
ICJ urges Malaysian government not to undermine the rule of law
The ICJ’s CIJL is concerned by the government’s proposal to amend the Constitution so as to undermine the separation of powers between the judiciary, the executive and the legislature.
The ICJ’s CIJL is concerned by the government’s proposal to amend the Constitution so as to undermine the separation of powers between the judiciary, the executive and the legislature.
The ICJ welcomes the resolution of the UN Security Council declaring that the deportation of Palestinians from the West Bank is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The ICJ has urged the government of Malaysia to bring to trial or release the 91 persons now detained under the Internal Security Act.
Under the Act persons can be detained without charge or trial for indefinite renewable 60 day periods.
Following the 8 November 1987 referendum abolishing the law limiting the civil responsibility of judges, the ICJ have urged the Italian authorities in drafting new legislation to respect UN standards of judicial independence.
In a letter to Mr. GIuliano Vassalli, Italian Minister of Justice, the two organisations drew attention to the U.N. Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, which the General Assembly has called on governments to respect and to take into account in their national legislation. The Principles provide that while a judge may be subject to appropriate disciplinary procedure for wrongful acts, and while an aggrieved individual may seek compensation from the state, “judges should enjoy personal immunity from civil suits for monetary damages for improper acts or omissions in the exercise of their judicial functions.”
The two organisations, which work with judges and lawyers worldwide to promote the Rule of Law and the independence of the judiciary, consider that the immunity of Judges from personal liability is an essential safeguard of judicial independence.
The ICJ visited Singapore to investigate and report on the detentions under the Internal Security Act of a total of 22 men and women accused of participating in a ‘Marxist conspiracy’ to overthrow the Singapore government.
“Rights Work” Conference, Stockholm: ICJ Intervention on Systematic Work for Human Rights Implementation.
Sweden-Intervention systematic work-event-2008 (full text in English, PDF)