Justice Ian Binnie analyzes legal remedies for corporate participation in international human rights abuses

Justice Ian Binnie analyzes legal remedies for corporate participation in international human rights abuses

In this brief, ICJ Commissioner Justice Ian Binnie (photo) describes the progress that has been made – and remains to be made – in developing an acceptable legal liability framework for corporate human rights violations.

In particular, Justice Binnie cites the ICJ’s Expert Panel Report on Corporate Complicity and the SRSG John Ruggie’s framework of “Protect, Respect, and Remedy,” as important advances in defining this framework.

He urges the greater development and use of both criminal and civil theories of liability for holding corporations accountable for violations.

He also calls for victims who have exhausted all local remedies to have access to an international body such as the International Criminal Court.

 

legalremedies-businessHR-analysis brief-2009 (full text, PDF)

ICJ intervention following the update by the UN High Commissioner for human rights

ICJ intervention following the update by the UN High Commissioner for human rights

The ICJ urged the UN Human Rights Council to establish a new expert mandate to exercise early-warning of human rights violations in crisis situations, aimed at securing the protection of civilians in conflicts.

Such a mandate would carry out a fact-finding and make recommendations to the UN in order to prevent and help stop human rights violations and crimes, and to ensure accountability of their perpetrators.

ICJ Intervention Following the Update by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights-Open Letters-2009 (Full text, PDF)

UN: ICJ intervention in the panel discussion on human rights of migrants in detention centres

UN: ICJ intervention in the panel discussion on human rights of migrants in detention centres

The ICJ wants that alternative to detention become the cornerstone of every migration policy.

In a statement at the UN Human Rights Council Panel on Human Rights of Migrants in detention centres, the ICJ drew attention to the fact that States increasingly treat migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, as a potential threat to state security, and automatically subject them to measures such as administrative detention.

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Italy

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Italy

In this review, the ICJ addresses the breaches or risks of breaches of Italy’s human rights obligations.

These are resulting from:

  • its immigration law, policy and practice; frequent expulsions on grounds of national security;
  • widespread attacks on the judiciary and its members;
  • the abuse of the state secrets privilege in order to obstruct the prosecution and trial of international crimes, and the failure to define torture as a criminal offence in its domestic legislation.

Italy-ICJ submission UPR-non-legal submission-2009 (full text in English, PDF)

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