Aug 13, 2018 | News
From 9-12 August, the ICJ-supported trainings on human rights and the law for lawyers, youths and activists from Kachin and Shan states in Myanmar’s north.
On 9 and 10 August, the ICJ joined a “training of trainers” organized by the Humanity Institute, a civil society organization based in Myitkyina.
This aims to improve the capacity of local youths and activists from Kachin and Northern Shan State on basic human rights concepts and measures to engage with Regional and UN Human Rights mechanisms.
The ICJ’s national legal researcher, Ja Seng Ing, shared information about the advantages and limitations of regional human rights mechanisms, including the Europe Commission of Human Rights and the ASEAN Commission of Human Rights. She provided an overview of the UN human rights framework and human rights mechanisms.
In addition to explaining how these work, she also focused on how human rights defenders can communicate with and participate in UN human rights mechanisms by reporting on human rights violations.
Then on 10 and 11 August, the ICJ facilitated a legal training for senior law students, and junior lawyers hosted by the Kachin Legal Clinic, an independent lawyers network.
The Kachin Legal Clinic seeks to develop a pool of young lawyers and with knowledge on the role of lawyers in the field of domestic and international human rights setting and the independence of the lawyers.
On the first day, a national legal adviser from the ICJ shared experiences of litigating for human rights in Myanmar. She also noted the critical role of independent lawyers in protecting human rights, by representing clients from all communities in different parts of Myanmar.
On the second day, Ja Seng Ing gave an overview of global and local law and standards and issues related to accountability and redress for gross human rights violations.
The ICJ’s international legal adviser, Sean Bain, gave an overview of international laws and standards related to the protection of human rights in times of conflict or crises, sourced from international human rights law as well as international humanitarian law and international criminal law.
These activities are part of the ICJ’s ongoing support to civil society actors in Myanmar, from community to national level.
Aug 2, 2018 | Articles, Nouvelles
La CIJ condamne avec la plus grande fermeté les violences qui ont éclaté au Zimbabwe après les élections et appelle au rétablissement de l’état de droit et au respect des droits de l’Homme.
Au moins trois personnes seraient mortes à Harare le 1er août suite à l’utilisation de balles réelles par les Forces de défense du Zimbabwe (ZDF) «pour disperser» des manifestants non armés dans le quartier central des affaires de Harare.
Des membres de la ZDF auraient tiré à balles réelles sur la foule en fuite et auraient agressé des personnes sans distinction, causant des blessures et des pertes en vies humaines.
Bien que la CIJ ne pardonne pas les actes de violence commis par les manifestants et les partisans du parti au pouvoir, elle condamne fermement l’utilisation intentionnelle d’armes mortelles et d’autres actes de la ZDF qui étaient disproportionnés et inutiles dans les circonstances.
Selon la CIJ, les troubles auraient pu être maîtrisés d’une manière compatible avec les obligations internationales du Zimbabwe en matière de droits de l’Homme, ce qui aurait pu éviter des pertes en vies humaines et des blessures aux manifestants et aux passants.
«Le recours à la force létale contre des manifestants non armés ne doit jamais être toléré», a déclaré Sam Zarifi, secrétaire général de la CIJ.
“L’utilisation mortelle et intentionnelle d’armes à feu ne peut être effectuée que lorsqu’elle est absolument inévitable pour protéger la vie”, a-t-il ajouté.
La CIJ rappelle aux autorités zimbabwéennes leur engagement vis-à-vis de l’état de droit, du constitutionnalisme et de la protection des droits de l’Homme prévus par la Constitution et le droit international relatif aux droits de l’Homme.
La CIJ les appelle à respecter l’état de droit et à protéger les droits de l’Homme pendant cette période postélectorale.
La CIJ exhorte les autorités responsables à demander des comptes aux membres de la ZDF responsables des pertes en vies humaines et des mutilations physiques lors des manifestations du 1er août.
Contact:
Arnold Tsunga, Director of the Africa Regional Programme, International Commission of Jurists C: +263 77 728 3248, E: arnold.tsunga(a)icj.org
Aug 2, 2018 | News
The ICJ condemns in the strongest terms the violence that erupted in Zimbabwe after the elections, and calls for the restoration of the rule of law and respect for human rights.
At least 3 people are reported to have died in Harare on 1 August as a result of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ (ZDF) use of live ammunition “to disperse” unarmed protestors in Harare’s Central Business District.
Members of the ZDF are reported to have fired live bullets against the fleeing crowd, and assaulted people indiscriminately, resulting in injuries and loss of life.
While the ICJ does not condone acts of violence carried out by protesters and party supporters, it strongly condemns the intentional use of lethal force and other actions of the ZDF, which were disproportionate and unnecessary in the circumstances.
According to the ICJ, the unrest could have been contained in a manner consistent with Zimbabwe’s international human rights law obligations, which, in turn, could have avoided loss of lives and injuries to protesters and bystanders.
“The use of lethal force on unarmed protesters must never be condoned,” said Sam Zarifi, the ICJ Secretary General.
“The intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life,” he added.
The ICJ reminds the authorities in Zimbabwe of their commitment to rule of law, constitutionalism and protection of human rights as provided for under the Constitution and relevant international human rights law and standards.
The ICJ calls on them to uphold the rule of law and protect human rights during this post-election period.
The ICJ urges the responsible authorities to hold to account members of the ZDF responsible for the loss of life and limb during the protests on 1 August.
Contact:
Arnold Tsunga, Director of the Africa Regional Programme, International Commission of Jurists C: +263 77 728 3248, E: arnold.tsunga(a)icj.org
Background information
Protests erupted in the morning of 1 August 1 2018 during the announcement of the results for the National Assembly following “the Harmonised Elections” held on 30 of July 2018.
It is alleged by authorities that protesters were damaging property during the protest.
Media reports published later in the day indicate that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) invoked section 37(1) of the Public Order and Security Act [Chapter 11 :17], which allows the Minister of Home Affairs upon request by the Commissioner General of Police to seek assistance from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) to quell civil commotion in any district and for the ZDF to assist.
The Zimbabwean Constitution recognizes and protects the rights of citizens to freely and peacefully demonstrate and petition.
It also guarantees the freedom of assembly and association.
Although section 86 of the Constitution makes clear the non-absolute nature of these rights, Zimbabwean authorities must be reminded that any limitations must be in terms of a law of general application and must be fair, reasonable, necessary and justifiable in a democratic society based on openness, justice, human dignity, equality and freedom.
Citizens of Zimbabwe are also reminded of these constitutional provisions and encouraged to exercise their rights within the confines of the law.
Jul 31, 2018 | News
Today, the ICJ called on the government of Kazakhstan to drop all charges of “knowingly disseminating false information” against lawyer Bauyrzhan Azanov related to his representation of a child who is the alleged victim of sexual abuse by older children.
“The prosecution of Bauyrzhan Azanov in relation to statements he made as part of his representation of a child violates the lawyer’s freedom of expression, and prevent him from effectively representing his client,” said Temur Shakirov, Senior Legal Adviser for the ICJ’s Europe and Central Asia Programme.
“Instead of targeting a lawyer, the investigative authorities should use their resources to investigate the allegations of human rights violations in this case and ensure the protection of the rights of this child in accordance with Kazakhstan’s international obligations,” he added.
Bauyrzhan Azanov, a prominent lawyer in Kazakhstan, took up a high-profile case in which he represented a minor, an alleged victim of sexual and physical abuse over a prolonged period.
The case became public in March 2018 through media reports.
Once the case became public several district police officers were fired, and two heads of schools and some other state agents were suspended from office, reportedly in relation to their failure to report and investigate the case.
In his statements in the social media, Azanov alleged the investigation had been obstructed due to corrupt reasons.
In reaction to this, on 21 May 2018, the mother of the minor submitted a complaint against Azanov where she expressed concerns about “social tension”, “forming a negative image of the investigative body” and herself “as a mother”.
Following the mother’s complaint, on 24 July, the General Prosecutor’s Office initiated a criminal investigation against the lawyer for knowing dissemination of false information, which alleged that:
“The information disseminated by lawyer B. Azanov was deliberately distorted and untrue, which created a false idea among the public about the alleged corruption of justice system, investigative bodies, the mother of the child and other persons. This caused psycho-emotional and social tension among the public and created a threat of destabilization of the internal political situation, thereby creating a threat of violation of public order.”
Through the media, Azanov has denied the allegations against him and has stated that he acted in the best interests of his client and sought to ensure accountability for criminal acts.
On 1 June 2018, Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan commented on the case stating that unreasonable prolongation of the investigation is connected with the nepotism in the police and higher investigative authorities.
The Ombudsperson, members of the Kazakhstan Bar Association and human rights activists have made public statements in support of Bauyrzhan Azanov.
In these circumstances, the ICJ is concerned that criminal charges against lawyer Bauyrzhan Azanov for public comments in which he raised concerns about possible violations of human rights of his minor client, may violate the lawyer’s right to freedom of expression.
The right to freedom of expression is protected under international treaties to which Kazakhstan is a party, including by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). As the UN Human Rights Committee stated in its General Comment 34 on the freedom of expression:
“When a State party invokes a legitimate ground for restriction of freedom of expression, it must demonstrate in specific and individualized fashion the precise nature of the threat, and the necessity and proportionality of the specific action taken, in particular by establishing a direct and immediate connection between the expression and the threat.”
According to the UN Basic Principles on the role of lawyers, lawyers have the right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights without suffering professional restrictions by reason of their lawful action or their membership in a lawful organization (Principle 23).
It is of particular concern that the Prosecutor’s Office document uses vague concepts that may amount to arbitrary use of grounds for restriction of freedom of expression of the lawyer.
In particular, it is unclear how prosecutorial authorities measured “psycho-emotional and social tension of the public” or that on what basis the lawyer’s comments may have “created a threat of destabilization of the internal political situation” creating a threat to the public order.
These broadly and atypically worded justifications for prosecution are likely to lead to arbitrary interference with freedom of expression.
Prosecution of the lawyer for his attempts to raise human rights-related issues of his minor client, unsupported by any evidence or explanation what they may refer to, is also likely to have a chilling effect on those who defend human rights of victims of abuse.
The ICJ recalls that according to the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, Governments must ensure that lawyers are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference (Principle 16).
Kazakhstan-Lawyer Azanov-News-web story-2018-ENG (full story, in PDF)
Kazakhstan-Lawyer-Azanov-News-Web-story-2018-RUS (full story in Russian, PDF)
Jul 31, 2018 | Articles, Nouvelles
Le meurtre de l’avocat serbe Dragoslav Ognjanović doit faire l’objet d’une enquête indépendante, rapide et approfondie et les auteurs doivent être traduits en justice, a déclaré aujourd’hui la CIJ.
Dragoslav Ognjanović (photo), éminent avocat qui avait défendu Slobodan Milosovic et représenté des accusés dans des affaires de criminalité organisée, a été abattu devant son domicile à Belgrade, samedi 28 juillet.
«La sécurité des avocats est essentielle au bon fonctionnement du système judiciaire et à la protection de la primauté du droit. Les autorités serbes doivent maintenant prendre des mesures urgentes pour rétablir un climat de confiance dans lequel elles montrent qu’elles sont capables d’assurer la sécurité des avocats potentiellement menacés, et pour enquêter et traduire en justice les auteurs de ce crime,” a déclaré Radmila Dragicevic-Dicic, juge à la Cour suprême de Serbie et vice-présidente de la CIJ.
“L’enquête et les suites pénales liées à cette affaire constitueront un test important pour les autorités et le système judiciaire serbes,” a-t-elle ajouté.
Les barreaux de Serbie et de Belgrade ont appelé les avocats à suspendre leur travail durant une semaine pour exprimer leur préoccupation face au risque de violence qui les menace.
Les autorités serbes mettent cette situation sur le compte de la guerre de clans que se livrent les groupes du crime organisé pour le contrôle du marché de la drogue.
“Les préoccupations des avocats serbes doivent être prises au sérieux par le gouvernement et le parquet, et les barreaux devraient être consultés sur les moyens d’assurer la sécurité des avocats,” a dit Róisín Pillay, directrice du programme Europe de la CIJ.
