The ICJ in the interaction with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights welcomed her emphases on countering discrimination, including on the grounds of sexual orientation.
The ICJ is disappointed by the decision of the UN Human Rights Council to defer the discussion of a global study on secret detention, torture and enforced disappearances in the name of counter-terrorism in 80 countries.
The ICJ, and Amnesty International submitted comments on the first draft of the Council of Europe Guidelines on Impunity.
The ICJ today deplored the decision of the US Justice Department to clear the legal architects of the US torture policy from any professional misconduct.
The decision by Associate Deputy Attorney General (ADAG) David Margolis reversed the July 2009 findings of the Office of Professional Conduct (OPR) that Bush administration legal advisers John Yoo and Jay Bybee had engaged in professional misconduct by giving advice which approved as lawful the program of “enhanced interrogation”. This program consisted in clear acts of torture and ill treatment.
The OPR had been poised to refer Yoo and Bybee, who is presently a US federal judge, for disciplinary action by the state regulatory authorities. The ADAG report, while affirming that the legal advisers had exercised ‘poor judgement’, determined that they had not breached rules of misconduct because it could not be established that they had intended to give misleading advise.
USA-torture serious crime-press release-2010 (full text, PDF)
Photo by acameronhuff
International and local human rights organizations have today urged the Nepali authorities to stop obstructing criminal proceedings over the alleged torture and murder of 15-year-old Maina Sunuwar by four army officers.
Nepal-obstruction of justice-open letter-2010
See also the press release Authorities must provide justice for torture and murder of 15-year-old Maina Sunuwar
Nepal: Balen Government Should Bring Human Rights Reforms
Global experts warn of eroding judicial independence amidst the rise of authoritarianism around the world
Development of the Crimes Against Humanity Convention
ICJ Publications on the Crimes Against Humanity Convention