Mar 20, 2009 | News
The ICJ welcomes the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry by the Government of Pakistan.
“The reinstatement of the Chief Justice is an historic milestone in reaffirming the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan,”said Dato Param Cumaraswamy, ICJ Honorary Commissioner and former UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges. “It will help restore public and international confidence in the judicial system, but for this to be effective, the Government must ensure functional independence of the judiciary, without any executive interference in the future.”
Pakistan-reinstatemt-chiefjustice-web story-2009 (full text, PDF)
Mar 10, 2009 | News
Serious failures in the criminal investigation have denied justice in the case of disappeared Muslim lawyer Somchai Neelapaichit in Thailand, the ICJ said in a new report released today.
The ICJ said there were no signs of concrete progress in bringing the perpetrators to justice and urged the investigators to use all available legal powers to overcome a ‘wall of silence’ in the police and to secure essential evidence.
Thailand-Serious failures in the criminal investigation-Press releases-2009 (full text, PDF)
Link to report of trial obervation mission (in English and Thai)
Mar 9, 2009 | News
The ICJ today welcomed the decision to issue a warrant of arrest against the President of Sudan, Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir, for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
This first decision, in which an international tribunal has sought the arrest of a sitting head of State, is a significant step forward towards breaking the cycle of impunity and bringing justice to victims in Darfur.
Sudan-Breaking the cycle of impunity and bringing justice to victims in Darfur-Press releases-2009 (full text, PDF)
Mar 6, 2009 | E-bulletin on counter-terrorism & human rights, News
Read the 31st 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.
Mar 3, 2009 | News
The ICJ urged the Human Rights Council to adopt new mechanisms for enhanced protection of civilians in times of de facto and de iure emergencies, including in armed conflicts.
The Council was also demanded to start using its multiple instruments to address gross violations in individual countries and articulate measures to remedy damage done in counter-terrorism, which requires a renewed commitment to human rights and rule of law principles.
The following documents are available:
ICJ urges to HRC unconditional protection of civilians-Press releases-2009 (full text, PDF)
Feb 16, 2009 | News
An independent panel of eminent judges and lawyers presents alarming findings about the impact of counter-terrorism policies worldwide and calls for remedial action.
