Jan 1, 1988 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
Article by Niall MacDermot, Secretary-General of the ICJ, who first outlines the contents and history of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He then describes the contribution of NGOs to the United Nations and regional mechanisms, in terms of standard-setting and interventions on violations.
Reprint from the book “Human rights in the changing world”, published by the International Law Association Regional Branch (India) and edited by E.S. Venkataramiah.
Role NGOs human rights-non-legal submission-1988-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Aug 1, 1976 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
In response to the request contained in Resolution 7 (XXVII) of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities the ICJ circulated to members of the Commission at their meeting in 1975 a Memorandum relating to “The human rights of persons in detention or imprisonment”.
By Resolution 4 (XXVIII) the Sub-Commission requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to invite (inter alia) non-governmental organisations to furnish information, in particular about the matters referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 of that Resolution.
The ICJ respectfully draws the attention of the Sub-Commission to the information already contained in its 1975 Memorandum.
In addition, it circulates herewith a further Memorandum consisting mainly of statements made by victims of torture and other ill-treatment in various parts of the world, relating to the matters referred to in the above Resolution.
violations of human rights of persons in detention-non legal submission-1976-eng (full text in English, PDF)
May 1, 1975 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
In response to Resolution 7 (XXVII) (of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities), the ICJ submits the attached summary of developments in the field of the human rights of persons subjected to any form of detention or imprisonment.
The object of this material is not to suggest material for findings as to whether or not the rights of detainees and prisoners are being or have been violated in any particular country. Rather, the aim is to aid the Sub-Commission in determining the patterns of violations that have developed in several countries and the conditions which permit such violations, with a view to recommending measures which would prevent their occurrence.
Information compiled by the ICJ in recent years shows that the most frequently violated rights of detained persons are in fact those listed in the preamble of Sub-Commission Resolution 7 (XXVII).
In Part I we draw attention to certain problems relating to the enjoyment of these rights which, according to our files, seem to arise repeatedlyin many countries in all regions and under all regimes. Examples are provided, but they are only illustrative and in no way indicate that only in those countries are such problems known to occur.
Some of the situations mentioned have changed considerably and the practices described have ceased in those places; however, such information about the recent past can be of assistance in determining what measures could correct or prevent similar occurrences today and in the future.
Part II contains suggested measures which the Sub-Commission may wish to consider in connection with these materials. Included are proposals for judicial and administrative procedures which, if adopted, might help to prevent the occurrence of torture and other violations of detainees’ and prisoners’ rights; these proposals have also been submitted to the Fifth U.N. Congress on Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders.
Further details on questions discussed below can be made available by the International Commission of Jurists; in particular, documents mentioned in the footnotes contain much relevant information.
human rights of persons in detention-non legal submissions-1975-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Oct 11, 1961 | Advocacy, Open letters
The ICJ has sent a cable to President Nkrumah of Ghana concerning reports of arrests, it was announced today.
Sir Leslie Munro, the Secretary-General of the Commission, stated that the Commission has learned with “profound concern” of recent reports of the arrest of leading lawyers and a large number of other persons and “in view of the disquiet these reports are having on the world legal community” requested information concerning the charges against those arrested.
Feb 27, 1960 | Advocacy, Open letters
The ICJ, with the support of 39,000 jurists, judges and professors of law in 62 countries throughout the world, wishes to make known the texts of two cables sent on January 28 and February 14, 1961 directly to the Minister of Justice of South Vietnam, Nguyen Luong.
Dec 1, 1958 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
A statement by the German national section of the International Commission of Jurists, published by the ICJ.
The statement consists of answers to a series of questions. The questions were posed by the ICJ and answered on behalf of the German section by ten of its prominent members.
The questions cover the following themes:
- Administrative authorities and the law
- The legislative and the law
- The judiciary and the law
- The legal profession and the law
- The individual and the legal process.
Germany-rule of law-non-legal submission-1958-eng (full text in English, PDF)
