May 22, 2009
The ICJ is contributing to the Human Rights Committee’s review of the Third Periodic Report of Uzbekistan.
In this submission, the ICJ points two issues of concern, which it recommends that the Committee highlight in the list of issues on Uzbekistan, in particular the need for an effective and independent investigation into the Andijan killings; the impact of counter-terrorism and extremism laws on protection of the Covenant rights; widespread use of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in the criminal justice system; failure to uphold fair trial rights; threats to the independence of the legal profession; and co-operation with inter-governmental organisations including Special Procedures of the United Nations.
Uzbekistan-human rights committee- legal submission-2009
May 8, 2009
The ICJ provides its views to the Committee Against Torture for the consideration of the Fourth Periodic Report of Israel.
Jan 13, 2009
A new ICJ report assesses that the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Body System has developed empirically, without clear vision of the intended role for the system as a whole.
As a result, individual treaty bodies exercise often different and distinct functions and do not operate through the uniform working methods. Only incremental reform initiatives have been possible so far, including the one of harmonizing the reporting guidelines for the common core document and focused periodic reports.
With the increase in number of States parties and reporting burden, establishment of the ninth treaty body and continual differences in function and operation of individual committees, the system reaches its limits both in terms of serviceability and effectiveness. The systematic reform has yet to take place to establish holistic and integral treaty body system.
Central is the question how to ensure equal implementation and standardized monitoring of all human rights obligations.
The ICJ suggests some of the key functions for the future treaty body system to become more effective, visible and accessible.
One of the essentials is to increase the treaty body system’s capacity to deal with urgent country situations, including through the system of early-warning and urgent action procedures and a set of targeted country visits.
Reform of the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Body System-Thematic reports-2008 (full text, PDF)
Jan 7, 2009
The ICJ provides its views to the Human Rights Committee, in advance of the preparation of the list of issues for the Periodic Report of the Russian Federation.
This submission focuses on violations of human rights in the context of counter-terrorism and counter-extremism laws and practices, and on erosion of the independence of judges and lawyers. In particular, the ICJ wishes to highlight the lack of independent and effective investigations, and impunity, for gross violations of human rights in counter-terrorism operations in Chechnya and the North Caucuses; increasing harassment of lawyers; harassment and restrictions on the rights of human rights defenders; and extradition and other transfers of suspects to countries within the Shanghi Co-operation Organisation, in violation of the duty of non-refoulement to face a danger of torture or other serious violation of human rights.
Russian Federation-ICJ submission to Human Rights Committee-legal submission-2009 (full text, PDF)
Jul 28, 2008 | Incidencia
La CIJ presentó un informe sobre Colombia en el marco del Examen Periódico Universal.
La CIJ reconoce la grave situación de derechos humanos y persistente impunidad agenciada como política gubernamental por parte de las autoridades colombianas. En ese marco, y conciente del volumen de informes que serían presentados sobre el país, el documento se enfoca en los reiterados ataques contra la independencia judicial, en especial la Corte Suprema de Justicia, que se han venido produciendo en el país, principalmente por parte de funcionarios del Poder Ejecutivo. Estos ataques revisten particular gravedad para la vigencia de postulados básicos del estado de derecho y la protección de los derechos humanos en Colombia.
Recomendaciones:
- Instar al Gobierno de Colombia para que todos sus funcionarios respeten las decisiones judiciales y se abstengan de realizar pronunciamientos públicos denostando la labor judicial
- Llamar al Gobierno a que realice un firme compromiso público de dar cumplimiento con el contenido de las sentencias judiciales.
- Subrayar que las acusaciones de que jueces colaboran con “el terrorismo“ y con “la guerrilla“ socavan la institucionalidad en el país por constituir una intromisión indebida en la independencia del poder judicial.
- Garantizar la protección física de los Magistrados amenazados.
Colombia-UPR-non-legal submission-2008 (en PDF)
