May 12, 2005 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
On 10 May, the ICJ made a submission to the Committee against Torture (CAT) on the recently introduced draft law on counter-terrorism in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
This law – if adopted – would greatly reduce safeguards against torture, cruel or inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment and negatively affect the implementation of the Convention against Torture in Bahrain. The ICJ invited the Committee to assess the impact of this draft law on the implementation of Bahrain’s obligations under the Convention and make recommendations to Bahrain to ensure that the law complies with international human right standards.
Bahrain-impact law counter-terrorism-non-judicial submission-2005 (full text in English, PDF)
Bahrain-impact law counter-terrorism-non-judicial submission-2005 (full text in Arabic, PDF)
May 12, 2005 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
In May 2005, the ICJ and other rights groups issued a joint statement on the increasing use of diplomatic assurances by States as the basis for the transfer of alleged terrorist suspects in countries where they seriously risk torture or ill-treatment.
The statement was issued by the following NGOs: ICJ, Amnesty International, Association for the Prevention of Torture, Human Rights Watch, International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture, International Federation for Human Rights, International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, and World Organisation Against Torture.
risk torture ill treatment-non-judicial submission-2005 (full text in English, PDF)
Mar 2, 2005 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ submitted its observations to the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on Terrorism (CODEXTER) on the draft Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism.
Feb 28, 2005 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
A functioning Optional Protocol will give us all a more thorough understanding of economic social and cultural rights. It will strengthen the recognition of these rights.
Feb 28, 2005 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
Joint submission presented by human rights groups on behalf of the International Coalition for an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
NGOs invoved: ICJ, the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, Foodfirst Information and Action Network and International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia-Pacific
Joint Submission for an Optional Protocol to the ICESCR [full text, PDF]
Dec 20, 2004 | Non-legal submissions
The ICJ today submitted a Memorandum to the European Commission on the establishment of a human rights agency in the European Union.
The ICJ sets out clear benchmarks for a human rights institution that would provide a strong mechanism to address human rights and rule of law problems in the European Union.
“We call on the European Commission to elaborate a proposal for a EU Human Rights Agency, which is in line with international standards for independent and effective human rights institutions”, says Gerald Staberock, Coordinator of ICJ’s National Implementation Programme. “This step is long overdue and the agency should have a real impact on the promotion and protection of human rights in the European Union and its member states. A weak and flawed institution, on the other hand, would not increase the legitimacy of EU policies but could raise concerns about double-standards, internally and externally.”
Submission on the establishment of a EU Human Rights Agency [full text, PDF]