Submission to the report on the protection of lawyers. The Rights Practice. December 2021 The Rights Practice submits this response to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, to inform the report to be presented to the Human Rights Council in June 2022. This submission focuses on the protection of lawyers in China. The Rights Practice works to promote human rights (as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent UN conventions and declarations). Our mission is to build the capacity of those working for human rights. We have built a programme of work that addresses three strategic themes within China: access to justice, human rights and criminal justice, and public participation. For many years we have engaged with Chinese legal scholars, lawyers and judicial officials to help prevent the use of torture, reduce the application of the death penalty and support civil society. This submission is informed by stakeholder consultations and review of Chinese law and recent cases. We are a UK registered human rights charity (England and Wales 1133616). The Rights Practice The Foundry 17 Oval Way London SE11 5RR www.rights-practice.org 1