The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is reviewing the Royal Thai Government’s compliance to human rights norms and obligations. The ICJ submitted its stakeholder report to the HR Council.
The ICJ urged the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to further press for the regulation or prohibition of military courts.
This is essential for the proper administration of justice, respect of the right to fair trial and the eradication of impunity, the ICJ said.
UN Sub-Commisssion-administrration justice-non-legal submission-2011 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ urged all governments to review and repeal laws and policies on operations of intelligence services in countering terrorism that had served to deprive victims of their right to an effective remedy and reparation.
The ICJ commends the Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty. Ms. Magdalena Sepulveda Carmona (picture above) has made consistent efforts to pursue and strengthen the work on the issue of poverty and human rights that had been initiated by the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, the ICJ says.
In particular, the ICJ welcomes the progress report (HRC/15/41) prepared by the Independent Expert that entails substantial recommendations for the improvement of the Draft Guiding Principles (DGPs) on extreme poverty and human rights.
The ICJ hopes that the consultation process including the present questionnaire, and the upcoming consultation meeting organized by the OHCHR on 22 and 23 June 2011, will give the opportunity to progress towards the finalization of the DGPs and towards their eventual adoption in 2012.
ICJ contribution to the consultation on extreme poverty and human rights-non-legal submission-2011 (full text, PDF)
During the exchange by the UN Special Procedures with civil society, NGOs and national human rights institutions, the ICJ identified good practices in coordination by Special Procedures with treaty bodies and the UPR.
The ICJ also called for enhanced cooperation with civil society as part of the working methods of the Special Procedures.
The ICJ and other human rights groups considers that “the draft resolution before the Council falls far short of what is needed”.
“If the Council adopts the resolution as it stands, it will have failed in its fundamental mission to advance the protection of human rights,” they fear.
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