Mar 14, 2013
The ICJ today called on the Government of Guatemala to fully and effectively implement recommendations and undertakings concerning consultations with indigenous peoples, impunity and the protection of human rights defenders.
The statement was delivered during an Interactive Dialogue on the adoption of the UPR outcome document on Guatemala (Item 6 of the Council’s agenda) during the 22nd regular session of the Human Rights Council (25 February to 22 March 2013).
Guatemala-HRC22-Item6Statement-NonLegalSubmission-2013 (download full oral statement in PDF)
Guatemala-UPR-StakeholderSubmission-LegalSubmission-2012 (go to webpage on the ICJ’s submission on the UPR of Guatemala)
Mar 13, 2013
The ICJ today called on the Human Rights Council and its subsidiary bodies to reject efforts to introduce the language of traditional values into the framework of human rights.
Noting the conclusion of the Council’s Advisory Committee that traditional values can be negative and have been used to justify the subordination of women and other vulnerable or minority groups, the ICJ recalled that emphasis should always be on the implementation of human rights law regardless of tradition and culture.
The ICJ’s statement was delivered today during the General Debate under Item 5 of the Council’s agenda (human rights bodies and mechanisms) as part of the 22nd regular session of the Human Rights Council (25 February to 22 March 2013).
HRC22-Item5GD-TVReport-LegalSubmission-2013 (download statement in PDF)
Mar 12, 2013
The ICJ today called on the Human Rights Council to establish a Council-mandated Commission of Inquiry on accountability in Sri Lanka for gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The ICJ delivered its statement today during the General Debate under Item 4 of the Council’s agenda (human rights situations that require the Council’s attention) as part of the Human Rights Council’s 22nd regular session (25 February to 22 March 2013).
Also noting the deteriorating situation of human rights and the rule of law in Sri Lanka, the ICJ pointed to the inaction of the Government of Sri Lanka as showing that it is unwilling to comply with its international obligations to undertake prompt, independence and effective investigations into credible allegations of gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law.
SriLanka-HRC22-Item4GD-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full statement in PDF)
Mar 11, 2013
The ICJ again called on the Human Rights Council to request the Security Council to immediately refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court and urgently take effective humanitarian measures.
Taking into account the continued and rapidly deteriorating situation in Syria, the ICJ noted the systematic and widespread attacks against the civilian population by Government forces, as well as serious human rights abuses and IHL violations by anti-Government forces.
The statement was delivered today during an interactive dialogue with the Council-mandated Commission of Inquiry on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic as part of the Human Rights Council’s 22nd regular session (25 February to 22 March 2013).
Syria-HRC22-Item4-SyriaCOI-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full statement in PDF)
Mar 11, 2013
The ICJ has brought to the attention of the UPR mechanism issues concerning migration and asylum, criminalization of abortion and recognition of gender identity and marriage in Malta.
The ICJ’s submission comes ahead of the consideration of the human rights situation in Malta by the Human Rights Council’s Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (21 October to 1 November 2013). It includes suggested recommendations to be taken up in the UPR of Malta.
Malta-UPR17-StakeholderSubmission-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full submission in PDF)
Malta-UPR17-AdvocacyNote-LegalSubmission-2013 (download short advocacy note in PDF)
Malta-UPR17-ComparisonChart (download comparison of ICJ suggested recommendations against UPR first cycle recommendations)
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