On the fourth anniversary of the enforced disappearance of prominent Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone, the ICJ and other organizations condemn the government’s ongoing failure to conduct an effective investigation with a view to determining his fate.
The full statement can be downloaded here:
Laos-sombath4years-advocacy-2016-eng (in PDF)
The ICJ and five other human rights groups are calling on the Malaysian authorities to drop all charges against the Bersih organizers and activists, return all items confiscated from their offices and stop making further arbitrary arrests in connection with these events.
Download the statement here:
malaysia-bersih-5-statement-advocacy-2016-eng (full text in PDF)
The ICJ, Amnesty International, FIDH, Fortify Rights and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada urge Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to reject currently proposed amendments to the 2007 Computer-Related Crime Act (CCA).
The full text of their statement can be dowloaded here:
thailand-cca-amendments-advocacy-2016-eng (in PDF)
thailand-cca-amendments-advocacy-2016-tha (Thai, in PDF)
The ICJ today delivered an oral statement to the UN Human Rights Council, during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia.The ICJ welcomed the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, before continuing as follows:
The ICJ concurs with the Special Rapporteur’s observation that “democratic space has been reduced in Cambodia through the application of a range of laws … and the restriction of a range of legitimate activities of non-governmental and civil society organizations.”
Since 2014, Cambodia has adopted laws inconsistent with its international human rights obligations, including undermining the independence of the judiciary, and unduly restricting the work of civil society.
Human rights defenders increasingly face retaliation for their legitimate work, shrinking civil society space.
Last week, the ICJ observed the criminal trial of Ny Chakrya, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Election Committee and former Head of Human Rights Section and Legal Aid at a leading NGO, ADHOC. He was convicted of crimes, including criminal defamation, for raising allegations of human rights violations. Ny Chakrya and four staff-members of ADHOC, all of whom are in detention, also face another investigation with all the hallmarks of being politically motivated.
Indeed, numerous members of the political opposition and human rights defenders are in exile, face legal proceedings, or have been convicted, in cases that also appear to be politically motivated.
Further, the investigation into the July 2016 killing of leading human rights defender, Kem Ley, lacks transparency.
We very much welcome the spotlight the Special Rapporteur placed on such cases by naming them here today.
2016 marks 25 years since the Paris Peace Agreements under which Cambodia undertook to “ensure respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cambodia.”
We urge Cambodia, the signatories to the Paris Peace Agreements, the Special Rapporteur on Cambodia, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Human Rights Council, to work to ensure these Agreements are given full effect – particularly as Cambodia prepares for local and national elections scheduled for 2017 and 2018.
The statement may be downloaded in PDF format here: hrc33-srcambodia-2016
The ICJ, speaking at the UN Human Rights Council, highlighted concerns with criminalization of political gatherings, arbitrary detention, use of military for law enforcement, and trials of civilians before military courts, in Thailand.
The statement was made during discussion of the outcome of the Second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Thailand.
While congratulating Thailand on completion of the UPR, the ICJ oral statement continued as follows:
However, the ICJ is disappointed that several key recommendations concerning restrictions of civil and political rights in the country did not enjoy the support of Thailand.
The interim Constitution, put in place by the military government after the May 2014 coup, remains in force. Article 44 gives the government sweeping, unchecked powers inconsistent with the fundamental pillars of the rule of law and human rights.
The military government has issued numerous orders and announcements under the interim Constitution, including some that criminalize political gatherings, allow arbitrary detention for up to seven days without charge, and provide military officers broad powers of law enforcement.
At least 1,811 civilians have faced proceedings in military courts contrary to international law and standards, many merely for exercising their rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.
Thailand did not accept any of the recommendations to remove these restrictions on the rule of law and human rights.
While the ICJ welcomes the Order of 12 September 2016 ending the practice of prosecuting civilians in military courts for crimes committed after that date, approximately 500 civilian cases remain in military courts.
The ICJ is also concerned that in July the government charged three human rights defenders with criminal defamation for raising allegations of torture in the deep South.
The ICJ urges Thailand to accept and implement recommendations relevant to:
The statement may be downloaded in English and in Thai in PDF here:
thailand-hrc33-upr-advocacy-non-legal submission-2016-eng
thailand-hrc33-upr-advocacy-non-legal-submission-2016-tha
The ICJ, joined by FIDH, Franciscans International, and IMADR, today delivered a statement to the UN Human Rights Council.
The statement was on the situation of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, and on the need for active participation by international judges in the judicial mechanism to be adopted in Sri Lanka as part of the process of accountability and reconciliation.
The organizations stated, during general debate on an oral update on Sri Lanka from the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Commissioner’s report on the situation of Rohingya in Myanmar, that:
The Government of Myanmar has persecuted the Rohingya, refused to extend basic citizenship rights, and Parliament passed legislation entrenching discrimination such as the Race and Religion Protection laws. This has displaced thousands within Rakhine State and driven the Rohingya to sea and neighbouring countries. The ICJ, FIDH, Franciscans International and IMADR call on Myanmar:
We welcome recent initiatives by the Government of Sri Lanka towards implementing Resolution 30/1, including the establishment of an Office of Missing Persons, and ratification of the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
However, many of the commitments in the resolution remain unfulfilled. The other three transitional justice mechanisms envisioned by the resolution – an office of reparation, a truth-seeking commission, and a judicial mechanism – are yet to be established.
We call on Sri Lanka to implement, without delay, all elements of Resolution 30/1, including particularly the establishment of a credible judicial mechanism with full participation of international judges, prosecutors and lawyers. We agree that international participation is “a necessary guarantee for the independence and impartiality of the process in the eyes of the victims” (High Commissioner’s Oral Update, A/HRC/32/CRP.4, paragraph 32).
Rapid progress on this and other key elements of the resolution is essential to the credibility of the overall process of transition in Sri Lanka.
The statement can be downloaded in full, in PDF format, here: HRC32-OralStatement-SriLankaMyanmar-2016
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