The ICJ welcomes the significant achievements in a difficult political climate taken by the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights during its 55th session, which concluded on Friday.
The ICJ is satisfied by the decision of the No. 1 Ankara Heavy Penal Court on 31 October to acquit 27 lawyers who had been charged with professional misconduct under the Turkish Penal Law.
The ICJ had sent a trial observer, Paul Richmond, Barrister of England and Wales, to observe this hearing which had been previously adjourned twice. Mr Richmond observed the earlier proceedings which took place on 9 May and 11 July.
The charge against the lawyers stemmed from their representation of political prisoners at Uluncular prison during a court proceeding in December 2000. It was at this hearing that the lawyers were alleged to have “shouted slogans” at the court and “incited those persons present in the courtroom to resist the gendarmes.” The charge was dismissed on the ground that it was not supported by sufficient evidence. A full report of the 31 October hearing will be available on the ICJ web site shortly. Reports of the first two hearings are currently available.
The ICJ calls upon the Government to implement the Court’s decision immediately and ensure full respect for the UN Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
“Ms Gagnon is a distinguished defender of human rights and has demonstrated time and again her profound commitment to advancing human rights,” says Professor Ed Ratushny, President of the Canadian Section of the ICJ.
In a letter addressed to President Bush, the ICJ expressed its alarm at a directive by Attorney General John Ashcroft to federal prosecutors to report judges who depart from U.S. sentencing guidelines to the Justice Department.
Information and knowledge is power. The ICJ launched its new website designed to act as the hub of the ICJ network.
The ICJ conducts Training on CEDAW and a Roundtable on ICCPR in Maldives.
Palestine/Israel: Israel must immediately stop its criminal forcible displacement in Gaza
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
HRC59: Joint statement during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Belarus – condemning repression of lawyers and the erosion of judicial independence