Jul 3, 2012 | Events
On 3-4 July, the ICJ and UNHCR organised a workshop for lawyers across Europe on the principle of non-refoulement and the right to an effective remedy.
On 3-4 July, the ICJ and UNHCR organised a workshop for lawyers across Europe on the principle of non-refoulement and the right to an effective remedy. The workshop, which took place at the European Court of Human Rights’ premises, focussed on the Strasbourg Court’s jurisprudence and on the practice and procedure related to interim measures before the court.
Europe-ICJUNHCRtraining-agendaICJ-2012 (download the agenda of the workshop)
Photo credit: © Stabilisation Unit/DFID (the DFID has no involvement in nor does support this event)
Jun 28, 2012 | News, Reports, Thematic reports
Nepal has avoided its obligation to provide justice for serious human rights violations over the past 20 years by relying on ineffective commissions of inquiry instead of using the criminal justice system, a new ICJ report says.
Jun 28, 2012 | Events
On Tuesday 3 July from 13h-15h in room XI, the ICJ is co-sponsoring a parallel event on the ASEAN human rights declaration, along with other human rights groups.This event will provide delegations and civil society with a forum to discuss the production of the ASEAN declaration being developed by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. Expert panellists include Mr Yap Swee Seng, FORUM-ASIA Executive Director, Mr Ian Seiderman, ICJ Legal and Policy Director, and Ms Kulachada Chaipipat, Southeast Asian Press Alliance. Attendance is open to all delegations and members of civil society with access to the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Jun 21, 2012 | Events
On 21 June 2012 the ICJ held a parallel event on advancing business and human rights in the Human Rights Council. The summary note of this event can be found here.The panel was moderated by Professor Marco Sassoli and included Professor Andrew Clapham, Dr. Michael Addo, Ms Harriet Berg and Ms Rachel Groux-Nurnberg, as speakers.
The event was convened in order to provide delegations and civil society with a forum to explore ways for further enhancing international standards within the Human Rights Council on the issue of businesses’ human rights responsibilities.
Over 50 participants, including representatives from affected communities, civil society, international organisations and members of the diplomatic community in Geneva attended.
ICJ-HRC20-Summary Note of Parallel Event on Business and HR-event-2012
Jun 7, 2012 | E-bulletin on counter-terrorism & human rights, News
Read the 64th issue of ICJ’s monthly newsletter on proposed and actual changes in counter-terrorism laws, policies and practices and their impact on human rights at the national, regional and international levels.
May 31, 2012 | News
The ICJ called upon the Moroccan authorities to comply with international law and remove the blanket immunity contained in the draft law 01-12 on the “Fundamental Guarantees for the Members of the Royal Armed Forces”.
The draft law, in particular Article 7, attempts to guarantee members of the Moroccan armed forces absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for operations carried out under the orders of a superior within the national territory.
It also requires the State to protect members of the armed forces from prosecution as well as from public criticism or condemnation.
The ICJ is deeply concerned that the law attempts to grant immunity for all serious crimes prohibited by international law that might be committed by the Members of the Royal Armed Forces under the orders of their superiors, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, acts of genocide, torture and enforced disappearances.
The law also does not provide for any legal measures against superiors when their orders violate the law.
“The draft law violates Morocco’s obligations under international law, which prohibits any immunity from legal proceedings in respect of crimes under international criminal law, including gross human rights violations”, whether the perpetrators act under orders from a superior officer or independently”, said Alice Goodenough, Legal Adviser for ICJ’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. “The draft law 01-12 should be amended to ensure that those who carry out or participate directly in committing crimes under international law, as well as those who have command responsibility, are held criminally responsible for such conduct.”
The ICJ is concerned that over the past fifty years, Moroccan armed forces and other security services have acted with impunity, unaccountable to either the courts or Parliament.
They have enjoyed effective immunity from any legal proceedings over their role in the human rights violations documented in the 2005 report of the Moroccan Truth Commission (the IER), including unlawful killings, summary executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and torture and other ill-treatment, the ICJ notes.
“This draft law, if adopted, will institutionalize the impunity that has prevailed over past and present human rights abuses in Morocco,” Goodenough added. “Moroccan authorities must refrain from adopting this law or any other measures that foster or contribute to impunity.”
Contact:
Alice Goodenough, Middle East & North Africa Legal Adviser, t +41 22 979 3811; e-mail: alice.goodenough(at)icj.org
