Feb 24, 2014 | Events, Training modules
In partnership with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the ICJ conducted two-day workshops on NGO engagement with the United Nations, held in Pakistan on 18-19 and 21-22 February 2014.
The workshops, held in Lahore and Islamabad, focused on enhancing the meaningful participation of national NGOs with the UN human rights system. Participants included representatives from civil society working on a wide range of human rights issues, including enforced disappearances, education, violence against women and child rights.
Drawing from experiences of ICJ staff and participants, the workshops considered how international advocacy and engagement with the UN can benefit NGOs and addressed:
- The nature of international human rights law;
- State obligations under international human rights law;
- The UN human rights system;
- The Universal Periodic Review mechanism;
- The UN Special Procedures and the making of individual complaints to them;
- The UN Treaty Bodies, individual complaints and periodic reporting; and
- Documenting human rights violations.
Background materials on the Universal Periodic Review: (ENG) and (URDU)
Background materials on the UN Special Procedures: (ENG) and (URDU)
Background materials on the core functions of the UN Treaty Bodies: (ENG) and (URDU)
BAckground materials on periodic reporting to the UN Treaty Bodies: (ENG) and (URDU)
Jan 28, 2014
The ICJ has made a submission to the CEDAW in advance of the examination of Kazakhstan’s combined third and fourth periodic reports under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
The ICJ submission draws the Committee’s attention to concerns related to gender-based violence and gender-discrimination.
It also includes a number of broadly framed recommendations urging the authorities in Kazakhstan to address these concerns and give effect to the State Party’ obligations under the Convention.
The Committee will examine the combined third and fourth periodic reports of Kazakhstan during its 57th session in February 2014, following which it will adopt Concluding Observations setting out recommendations to the Government of Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan-ICJ Submission to CEDAW-advocacy-legal submission-2014 (download in pdf)
Nov 5, 2013 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ has called on States that are candidates for membership to the UN Human Rights Council to do more to respect human rights at home and at the international level.
On 12 November, the United Nations General Assembly will elect 14 new members to the Human Rights Council.
The ICJ added its name to a joint letter, delivered by International Service for Human Rights on behalf of 40 NGOs from all regions of the world, emphasising the need for candidate states to uphold the highest standards of respect for human rights, the fullest cooperation with the Human Rights Council, and to refrain from impeding the access of individuals and civil society to international human rights mechanisms.
HRC-GAElections-JointNGOLetter-NonLegalSubmission-2013 (download joint open letter in PDF)
Sep 25, 2013
The ICJ today joined an open letter to Permanent Representatives to the UN Human Rights Council calling for rejection of proposed revisions to resolutions affecting the work of human rights defenders.
During the course of the Human Rights Council’s 24th regular session (9 to 27 September 2013), two draft resolutions affecting the work of human rights defenders are being negotiated by representatives to the Council: A/HRC/24/L.24 on ‘civil society space’; and A/HRC/24/L.17 on ‘cooperation with the United Nations’. Both are essential to efforts to promote and protect civil society space and to address the issue of reprisals and intimidation against those who cooperate with the UN human rights system.
Amendments to those resolutions – proposed by Cuba, Pakistan and the Russian Federation – run counter to the spirit and purpose of these important resolutions. The International Service for Human Rights, the ICJ and 18 other nongovernmental organisations therefore joined in writing to Permanent Representatives to the Council to reject the proposed amendments.
The resolutions will be considered for adoption during the last two days of the Council session.
HRC24-HumanRightsDefenders-NGOJointLetter-2013 (download letter in PDF)
Sep 23, 2013
The ICJ today called on Nepal to take urgent steps to implement recommendations on ending impunity accepted by the country during its first cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2011.
In a General Debate under Item 6 of the Human Rights Council’s agenda (UPR), the ICJ pointed to Nepal’s failure to take concrete action to implement recommendations accepted by the country during its 2011 UPR as now visibly destabilising the country. It called on Nepal to take urgent measures to:
- Ensure that the truth and reconciliation commission, and a separate ‘disappearances’ commission to be established, conform fully with international standards including by precluding amnesty for gross human rights violations;
- Ensure that human rights violations constituting crimes under international law are recognised as distinct criminal offences under Nepali law; and
- Immediately commit to implement relevant Supreme Court rulings within a clearly stipulated time.
Nepal’s first cycle UPR took place in 2011. The Government of Nepal adopted a UPR implementation plan in 2012. The implementation plan failed, however, to set out timeframes for implementation or establish means to measure progress.
The General Debate took place during the 24th regular session of the Human Rights Council (9 to 27 September 2013).
Nepal-HRC24-Item6-OralStatementGD-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full statement in PDF)
