Lesotho: Ombudsman’s report reveals need for immediate action to deinstitutionalize persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities
In response to a highly critical report by the Lesotho Ombudsman, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Lesotho National Federation of Organizations of the Disabled (LNFOD) is calling on the responsible Lesotho authorities to take concrete measures to end the discriminatory detention and inhumane treatment of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities in the Mohlomi Mental Hospital.
ICJ and partners intervene at the UN Committee on the Rights of a Child, in a case concerning immigration detention of a child
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), together with the AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe), the Dutch Council for Refugees and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) submitted today a third party intervention in the Communicated case No. 193/2022, before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
The case concerns immigration detention of an 11-year-old girl from Afghanistan together with her older sister and parents, pending transfer to another EU Member State according to the EU Dublin Regulation.
The interveners focus in their submission on the prohibition of immigration detention of children, including when accompanied by family members, the right to be heard, access to information and legal representation and age assessment in the migration context.
The full intervention can be read here.
Nepal: Lawyers call on the Nepal Bar Association to prioritize efforts to counter harmful gender stereotypes and discriminatory behaviour toward women
Practicing lawyers in Nepal identified harmful gender stereotypes and gender discriminatory behaviours towards women as a major barrier preventing women from accessing justice. They requested that the Nepal Bar Association take the lead in efforts to enhance women’s access to justice.
ICJ co-hosted a workshop for lawyers with the Nepal Bar Association on the Elimination of Gender Discriminatory Attitudes and Behaviors Towards Women and Enhancing Access to Justice for Women on 31 March-1 April 2023.
Greece: Criminalization of humanitarian support to migrants and refugees must end
Ahead of the continuation of the misdemeanour trial of Seán Binder and Sarah Mardini and 22 others, that is set to start today, the ICJ calls on the Greek authorities to support rather than criminally prosecute people who provide humanitarian assistance to migrants and refugees. The humanitarian volunteers should be acquitted.
“The use of the criminal law to punish persons courageously performing life-saving humanitarian assistance for people on the move is deplorable,” said Karolína Babická, legal adviser at the International Commission of Jurists. “There are concerns that major procedural flaws in the proceedings stand to undermine the defendants’ rights to a fair trial.“
EU: Towards ending detention of migrant children
On 23-24 January, the ICJ will hold two events in Brussels on the impact of immigration detention on children and on alternatives to detention for migrant children.