USA: Military Commissions Act enters into force

On 17 October, President Bush signed into law the Military Commissions Act (MCA), which authorizes trials of terrorist suspects by military commissions. The MCA also contains provisions that impose severe restrictions on terrorist suspects’ rights to challenge any...

USA: Court finds domestic surveillance program illegal

On 17 August, a federal judge ruled that the domestic surveillance program run by the National Security Agency (NSA) violated constitutional guarantees of free speech and privacy rights. The Court ordered the Agency to immediately cease intercepting communications...

USA: Department of Defence releases new Army Field Manual

On 6 September, the Department of Defense (DoD) released a new Army Field Manual on interrogations. The Manual clarifies that Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions applies to all detainees, regardless of their characterization and status. It also specifically...

USA: UN human rights experts concerned at counter-terrorism measures

In its conclusions concerning US compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), issued on 28 July, the Human Rights Committee (HRC) called on the US to close all secret detention facilities, to punish US personnel who authorized...
Translate »