Jun 24, 2010 | News
Representatives of the ICJ, concluding a visit to the Russian Federation, today stressed that major reforms are needed to protect the independence of the Russian judiciary.
Without significant progress in strengthening the independence of the courts, the public will continue to lack confidence in the Russian judicial system, and the rule of law will remain fragile. The political priority given to judicial reform by President Medvedev needs to be followed through with a clear programme of action, the ICJ concluded.
Russian Federation-reforms judicial indepence-press release-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
Russian Federation-reforms judicial indepence-press release-2010 (full text in Russian, PDF)
Jun 24, 2010 | News
The Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (CIJL) of the ICJ today raised concerns about ongoing attacks against the professional and personal integrity of Justice Richard Goldstone.
OPT-statement harassment Goldstone-press release-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
Jun 23, 2010 | News
The ICJ strongly condemns the decision of the Second Criminal Court of Damascus to convict Mr. Muhannad Al-Hasani, a prominent lawyer and human rights defender, and sentence him to three years imprisonment.
He was arrested on 28 July by officers of the Syrian General Intelligence Service and formally charged by an Investigating Judge on 12 October 2009 for“weakening national sentiments and encouraging racist and sectarian feelings”, and “transferring false and exaggerated news that weaken national sentiments” under Articles 285, 286 and 287 of the Penal Code.
Syria-Al-Hasani immediate release-press release-2009 (full text in English, PDF)
Syria-Al-Hasani persecution continues-press release-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
Syria-trial Al-Hasani Criminal Court-trial observation report-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
Jun 22, 2010 | Agendas
On 21-22 June 2010, the ICJ in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights organized an Expert Consultation on a proposed Optional Protocol to establish a communication procedure to allow for children who are victims of human rights violations to seek a remedy before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Participants in the meeting included the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Open-Ended Working Group on an Optional Protocol. The UN Open-Ended Working Group on an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child will next meet in December 2010 to discuss a draft text presently being prepared by the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Open-Ended Working Group, Mr. Drahoslav Stefane.
Switzerland-expert consultation CRC-agenda-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
Jun 18, 2010 | Agendas
Treaty-bodies have a special role in monitoring State compliance with human rights treaty obligations and providing guidance to States Parties on how to fulfil those obligations. The workshop afforded an occasion for in-depth examination and interaction between the committees on the impact that activities of transnational corporations have in the implementation of treaty obligations, providing a comparative and informed perspective on approaching these issues and encouraging coordinated action.
Switzerland-workshop transnational corporations-agenda-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
