Apr 11, 2012 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
Under the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on the UPR will be undertaking a review of Guatemala during its 14th session.
In a submission to the Working Group, the International Commission of Jurists has focused on the discrete issues of:
- lack of independence of the judiciary;
- impunity for gross human rights violations committed during the armed conflict;
- lack of access to justice for indigenous people and impunity for human rights violations against them;
- abolition of the death penalty; and
- Guatemala’s party status to international human rights instruments and its cooperation with the UN treaty bodies and the Council’s Special Procedures.
Guatemala-ICJ submission UPR-non-judicial submission-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Guatemala-Comparison second cycle-advocacy-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Mar 30, 2012 | Advocacy
During the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, the ICJ made an oral statement during the Council’s consideration and adoption of the outcome document in the Universal Periodic Review of Zimbabwe.
The statement focussed on the lack of human rights protection and respect for the rule of law in the country, particularly as this affects lawyers, journalists and human rights defenders more broadly, and called on the Government of Zimbabwe to halt the repression of legitimate peaceful protests and undertake reforms necessary for the conduct of independent and effective investigations into gross human rights violations and crimes under international law.
Zimbabwe-oral intervention UPR-advocacy-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Mar 30, 2012 | Advocacy
During the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, the ICJ made an oral statement during the Council’s consideration and adoption of the outcome document in the Universal Periodic Review of Thailand.
The statement focussed on issues of impunity and special security laws operating in the southernmost provinces of Thailand, and called on the Government of Thailand to abolish provisions of the Marshal Law Act and Emergency Decree concerning immunity for State officials and to review security laws.
Thailand-oral intervention UPR-advocacy-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Mar 30, 2012 | Advocacy
During the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, the ICJ made an oral statement during the Council’s consideration and adoption of the outcome document in the Universal Periodic Review of Syria.
The statement focussed on the lack of investigations into human rights abuses, including ongoing gross human rights violations, and called on UN bodies responsible for peace and security and human rights to take effective measures to allow regular access for humanitarian assistance, including essential supplies of food, water and medicines.
Syrian Arab Republic-oral intervention UPR-advocacy-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Mar 30, 2012 | Advocacy
During the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, the ICJ made an oral statement during the Council’s consideration and adoption of the outcome document in the Universal Periodic Review of Uganda.
The statement focussed on the lack of human rights protection and respect for the rule of law in the country, particularly as this affects human rights defenders, and called on the Government of Uganda to end impunity for gross human rights violations, and to ensure that the Anti Homosexuality Bill is not adopted into law.
Uganda-oral intervention UPR-advocacy-2012 (full text in English, PDF)