The ICJ and the Judiciary of Lesotho will on 28th – 30th July 2010 hold a Judges’ Symposium in Maseru, Lesotho on the theme ‘Judicial Independence, Impartiality, Accountability and Reform in Lesotho’.
The ICJ welcomes the Royal Thai Government’s decision to revoke the state of emergency in five provinces but calls for more.
While the ICJ understands that Thailand currently faces complex security challenges, the ICJ calls upon Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the Royal Thai Government to revoke immediately the declaration of the State of Emergency in Bangkok and in the 18 other provinces where it has been in place since May 2010.
On 6 July 2010, the Prime Minister of Thailand, with the approval of Cabinet, declared the extension of a Severe State of Emergency in the areas of Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathumthani, Ayutthaya, Conburi, Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Lampang, Kon-Kaen, Udon Thani, Chaiphum, Nakornrajsrima, Ubonrajthani, Nhongbualampoo, Mahasarakram, Roied, Sakonnakorn and Mukdaharn Provinces. The Severe State of Emergency was lifted in Kalasin, Nakhon Prathom, Nakhon Sawan, Nan and Si Sa Ket Provinces.
Thailand-emergency decree revoked-press release-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
Thailand-emergency decree revoked-press release-2010 (full text in Thai, PDF)
Read the 45th issue of ICJ’s monthly newsletter on proposed and actual changes in counter-terrorism laws, policies and practices and their impact on human rights at the national, regional and international levels.
The ICJ has urged the Maoist Party to immediately desist from further intimidation against lawyers acting in the case of Arjun Lama (photo of his wife holding his picture).The ICJ aslo called on the Government to ensure the protection of human rights defenders acting on behalf of victims of both state and non-state actors.
Nepal-intimidation HR defenders stop-press release-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
The ICJ and other Human Rights groups today strongly condemned the conviction, and sentence to three years’ imprisonment, of Mr. Haytham Al-Maleh, a 79 years old prominent Syrian human rights lawyer.
This conviction was ordered on the grounds of “transferring false and exaggerated news that weaken national sentiments”, under Articles 285 and 286 of the Syrian Criminal Code. The charges arise from Mr. Al-Maleh’s interviews with the media in which he criticized, amongst other things, the continued use of the emergency laws in Syria and the ongoing control of the Syrian authorities over the judicial system.
Syria-conviction Al-Maleh-press release-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
EU: Children with disabilities have the right to participate in legal proceedings
Pakistan – Dismantling Justice: A Full-Frontal Assault on the Rule of Law
Egypt: New Criminal Procedure Code violates human rights
GUATEMALA: International organizations express concern over the detention of lawyer Ramón Cadena