International Commission of Jurists
Siracusa Principles on the Limitation and Derogation Provisions in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Siracusa Principles on the Limitation and Derogation Provisions in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Jul 1, 1984

It has long been observed by the American Association for the ICJ (AAICJ) that one of the main instruments employed by governments to repress and deny the fundamental rights and freedoms of peoples has been the illegal and unwarranted Declaration of Martial Law or a State of Emergency. 

Very often these measures are taken under the pretext of the existence of a “ public emergency which threatens the life of the nation” or “ threats to its national security.”

The abuse of applicable provisions allowing governments to limit and derogate from certain rights contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights has resulted in the need for a closer examination of the conditions and grounds for permissible limitations and derogations in order to achieve an effective implementation of the rule of law. The United Nations General Assembly has frequently emphasized the importance of a uniform interpretation of limitations on rights enunciated in the Covenant.

With this in mind, the A AICJ initiated a colloquium composed of 31 distinguished experts in international law, held at Siracusa, Italy, in the Spring of 1984. This meeting, the first of its kind, was co-sponsored by the ICJ, the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights, and the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences.

The participants examined the limitation and derogation provisions in the Covenant, seeking to identify:

  1. their legitimate objectives;
  2. the general principles of interpretation which govern their imposition and application; and
  3. some of the main features of the grounds for limitation or derogation

The document contains:

  • an introductory note
  • the texts of the Siracusa Principles, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and its Optional Protocol, plus individual limitation provisions cross-referenced to the Covenant

Siracusa principles-ICCPR-legal submission-1985-eng (full text in English, PDF)

 

ICJ Review no. 32 (June 1984)

ICJ Review no. 32 (June 1984)

Jun 1, 1984

The purpose of the Review is to focus attention on the problems in regard to which lawyers can make their contribution to society in their respective areas of influence and to provide them with the necessary information and data. This edition features articles on:...
Les services juridiques en milieu rural : rapport d’un séminaire

Les services juridiques en milieu rural : rapport d’un séminaire

Apr 30, 1984

Rapport d’un séminaire tenu à Tambacounda, Sénégal, du 9 au 12 avril 1984 et organisé par le Conseil des Organisations non-gouvernementales d’Aide au Déve­loppement (CONGAD) et la CIJ.

Le rapport contient:

  • les discours faits durant la plenière d’ouverture
  • L’expérience brésilienne d’assistance juridique en milieu rural, par Mme Sonia Helena Moraes
  • Etude de certaines lois mises en œuvres en milieu rural au Sénégal, par Me Sadel Ndiaye
  • La stratégie du Groupement d’Assistance juridique gratuite des Philippines, par José Diokno
  • Programme préliminaire d’orientation pour la formation parajurdique, par D.J. Ravindran
  • Rapports des groupes de travail  sur Identifications des problèmes juridiques qui se posent en milieu rural, Profil et formation du parajuriste en milieu rural, Recherche et action
  • Recommendations finales, déclaration et discours finales
  • Rapport final
  • Liste des participants

Legal services rural areas-seminar report-1984-fra (full text in French, PDF)

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