The EADLH was founded on 1 May 1993 in Paris, and is open to lawyers from all European countries. It already has members in 12 European countries.

Common problems

The following developments in Europe particularly demand attention:

• threats to peace and to the environment
• deepening inequality
• social exclusion
• continuing mass unemployment
• diminishing civil liberties
• racism and xenophobia
• undermining of the living conditions and legal position of aliens

The role of democratic lawyers

Faced with circumstances which are to a great extent connected with the evolution and application of different legal systems, as well as European Community law, and international law, lawyers have a decisive role to play. They must maintain democratic vigilance

• to make law an instrument for the protection of all
• for a better distribution of wealth
• for the democratic management and control of scientific and technical progress, and their repercussions

The aims of the ELDH

As a result of the considerations above, the ELDH Stature contains the following aims

• the promotion of peace, disarmament, and harmony between peoples
• the protection of the environment
• the fight against racism and fascism
• the equal treatment of women and men
• the respect of the rights of children
• the struggle against discrimination
• the vindication of human rights and democracy, also within the various European institutions

Activities

Since its inception, the ELDH has pursued the following activities

20 and 21 October 2006 in Barcelona

• The Boarder of Europe - Zones without Rights (supported by ELDH)

6 May 2006 in Berlin

May 2005 in London

• Suspect Communities: The 'War on Terror' in Europe

February 2005

• Arwarding of Hans-Litten-Price to Lea Tsemel and Mohammad Na'amneh

(together with the German Association of Democratic Lawyers, VDJ)

September 2004 in Istanbul

• "State and Religion in Europe"

April 2004 in Paris

• "A democratic Constitution for Europe"

2003 in Geneva

• "Independence of the Public Prosecutor"

2003 in Geneva

"War Crimes"

2001 in Paris

The European Charter of Fundamental Rights

2001 in Frankfurt / Oder

"Enlargement of the European Union"

2000 Istanbul, Ankara, Diyarbakir

"Turkeys entrance into the European Union

2000 in Frankfurt

"Asylum as a Human Right"

1997 in Brussels

"Environmental law in Europe"

1996 in Florence

"The European Union - What common Institutions ? What fundamental common policies ? "

1995 in Rome

"The weapon of hunger - against economic embargos"

1995 in Istanbul

"Democracy and Human Rights in Turkey"

1993 in Berlin

"Europe promises land Nationality, Immigration, Asylum"

Advisory Opinion on the Legality of the Use of Nuclear Weapons under International Law (English)

Paech

Illegality of the detentions of asylum seekers under German Law (German)

Knösel / Wegener

The practice of the detention of asylum seekers in Germany (German)

Küster / Kratz

Democracy or barbary: 5 years after the diminishment of the right of asylum in Germany (German)

Peach

further activities in the past:

• Campaign against the detention of asylum seekers in Europe
• Participation at the European Network against racism, ENAR
• Observation of the political legal procedures in Turkey
• Mission in Iraq to investigate the impact of the UN-Embargo on the population
• Flight to Iraq to encourage the UN to lift it's embargo
• Mission in Palestine to investigate the Human Rights Situation
• Mission in French Guyana to investigate the Human Rights Situation

In the near future the following projects are envisaged:

• A democratic Constitution for Europe
• Future of the European Court of Human Rights
• Elements of a social Europe
• continuation of the fight against racism and fascism in Europe
• a continuation of the campaign against detention of asylum seekers
• reflection on reform of the United Nations system

The structure and organization of the ELDH

The ELDH is a democratic confederation of diverse national associations of democratic lawyers. It also has individual members, in particular in countries where there is not yet a functioning association. 
At present there are member associations in Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Turkey, and individual members from Albania, Belgium, Greece, Holland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain (Basque Country), and Ukraine. 
It is financed by subscriptions, donations, and public grants. It is officially recognized as acting in the public interest and above all as worthy of public financial support.

The legal headquarter of the ELDH is in Duesseldorf, Germany.

Professor Bill BOWRING, Barrister (London) has been elected as President in May 2005. He is Professor of Human Rights and International Law at Birbeck College, University of London,  and Academic Co-ordinator of the Institute's European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC)