Jan 29, 2010 | News
The ICJ today welcomed the affirmation by the UN Human Rights Council that human rights and the rule of law must not be forgotten behind the humanitarian crises in Haiti.
“The immediate priority is to ensure that relief efforts are used to address urgent and compelling human rights concerns, the rights to food, health and housing. Haiti and the international community through international cooperation and assistance will then need to adopt specific rule of law strategies to enhance legal system and foster good governance as a precondition for realization of human rights in Haiti,” said Lukas Machon, ICJ Representative to the UN.
Haiti- law rights guide -Press Release-2009 (full text in English, PDF)
Dec 21, 2009 | News
La CIJ expresa su profunda preocupación ante la detención de la Jueza María Lourdes Afiuni en virtud de una decisión adoptada en el marco del caso del Sr. Eligio Cedeño.
Asimismo, la CIJ resalta la gravedad que implica que dicha detención se haya producido tras las declaraciones efectuadas por el Presidente de la República de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, quien opinó abiertamente sobre el caso y exigió que se castigue a la jueza con la pena máxima de 30 años, prevista en la ley sólo para los delitos más graves, cometidos con agravantes.
Venezuela-detention judge-press release-2009-spa (full text in Spanish, PDF)
Aug 26, 2009 | News
The ICJ applauds the decision to “conduct a preliminary review into whether US laws were violated in connection with the interrogation of specific detainees at overseas locations.”
USA-Broader mandate for prosecutor essential-Press release-2009 (full text, PDF)
May 22, 2009 | News
The ICJ is alarmed by the plans of the Obama administration to regularize the indefinite detention without trial that has been emblematic of the worst US abuses in its counter terrorism programs since 11 September 2001.
USA-President signals continuation of detention without trial-Press releases-2009 (full text, PDF)
May 18, 2009 | News
“Reviving Military Commissions is a setback for the rule of law. It will entrench a fundamentally flawed system with some amendments and set a terrible precedent to the rest of the world.”
“We need a clear break with the past and the laws and policies grounded in the ill-conceived concept of a ‘war on terror’,” said Wilder Tayler, Acting ICJ Secretary General.
The comment comes as the US administration announced that it would revive the suspended military commission system to try certain detainees presently held in Guantánamo Bay.
According to this information the administration will introduce amendments to the Military Commission Act (MCA) 2006 increasing legal protections, including the prohibition of evidence obtained by torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and the introduction of greater choice of legal counsel.
United States-Reinstituting military commission wrong way out-Press releases-2009 (full text, PDF)
Apr 17, 2009 | News
The ICJ today called on the United States to comply with its international legal obligation to conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute officials who authorized and engaged in the international crime of torture.
United States-No impunity for torture-Press releases-2009 (full text, PDF)
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