Russian Federation - ICJ calls for thorough, independent investigation into killing of judge

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) today deplored the killing in Ingushetia of Judge Aza Gazgireeva, Deputy Chief Justice of the regional Supreme Court, who was shot dead on Wednesday outside her children's kindergarten in Nazran. The attack on this senior member of the judiciary comes just over one year after Judge Gazgireeva's predecessor, Judge Hasan Yandiev, was shot dead: the investigation into that killing has still not concluded. Both judges had been involved in anti-corruption cases, as well as cases involving armed groups.

Mexico - UN Rights Council: Military Jurisdiction Inadequate for Ensuring Justice for Serious Human Rights Abuses Against Civilians

In its joint intervention, the International Commission of Jurists, Center Prodh, Human Rights Watch and the World Organization Against Torture underscored the rejection by the international human rights bodies of the use of military prosecutors and courts in cases involving abuses against civilians, by stating that the jurisdiction of military courts should be limited to offenses that are strictly military in nature. It was pointed to the practices by the Mexican military prosecutors and courts that routinely investigate members of the military accused of committing human rights violations, which violate Mexico's obligations under international law and appear to contravene Article 13 of Mexico's Constitution.

ICJ congratulates ZLHR for winning the 2009 American Bar Association Rule of Law Award

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) is delighted to learn that the 2009 American Bar Association Rule of Law Award will be bestowed upon its affiliate, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), for their considerable and persistent work in the promotion and protection of human rights and the Rule of Law in Zimbabwe. The ICJ wishes to congratulate ZLHR for winning this prestigious and well-deserved award!