La CIJ y el Observatorio expresaron su preocupación común por la continuada privación arbitraria de libertad de la Jueza María Lourdes Afiuni y por los actos de intimidación y amenazas contra los abogados que la defienden.
The ICJ ended its six-day High-Level Mission to Pakistan today after studying the role of the judiciary and the separation of powers.
The High-Level Mission, consisting of Judge Stefan Trechsel (Chair) and Graham Leung, visited Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad between September 7-8 and September 12-15, 2011. The Mission was a follow up to an earlier ICJ Mission which took place in 2007during the height of the constitutional crisis that was occurring at the time.
Pakistan-independence of the judiciary since the lawyers`movement-web story-2011 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ announces the beginning of a six-day High-Level Mission to Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to examine the role of the judiciary and the separation of powers in Pakistan.
On 3 June, the ICJ and other human rights groups organized a parallel event at the Human Rights Council on “Combating Impunity: The Role of Judges and Lawyers in Times of Crisis”.
The panel comprised Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzón (photo), Wolfgang Kaleck (General Secretary, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights) and Robert Husbands (OHCHR-Rule of Law and Democracy Section); Immaculada Barcia (Asian Legal Resource Centre) moderated the discussion. The meeting addressed the responsibility of jurists to protect and promote human rights vis-à-vis governmental attempts to interfere in and block investigations and prosecutions against former State officials even in the case of serious human rights violations.
On 31 May, the ICJ organized a parallel event at the Human Rights Council on “The Role of Judges and Lawyers in Times of Crisis”.
The panel comprised the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Gabriela Knaul, Carlos Ayala (former Chairman of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights) and Gerritjan van Oven (President, Judges for Judges); ICJ Legal & Policy Director Ian Seiderman moderated the discussion. The speakers addressed the special role to be played by judges and lawyers in times of crisis, as last line of defense against the exercise of arbitrary power by political, military and other actors. The meeting also marked the publication of the Legal Commentary to the ICJ Geneva Declaration on Upholding the Rule of Law and the Role of Judges and Lawyers in Times of Crisis.
Role of judges and lawyers-event-2011 (full text, PDF)
Global experts warn of eroding judicial independence amidst the rise of authoritarianism around the world
Development of the Crimes Against Humanity Convention
ICJ Publications on the Crimes Against Humanity Convention
Preparatory Committee meetings for the negotiation of the Crimes Against Humanity Convention