Nov 4, 2009 | News
The ICJ today expressed satisfaction that the Italian judiciary and prosecutors have begun to address some of the worst human rights abuses arising in the post-11 September environment.
The Tribunal of Milan convicted 23 of 26 CIA agents charged with the kidnapping and enforced disappearance of Nasr Osama Mustafa Hassan (known as Abu Omar) in February 2003. Abu Omar was abducted by CIA agents from the streets of Milan in February 2003, with the cooperation of Italian officials, and transferred through Germany to Egypt, where he was subjected to torture.
Italy-Abu Omar case-press release-2009 (full text, PDF)
Sep 8, 2009 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
In this review, the ICJ addresses the breaches or risks of breaches of Italy’s human rights obligations.
These are resulting from:
- its immigration law, policy and practice; frequent expulsions on grounds of national security;
- widespread attacks on the judiciary and its members;
- the abuse of the state secrets privilege in order to obstruct the prosecution and trial of international crimes, and the failure to define torture as a criminal offence in its domestic legislation.
Italy-ICJ submission UPR-non-legal submission-2009 (full text in English, PDF)
Jul 27, 2009 | News
The ICJ welcomes the opinion of the Italian High Council of the Magistrature on Criminal Procedure Bill no. A.S.1440 presently under consideration in the Justice Commission of the Italian Senate.
Jun 4, 2009 | Advocacy, Open letters
The ICJ drew the attention of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants to the fact that between 6 and 10 May 2009 the Italian authorities intercepted some 500 migrants in international waters.
These people were trying to reach Italy in small boats. Italian authorities escorted them back to Libya, without taking due account of Italy’s obligations in relation to potential asylum-seekers or others who may not be transferred to Libya for reasons of non-refoulement, as stipulated in Article 33 of the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
Italy-intervention SR Migrants-non-legal submission-2009
Apr 30, 2009 | News
The ICJ is concerned that an amendment introduced to new security legislation on administrative detention of irregular migrants would contravene international human rights standards.
