Government must stop unlawful returns of boats carrying migrants and potential asylum seekers

Government must stop unlawful returns of boats carrying migrants and potential asylum seekers

The ICJ drew the attention of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants to the fact that between 6 and 10 May 2009 the Italian authorities intercepted some 500 migrants in international waters.

These people were trying to reach Italy in small boats. Italian authorities escorted them back to Libya, without taking due account of Italy’s obligations in relation to potential asylum-seekers or others who may not be transferred to Libya for reasons of non-refoulement, as stipulated in Article 33 of the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Italy-intervention SR Migrants-non-legal submission-2009

Sri Lanka: UN Rights Council must seek a renewed commitment to the rule of law by the Government

Sri Lanka: UN Rights Council must seek a renewed commitment to the rule of law by the Government

The ICJ urged the UN Human Rights Council’s special session to call on the Government of Sri Lanka to take several human rights measures.

In particular, the Government of Sri Lanka must ensure unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to the internally displaced persons (IDPs), protection of IDPs, safeguards against attacks on journalists and human rights defenders and effective accountability, including through an independent international investigation into human rights and humanitarian law violations.

The ICJ deplored that the draft resolution L.1/Rev.2, which was later adopted by vote, failed to address the most pressing concerns.

SriLanka-UNcouncil-news-2009 (full text, PDF)

 

 

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