I was deeply saddened and appalled to learn of the cruel abduction and murder of Natalya Estemirova. She was one of the most courageous and inspiring human rights defenders I have met.
The ICJ drew the attention of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants to the fact that between 6 and 10 May 2009 the Italian authorities intercepted some 500 migrants in international waters.
These people were trying to reach Italy in small boats. Italian authorities escorted them back to Libya, without taking due account of Italy’s obligations in relation to potential asylum-seekers or others who may not be transferred to Libya for reasons of non-refoulement, as stipulated in Article 33 of the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
The ICJ intervention focuses on aspects of the Security Bill and the Law Decree which give rise to particular human rights concerns.
The ICJ provides its views to the Human Rights Committee for the consideration of the 6th Periodic Report of Sweden.
In this submission, the ICJ highlights several issues which it considers should be of particular concern to the Committee in its consideration of the Swedish report.
Sweden-ICJ submission Human Rights Committee-non-légal submission-2009 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ submits its comments to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of “the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”.
In this submission the ICJ is drawing the Working Group on the UPR’s and the Human Rights Council’s attention to the frequent allegations of ill-treatment by police either during arrest or in police custody, and the lack of adequate investigations into such allegations. In addition, the Working Group should address the Macedonian Government’s failure to provide for a thorough and independent investigation into the detention at the Macedonian border of Mr Khaled El-Masri, and his subsequent transfer to Afghanistan under the CIA rendition programme.
Macedonia-ICJ Submission to the Universal Periodic Review-non-legal submission-2008 (full text, PDF)
In this review, the Working Group on the UPR and the Council should address the violations or risks of violations of Malta’s human rights obligations resulting from its immigration law, policy and practice.
In particular, the ICJ draws attention to measures of administrative detention and expulsion of migrants in light of the right to liberty and security of the person and of the right to non-refoulement where there are substantial grounds for believing that there is a real risk of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or other serious violations of human rights.
Malta-ICJ Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Malta-non-legal submission-2008 (full text, PDF)
Sri Lanka: Counter-terror police must cease the harassment of Tamil photojournalist Kanapathipillai Kumanan
Sudan: Extend the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission for two more years
Israel/Palestine: Immediately halt Gaza’s occupation plan
Nepal: Lawyers urge authorities to address inaccessibility of justice system to women and girls with disabilities