Dec 16, 2010 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ and other NGOs submitted written comments to the informal group on accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights on the occasion of its meeting of 6-8 December 2010.
The NGO paper addressed the proposed co-respondent mechanism of the European Court of Human Rights and consultation with civil society on EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.
EU-accessionECHR-advocacy-2010 (full text, PDF)
Dec 15, 2010 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ and other human rights groups published a paper raising concerns at proposals being considered in the Council of Europe to impose fees on applicants to the European Court of Human Rights.
ECHR-fees-advocacy-2010 (full text, PDF)
Nov 29, 2010 | News
The ICJ observed a hearing on the investigation of criminal charges against Sapiyat Magomedova, a lawyer in the Republic of Dagestan, Russian Federation.
Sapiyat Magomedova was charged with “insult of a representative of state power” for allegedly assaulting several police officers. Contrary to the charges, she alleges that she was attacked and severely beaten by the officers.
Russia-lawyertrial-web story-2010 (full text, PDF)
Russia-lawyertrial-web story-2010-rus (full text in Russian, PDF)
Nov 29, 2010 | News
The ICJ today expressed its concern at the approval by referendum of the popular initiative on the expulsion of foreigners.
The initiative, if implemented according to the terms set out in the referendum proposal, would lead to the automatic expulsion of non-nationals convicted of serious crimes.
Switzerland-referendumexpulsion-news-2010 (full text, PDF)
Switzerland-referendumexpulsion-news-2010-fra (full text in French, PDF)
Oct 25, 2010 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
“Since the attacks of September 2001, decisions being taken at both national and international levels have been touching all regions of the world,” Michèle Rivet said as a preamble.
Many States or governments have adopted measures: pre-emptive detention without charge, long periods of pre-trial detention, restriction to the access to legal counsel, expulsion of foreigners without due consideration to the non refoulement principle, and finally, establishment of special courts that do not meet the minimum requirement of independence and impartiality.
Some governments have carried out activities shrouded in secrecy, and introduced measures that deny individuals the right to test or to challenge the legality of the actions taken against them or the lawfulness of their detention.
Many detainees have been summarily taken or expelled without due process in violation of usual extradition procedures to a country where they can be tortured with impunity. We have seen basic fair trial guarantees ignored, rights of defence cut down, and rights of appeal removed.
Genevaforum-fairtrial-advocacy-2010 (full text, PDF)
