitioners to advocate freely without fear of reprisals, thereby preserving the integrity of the judicial system and strengthening human rights protections in the country.
Original Source: www.amnesty.org
