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)
Mar 23, 2012 | Advocacy, Cases, Legal submissions
On 22 March the ICJ together with 8 other organizations submitted and amicus curie brief in support of an action by the American Civil Liberties Union to obtain information under the US Freedom of Information Act about the CIA’s use of drones to carry out targeted killings around the world.
CIATargetedKillingsMemos-AmicusBrief-Joint-USA (download the joint amicus brief)
Feb 8, 2012 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
La Commission internationale de juristes (CIJ) exhorte les autorités de Djibouti à mettre fin immédiatement aux persécutions dont sont victimes acteurs judiciaires et défenseurs des droits humains dans le pays. Elle leur rappelle aussi leur obligation légale de protéger les défenseurs des droits de l’homme et de garantir l’indépendance des juges et de la magistrature.
Nov 24, 2011 | Advocacy, Analysis briefs
Under the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on the UPR will be undertaking a review of South Africa during its 13th session in June 2012.
In a submission to the Working Group, the International Commission of Jurists has focused on the issues of: access to justice, especially in the context of business and human rights; sexual violence, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity; the protection of migrant rights; police accountability and oversight; and international human rights instruments and South Africa’s cooperation with the UN treaty bodies and the Council’s Special Procedures.
South Africa-ICJ submission UPR-analysis brief-2011 (full text in English, PDF)
Oct 17, 2011 | Advocacy, Analysis briefs, News
The Maastricht Centre for Human Rights and the ICJ are pleased to announce the adoption of the Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations of States in the area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
These international legal principles clarify the human rights obligations of States beyond their own borders.
principles obligations adopted-press release-2011 (full text in English, PDF)
Maastricht principles-analysis brief-2011 (full text in English, PDF)
Oct 11, 2011 | Advocacy, Analysis briefs
Since 2009, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for the strengthening and increased funding for the UN treaty bodies.
The UN treaty bodies are the monitoring mechanisms established under the universal treaties on international human rights.
To date, however, this strengthening process has inadequately addressed the need to strengthen, streamline and coordinate the Individual Communications procedures of the treaty bodies.
A coalition of NGOs has therefore issued a joint statement on the strengthening of these procedures, which represent a key aspect of the right of access by all to international justice in the context of human rights. The joint statement includes recommendations to States, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the treaty bodies themselves.
statement strengthening treaty body-analysis brief-2011 (full text in English, PDF)
