Nov 24, 2011
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)
Nov 4, 2011
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)
Oct 26, 2011
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)
Oct 14, 2011
During its 47th session, the UN Committee against Torture will undertake an examination of the combined third and fourth periodic reports of Sri Lanka.
In preparation for this examination, and in response to Sri Lanka’s combined report, the Committee issued a list of issues to be considered during the forthcoming examination.
The ICJ has submitted a parallel report to the Committee against Torture, which includes replies to aspects of some questions in the Committee’s list of issues, and sets out concrete recommendations for Sri Lanka’s implementation of obligations under the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The ICJ’s submission addresses issues concerning: the definition of torture; the crime of enforced disappearances; rights on arrest or detention; habeas corpus; contemporary issues at the provincial level; non-refoulement; witness protection legislation; reparation mechanisms for victims; and the prohibition on the admission as evidence of information obtained by torture.
Sri Lanka-torture-analysis brief-2011 (full text, PDF)
Oct 12, 2011
This briefing paper addresses the proposal for a Directive on the Right of Access to a Lawyer in Criminal Proceedings and the Right to Communicate Upon Arrest.
The ICJ warmly welcomes the draft Directive, as an important support for effective implementation in EU Member states of the right of access to a lawyer as recognized in international human rights law and standards.
The paper makes recommendations for strengthening the protection offered by the Directive on several points, and responds to comments of the Presidency, and of certain Member States, on the Commission’s draft.
EU directive on the right of access to a laweyer-analysis brief-2011 (full text, PDF)
