May 12, 2010
The ICJ calls on the African Commission on Human and peoples’ Rights (African Commission) to take action on the recurrent situation of election-related human rights violations in African countries. Despite the fact that the African continent has made significant progress in institutionalising electoral democracy, elections have continued to be a major source of armed conflicts, political violence and institutional instability, which nurture gross human rights violations. It is vital that the African Commission pay a particular attention to this appalling issue, and establish a Working Group on Elections, Human Rights and the Rule of Law.
Gambia-rights violation Africa-analysis brief-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
May 11, 2010
The ICJ and Amnesty International welcome the opportunity to comment on the second draft of the Guidelines of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on impunity set out in DH-I(2010)005 .
The ICJ and AI consider that the current draft reflects considerable progress towards strong and effective guidelines on this topic, but recommend that a number of changes be made to ensure that the Guidelines will be consistent with current international law and standards.
Council of Europe-legal submissin-2010 (full text, PDF)
Apr 22, 2010
This review represents the first chance for the Human Rights Council to take stock of US counter-terrorism laws, policies and practices since the new US administration took office in 2009.
The ICJ urges the Human Rights Council to seize this opportunity to define clear benchmarks for the protection of human rights in the fight against terrorism.
USA-legal submission-2010 (full text, PDF)
Apr 22, 2010
ICJ releases its Annual Report 2009. Foreword by Wilder Tayler, ICJ Secretary General.
Apr 14, 2010
At the UN Human Rights Council, the ICJ requested that the Government of Iran allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit the country expeditiously.
The call comes as Iranian security forces have continued to engage in extrajudicial killing, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and other ill-treatment of peaceful protesters following the flawed 2009 presidential elections. In addition, the ICJ urged the Government of Sri Lanka to stop a campaign of intimidation against journalists, human rights defenders and members of the opposition.
Iran-Sri Lanka-gross human rights viloations-open letter-2011 (full text, PDF)
