International Commission of Jurists
ICJ comments on Committee against Torture review of the Russian Federation

ICJ comments on Committee against Torture review of the Russian Federation

Oct 10, 2012

The ICJ presented its views on the Russian Federation’s compliance with the Convention against Torture, highlighting torture and ill-treatment in detention, impunity, and refoulement to face torture.

The International Commission of Jurists highlighted, in its submission, situations of widespread practice of torture and other ill-treatment in detention, especially in pre-trial detention facilities, and impunity for torture and ill-treatment, particularly in the North Caucasus. The ICJ also raised concerns about the transfer of suspects to member States of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, in violation of the principle of non-refoulement, and the failure of the Russian Federation to cooperate with the UN mechanisms, especially with regard to visits by the Special Procedures.

 

Russia-UNCAT-legal submission-2012 (download the ICJ submission)

Spanish Supreme Court urged to proceed with case against former US officials accused of facilitating torture

Spanish Supreme Court urged to proceed with case against former US officials accused of facilitating torture

Sep 26, 2012 | Advocacy, Cases, Legal submissions

The ICJ and others argue that Spain should assume jurisdiction, as the US has allowed for impunity of top officials who facilitated torture.

The ICJ joined the Center for Constitutional Rights, the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights and other leading organizations and scholars, arguing that the Spanish Supreme Court should reopen the investigations for participation in or aiding and abetting torture and other human rights abuses against six senior legal officials of the Bush Administration.

The brief argues that Spain should exercise jurisdiction under Spanish law because the US itself has failed to carry out any meaningful investigations and prosecutions against the officials, who are alleged to have provided legal authorisation for torture practices against “war on terror” detainees.

The officials are David Addington (former Counsel to, and Chief of Staff for, former Vice President Cheney): Jay S. Bybee (former Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ); Douglas Feith (former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Department of Defense (DOD); Alberto R. Gonzales (former Counsel to former President George W. Bush, and former Attorney General of the United States); William J Haynes (former General Counsel, DOD); and John Yoo (former Deputy Assistant Attorney General, OLC, DOJ).

SpainUSA-Bushlawyers-AmicusBrief-2012-eng (download third party intervention)

ICJ and Geneva Academy high-level discussion on detention at the Human Rights Council

ICJ and Geneva Academy high-level discussion on detention at the Human Rights Council

Sep 11, 2012 | Events

During the 21st session of the UN Human Rights Council (10-28 September 2012), the ICJ and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights will convene a high-level discussion on ensuring human dignity during detention.

The parallel event will be held in the Palais des Nations in meeting room XXI on Tuesday 25 September 2012 from 14h to 16h.

The event will discuss the need and options for an international instrument clarifying and enhancing the human right legal framework applicable to persons in detention. Panelists include Professor Manfred Nowak, former Special Rapporteur on torture and former member of the Working Group on enforced disappearances; Judge Theodor Meron, Judge on the Appeals Chambers of the ICTY and ICTR; Professor Shaheen Sardar Ali, Vice-Chair of the Working Group on arbitrary detention; and Ian Seiderman, Law and Policy Director of the ICJ. The event will be moderated by Hina Jilani, member of the Panel on Human Dignity and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The event is open to all persons with access to the Palais des Nations.

HRC21-DetentionEvent-Flyer-2012 (download flyer)

HRC21-DetentionEvent-ConceptNote&BackgroundPaper-2012 (download concept note and background paper)

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