A new ICJ report released today warns that the the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Thailand risks undermining the rule of law by conferring broad preventative powers to the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).
The ICJ is alarmed by a campaign of intimidation against journalists and media outlets and at the continuing use of emergency laws to restrict freedom of expression following the re-election of President Rajapakse.
The ICJ calls for immediate Government action to reform these laws and to protect journalists from further harassment and attacks.
SriLanka-freedomexpession-news-2010 (full text, PDF)
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)
A new ICJ report released today addresses the systematic absence of remedies for gross human rights violations in Sri Lanka between 1977 and 2001 – a period of widespread disappearances and unlawful killings.
Read the 39th 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.
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)
India: Joint statement urging Indian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender and student activist Umar Khalid
HRC60: Statement by the International Commission of Jurists in the Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence
HRC60: International Commission of Jurists in the General Debate under Item 2
Serbia: Political leaders must cease interference with the judiciary