ICJ calls for reconsideration of Pakistan’s position on UPR recommendations

ICJ calls for reconsideration of Pakistan’s position on UPR recommendations

The ICJ today called on the Government of Pakistan to reconsider its rejection of UPR recommendations on the death penalty and enforced disappearances.

Expressing deep regret over recent events in Pakistan reversing a de facto moratorium on the imposition of the death penalty in the country, the ICJ called on the Government to accept UPR recommendations to adopt an official moratorium with a view to abolishing the death penalty in law. The ICJ also called on Pakistan to accede to the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR and to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances.

The statement was made during an Interactive Dialogue on the adoption of the UPR of Pakistan (Item 6 of the Council’s agenda) during the 22nd regular session of the Human Rights Council (25 February to 22 March 2013).

Pakistan-HRC22-Item6-NonLegalSubmission-2013 (download full statement in PDF)

Pakistan-UPR-StakeholderSubmission-LegalSubmission-2012 (go to webpage on the ICJ’s submission on the UPR of Pakistan)

ICJ statement on adoption of the Universal Periodic Review of India

ICJ statement on adoption of the Universal Periodic Review of India

In an interactive dialogue with representatives of its government, the ICJ called on India to accept recommendations to expedite the ratification of the UN Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol. Watch the webcast.

The ICJ delivered its statement today during the adoption by the UN Human Rights Council of the Universal Periodic Review outcome document on India, during the course of the 21st regular session of the Council.

HRC21-Item6-India-OralStatement-non-legal submissions-2012 (download statement, in PDF)

INDIA -Universl Periodic Review-press release-2012 (full text, in PDF)

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan

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 Pakistan during its 14th session.

In a submission to the Working Group, the ICJ has focused on the discrete issues of:

  1. independence of the judiciary;
  2. business and human rights, concerning safety and security for miners;
  3. protection of the rights of the child; and
  4. Pakistan’s party status to international human rights instruments and its cooperation with the UN treaty bodies and the Council’s Special Procedures.

Pakistan-UPR14-StakeholderSubmission-legal submission (2012) (download in PDF)

Pakistan-Comparison-FirstAndSecondCycle-advocacy-2012 (full text in English, PDF)

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka

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 Sri Lanka during its 14th session.

In a submission to the Working Group, the ICJ has focused on the discrete issues of:

  1. the failure of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and previous national commissions of inquiry to hold accountable those responsible for serious human rights violations;
  2. the systemic barriers affecting the efficacy of the habeas corpus writ as legal remedy for arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance;
  3. the ongoing detention of Sri Lankans in “rehabilitation camps” and the lack of any independent monitoring mechanism;
  4. Sri Lanka’s failure to implement witness protection measures;
  5. Sri Lanka’s failure to properly incorporate the Convention Against Torture into domestic law; and
  6. Sri Lanka’s party status to international human rights instruments and its cooperation with the UN treaty bodies and the Council’s Special Procedures.

Sri Lanka-ICJ submission UPR-non-judicial submission-2012 (full text in English, PDF)

Sri Lanka-Comparison second cycle-advocacy-2012 (full text in English, PDF)

Human Rights Council: ICJ oral statement in the general debate on the situation in Sri Lanka

Human Rights Council: ICJ oral statement in the general debate on the situation in Sri Lanka

During the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, the ICJ made an oral statement during the General Debate concerning situations that require the Council’s attention.

Welcoming the initiative of the United States of America to introduce a draft resolution on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka, the ICJ emphasised that this initiative should receive wide support by Council members as an important first step to ensure that action towards reconciliation is taken, not just words.

Sri Lanka-oral intervention-advocacy-2012 (full text, PDF)

Nepal: joint oral statement by the International Commission of Jurists, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International

Nepal: joint oral statement by the International Commission of Jurists, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International

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)

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