The meeting on reform of the legal system in Zimbabwe convened by the ICJ and other human rights institutions adopted a final resolution containing a clear analysis of the situation and recommendations for reforms.
Zimbabwe-Seminar reform legal system-event-2009 (full text in English, PDF)
Initial widespread support for the US-lead ‘War on Terror’ in response to the 9/11 attacks has diminished markedly. What does this mean for Africa?
In fact, counter-terrorism today has a less-than-honourable reputation, conjuring images of extra-judicial renditions, unlawful and indefinite detention, and torture.
However recent developments indicate that change is coming to the way the world – and Africa – combats terrorism. President Obama has already ordered an end to several unlawful US-lead practices; in Europe and other regions courts are reminding governments about the importance of human rights and due process. Rather than falling primarily within the domain of spies and the military, criminal justices responses will become increasingly important.
Is Africa ready for this change? The ICJ and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) are organizing an evening reception to explore these questions and launch the recent report of the ICJ’s Eminent Jurists Panel on Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights.
Africa-terrorism-news-2009 (full text, PDF)
At the Conference on Systematic Work for Human Rights Implementation, the ICJ underscored the civil society’s dual role in terms of assessment of implementation of human rights norms as well as assistance to States in this regard.
According to the ICJ, the development of international norms has not been accomplished once and forever.
As an example, it pointed to a need to develop norms to extend the obligations to respect and ensure human rights also to businesses. On the other hand, the UN Universal Periodic Review and the system of treaty monitoring bodies should play a more meaningful role to help States ensure full compliance with human rights standards.
ICJ Intervention on Systematic Work for Human Rights Implementation-Events-2008 (full text, PDF)
On 2 and 3 December 2008, the ICJ will hold its World Congress in Geneva, Switzerland. The theme of the Congress will be the Judiciary in Times of Crisis.
Text of a lecture given by Justice Arthur Chaskalson, President of the International Commission of Jurists and Chair of the Eminent Jurists Panel at the Faculty of Law in Cambridge on Friday 11 May 2007, as the Seventh Sir David Williams Lecture.
The lecture was entitled: “The Widening Gyre: Counter-Terrorism, Human Rights and the Rule of Law”.
widening gyre-events-2007 (full text, PDF)
Nicholas Howen, ICJ Secretary-General, delivered the keynote speech at the conference “International Law in an Age of Conflict”, which was held in Damascus, Syria.
Kyrgyz Republic: ICJ welcomes Constitutional Court ruling blocking reintroduction of the death penalty
UN HRC: ICJ Statement on the Human Rights Situation in Venezuela
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