International Commission of Jurists
ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Italy

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Italy

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)

ICJ submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of human rights violations in Iran

ICJ submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of human rights violations in Iran

Sep 2, 2009 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions

The ICJ addressed the persistent failure of Iran to meet many of its human rights obligations and the wave of fresh human rights violations in the country in the aftermath of the June 2009 disputed presidential election.

The ICJ urged Iran to refrain from torture and ill treatment, end violations of freedoms of expression and assembly, abolish the death penalty and co-operate with international human rights mechanisms, including the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council and the treaty bodies.

Iran-UPR-advocacy-2009 (full text, PDF)

UN Human Rights Council: military jurisdiction inadequate for ensuring justice in Mexico

UN Human Rights Council: military jurisdiction inadequate for ensuring justice in Mexico

Jun 4, 2009 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions

The ICJ and other human rights groups underscored the rejection by the international human rights bodies of the use of military prosecutors and courts in cases involving abuses against civilians in Mexico.

The organizations said that the jurisdiction of military courts should be limited to offenses that are strictly military in nature. It was pointed to the practices by the Mexican military prosecutors and courts that routinely investigate members of the military accused of committing human rights violations, which violate Mexico’s obligations under international law and appear to contravene Article 13 of Mexico’s Constitution.

Mexico-Joint Oral statement-non-legal submissions-2009 (full text, PDF)

Government must stop unlawful returns of boats carrying migrants and potential asylum seekers

Government must stop unlawful returns of boats carrying migrants and potential asylum seekers

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

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