Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC address on ‘Lawyers in the Firing Line: Attacking the Advocates’

The John and Pat Hume Foundation and INCORE were delighted that Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, the distinguished international human rights lawyer, delivered an address on ‘Lawyers in the Firing Line: Attacking the Advocates’ at the NI Human Rights Festival on Monday 8 December 2025 in the University of Ulster Belfast campus, York Street, Belfast.

During the event, that Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC highlighted increasing trends of authoritarian regimes targeting lawyers and demonising lawyers as ‘enemies of the people.’ She expressed deep concern for the rise of transnational attacks on lawyers – physical attacks, online abuse, mobility through travel restrictions and proxy targeting of family members.

The lecture was followed by a conversation chaired by Prof Rory O’Connell, Professor of Human Rights and Constitutional Law, Transitional Justice Institute & School of Law.