Three years after its adoption by the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has been signed by thirty-nine States.
Under the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on the UPR will be undertaking a review of Brazil during its 13th session in June 2012.
In a submission to the Working Group, the ICJ has focused on the discrete issues of: access to justice, especially in the context of business and human rights; and Brazil’s party status to international human rights instruments and its cooperation with the UN treaty bodies.
Brazil-ICJ submission UPR-analysis brief-2011 (full text in English, PDF)
Under the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on the UPR will be undertaking a review of India during its 13th session in June 2012.
In a submission to the Working Group, the International Commission of Jurists has focused on the discrete issues of: the ratification of the Convention against Torture; and India’s party status to international human rights instruments and its cooperation with the UN treaty bodies and the Council’s Special Procedures.
India-ICJ submission UPR-analysis brief-2011 (full text in English, PDF)
The ICJ and other human rights groups provide their views on the priorities and objectives of the UK Government as it takes its role of Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
In particular, the joint statement expresses the signing NGOs’ views on the UK Chairmanship’s proposals on the reform of the European Court of Human Rights.
UK-statement priorities objectives-analysis brief-2011 (full text in English, PDF)
During the Annual Meeting of the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, representatives from several international NGOs made statements and recommendations.
With the aim of being able to follow up on, and develop, the comments and recommendations made at that meeting, NGOs came together to compile the various oral statements made into a single statement.
Committed to supporting the work of the Special Procedures, the NGO signatories sought to provide constructive and useful recommendations to all mandate holders on a few specific areas in the hope that the system of Special Procedures can become even more robust and effective.
statement meeting HRC-analysis brief-2011 (full text in English, PDF)
Eswatini: Authorities fail to make progress in addressing dismal state of the independence of judges and lawyers
Iran/United States: The US must desist from the unlawful use of force
ICJ and DIHR Launch Initiative on Global Principles on Human Rights in the Digital Space
ICJ joins call to end militarized aid operations in Gaza and return to internationally recognized humanitarian aid distribution channels