Jan 19, 2012
The ICJ and other human rights groups sent an open letter to Permanent Missions in Geneva concerning a proposal by the Russian Federation on the reform of the human rights treaty system.
Russia proposed to establish an open-ended Working Group of the General Assembly to conduct negotiations on the the reform of the system.
Due to a lack of prior consultations with experts in Geneva, and the risk that Russia’s proposal might undermine the High Commissioner’s continuing process on the strengthening of the treaty bodies, the open letter calls for a delay in taking action on the proposal in order to allow proper consultation before the draft resolution of the Russian Federation is out to a vote in New York.
Jan 6, 2012
A group of experts – including the ICJ – has urged the British Government to remedy key shortcomings in the way the Inquiry will operate to ensure an effective and transparent process in which victims can participate.
In an open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, the Government’s planned ‘Detainee Inquiry’ faces further harsh criticism, with the seventeen distinguished international human rights experts stating that “the powers currently given to the Inquiry are seriously deficient and that it will be unable to properly fulfil the UK’s human rights obligations.
UK-detainee inquiry-open letter-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Dec 9, 2011
Three years after its adoption by the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has been signed by thirty-nine States.
Nov 29, 2011
Under the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on the UPR will be undertaking a review of Brazil during its 13th session in June 2012.
In a submission to the Working Group, the ICJ has focused on the discrete issues of: access to justice, especially in the context of business and human rights; and Brazil’s party status to international human rights instruments and its cooperation with the UN treaty bodies.
Brazil-ICJ submission UPR-analysis brief-2011 (full text in English, PDF)
Nov 24, 2011
Under the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on the UPR will be undertaking a review of India during its 13th session in June 2012.
In a submission to the Working Group, the International Commission of Jurists has focused on the discrete issues of: the ratification of the Convention against Torture; and India’s party status to international human rights instruments and its cooperation with the UN treaty bodies and the Council’s Special Procedures.
India-ICJ submission UPR-analysis brief-2011 (full text in English, PDF)
