Sep 18, 2013
The ICJ today called on the UN Human Rights Council to urge Venezuela to withdraw charges brought against Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni (photo) for the legitimate exercise of her professional functions.
In a General Debate under Item 5 (human rights bodies and mechanisms), the ICJ made reference to Judge Afiuni’s case as one profiled in the report of the UN Secretary-General on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field. Judge Afiuni was arrested in December 2009 for ordering the release on bail of Mr Eligio Cedeno, reportedly in part on the basis that his detention had been declared arbitrary by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
The General Debate took place during the 24th regular session of the Human Rights Council (9 to 27 September 2013).
Venezuela-HRC24-Item5-OralStatement-Afiuni-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full statement, in English)
A-HRC-24-29 (download Secretary-General’s report, in English)
Sep 17, 2013
The ICJ today addressed the Human Rights Council on the grave situation for human rights and the rule of law in Egypt.
In a General Debate under Item 4 of the agenda of the Human Rights Council (human rights situations requiring the Council’s attention), the ICJ called on the Council to urge Egyptian authorities to:
- Immediately and unconditionally agree to receive a mission by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and an ongoing presence in the country of an office of the OHCHR;
- Ensure a quick transition of power to a lawfully constituted civilian authority;
- Ensure prompt, independent and effective investigations into all alleged human rights violations, including the unlawful killing of protesters;
- Respect the right of detainees to a lawyer and to challenge the lawfulness of their detention; and
- Ensure that family members and legal counsel are notified of the detention of an individual, the place of detention, and the fate and whereabouts of hundreds of individuals reportedly missing.
The General Debate took place during the 24th regular session of the Council (9 to 27 September 2013).
Egypt-HRC24-Item4-OralStatement-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full statement in PDF)
Sep 17, 2013
The ICJ today called on all States to bolster humanitarian relief efforts and extend the reach of such efforts inside Syria.
In an Interactive Dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, the ICJ called on the Human Rights Council to continue to give attention to the situation in Syria, including by requesting the Security Council to urgently take effective measures aimed at the cessation of the large-scale loss of life in the country and to end the indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, as well as any use of chemical weapons.
The Interactive Dialogue took place under Item 4 of the Human Rights Council’s agenda (human rights situations that require the Council’s attention) during the 24th regular session of the Council (9 to 27 September 2013).
Syria-HRC24-Item4-OralStatement-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full statement in PDF)
Sep 16, 2013
The ICJ today called on adherence by all States with the obligation to ensure effective and independent judicial supervision as a fundamental safeguard against arbitrary detention, and torture and other forms of ill-treatment.
Reflecting on the Secretary-General’s report on the protection of all persons deprived of their liberty, the ICJ’s statement was made during the General Debate under Item 3 of the Human Rights Council’s agenda (promotion and protection of all human rights) during the 24th regular session of the Council (9 to 27 September 2013).
HRC24-Item3-OralStatement-AdministrationJustice-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full statement in PDF)
A-HRC-24-28 (download Secretary-General’s report)
Sep 10, 2013
The ICJ today called for better regulation of private military and security companies (PMSCs) in national and international law.
Noting gaps identified in the regulation of PMSCs in the annual report to the UN by the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, the ICJ encouraged the Working Group to:
- Publish national laws of the concerned countries and submit this and additional detailed information and analysis to the Open Ended Intergovernmental Working Group on a possible international regulatory framework for PMSCs, which will meet for its third session in December 2013; and
- Focus in future phases of its study on the availability, accessibility and effectiveness of accountability and redress mechanisms, including judicial mechanisms, in national laws.
The statement was made during an Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group (under Item 3 of the Human Rights Council’s agenda) during the 24th regular session of the Council (9 to 27 September 2013).
HRC24-OralStatement-WGMercenaries-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full statement by the ICJ)
A-HRC-24-45 (download the annual report of the Working Group)
