Nov 25, 2008 | News
The ICJ is urging the Constituent Assembly to adopt a series of amendments to ensure compliance of the Bill on Disappearances Act with human rights obligations.
The proposed Disappearances Bill would criminalize the act of enforced disappearance, establish a commission to investigate past cases from 1996-2006, and provide for prosecution of perpetrators and reparations for victims. However, these laudable steps could be undermined in practice by weaknesses in certain provisions.
Nepal-The ICJ urges human rights amendments-Press releases-2008 (full text, PDF)
Nepal-ICJ letter to speaker-Open letters-2008-Eng (full text, PDF)
Nepal-ICJ letter to speaker-Open letters-2008-Nep (full text, PDF)
Nov 11, 2008 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ submits its comments to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of “the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”.
In this submission the ICJ is drawing the Working Group on the UPR’s and the Human Rights Council’s attention to the frequent allegations of ill-treatment by police either during arrest or in police custody, and the lack of adequate investigations into such allegations. In addition, the Working Group should address the Macedonian Government’s failure to provide for a thorough and independent investigation into the detention at the Macedonian border of Mr Khaled El-Masri, and his subsequent transfer to Afghanistan under the CIA rendition programme.
Macedonia-ICJ Submission to the Universal Periodic Review-non-legal submission-2008 (full text, PDF)
Sep 29, 2008 | News
The ICJ strongly condemns the grenade attack on 27 September against prominent Sri Lankan human rights lawyer, J.C Weliamuna.
The ICJ calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to launch a prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigation.
Sri Lanka-Attack against human rights lawyer threatens rule of law-Press releases-2008 (full text, PDF)
Sep 15, 2008 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ presents its submission to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Russian Federation.
The Working Group on the UPR and the Council should address as a matter of priority the serious violations of human rights, including extra-judicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary, including secret, detention, and torture and other ill-treatment taking place in the context of Russian counter-terrorism operations, in particular in Chechnya, and the widespread impunity for these acts.
Russia-ICJ submission UPR-non-legal submission-2008 (download full submission in PDF)
Russia-UPR16-AdvocacyNote-NonLegalSubmission-2013 (download advocacy note in PDF)
Russia-UPR16-ComparisonChart-NonLegalSubmission-2013 (download comparison with first cycle UPR of Russia)
Aug 19, 2008 | News
ICJ regional ASEAN colloquium reaffirms independence of judges and lawyers.
“Ensuring independence and accountability of judges, lawyers and prosecutors is of fundamental importance in strengthening justice and the rule of law in the ASEAN region. The ICJ is delighted to host this high-level regional event in cooperation with the Office of the President of the Supreme Court of Thailand,” said Roger Normand, ICJ Asia-Pacific Director.
The high-level panel members exchanged views and comparative national experience on the application of international principles. The panel included judges from the Supreme Court and Administrative Court of Thailand, the Supreme Courts of the Philippines and Lao PDR, and representatives of the Office of the Attorney-General of Thailand and Lawyers Council of Thailand. The proceedings were observed by over 70 Thai judges, legal academics and other representatives of the Thai legal community.
Thailand-ICJ regional ASEAN colloquium reaffirms independence of judges and lawyers-Press releases-2008 (full text, PDF)