With a few exceptions, notably on human rights in counter-terrorism, the Council has not made headway in promoting human rights.
Neither of the sound political calls from the High-Level Segment to ensure accountability and to fight impunity resonated with the Council, the ICJ said.
Human Rights Council Concludes with a few Accomplishments-Press releases-2008 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ today called on the Chinese government to permit the Tibetan people to demonstrate peacefully and called for an international investigation into serious allegations of human rights violations.
The ICJ has written to the Zimbabwe Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, expressing serious concern about recent developments which threaten to undermine the independence of lawyers.
On the fourth anniversary of the disappearance of Thai lawyer Somchai Neelapaichit, the ICJ met with his wife and the UN in Geneva to renew calls for progress in the criminal investigation.
The ICJ told the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (‘UN Working Group’), who are examining the case, that it welcomed the continued investigation by Thailand’s Department of Special Investigations (DSI) to establish the fate of Somchai Neelapaichit, find the body and bring the perpetrators to justice. The ICJ urged the UN Working Group to remain vigilant in the case.
Thailand-ICJ urges United Nations to remain vigilant in disappeared lawyer case-Press releases-2008 (full text, PDF)
Read the 22nd 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.
The ICJ today concluded its second high-level mission to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
ICJ Commissioners Professor Pedro Nikken and Professor Rajeev Dhavan led the mission. In the West Bank, they met with senior Palestinian officials, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Mr. Issa Abu Sharar, the Public Prosecutor, Mr. Ahmed Maghni, and representatives of local NGOs and the legal community. They also visited illegal settlements and the wall of separation in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In Israel, the ICJ delegation held meetings with senior governmental officials and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel, Ms. Dorit Beinisch
This mission followed the first ICJ mission to Gaza, led by its Secretary-General in December 2007. The first mission met with representatives of the dismissed government of Hamas, senior judges, lawyers, local NGOs and representatives of the legal community. The mission visited refugee camps in Jabaliya, Dir Al Balah, Khan Younes, witnessing the devastating impact of the Israeli siege of Gaza on the humanitarian situation in these camps and the human rights of the civilian population in Gaza.
Palestine-Israel-ICJ Includes a Second High Level Mission to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel-web-2008 (full text, PDF)
Palestine/Israel: Israel must immediately stop its criminal forcible displacement in Gaza
ICJ Submission on draft General Comment No. 27 on Children’s access to justice and effective remedy
HRC59: ICJ Statement in the interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on Venezuela – addressing arbitrary detention and repression of civic space
HRC59: Joint statement during interactive dialogue on Myanmar – addressing ongoing atrocity crimes and the collapse of judicial independence