In an interactive dialogue with representatives of its government, the ICJ called on Ecuador to take steps to ensure that its Constitution and other legislation conform with obligations pertaining to the rights of indigenous peoples. Watch the webcast.
The ICJ delivered its statement today during the adoption by the UN Human Rights Council of the Universal Periodic Review outcome document on Ecuador, during the course of the 21st regular session of the Council.
The ICJ has noted with grave concern reports that the National Director of Public Prosecutions in DRC has given an instruction urging senior members of the National Bar Association to dismiss Bâtonnier Mbuyi Mbiye Tanayi.
The President of the National Bar, Bâtonnier Mbuyi Mbiye is known to persistently denounced attacks on the independence of the judiciary by the Executive and has often exhorted the lawyers in the ongoing Chebeya case to discharge their duties without any fear or favour.
It is significant to note on or around 12 July 2012, intelligence service officers carried out searches at Bâtonnier Mbiye’s home and chambers without search warrants, and proceeded to confiscate his computers on allegations that he is linked with the M23 rebel movement.
As we release this document, senior members of the National Bar Association are reportedly going to meet in a few hours and discuss the possible removal of Bâtonnier Mbuyi Mbiye from the leadership of the National Bar Association, as instructed by the Procureur Général de la République (PGR, the National Director of Public Prosecutions).
The ICJ considers that PGR’s interference with the running of the affairs of the Bar Association and the persecution of Bâtonnier Mbuyi Mbiye constitute a blatant violation of the independence of individual lawyers as well as of the legal profession as a whole, as provided for by the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and the Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Fair Trial and Legal Assistance in Africa.
The instruction given to senior bar members also seriously undermines the independence of the judiciary, which is guaranteed by the Constitution of DR Congo, as well as at international level by Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 26 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which DR Congo is a State party.
The ICJ observes that the independence of lawyers is essential for the protection and promotion of the rule of law and human rights in a constitutional democracy. This independence requires that lawyers be subject to self-regulation, which is free from improper and undue interference, and observes principles of professional ethics.
Self-regulation ensures the protection of every one’s right to independent lawyers who adhere to legal principles, which uphold the rule of law and respect for human rights. For members of the public to access justice, they need the assurance that when requiring legal representation in any matter, including those against the state, they will be represented will be represented by lawyers who serve the interests of justice without fear or favour.
“Interference of the state’s prosecutorial authority in the affairs of the legal profession can only weaken the rule of law and human rights, and erode public confidence in the justice system. In any constitutional democracy, senior bar members cannot be instructed even to hold a meeting, let alone to dismiss their leader.”, commented Arnold Tsunga, Director of the ICJ Africa Regional Programme.
The ICJ strongly urges the Procureur Général de la République to desist from interfering with the affairs of the Bar Association and put an end to persecutions against Bâtonnier Mbuyi Mbiye.
The ICJ also exhorts senior Bar members to reject PGR’s instructions and resist any unwarranted manipulation of the Bar Association.
Further, the ICJ calls upon competent Congolese authorities to ensure at all times that the Bar Association, its leaders and members of the legal fraternity are able to discharge their duties without fear or threat of reprisals.
Contact:
Johannesburg: Linda Mtshali, Associate Legal Advisor, ICJ, Africa Regional Programme, t +27 11 024 8268; e-mail: linda.mtshali(at)icj.org
Geneva: Ilaria Vena, Associate Legal Advisor, ICJ, Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, t +41 22 979 38 27; e-mail: ilaria.vena(at)icj.org
A new report by the ICJ says there have been multiple violations of human rights in the arrest and trial of Azimzhan Askarov, a prominent Kyrgyz human rights defender.
In the margins of the UN Human Rights Council’s 21st regular session, the Centre Europe-Tiers Monde (CETIM) and the ICJ today held a parallel event on impunity and exploitation of natural resources in Guatemala.
The event discussed the overall question of justice for indigenous communities in Guatemala. It was followed by the showin of excerpts from Grégory Lassalle’s documentary Des déreives de l’art aux dérivés du pétrole.
Panellists included Ramón Cadena, Director of the ICJ Central America Programme; Hilda Ventura and Mario Mucú, representatives of the Maya communities of San Andrés and Petén; and Melik Özden, UN Representative and Co-Director of CETIM.
The ICJ called on the UN Human Rights Council to strengthen measures to fight impunity in the department of Petén in Guatemala, and to encourage the Government of Guatemala to adopt measures to protect human rights defenders.
The ICJ delivered its oral statement on 18 September 2012 in the course of a panel discussion on indigenous peoples’ access to justice, during the course of the 21st regular session of the Human Rights Council.
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