Sep 13, 2013 | News
The ICJ denounced the death sentences handed down in the Delhi gang rape and murder case and urged the Indian Government to take steps to abolish the death penalty in law and practice.
A special fast-track court today sentenced to death four men convicted for the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on 16 December 2012.
The fifth accused, who was a minor at the time he committed the crime, was convicted and sentenced to three years in a reform home by a juvenile court on 31 August 2013.
“Women’s rights groups in India have taken a firm stance against the death penalty and strongly believe that the death penalty is counterproductive in every way to preventing and curtailing sexual violence against women,” said Vrinda Grover, leading human rights lawyer and ICJ’s South Asia advocate.
The ICJ considers the death penalty to constitute a violation of the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.
“Those who commit acts of violence against women must be prosecuted and brought to justice,” said Sheila Varadan, ICJ’s South Asia Legal Advisor. “But the sentence and the administration of the death penalty constitutes a perversion of justice.”
“Instead of giving in to the vengeful demand for killing the perpetrators of this horrific crime, the Indian Government must take concrete steps to prevent, investigate and punish acts of violence against women,” Varadan added.
A high level commission constituted to reform Indian law on violence against women, led by the late Chief Justice of the Indian Supreme Court Justice J.S. Verma, recommended that the death penalty should not be used in rape cases.
“In demanding and securing the death penalty, Indian authorities have created a spectacle that distracts from their responsibility for systemic change in the legal system which alone will create deterrence in law,” said Vrinda Grover.
The ICJ calls on India to join the great majority of States around the world in rejecting the use of the death penalty.
To that end, India should impose a moratorium on the practice and take steps towards its abolition, as prescribed by repeated United Nations General Assembly Resolutions, the ICJ says.
Contacts:
Sheila Varadan (Bangkok), ICJ South Asia Legal Advisor, t: +66 857 200 723 (mobile); email: sheila.varadan(a)icj.org
Ben Schonveld (Kathmandu), ICJ South Asia Director, t: +977 980 459 6661 (mobile); email: ben.schonveld(a)icj.org
Additional Information
The United Nations has adopted various instruments in support of the call for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty. In 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution emphasizing that ‘that the use of the death penalty undermines human dignity’ and calling for the establishment of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty ‘with a view to abolishing the death penalty.’ The resolution was reaffirmed in 2008, 2010, and most recently in December 2012, when a large majority of UN Member States voted in favor of a worldwide moratorium on executions as a step towards the death penalty’s abolition.
Currently, 150 countries worldwide, including 30 states in Asia and the Pacific region, have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice.
Rape and other forms of sexual violence against women are pervasive in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 24,923 rape cases were registered in India in 2012. Experts believe that the actual number is much higher, as rape is vastly under-reported. In most cases, however, victims and survivors get no justice from a criminal justice system that has been widely characterized as gender-insensitive, under-resourced and corrupt.
Photo: PTI
Sep 12, 2013 | News, Uncategorized
Justice Elizabeth Evatt AC (photo), will be observing the hearing of the appeal of Anwar Ibrahim’s case from 17 to 18 September 2013 at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya.
Justice Evatt is the first female judge to be appointed to an Australian Federal Court, a former member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, and a commissioner of the ICJ.
Anwar Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician and is currently the leader of the opposition party, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, and the opposition alliance known as Pakatan Rakyat.
The appeal hearing that Justice Elizabeth Evatt will be observing emerged from the 2008 charges filed against Anwar Ibrahim immediately after the general elections held that year.
He was charged for allegedly committing sodomy, which is a crime under Section 377B of the Penal Code and carries the penalty of up to 20 years of imprisonment and whipping.
The High Court acquitted Anwar Ibrahim on 9 January 2012.
This is the second time that Anwar Ibrahim is facing sodomy charges after his dismissal from the Malaysian Cabinet in 1998.
In 2004, The ICJ also sent a representative to observe the sodomy trial of Anwar Ibrahim, where the Federal Court overturned the High Court decision to convict him.
The ICJ called the Federal Court’s ruling “a step in the right direction in upholding the rule of law”.
Justice Evatt’s mandate as ICJ’s high-level observer to the appeal hearing includes monitoring the fairness of the proceedings against Anwar Ibrahim in the light of relevant international standards.
These standards include, among others the UN Basic Principles on the Independence of Judges, which set out standards on the independence and impartiality of judges, and the UN Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors, which set out standards on the independence of prosecutors.
Justice Evatt will also be evaluating whether the prosecution under Section 377B of the Malaysian Penal Code is being used in this case to suppress political dissent, contrary to the right to freedom of expression.
“The right to observe trials stems from the general right to promote and secure the protection and realization of human rights. Trial observation is a key tool in monitoring the respect for human rights and the rule of law. It is an effective method to examine the level of independence and impartiality of a country’s criminal justice system,” said Emerlynne Gil, ICJ’s International Legal Adviser on Southeast Asia. “Trial monitoring also serves to promote better compliance with both domestic law and international standards that aim to ensure protection of human rights, including the rights to fair trial and due process.”
Contact:
Emerlynne Gil, International Legal Adviser for the ICJ Asia & Pacific Programme, t +662 6198477 ext. 206; email: emerlynne.gil(a)icj.org
Sep 12, 2013 | News
Yesterday, during the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the ICJ and TRIAL (Swiss Association against Impunity) jointly held a parallel event on promoting accountability through human rights mechanisms in Geneva.
The event was co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Switzerland, Estonia and Costa Rica to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
A corresponding report produced by ICJ and TRIAL was also launched at this event in two versions, one aimed at civil society and another aimed at States.
Panellists at this event included Ian Seiderman of the ICJ, Gabriella Citroni of TRIAL and Theo van Boven, former Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and ICJ Honorary Commissioner.
Mona Rishmawi of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) chaired the event.
The main topic of this event was the ICJ-TRIAL report, which reviews the legal framework for promoting accountability and suggests possible action by civil society and States to engage with the human rights mechanisms in Geneva to better promote and achieve accountability for human rights violations.
The role of national mechanisms, such as national human rights institutions, working in cooperation with the UN mechanisms was also highlighted.
The report focuses specifically on the Human Rights Council and its subsidiary bodies, such as the Universal Periodic Review and the special procedures mechanisms.
OHCHR’s role was further emphasised in regards to sharing best practices as well as ensuring follow-up to issues of accountability as they come to the attention to the UN.
Sep 11, 2013 | News
The ICJ expressed its disappointment over the continued arbitrary detention and refusal of bail of Secretary of human rights organization, Odhikar, and Supreme Court Advocate Adilur Rahman Khan.
The ICJ urged the Bangladeshi authorities to drop their opposition to Adilur Rahman Khan’s bail application.
On 9 September 2013, a Magistrates Court in Dhaka refused Adilur Rahman Khan’s bail application for the second time. He had earlier been denied bail on 11 August 2013.
“Adilur Rahman Khan is being arbitrarily detained for his lawful exercise of the right to freedom of expression and his legitimate work as a human rights defender,” said Ben Schonveld, ICJ’s South Asia Director. “What we are seeing is a Government crackdown on voices of dissent.”
Under international law, all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Bangladesh is a party, there is a presumption of pre-trial release.
A person can only be denied pre-trial release where it is reasonable and necessary in all of the circumstances to prevent absconding, interference with evidence or recidivism.
“The Government cannot show that Adilur Rahman Khan poses a flight risk,” Schonveld added. “In fact, he faces a serious threat of torture and ill-treatment during detention, as documented by Odhikar and other human rights organizations.”
The ICJ reiterates its call on Bangladesh to immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against Adilur Rahman Khan and Nasiruddin Elan, ensure Adilur Rahman Khan is treated in accordance with international law in custody, and cease its harassment of Odhikar.
Contact
Ben Schonveld, ICJ South Asia Director (Kathmandu), t: +977 14432651; email: ben.schonveld(a)icj.org
Additional information
Adilur Rahman Khan was arrested his home on 10 August 2013 without an arrest warrant.
On August 11, a Magistrate’s Court refused his bail application and remanded him for five days of custodial interrogation.
On August 12, the High Court Division of the Supreme Court stayed the remand order and directed that Adilur Rahman be sent back to jail, where he could be interrogated ‘at the gate of the jail.’
On 4 September 2013, the Detective Branch of Police filed a charge sheet against Adilur Rahman Khan and Odhikar’s Director, Nasiruddin Elan, under Section 57 of the International Communication and Technology Act 2006.
They were accused of distorting information, presenting false evidence and manipulating photographs regarding a police operation on a Hefazat-e Islam rally in May this year.
Odhikar had reported that 61 people were killed in the police crackdown on the rally. The government contested the number of casualties.
Adilur Rahman Khan and Nasiruddin Elan will be formally charged on 12 September 2013.
LATEST UPDATE: Letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed on the Continued Detention of Adilur Rahman Khan
Bangladesh- Letter Adilur Rahman Khan-Advocacy-Open letter-2013 (full text in pdf)
Sep 10, 2013 | Доклады, Новости, Пресс-релизы, Публикации, Тематические доклады
Многие адвокаты в Центральной Азии сталкиваются с серьезными препятствиями при осуществлении своих функций, в том числе преследованиями, запугиваниями и физическими нападениями и нуждаются в значительно большей защите своей работы и независимости, говорится в новом большом докладе МКЮ, опубликованном сегодня.
Доклад «Независимость юридической профессии в Центральной Азии» оценивает проблемы в обеспечении независимости адвокатов в Центральной Азии, а также препятствия, с которыми сталкиваются адвокаты при оказании эффективной юридической помощи своим клиентам.
Он анализирует законодательство и практику, касающиеся юридической профессии, в каждой из пяти стран Центральной Азии: Казахстане, Кыргызстане, Таджикистане, Туркменистане и Узбекистане.
В докладе отмечается, что слабость юридической профессии глубоко укоренена в законе и правовой культуре стран Центральной Азии, и ассоциации адвокатов в некоторых странах полностью контролируются органами исполнительной власти, а в других – уязвимы для неправомерного влияния или вмешательства государственных органов.
В некоторых странах региона, недавние реформы юридической профессии имели регрессивный характер и способствовали дальнейшему ослаблению независимости адвокатов от исполнительной власти, что демонстрируется в докладе.
«По всей Центральной Азии, приверженные и независимые адвокаты, работающие для защиты прав своих клиентов, сталкиваются с преследованиями, запугиваниями и физическими нападениями, а также препятствиями в доступе к своим клиентам в местах лишения свободы и неравным обращением в судах, которые выносят обвинительные приговоры практически в 100 процентах рассматриваемых дел», – заявила Роушин Пиллей, директор программы МКЮ по Европе.
«С сильными, независимые институтами, регулирующими юридическую профессию профессию, и бόльшей защитой их работы и независимости, адвокаты в Центральной Азии могли бы вносить существенный вклад в укрепление верховенства закона в своих странах и реализацию защиты прав человека, гарантированных национальным и международным правом».
«Должна быть осуществлена значительная реформа и закона, и практики в целях обеспечения соответствия международным стандартам, касающимся роли адвокатов», – добавила она.
В докладе также рассматриваются механизмы вступления в юридическую профессию и лицензирования адвокатов, которые в большинстве стран Центральной Азии контролируются Министерством юстиции, а не независимыми ассоциациями адвокатов.
В нем говорится о том, что имеют место похожие проблемы дисциплинарных систем для адвокатов, которые, вопреки международному праву и стандартам, как правило, находятся под значительным государственным контролем или влиянием.
«Дисциплинарным системам стран Центральной Азии до сих пор не удалось решить давние проблемы адвокатов, в частности, некоторых адвокатов, работа которых оплачивается государством, и которые действуют не в интересах своих клиентов, а фактически под диктовку представителей обвинения или других влиятельных лиц», – сказал Тимур Шакиров, правовой советник Программы МКЮ по Европе.
«С другой стороны, вызывает озабоченность, что адвокаты, которые старательно выполняют свою роль в представлении интересов своих клиентов и защиты их прав в соответствии с признанными профессиональными стандартами, напротив, привлекаются к дисциплинарной ответственности или находятся под угрозой её применения».
В докладе содержатся рекомендации, направленные на обеспечение независимой и эффективной работы адвокатов в представлении интересов своих клиентов и защиты их прав человека .
Эти рекомендации основаны на нормах международного права и стандартах, включая Основные принципы ООН, касающиеся роли юристов, в которых утверждается обязательство правительств защищать адвокатов от угроз, препятствий, запугивания или неоправданного вмешательства при выполнении ими своих профессиональных обязанностей, а также защищать адвокатов в их праве формировать и поддерживать независимые, самостоятельные профессиональные ассоциации, представляющие их интересы, способствующие их подготовке и защищающие их высокий профессиональный уровень.
Контакты:
Роушин Пиллей, директор Региональной программы МКЮ по Европе, roisin.pillay(a)icj.org
Тимур Шакиров, правовой советник Региональной программы МКЮ по Европе, temur.shakirov(a)icj.org
Central Asia-Legal Profession Report.press release-2013-Rus (пресс-релиз, PDF)
Central Asia-Independence of the Legal Profession-Publication-2013-Rus (публикация на русском, PDF)
Фото: Алматинская Коллегия Адвокатов, Юридическая Консультация
