Language Switcher

Region and country Archives: South Asia

Sri Lanka: Revised version of anti-terror bill threatens human rights

The ICJ considers that revisions made to the draft of proposed anti-terrorism legislation, while positive, fail to sufficiently correct the deficiencies of the earlier draft and, if adopted, would risk serious human rights violations. The revised bill, in its clause 3 continues to define acts of terrorism in a vague and overbroad matter and undercuts […]

Continue Reading

UN Human Rights Council: ICJ highlights concerns about the grave human rights situation in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan

The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) convened today in Geneva for the start of its 54th session. The ICJ actively participated in this first day delivering statements on three situations in which gross and systematic violations of human rights are committed: Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. These situations require a sustained attention by the international […]

Continue Reading

Nepal: Prime Minister, victims’ groups and other stakeholders agree that proposed transitional justice bill needs revision to ensure real accountability

At a National Conference organized on 4 September by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in collaboration with Advocacy Forum, Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) committed his government to establishing a credible and effective transitional justice process and to ensuring that proposed legislation was amended to make it fit for the purpose. (more…)

Continue Reading

Afghanistan: local and international organizations call on the UN Human Rights Council to establish an independent investigative mechanism

In an open letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and 72 other organizations urge the Council to, amongst other things, renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, and establish a parallel independent investigative mechanism during its upcoming 54th session. […]

Continue Reading

Joint Statement: Sri Lanka’s Flawed Plans for a ‘Truth Commission’

We, nine international human rights organizations, have grave reservations about the Sri Lankan government’s proposed National Unity and Reconciliation Commission. Our concerns echo many of those already raised by victims of conflict-related abuses and their families. Sri Lanka has a long history of convening similar bodies, none of which has provided justice, truth or reparation […]

Continue Reading