Jan 1, 1988 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
Article by Niall MacDermot, Secretary-General of the ICJ, who first outlines the contents and history of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He then describes the contribution of NGOs to the United Nations and regional mechanisms, in terms of standard-setting and interventions on violations.
Reprint from the book “Human rights in the changing world”, published by the International Law Association Regional Branch (India) and edited by E.S. Venkataramiah.
Role NGOs human rights-non-legal submission-1988-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Aug 1, 1976 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
In response to the request contained in Resolution 7 (XXVII) of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities the ICJ circulated to members of the Commission at their meeting in 1975 a Memorandum relating to “The human rights of persons in detention or imprisonment”.
By Resolution 4 (XXVIII) the Sub-Commission requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to invite (inter alia) non-governmental organisations to furnish information, in particular about the matters referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 of that Resolution.
The ICJ respectfully draws the attention of the Sub-Commission to the information already contained in its 1975 Memorandum.
In addition, it circulates herewith a further Memorandum consisting mainly of statements made by victims of torture and other ill-treatment in various parts of the world, relating to the matters referred to in the above Resolution.
violations of human rights of persons in detention-non legal submission-1976-eng (full text in English, PDF)
May 1, 1975 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
In response to Resolution 7 (XXVII) (of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities), the ICJ submits the attached summary of developments in the field of the human rights of persons subjected to any form of detention or imprisonment.
The object of this material is not to suggest material for findings as to whether or not the rights of detainees and prisoners are being or have been violated in any particular country. Rather, the aim is to aid the Sub-Commission in determining the patterns of violations that have developed in several countries and the conditions which permit such violations, with a view to recommending measures which would prevent their occurrence.
Information compiled by the ICJ in recent years shows that the most frequently violated rights of detained persons are in fact those listed in the preamble of Sub-Commission Resolution 7 (XXVII).
In Part I we draw attention to certain problems relating to the enjoyment of these rights which, according to our files, seem to arise repeatedlyin many countries in all regions and under all regimes. Examples are provided, but they are only illustrative and in no way indicate that only in those countries are such problems known to occur.
Some of the situations mentioned have changed considerably and the practices described have ceased in those places; however, such information about the recent past can be of assistance in determining what measures could correct or prevent similar occurrences today and in the future.
Part II contains suggested measures which the Sub-Commission may wish to consider in connection with these materials. Included are proposals for judicial and administrative procedures which, if adopted, might help to prevent the occurrence of torture and other violations of detainees’ and prisoners’ rights; these proposals have also been submitted to the Fifth U.N. Congress on Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders.
Further details on questions discussed below can be made available by the International Commission of Jurists; in particular, documents mentioned in the footnotes contain much relevant information.
human rights of persons in detention-non legal submissions-1975-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Nov 20, 1961 | Plaidoyer
Télégramme de la CIJ adressé au Premier Ministre d’Italie.
Le télégramme suivant est adressé aujourd’hui à Son Excellence le Premier Ministre d’Italie par la Commission internationale de Juristes:
“La Commission internationale de Juristes exprime son plus profond regret pour le massacre brutal et froidement perpétré de pilotes italiens par des troupes congolaises mutinées, au mépris des règles d’humanité les plus élémentaires.
Les pilotes accomplissaient un devoir humanitaire au service des Nations Unies et jouaient un rôle vital dans le fonctionnement des services administratifs de l’Etat congolais, divisé et troublé.
La Commission internationale de Juristes exprime aux familles des victimes ainsi qu’au peuple et au Gouvernement italiens sa sympathie émue et sincère en son propre nom et au nom des milliers de juristes qu’elle groupe dans le monde entier”.
Sir Leslie Munro
Secrétaire général de la Commission internationale de Juristes
Oct 11, 1961 | Plaidoyer
La Commission Internationale de Juristes a adressé à Son Excellence Nkrumah, Président du Ghana, un télégramme concernant les arrestations qui viennent d’être annoncées.
Sir Leslie Munro, Secrétaire Général de la Commission, affirme que la Commission a appris avec une profonde consternation la récente nouvelle de l’arrestation d’éminents avocats et de nombreuses autres personnalités et, considérant l’inquiétude que cette mesure suscite au sein de la communauté juridique du monde entier, demande instamment des précisions sur les charges retenues contre les inculpés:
“LA COMMISSION INTERNATIONALE DE JURISTES DONT J’AI L’HONNEUR D’ETRE LE SECRETAIRE GENERAL VIENT D’APPRENDRE AVEC UNE PROFONDE CONSTERNATION L’ARRESTATION D’EMINENTS JURISTES ET DE NOMBREUSES AUTRES PERS0NNALITES PARMI LESQUELLES JOE APPIAH, VICTOR OWUSU, J. B. DANQUAH, CE DERNIER PRESIDENT DE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE, SECTION NATIONALE GHANEENNE DE LA COMMISSION INTERNATIONALE DE JURISTES STOP CONSIDERANT L’INQUIETUDE QUE CETTE MESURE SUSCITE AU SEIN DE LA COMMUNAUTE JURIDIQUE DU MONDE ENTIER ET REPONDANT AUX REQUETES ADRESSEES A LA COMMISSION, JE DEMANDE INSTAMMENT ET RESPECTUEUSEMENT DES PRECISIONS RELATIVES AUX CHARGES RETENUES CONTRE LES AVOCATS SUS-NOMMES ET LES AUTRES PERSONALITES.
signé: SIR LESLIE MUNRO
SECRETAIRE GENERAL”
La Commission internationale de Juristes est une organisation internationale non gouvernementale qui jouit du statut consultatif auprès des Nations Unies et qui groupe actuellement plus de quarante mille magistrats, avocats, professeurs de droit, dans toutes les parties du monde. Elle s’emploie principalement à promouvoir et faire respecter la Primauté du Droit. La Commission diffuse ses publications périodiques ou non-périodiques (Revue, Nouvelles, Bulletin) et s’est fait représenter par des observateurs au Procès de Trahison en Afrique du Sud, au Procès turc de Yassiada, au Procès Eichmann en Israël de même qu’à des procès politiques en Espagne et ailleurs. Ses rapports sur les violations de la Primauté du Droit en Hongrie et au Tibet ont été soumis et discutés aux Nations Unies.
