Jun 15, 2017
The ICJ and nine other human rights organizations decry the human rights crises taking place in Egypt in a letter published today. Repression of human rights defenders, journalists and political opposition has reached a level not seen in decades.
It require effective action including by the UN Human Rights Council.
The full letter is available here (in PDF).
The ICJ is also co-sponsoring a side event, Egypt: the Price of Silence, on Monday 19 June at 14:30 (pdf): HRC35-SideEvent-Egypt-2017
Jun 13, 2017 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ today spoke on behalf of a number of NGOs, drawing the attention of the Human Rights Council to the fact that the Council is permitting civil society space to shrink within its own chamber.
The statement was as follows:
Mr President,
We thank States for their commitment to address the shrinking space for civil society.
We draw the Council’s attention to the fact that since 2013, the number of desks reserved for NGOs in room XX for Human Rights Council sessions has been reduced from 24 to 2, leaving only the two speaking seats we are now sitting in.
This has been drawn to the attention of successive Presidents of the Council but the space has continued to shrink.
We invite all delegations to reflect on the impression this gives to civil society, not to mention States and other international actors, about the Council’s commitment to addressing shrinking civil society space.
I thank you Mr President.
The statement was delivered by the ICJ on behalf of the following NGOs:
- Article 19
- Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia)
- Bahá’í International Community
- CIVICUS – World Alliance for Citizen Participation
- DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)
- FIAN International
- Franciscans International
- International Bar Association
- International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
- International Federation for Human Rights Leagues (FIDH)
- International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA)
- the International Movement against All forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
- International Platform Against Impunity
- International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
- Minority Rights Group International
- Peace Brigades International (PBI)
- Universal Rights Group (URG)
- Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).
The statement can be downloaded in PDF format here: HRC35-OralStatement-GDItem3-CivilSocietySpace-2017
Apr 28, 2017
The statement was delivered by the ICJ at the Half-Day of General Discussion on the Elaboration of a Revised General Comment on Article 3, the Refoulement Prohibition, of the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Universal-CAT-General Discussion-Advocacy-Legal Submission-2017-ENG (full text in PDF)
Mar 30, 2017
The ICJ and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) have made a submission to the Committee against Torture in advance of its examination of Pakistan’s initial report under the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
ICJ and HRCP’s submission draws the Committee’s attention to concerns related to:
- Legal framework relevant to torture and other ill-treatment in Pakistan;
- Compatibility with the Convention, as well as other relevant international standards, of draft legislation purporting to incorporate the Convention against Torture into Pakistan’s domestic law;
- Allegations of torture and other ill-treatment of individuals facing trials before military courts in connection with terrorism-related offences;
- Prevalence of torture and other ill-treatment documented by HRCP; and
- Enforced disappearances as torture and other ill-treatment.
The Committee will examine Pakistan’s initial report during its 60th session, which will be held from 18 April to 12 May 2017.
Following the review, the Committee will adopt Concluding Observations setting out recommendations to the Pakistani Government.
Pakistan-CAT ICJ HRCP-Advocacy-legal submissions-2017-ENG (full text in PDF)
Mar 30, 2017 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
Today, the ICJ made a submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan.
The submission brings to the attention of the members of the Human Rights Council’s Working Group on the UPR issues concerning:
- Trials of civilians by military tribunals;
- Enforced disappearances;
- Torture and other ill-treatment;
- Blasphemy laws; and
- International human rights instruments.
With respect to each of the above-mentioned concerns, the ICJ calls upon the Working Group on the UPR and the Human Rights Council to make a number of recommendations to the Pakistani authorities.
Pakistan-ICJ UPR-Advocacy-non-legal submissions-2017-ENG (full text in PDF)
