Feb 15, 2013
The ICJ wrote to the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to call his attention to the ruling by the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States in the case SERAP vs The Federal republic of Nigeria.
In this case the ECOWAS Court recently ruled that Nigeria had violated its obligations under the Article 24 of the African Charter on Human Rights and People’s Rights, which provides: “All peoples shall have the right to a general satisfactory environment favourable to their development”.
The case concerns activities by oil companies operating in the Niger Delta, whose operations were identified as the cause of severe pollution of water, land and the general environment where people of the Niger Delta live.
The ICJ is asking the Nigerian President to ensure the enforcement of the ruling by the competent authorities in the Niger Delta and the Federal Government.
Nigeria-ICJ letter to President-advocacy-2012 (full text of the letter in pdf)
Jan 29, 2013
The ICJ today submitted a written statement calling on the UN Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the open-ended intergovernmental working group (IGWG) on private military and security companies (PMSCs).
The statement was submitted ahead of the 22nd session of the Council (25 February to 22 March 2013).
Recognizing that the IGWG identified, during its second session in August 2012, that there are a number of existing gaps and areas of concern relating to the protection of human rights in the context of the activities of private security companies, the ICJ urged the Council and all States participating in the IGWG to:
- Consider the possibility of elaborating a legally binding instrument on the regulation, monitoring and oversight and accountability of the activities of PMSCs, as well as complementary approaches and strategies; and
- Approach the issue of the regulation of PMSCs from a human rights perspective, particularly on the questions of accountability and access to justice.
HRC22-IGWGonPMSCs-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full submission in PDF)
Nov 30, 2012
The ICJ welcomed a feasibility study adopted by the Council of Europe Steering Committee on Human Rights on 28 November, which sets out possible options for standard-setting or other work on corporations and human rights.
The ICJ noted that access to justice for victims of corporate abuse of human rights is the aspect of corporations and human rights which is most urgently in need of attention. The jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights and the standards developed by the Council of Europe can provide a good basis for further refinement and development of standards, guidance and recommendations for Council of Europe Member States in this field. The ICJ therefore urged the Steering Committee on Human Rights to support the development of Council of Europe standards on access to justice for victims of corporate human rights abuse.
ICJsubmission-CouncilofEurope-Business&HumanRights-advocacy-2012 (download the submission)
Photo credit: © notfrancois (the author has no involvement in nor does support this submission)
Nov 15, 2012
El presente informe sistematiza las consideraciones principales relativas al respeto de los derechos humanos en los municipios de San Andrés y La Libertad, así como aquellas relativas al derecho de acceso a la justicia.
Oct 31, 2012
The ICJ has brought to the attention of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism issues concerning the activity of the Canadian business sector and its implications for human rights, as well as other key issues to be addressed in the review of Canada’s compliance with international human rights.
From 22 April to 3 May 2013, the Human Rights Council’s Working Group on the UPR will consider the situation of human rights in Canada. Ahead of the Working Group’s review, the ICJ has made a submission in which it has made suggested recommendations concerning:
- Activities of the business sector and their implication for human rights as this relates to the mining sector and the recent Bill to impose guidelines on responsible and human rights compliant behaviour for Canadian mining, gas and oil companies operating overseas;
- Use and exportation of asbestos to other States; and
- Canada’s engagement with international human rights instruments and mechanisms.
Canada-UPR16-StakeholderSubmission-legal submission (2012) (download full submission in PDF)
Canada-UPR16-AdvocacyNote-NonLegalSubmission-2013 (download advocacy note in PDF)
Canada-UPR16-ComparisonChart-NonLegalSubmission-2013 (download comparison with first cycle UPR of Canada)
