ICJ urges the government of Pakistan to address the consequences of the rule of law crisis as part of the gradual transition to democracy

ICJ urges the government of Pakistan to address the consequences of the rule of law crisis as part of the gradual transition to democracy

The ICJ urged the Government of Pakistan to promptly address the consequences of the rule of law crisis culminating in the 2007 state of emergency. Although the delegation of Pakistan engaged in dialogue about how to better ensure respect of human rights in a number of areas, it often denied the prevalence of major human rights concerns. Pakistan’s steps towards democracy including legislative amendments to improve human rights were welcomed. But the Council’s Working Group failed to offer guidance on how to progress issues relating to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.

 

Pakistan-ICJ urges the Government of Pakistan-Press releases-2008 (full text, PDF)

 

ICJ concerned as Zimbabwe gravitates towards chaos

ICJ concerned as Zimbabwe gravitates towards chaos

In the past three weeks alone there have been reports of wide scale and systematic violence (including cases of torture) of supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in post election political retribution.

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors of Human Rights (ZADHR) reported treating over 452 people who had been assaulted or tortured by militias operating with the acquiescence of the state security agents or together with such agents.

At least 10 people are known to have also been extra judicially executed in politically motivated violence perpetrated by the governing party, ZANU-PF. Thousands have been internally displaced and remain without access to adequate food and other social necessities.

 

Zimbabwe-gravitates towards chaos-Press releases-2008 (full text, PDF)

ICJ urges complete response to questions on secret detentions and on renditions of terrorism suspects

ICJ urges complete response to questions on secret detentions and on renditions of terrorism suspects

The ICJ today urged the Government of Poland to respond fully to concerns about the adequacy of its investigations into allegations of CIA-run secret detention centres in Poland and renditions of terrorism suspects.

The call follows the review of Poland’s human rights record at the first session of the UN Human Rights Council’s Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Poland-UPR detention renditions-press release-2008 (full text, PDF)

Polish government submits report to UN Human Rights Council

Polish government submits report to UN Human Rights Council

On 14 April 2008, the UN Human Rights Council began assessing human rights compliance in Poland as part of a new mechanism monitoring the condition of human rights in the world.

As part of the Universal Periodic Review, the situation in each of the countries will be assessed every four years on the basis of reports submitted by the governments of those countries and documents prepared at the same time by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (among others, on the basis of reports submitted by NGOs). At yesterday’s UN meeting, the Polish delegation, led by the under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Witold Waszczykowski, presented the report of the Government of the Republic of Poland on human rights and answered questions asked by the representatives of other countries.

Poland-Polish Government Submits Report to the UN Human Rights Council-Web-2008 (full text, PDF)

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