The result of an ICJ study mission in September 2011, the report highlights serious shortcomings in expulsion procedures, detention policy and conditions, and living conditions of migrants in reception centres.
Malta-migrants-detention-Mission Report 2012 (download in English)
The report provides a general overview of the pre-trial investigation and the court of appeal hearing in a criminal case in St. Petersburg (Russia) and offers some recommendations based on the main findings.
Having received credible information about possible violations of fair trial principles in a criminal case in St. Petersburg, the ICJ took a decision to send a Mission of observation at the appeal hearing on case # 1-553/10; # 22-2154/2011 at the Saint Petersburg City Court against Gurgen Stepanyan, Vardan Sakanyan, Tigran Arutyunyan. The report provides a general overview of the pre-trial investigation and the court of appeal hearing. As explained below, the appeal hearing was held in camera and despite a request by the ICJ request that it be open for observers, it was closed.
Nevertheless the ICJ observers were able to meet with the Deputy President of the Court and with lawyers involved in the case, and to study documents in the case. The observers express their gratitude to all who met with them and who assisted in the Mission.
Russia-appeal hearing Saint Petersburg-trial observation report-2012-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Russia-appeal hearing Saint Petersburg-trial observation report-2012-rus (full text in Russian, PDF)
The ICJ responded to a questionnaire prepared by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
The submission undertakes a general exposition of standards and jurisprudence, followed by more specific attention to the question of administrative and preventive detention.
Pursuant to the call by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention – one of the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council – for written information to assist in its deliberations on “the definition and scope arbitrary deprivation of liberty under customary international law”, the ICJ made a submission pertaining to the definition, scope and content of arbitrary detention, under international standards and jurisprudence.
Following an overview of standards and jurisprudence, it focuses on administrative and preventive detention, including in respect of counter-terrorism measures, which has given rise to the most abusive practices by States in respect of the rights to liberty. It also briefly highlights the question of detention of migrants.
Submission working Group detention-analysis brief-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
The ICJ presented a third party intervention in the case of Kudeshkina v. the Russian Federation before the European Court of Human Rights.
The third party intervention focuses on issues of jurisdiction of the Court, on the right to reparation, and on freedom of expression and the judiciary.
Russian Federation-Written submission-legal submission-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Kyrgyz Republic: ICJ welcomes Constitutional Court ruling blocking reintroduction of the death penalty
UN HRC: ICJ Statement on the Human Rights Situation in Venezuela
FES-ICJ High-Level Conference: The role of civil society in the UN80 Initiative
Laos: After 13 years, renewed international action needed to ensure justice in Sombath Somphone’s enforced disappearance