Nov 5, 2013
The ICJ has provided a submission to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) for its consideration during the adoption of a list of issues for the examination of the initial report of Indonesia under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
During its meeting on 2-6 December 2013, the CESCR’s Pre-Sessional Working Group will adopt a list of issues on Indonesia. These issues will be put to the Government of Indonesia for formal response ahead of the CESCR’s full examination of the initial report of Indonesia in April/May 2014.
The ICJ’s submission raises matters and suggests concrete questions to be put to the Government of Indonesia concerning the right to freely choose work, and to just and favourable working conditions; the right to freedom of association and trade unions; the right to water; and the right to cultural life.
Indonesia-CESCR-PSWG52-ListOfIssues-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full submission in PDF)
Oct 17, 2013
The ICJ and Amnesty International presented a third party intervention in the case Abu Zubaydah v. Poland before the European Court of Human Rights.
In the third party intervention in this case on the alleged complicity of Polish authorities in the US-led operation that led to the rendition, secret detention and torture of Abu Zubaydah, the ICJ and AI outlined developments on the relevant knowledge imputable to Contracting Parties at the relevant time; the obligation to investigate and bring to justice the alleged perpetrators of gross violations of Convention Rights; the right to truth; and the right of the general public to know the truth and the application of the State secrets doctrine.
AbuZubaydah_v_Poland-AIICJThirdPartyIntervention-ECtHR-Final (download the third party intervention)
Oct 14, 2013
The ICJ has submitted to the Committee against Torture comments in advance of its consideration of the Second Periodic Report of Kyrgyzstan under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).
The ICJ submission focuses on concerns about the implementation by Kyrgyzstan of Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 16 of the CAT concerning:
a) failure to prevent torture and other ill-treatment of persons in detention;
b) application of the definition of the crime of torture and its implications;
c) failure to ensure and respect the right of detainees of access to a lawyer;
d) failure to ensure independent, impartial and thorough investigation of acts of torture and other ill-treatment; and
e) failure to respect the prohibition of the use of evidence obtained under torture or other ill-treatment.
Finally, the submission addresses the failure of the authorities to ensure reparation to victims of torture and other ill-treatment, including that which should result from findings of violations by UN treaty bodies.
Kyrgyzstan- CAT51-Legal submission-2013 (download the submission in pdf)
Oct 10, 2013
Today, the International Commission of Jurists and the Open Society Justice Initiative submitted a third party intervention before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Gîrleanu v. Romania.
Marian Gîrleanu was journalist fined for having been in information considered confidential by the Romania state authorities concerning international involvement in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The information was never published. In their intervention, the ICJ and OSJI submit that sanctions for unauthorized possession or disclosure of information by journalists and other similarly protected persons may seriously impair their rights under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights right to receive and impart information, and may only be applied in very exceptional circumstances. The two human rights organizations stress that it is the State, not journalists, that is responsible for the protection of government information. Journalists and other who perform a public watchdog function that is fundamental to a democratic to a democratic society may not be subject to sanctions for possession or disclosure in the public interest of information.
ECtHR-ThirdPartyIntervention-Girlenau-Romania-2013 (Read the third party intervention)
Sep 26, 2013
The ICJ today called on the UN Human Rights Council to prepare to take action in March 2014 if the Government of Sri Lanka continues to fail to take concrete steps to ensure justice and accountability.
In response to an oral update of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on her mission to Sri Lanka and the implementation of Human Rights Council resolution 22/1 on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka, the ICJ expressed deep concern that critical measures on accountability, such as those called for in the resolution, are not being adequately implemented. Noting that the High Commissioner will present a comprehensive report to the Council during the 25th session of the Council in March 2014, the ICJ called on Council members to be ready to act in order to ensure justice and accountability for alleged gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka.
The statement was made in a General Debate under item 10 of the Council’s agenda during the 24th regular session of the Council (9 to 27 September 2013).
SriLanka-HRC24-Item10-OralStatementGD-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full statement in PDF)
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