Although all lawyers understand the principle of professional secrecy (sometimes known as "professional privilege"), its varying practical applications can be confusing.

Since violations of professional secrecy are punished criminally in some jurisdictions, such as France, this seminar is being organised by the Criminal Law Commission of the UIA.

This criminal aspect, under laws making professional secrecy absolute and excluding all exceptions arising from contractual waivers by the client (sometimes under duress), illustrates that in some countries professional secrecy is neither a prerogative of the professional nor the property of the client, but rather a matter of public interest that the State adopts for its own and enforces. 

Because of the universal nature of these issues, we have chosen five themes for the panel discussion on Friday, September 26:

    1. A single "secrecy" for all professionals?

    2. An obligation imposed by contract, by the profession or by the State?

    3. Whistleblowing obligations

    4. Professional secrecy in the criminal context

    5. To which information does the privilege apply?  Is everything secret?

On Saturday morning, September 27, we will hear the reactions of representatives of professions and institutions in a wideranging debate designed to facilitate a multidisciplinary discussion.