Apr 17, 2008 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
In its submissions to the Committee Against Torture, the ICJ draws attention to the lack of a definition of torture in Swedish law equivalent to that in Article 1 of the Convention.
In addition the ICJ points out the lack of specific criminal law offences of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; and the failure to institute criminal investigations in respect of a documented case of rendition involving treatment contrary to the Convention.
Sweden-ICJ Submission to the Committee against Torture-Non-judicial submission-2008 (full text, PDF)
Apr 17, 2008 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
In its submissions to the Committee Against Torture, the ICJ draws attention to the lack of a definition of torture in Icelandic law equivalent to that in Article 1 of the Convention Against Torture.
The ICJ also points out the lack of specific criminal law offences of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, raising issues under Articles 2 and 4 of the Convention.
Iceland-ICJ Submission to the Committee against Torture-Non-judicial submission-2008 (full text, PDF)
Apr 16, 2008 | News
On 14 April 2008, the UN Human Rights Council began assessing human rights compliance in Poland as part of a new mechanism monitoring the condition of human rights in the world.
As part of the Universal Periodic Review, the situation in each of the countries will be assessed every four years on the basis of reports submitted by the governments of those countries and documents prepared at the same time by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (among others, on the basis of reports submitted by NGOs). At yesterday’s UN meeting, the Polish delegation, led by the under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Witold Waszczykowski, presented the report of the Government of the Republic of Poland on human rights and answered questions asked by the representatives of other countries.
Poland-Polish Government Submits Report to the UN Human Rights Council-Web-2008 (full text, PDF)
Apr 14, 2008
The ICJ in its intervention of 14 March 2008 welcomed the recent political settlement in Kenya and urged all parties to implement the agreement.
In Sri Lanka, the ICJ urged the establishment of the OHCHR’s monitoring and assistance field presence. To heal the wounds to the rule of law in Pakistan, the Government must repeal the amendments to the Constitution and laws passed during the State of Emergency, as well post-Emergency laws that reaffirm or extend emergency measures. In Zimbabwe, a genuine electoral process will require that the Government allow the accreditation of independent election observers and put an end to political violence.
ICJ Intervention under Item 4 on Human Rights Situations-Open letters-2008 (full text, PDF)
Apr 10, 2008 | News
The ICJ urged the Government of Tunisia to promptly address the serious reservations regarding its human rights record raised during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
