Feb 1, 2012
The ICJ and other human rights groups have presented comments on the follow-up to the Interlaken and Izmir Declarations on future reforms of the European Court of Human Rights.
This document focuses in particular on the various reform proposals which are currently being discussed in the context of the preparation of the Steering Committee for Human Rights’ (CDDH) Final Report to the Committee of Ministers on measures requiring amendment of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The organizations raised concerns about new proposals raised at a late stage in the work of the CDDH by a number of states.
future European court-analysis brief-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Jan 23, 2012
Vrinda Grover, the ICJ South Asia Advocate for India, prepared a legal opinion on the Revised 2010 Prevention of Torture Bill.
The ICJ legal opinion sets out eighteen recommendations on how India may better comply with its obligations under the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) as well as the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
India-opinion prevention torture-legal submission-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Photo by Joe Athialy
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.
