Since the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States of America, combating terrorism has become a priority for the entire international community and one of the major, if not dominant, subjects of debate within all intergovernmental forums.
The ICJ announces the online publication of “Attacks on Justice: A Global Report on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers” between January 2000 and November 2001.
Human rights defenders and political opponents throughout Togo were said to have come under constant harassment. Lawyers have difficulties in the exercise of their profession, notably when assisting detainees en garde à vue.
Security guards frequently prevent lawyers from meeting with their clients. The International Inquiry Commission on Togo concluded in its 2001 report that hundreds of people were extrajudicially executed throughout 1998.
Attacks on justice 2002-Togo-publications-2002 (full text, PDF)
The basic laws of Israel guarantee the independence of the judiciary, which is generally respected by the legislative and executive powers.
The September 1999 landmark judgement of the High Court barring the use of torture and the April 2000 ruling prohibiting the holding of detainees for use as “bargaining chips” demonstrated that the judiciary would maintain independence even in certain sensitive cases relating to national security. The overall human rights situation vis-à-vis the Palestinian population under the jurisdiction or control of Israel deteriorated markedly. Following the outbreak of violence in late September 2000, Israeli security forces made repeated and sustained incursions into Palestinian territory, engaging in widespread and gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law.
Attacks on justice 2002-Israel-publications-2002 (full text, PDF)
Ivory Coast has experienced unprecedented social and political unrest during the preceding three years, which has had a devastating effect on its stability.
Groups of military personnel have set up a parallel system of justice, arresting suspected offenders, harassing lawyers and judges, and threatening journalists.
Attacks on justice 2002-Cote dIvoire-publications-2002 (full text, PDF)
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