Mar 30, 2012 | Advocacy
During the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, the ICJ made an oral statement during the Council’s consideration and adoption of the outcome document in the Universal Periodic Review of Swaziland.
The statement focussed on serious risks to the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law in Swaziland, and called on the Government of Swaziland to act to ensure the protection of human rights, the rule of law, and judicial independence.
Swaziland-adoption UPR-advocacy-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Mar 29, 2012 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ, AI and HRW express their concern that the human rights situation in Nepal remains precarious and that accountability for wartime abuses is being put further and further out of reach.
During the Human Rights Council’s 19th session in Geneva, on 27 February to 23 March 2012, the ICJ – in a joint statement with Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) – made an oral statement in the General Debate under item 2 of the Council agenda (concerning reports of the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights – OHCHR). On the even of the departure of the OHCHR from Nepal, the ICJ, AI and HRW expressed their concern that the human rights situation in Nepal remains precarious and that accountability for wartime abuses is being put further and further out of reach.
Nepal-joint statement Human Rights Council-non-legal submission-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Mar 29, 2012 | Advocacy, Analysis briefs
During the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, a plenary Panel discussion was convened on discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity – the first of its kind.
In a joint oral statement with Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, the ICJ welcomed the study by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and addressed concerns about the serious mischaracterization of international human rights law by some delegations at the Human Rights Council.
oral statement-analysis brief-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Mar 29, 2012 | Advocacy
During the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, a Special Debate was held on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic.
In an oral statement during that Debate, the ICJ expressed deep concern on the continuing deterioration of the situation in Syria.
It emphasised that the Security Council should take meaningful steps to break the cycle of impunity, including by referring the situation to the International Criminal Court, and that the General Assembly should take steps towards the suspension of Syria’s rights in the Assembly until its authorities comply with the Commission of Inquiry recommendations and put a stop to the gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law, and hold those responsible to account.
Syria-oral intervention-advocacy-2012 (full text in English)
Mar 29, 2012 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ made a written statement on Nepal to the Human Rights Council during its 19th session in Geneva.
More than five years since the end of the armed conflict in Nepal, international monitoring mechanisms established to scrutinise progress in the peace process in the country have effectively ceased to function, despite the failure to conclude the peace process and establish the agreed-upon transitional justice mechanisms.
The ICJ statement focuses on amnesty provisions in transitional justice legislation; proposed pardons, and the appointment of alleged rights violator to Government; and lack of investigations and withdrawal of cases.
Nepal-Written statement ICJ-non-judicial submission-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Mar 29, 2012 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ made a written statement on national commissions of inquiry in South Asia at the Human Rights Council’s 19th session.Although national commissions of inquiry can contribute towards States’ fulfilment of their international human rights obligations when established in line with international standards and best practices, they are all too often found wanting and frequently designed to continue a culture of impunity for serious human rights violations and to weaken the rule of law.
In a written statement to the Human Rights Council during its 19th session in Geneva, the ICJ raised the issue of the relationship between national commissions of inquiry in South Asia with the criminal justice system, and the question of political will and adherence to international standards.
Written statement ICJ-non-judicial submission-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
