Nov 19, 2014 | Events, News
On 18 November, the ICJ presented and discussed, in a meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels, its two reports on special economic regimes and their impact on social rights in Peru and Morocco.
MEP Richard Howitt, Member of the Subcommittee on Human Rights at the Parliament, and ICJ Commissioner Olivier De Schutter led the discussions.
The reports highlight the impact on rights, including labour and social security, land and water rights, of special economic regimes that aim at facilitating exports and investment in areas such as agriculture and textile.
The meeting enabled discussion of the role that the EU and its member states can and should play in its general dialogue and cooperation with the two countries, particularly in regard to trade relationships and agreements and also the regulation of the EU based business enterprises benefiting from these special regimes.
The presentation of the ICJ research and reports comes at an important moment in the relationships of the EU with both Peru and Morocco.
As to the latter, the ICJ report will feed into the Human Rights dialogue between the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament and Morocco that is taking place today in Brussels.
Reports:
Peru-Social Rights for Export Promotion-Publications-thematic report-2014-ENG (Full report in English – PDF)
Peru-Regimenes especiales exportacion-Publications-thematic report-2014-SPA (Full report in Spanish – PDF)
Morocco-Droits sociaux et regimes speciaux-Publications-thematic report-2014-FRE (Full Report in French – PDF)
Contacts:
Carlos Lopez, Senior Legal Advisor, Business and Human Rights Programme, t +41 22 979 3816, carlos.lopez(a)icj.org
Sandra Ratjen, Senior Legal Advisor, Economic, Social and cultural Rights Programme, t +41 22 979 3835, sandra.ratjen(a)icj.org
Nov 15, 2014 | News
La Comisión Internacional de Juristas, a través de su representante para Suramérica, Federico Andreu-Guzmán, intervino como perito en el procedimiento interamericano, a solicitud de los representantes de las víctimas.
Nov 13, 2014 | News
A trial observer from the ICJ Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers will observe today the hearing of an appeal of disciplinary sanctions imposed on Bulgarian judge Miroslava Todorova.
The proceedings against Judge Todorova related to alleged faults associated with delays in delivering judgment in several cases. The alleged faults occured some nine years ago.
In an initial ruling in July 2012, the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) sought to dismiss Judge Todorova from judicial service. Following judicial reviews and appeals, this was reduced at first to demotion for a period of two years, and then subsequently was reduced further to demotion for a period of one year. Both Judge Todorova and the disciplinary authority are challenging the one-year sanction in today’s hearing at the Supreme Administrative Council (SAC).
Whereas she had previously served on the Sofia City Court, during this two-year period she is permitted to work only in the lower level Sofia District Court. According to Bulgarian law, demotion is the second-most serious disciplinary sanction for a judge, one step less serious than dismissal.
ICJ has previously expressed concerns that the proceedings and sanctions against Judge Todorova may not be compatible with international standards for independence of the judiciary.
The proceedings today will also be attended by observers from Judges for Judges and MEDEL.
Nov 7, 2014 | Multimedia items, News, Video clips
For the fist time, about 40 judges and representatives from judicial training institutions across Southeast Asia gathered to discuss recent developments in international human rights law on the right to life, with a focus on extrajudicial executions, deaths in custody and enforced disappearances.
Nov 6, 2014 | News
The ICJ, REDRESS and OMCT submit report to the UN Committee Against Torture in Geneva ahead of its 12-13 November session on the USA.
Nov 6, 2014 | Events
The ICJ’s Director of International Law and Protection Programmes, Alex Conte, will speak next week on access to justice at a meeting of the OECD Public Governance Committee.
The meeting Fostering Inclusive Growth and Trust in Justice Institutions: Access, Performance and Alternatives, will be held in Paris on 12 November 2014.
The ICJ’s presentation will focus on the key components of access to justice as a means of ensuring access by all to legal institutions capable of rending independent, impartial, binding and enforceable decisions.
It will also address the question of how, when such components are adhered to, trust in justice institutions is attained, from the perspective of the rule of law and public governance, from individuals’ perspectives and from investment and international perspectives.
