Jun 24, 2008 | News
The ICJ today expressed its concern at government attacks on the independence of the judiciary in relation to a case involving the Prime Minister, Mr Silvio Berlusconi.
In a letter to the President of the Senate, read out to the Senate last week, the Prime Minister alleged that a criminal prosecution against him had been initiated for political purposes by “extreme left magistrates”, and accused judges and prosecutors involved in the case of politicisation and bias.
Italy-ICJ calls for end to government interference with judicial independence-Press releases-2008-Eng (full text, PDF)
Italy-ICJ calls for end to government interference with judicial independence-Press releases-2008-Ita (full text in Italian, PDF)
Jun 23, 2008
The ICJ provides its views to the Human Rights Committee, in advance of the preparation of the list of issues for the Periodic Report of Spain.
In this short submission, the ICJ highlights several issues which it considers should be of particular concern to the Committee in its consideration of the Spanish report.
Spain-ICJ submission on 5th periodic report-legal submission-2008 (full text, PDF)
Jun 19, 2008 | News
The United Nations Human Rights Council yesterday approved by consensus an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Jun 18, 2008
The ICJ in its intervention of 16 June 2008 expressed concerns at continuing excessive, disproportionate, and indiscriminate use of force by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and the Palestinian armed groups.
The ICJ condemned attempts to reinterpret the humanitarian law principles of distinction and proportionality, as well as deliberate targeting of civilians and objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population without any legitimate military advantage at all. It also denounced the siege on Gaza and urged to prevent the growth of illegal settlements and address the issue of refugees.
Israel-ICJ Intervention on the Human Rights Situation-Open letters-2008 (full text, PDF)
Jun 18, 2008
Denmark suggests it would use diplomatic assurances against torture as a basis for the return of foreign nationals to countries where they face a risk of torture, and that it might promote the use of such assurances at an EU level.The ICJ and other human rights groups wrote to the Danish Minister for Justice to express concerns about this suggestion.
Denmark-Diplomatic assurances against grave violations of human rights-Open letters-2008 (full text, PDF)
