Peruvian authorities in all three branches of government should strive to strengthen the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers in the wake of the political crisis that led to the arrest of former President Pedro Castillo yesterday after he tried to dissolve Congress, take control of the judiciary and declare a state of emergency, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said today.
The ICJ today denounced attacks on lawyers across the world, in particular in the Russian Federation, Myanmar, Nepal, Venezuela and Turkey, in its statement during the dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.
The statement before the UN Human Rights Council reads as follows:
“Mr President,
The ICJ welcomes this timely report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, which demonstrates that lawyers are targets of attacks, harassment, and arbitrary prosecutions and disbarment worldwide.
In the Russian Federation, contrary to international law and standards on the role of lawyers, law enforcement officials routinely impede the work of lawyers attempting to represent people detained or charged in connection with anti-war protests, including by using violence.
In Myanmar, where the judiciary is subservient to the executive, lawyers and their families face daily threats of arrest, detention and harassment solely for their professional activities.
In Nepal, the police have injured the Bar Association’s executive members, including its General Secretary, when they used excessive force against lawyers protesting against the corruption in the Supreme Court, and calling for an investigation of the Chief Justice. Similar violations occur in Venezuela.
In Turkey, legislative reforms have been introduced undermining the independence of the legal profession. Moreover, prominent human rights lawyers are subject to arbitrary prosecutions, including Cihan Aydin and Öztürk Türkdoğan.
The ICJ calls on this Council and all its Special Procedure to pay particular attention to attacks on lawyers whose work is essential for access justice and effective remedies to protect everyone’s human rights.
I thank you.”
Contact:
Massimo Frigo, ICJ UN Representative, e: massimo.frigo(a)icj.org, t: +41797499949
The ICJ today delivered a statement before the UN Human Rights Council denouncing the increasing human rights violations in Nicaragua and calling on the authorities in Nicaragua and other parties to lend all support and collaboration to the Council’s Group of Human Rights Experts in investigating human rights violations.
Massimo Frigo, ICJ UN Representative, e: massimo.frigo(a)icj.org, t: +41797499949
Today, the ICJ, in two separate statements before the UN Human Rights Council, alerted its Members to the continuing lack of independence and impunity for gross human rights violations in Venezuela.
Before the UN Human Rights Concil, the ICJ called today upon States to serious address the enduring impunity for crimes under international law and gross human rights violations committed in rendition and secret detention programmes and practices.
The ICJ called today before the UN Human Rights Council on all Member States of the UN to allow for a global TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines and expressed concern at the deterioration of the rule of law in Guatemala.
FES-ICJ High-Level Conference: The role of civil society in the UN80 Initiative
Laos: After 13 years, renewed international action needed to ensure justice in Sombath Somphone’s enforced disappearance
Thailand/Cambodia: Suspend trial of Uyghur detainees and implement UN request to redress multiple human rights violations
Myanmar: General Elections a Sham to Legitimize Military Rule and Not to Restore Democracy