Jun 26, 2020 | News
On the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the ICJ, Advocacy Forum (AF) and Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (THRD Alliance) voiced concerns about the near total failure by authorities to investigate and prosecute acts of torture in Nepal.
Nearly two years after provisions in the new Penal Code that criminalized torture came into effect, not a single torture prosecution appears to have been brought. There have also been very few instances in which victims have received an effective remedy and reparation for their ill-treatment. Nepal has failed to meet its obligations in this regard under article 2(3) of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and article 14 of the Convention Against Torture.
“Nepal has an obligation under international law to hold perpetrators accountable for acts of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. This includes obligations as a party to the Convention Against Torture and the international Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” said Frederick Rawski, ICJ Asia-Pacific Director. “It is disturbing to see that two years after the rightfully celebrated Penal Code provisions criminalizing torture have come into effect, the government has yet to successfully prosecute any acts of torture, which by all accounts continue to occur on a frequent basis.”
The Advocacy Forum and THRD Alliance both published reports today that document instances of torture and other ill-treatment against detainees over the past year. Some 20 percent of the more than 1000 detainees interviewed reported some form of unlawful ill-treatment during confinement.
“Although in some locations there appears to be some improvement in the treatment of detainees, torture and ill-treatment remains far too prevalent,” said Om Prakash Sen Thakuri, Advocacy Forum Executive Director. “Police still continue to rely on “confessions”, typically obtained by ill-treatment or coercion during interrogation, as opposed to conducting proper investigations. Our police institutions need serious reform to ensure that investigative practices conform to international law and standards.”
In a separate report analyzing the obstacles faced by victims in seeking justice for torture and ill-treatment, the THRD Alliance documented the complex challenges faced by torture survivors seeking accountability in the formal justice system. These obstacles included a frequently refusal by police to file a First Information Report on allegations of ill-treatment, statutes of limitation preventing cases from being prosecuted, and a lack of independence of police investigations in the rare cases when they do move forward.
“Despite repeated public commitments by justice sector and human rights institutions, such as the National Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Attorney General, torture survivors still struggle to have their voices heard or have their cases addressed,” said Mohan Karna, Executive Director of the THRD Alliance. “We urge the authorities at both the federal and provincial levels to take action to address the concerns of victims and to institute policies – such as establishing robust detention monitoring and internal accountability mechanisms – that will deter future acts of torture and ill-treatment.”
On the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the three organizations urged the Government of Nepal to:
- Carry out prompt, thorough, impartial and effective investigations into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment, and to bring prosecutions where warranted under the criminal provisions of the Penal Code.
- Institute structural reform within the police including the establishment of a separate and independent mechanism to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment involving police personnel.
- Ensure public availability statistics on the investigation, prosecution and other action taken in response to allegations of torture and ill-treatment.
- Amend the Penal Code and other relevant provisions of law to eliminate the statute of limitations in torture cases, and to ensure that the definition of torture is in line with international law.
- Establish an independent preventative mechanism for monitoring of detention centers.
- Become party to the Optional Protocol of the Convention on Torture
Background
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is marked worldwide on 26 June every year. Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), to which by Nepal is a party, the authorities to investigate, prosecute, punish and provide effective remedies and reparation for the crimes of torture and other acts of ill-treatment.
The Penal Code criminalizing torture came into force in August 2018. While it was welcome as positive step, the provisions fall short of international standards in a number of respects, including failure to recognize the continuous nature of the crime of enforced disappearance or its status as a crime against humanity; an unacceptably brief six-month limitation period to file complaints; and penalties incommensurate with the gravity of the crimes.
Download
Nepali (PDF)
English (PDF)
Contact
Frederick Rawski, ICJ Asia-Pacific Director, e: frederick.rawski@icj.org, t: +66 644781121
Om Prakash Shen Thakuri, AF, Executive Director, e: opsenthakuri@gmail.com, t: +977 9841275732
Mohan Karna, THRD Alliance, Executive Director, e: karnamohan90@gmail.com, t: +977 9841449139
Jun 24, 2020
Today, the ICJ published a briefing paper examining Israel’s failure to implement and comply with certain obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The briefing examines a number of human rights violations as they arise in the context of:
- Emergency regulations adopted by the Israeli Government during the COVID-19 pandemic;
- The establishment and expansion of settlements in, and the annexation of portions of, the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
- Excessive use of force in the context of Israel’s response to the “Great March of Return” in Gaza; and
- The accountability gaps within the Israeli military justice system.
In the paper, the ICJ recommends the Israeli authorities to undertake steps in order to improve compliance with the ICCPR, including to:
- Ensure that emergency regulations and any related derogating measures adopted with the stated intention of tackling the COVID-19 pandemic are fully consistent with article 4 of the ICCPR;
- Dismantle all the settlements and related infrastructure, including the “Separation Wall”, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and withdraw all settlers;
- End any conduct aiming at annexing parts or all of the West Bank, and refrain from taking legislative steps to that end;
- Ensure that the domestic rules of engagement governing the use of potentially lethal force are designed in accordance with article 6 of the ICCPR to guarantee the right to life and bodily integrity, and that Israeli security forces comply with them in practice;
- Transfer the institutional competence to investigate and prosecute alleged crimes under international law committed by members of the Israel Defence Forces from the Military Advocate-General to a civilian authority;
- Reform the laws and institutions governing the initiation of an investigation, and prescribe the opening of an investigation into all incidents involving the use of firearms by the Israel Defence Forces in the OPT, particularly when resulting in a potentially unlawful death or serious injury.
Download
Israel-ICCPR compliance-Advocacy-Analysis Brief-2020-ENG (full briefing paper, in PDF)
Jun 23, 2020 | News
The ICJ welcomes the establishment of a Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) for Libya by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) at its 43rd session yesterday.
The resolution, titled “Technical assistance and capacity-building to improve human rights in Libya,” mandates the FFM to investigate and preserve evidence of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed by all parties in Libya since the beginning of 2016, with a view to ensuring that perpetrators be held to account.
“This is a long overdue step in the pursuit of accountability in Libya,” said Said Benarbia, the ICJ’s MENA Programme Director.
“While parties to the conflict have escalated hostilities in recent years and Libyans have been increasingly subject to egregious violations of their rights, States have continued to prioritize politics over justice. The establishment of the FFM is a sign that international actors finally recognize accountability is necessary to end the scourge of violence in the country.”
The FFM is required to submit its written report to the HRC at the 46th session in February-March 2021, giving the FFM only nine months to carry out its work despite the ongoing imposition of COVID-19 measures that will impact its operations.
Given the FFM’s short operational period, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will have to move rapidly to appoint FFM experts and staff, allocate adequate resources and dispatch the mission. Staff appointed to the FFM should include experts in the investigation of sexual and gender-based violence crimes and the collection of evidence to a criminal standard.
“It’s imperative that the High Commissioner move quickly to dispatch this mission if it is to have any prospect of examining the full range of violations and abuses being committed across Libya,” said Kate Vigneswaran, the ICJ’s MENA Programme Senior Legal Adviser.
“The OHCHR should ensure the FFM has the full complement of skills and expertise to most effectively investigate crimes being committed in Libya, particularly the widespread sexual violence being perpetrated on women, girls, men and boys.”
The Government of National Accord, the Libyan Arab Armed Forces and all other parties to the conflict should fully cooperate with the FFM, including by granting access to the territories and population over which they have control, where possible in the context of COVID-19.
Other States, in particular those supporting Libyan actors in the ongoing conflict, should also provide full cooperation.
“The cooperation of both national and international actors is necessary for the FFM to engage with victims and preserve evidence, key components of its mandate,” Kate Vigneswaran added.
“While other international investigative mechanisms have shown it’s possible to carry out effective investigations without access to the affected territory, if Libyan actors are truly committed to the populations they assert they serve, they should be facilitating access to all forms of justice, whether national or international.”
The FFM will complement the work of the International Criminal Court in Libya, which has outstanding arrest warrants against Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, Al-Tuhamy Mohamed Khaled and Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli.
The evidence preserved by the FFM may be used by the ICC, as well as States exercising universal jurisdiction, in their investigations and prosecutions.
Contact
Said Benarbia, Director of the ICJ Middle East and North Africa Programme, t: +41 22 979 3817; e: said.benarbia(a)icj.org
Kate Vigneswaran, ICJ Senior Legal Adviser, t: +31 62 489 4664, e: kate.vigneswaran(a)icj.org, twitter: @KateVigneswaran
Background
Violations and abuses of international law, including unlawful killings and attacks on civilian objects, have continued unabated in the last few months. Most recently, on 11 June 2020, the UN Support Mission to Libya reported the discovery of at least eight mass graves, mainly in Tarhuna, in which the bodies of women and children were found. Reports further indicate that the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), and their foreign allies, have laid anti-personnel landmines and other booby-traps in buildings as they withdrew from Tripoli, leading to causalities including among civilians returning to their homes after long periods of displacement. Reports of incidents involving “retributive crimes”, including the parading of corpses and looting of perceived opponents’ houses and public property, by GNA-affiliated armed groups have also surfaced.
The ICJ has repeatedly called on States to support the establishment of an international investigative mechanism for Libya, including in the interactive dialogue on the oral update by the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Situation in Libya.
The draft of the resolution adopted yesterday was numbered A/HRC/43/L.40. The official adopted version will be published by the UN in the coming weeks.
Jun 22, 2020 | Новости, Пресс-релизы
Сегодня Международная комиссия юристов (МКЮ), Региональное отделение Управления Верховного комиссара ООН по правам человека (УВКПЧ) по Центральной Азии и Общенациональное движение «Юксалиш» проводят экспертные дискуссии о влиянии пандемии COVID-19 на доступ к правосудию по вопросам экономических, социальных и культурных правам (ЭСК правам) в Узбекистане и других странах Европы и Центральной Азии.
В ходе Пятой экспертной дискуссии «Доступ к правосудию в условиях COVID-19» будет обсуждаться целый ряд вопросов, в том числе доступ к адвокату и доступ к суду.
Это мероприятие предоставит возможность национальным и международным экспертам, в том числе адвокатам, судьям, членам органов ООН по правам человека, представителям гражданского общества, НПО и иным экспертам, представителям научных кругов принять участие в интерактивных дискуссиях, которые имеют фундаментальное значение с точки зрения обеспечения доступа к правосудию и защите прав человека в Узбекистане.
«Пандемия COVID-19 поставила новые задачи перед органами юстиции во всем мире, в том числе в Узбекистане. Эти меры повлияли на доступ к адвокатам и судебной системе, что затрудняет полноценный доступ к правосудию. Данное мероприятие позволит обсудить решения, которые были найдены самыми разными государствами в качестве реакции на вызовы пандемии. Мы верим, что обмен опытом между судьями, юристами и международными экспертами со всего мира будет способствовать общенациональной дискуссии и даст импульс для дальнейшего развития и усиления независимости судебной власти в Узбекистане», – отметил Акмал Бурханов, председатель общенационального движения «Юксалиш».
«Пандемия стала так называемым «тестом на зрелость» для систем правосудия, и многие неотложные вопросы приходится решать в свете мер, принятых с целью противодействия COVID-19. Поэтому я также склонен видеть в пандемии своего рода возможность – возможность преобразовать, изменить в лучшую сторону функционирование традиционных судов, при условии, что высокое качество правосудия и соблюдение индивидуальных прав будут основным ориентиром для любых изменений», – подчеркнул Эдуард Стипрайс, посол ЕС в Узбекистане.
Ришард Коменда, региональный представитель Офиса ООН по правам человека в Центральной Азии, процитировал Верховного комиссара ООН по правам человека Мишель Башле, которая заявила, что «чтобы эффективно справиться с пандемией государствам может потребоваться ввести определенные ограничения на осуществление ряда прав человека; тем не менее, такие ограничения должны быть необходимыми, соразмерными и недискриминационными». Г-н Коменда отметил, что «последствия карантинных мер сказались на повседневной работе судов и адвокатов. С точки зрения международных стандартов в области прав человека крайне важно строго соблюдать право лиц на функциональную и независимую судебную систему, в частности, право на эффективное средство правовой защиты, гарантии habeas corpus и доступ к адвокату по своему выбору».
«Наша пятая экспертная дискуссия по экономическим и социальным правам посвящена рассмотрению основных проблем, с которыми сталкиваются люди при получении доступа к правосудию и защите своих прав во время глобальной пандемии COVID-19. МКЮ документирует, как во всем мире пандемия серьезно повлияла на право людей на здоровье, питание, воду, образование и санитарию, и мы также видели дополнительные трудности, с которыми сталкиваются люди с более низким доходом. Мы стремимся обсудить, как международное право и передовая национальная практика могут помочь судебной и правовой системе смягчить некоторые проблемы с правами человека, возникающие в связи с COVID-19 в Узбекистане, и, возможно, даже создать более чуткую и подотчетную систему после пандемии.», – сказал Сэм Зарифи, Генеральный секретарь Международной комиссии юристов.
Общая информация: Экспертные дискуссии по ЭСК правам направлены на повышение осведомленности об имплементации международного права и стандартов в области ЭСК прав в рамках национальной судебной системы, с целью облегчения доступа к правосудию по вопросам ЭСК прав и эффективного использования международного права в области прав человека для защиты ЭСК прав на национальном уровне. В каждой экспертной дискуссии принимают участие различные международные и национальные эксперты. Первая дискуссия состоялось в сентябре 2018 года и была посвящена международным стандартам в области трудовых прав, вторая – в декабре 2018 года, посвящена принципу недискриминации в судах и на уровне судебных решений, третья дискуссия – в марте 2019 года – сосредоточилась на правах людей с ограниченными возможностями, и четвертая дискуссия, состоявшаяся в октябре 2019 года, обратилась к праву на достаточное жилище в Узбекистане.
Узбекистан ратифицировал Международный пакт об экономических, социальных и культурных правах (МПЭСКП) в 1995 году.
Экспертные дискуссии организуются в рамках проекта «Развитие гражданского общества в продвижении стандартов экономических, социальных и культурных прав (ЭСК прав) в Узбекистане (ACCESS)», который финансируется ЕС через Европейский инструмент в области демократии и прав человека (EIDHR).
Для более подробной информацией, просим обращаться:
Дилфуза Куролова, Консультант по правовым вопросам, Международная комиссия юристов (МКЮ), Т: (+998 90) 9050099 ; E: dilfuza.kurolova(a)icj.org
Jun 22, 2020 | News
Today, the ICJ, the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for Central Asia and the Nationwide Movement “Yuksalish” are holding an Expert Discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on access to justice for economic, social and cultural rights (ESC rights) in Uzbekistan and comparative experiences from Europe and Central Asia.
The Fifth Expert Discussion, Access to justice in times of COVID-19, will address issues including access to a lawyer and access to court.
The event will present an opportunity to national and international experts, including lawyers, judges, members of UN human rights bodies, civil society, and other experts to debate questions of fundamental importance for ensuring access to justice and the protection of human rights in Uzbekistan.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has put new challenges before justice institutions around the world, including in Uzbekistan. These measures affected access to lawyers and courts judiciary therefore impeding full access to justice. This event will present an opportunity to discuss the solutions of States from around the globe about their responses to the pandemic. We believe that sharing experience among judges, lawyers and international experts from around the world will enrich the National debate and give an impulse for further development and the independence of the judiciary in Uzbekistan” said Akmal Burkhanov, Chairperson of the Nationwide movement “Yuksalish”.
“The pandemic became the so-called “maturity test” for the justice system and many of the urgent issues should be resolved in the light of the anti-COVID-19 measures taken. Therefore, I would also see the pandemic as an opportunity. The opportunity for transforming, changing for the better the functioning of traditional courts, provided that a high quality of justice and respect for individual rights are at the forefront of all changes,” pointed Eduards Stiprais, EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan.
Ryszard Komenda, Regional Representative of the UN Office for Human Rights for Central Asia quoted the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, who stated that “in order to cope effectively with the pandemic states may need to introduce certain restrictions on the exercise of certain human rights, however, such restrictions need to be necessary, proportionate, and non-discriminatory”. Mr. Komenda noted that “the impact of the regulations on lockdown affected the day-to-day work of courts and lawyers. From the perspective of international human rights standards, it is crucial that the right of individuals to an operative and independent judicial system, in particular the right to an effective remedy, habeas corpus guarantees and access to a lawyer of one’s choosing are strictly adhered to”.
“Our fifth Expert Discussion on economic and social rights, is devoted to addressing the major problems people have in getting access to justice and defending their rights during the global COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sam Zarifi, the ICJ Secretary General.
“The ICJ has documented how around the world the pandemic has severely affected peoples’ right to health, to food, to water, to education and to sanitation, and we have also seen the additional difficulties facing people with lower income and access to the levers of power.”
“We aim to discuss how international law and national best practices can help the judiciary and legal system alleviate some of the human rights issues arising from Covid-19 in Uzbekistan, and maybe even build a more responsive and accountable system after the pandemic.”
Background:
The Expert Discussions on ESC rights aim to raise awareness about the implementation of international law and standards on ESC rights by the national justice system, to facilitate access to justice in relation to ESC rights and promote effective use of international law on ESC rights at the national level. Each Expert Discussion is attended by international and national experts.
The first discussion was held in September 2018 on international standards in labour rights. The second meeting, held in December 2018, concerned judicial application of the principle of non-discrimination; the third meeting, held in March 2019, was dedicated to the rights of people with disabilities, and the forth meeting, held in October 2020, discussed the right to adequate housing in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 1995.
The Expert Discussions are organized by the ICJ within the framework of the “Advancing Civil Society in Promoting economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) Standards in Uzbekistan (ACCESS)” Project funded by the EU through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).
Contact:
Dilfuza Kurolova, ICJ Legal consultant, t: +998 90 9050099 ; e: dilfuza.kurolova(a)icj.org
Agenda:
English version
Russian version
Uzbek version
