This is a report on the trial of Mr Xanana Gusmao, in the District Court at Dili, the capital of East Timor. Fredun De Vitre, an Advócate of the High Court, Bombay, India observed the trial on behalf of the ICJ.
Myanmar (Burma), an isolated country for the last 29 years, became the focus of international attention in 1988.
Demonstrations by students, monks and other citizens, calling for the end of one-party rule, the handing over of power to an interim government and the holding of elections, led to thousands of deaths.
In September 1988, General Saw Maung announced that the military had taken over power and a nineteen-member State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) was formed which assumed all legislative, executive and judicial power. Curfew was imposed, gatherings of more than 5 people were prohibited, demonstrators were shot and streets cleared of all protesters and opposition.
Thousands of persons fled to the borders while others sought refuge in neighbouring countries. Although the citizens of Myanmar were denied the minimum freedom necessary for a free and fair election, the main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), scored an overwhelming victory in the elections of May 1990, winning 80% of the seats.
However, power has not yet been transferred to the democratically elected representatives of the people. People are forced to leave the country to avoid persecution. Thousands of Myanmar citizens, fleeing persecution, and now totalling about 360,000 are to be found in Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia and Thailand.
The ICJ sent a mission to Myanmar in January-February 1991 to study the human rights situation. The mission was undertaken by Mr. Makhdoom Ali Khan, a lawyer from Pakistan. A detailed report of the mission “The Burmese Way: To Where?” was published in December 1991. Mr. Khan met refugees from Myanmar in Thailand and also travelled to Myanmar.
Most of the information contained in this report was obtained by Mr. Khan on his visit to Thailand. An update has been provided by the ICJ staff.
Myanmar-refugees-thematic report-1992-eng (full text in English, PDF)
« Les droits de l’homme en Afrique » c’est le plus précieux cadeau offert à la Commission internationale de juristes pour son quarantième anniversaire.
Il sera assurément le livre de chevet de tous ceux et de toutes celles qui sont soucieux de comprendre la philosophie des droits de l’homme, qui luttent pour leur triomphe ou qui aspirent à plus de justice. Kéba Mbaye ouvre de grandes fenêtres avec vue sur la Démocratie en Afrique.” Ce livre a été ecrit par Kéba Mbaye, juriste éminent.
Première Partie: Théorie des droits de l’homme en Afrique, avec trois Chapitres :
Deuxième Partie: La èromotion et protection des droits de l’homme en Afrique par un système africain : la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples, avec huit Chapitres :
Avec Conclusions et Annexes.
THEORIE DES DROITS DE L’HOMME EN AFRIQUE ……………………………. 19
Chapitre I — PROBLEMATIQUE DES DROITS DE L’HOMME EN AFRIQUE 23
Section I. : Définition des droits de l’homme ………………………………………… 24
1. Moments des droits de l’homme et des peuples ………………………… 25
a) Les prérogatives constitutives des droits de l’homme doivent être
reconnues ………………………………….. ………………………………………………… 25
b) Le titulaire des droits de l’homme est un individu ou plusieurs
individus pris collectivement …………………………………………………….. 28
c) Parmi les moments des droits de l’homme, l’élément le plus
fondamental demeure évidemment la condition hum aine…………. 29
2. Les tensions doctrinales relatives aux droits de l’homme ……………. 30
a) Tension « droits civils » et « droits économiques, sociaux et
culturels » ……………………………………………………………………………………… 30
b) Tension « droits de l’homme » — « droits des peuples » …………. 33
Africa-human rights-thematic report-1992-fra (full text in French, PDF)
La CIJ a envoyé du 5 juillet 1992 au 11 juillet 1992 à Djibouti, en qualité d’observateur, Maître Béatrice Séne, pour assister au procès du Président Ali Aref Bourhan, Aref Mohamed Aref, Avocat, et de 61 autres Afars.
Le procès se déroula dans un contexte politique et social plutôt tendu- La compétence a été attribuée à un Tribunal de Sûreté de la République conformément à l’ordonnance no. 77.062 du 16 août 1978 qu’il conviendra d’examiner en détail avant l’énoncé des faits. L’étude de la procédure, des débats, permettront d’effectuer une analyse juridique, politique et sociale du procès.
Djibouti-trial Aref-report-1992-fra (full text in French, PDF)
Colombian reality, characterized by long-standing political violence, among other types of violence, has a particularly victimized sector in its judges an d lawyers; this has led to the administration of justice or the practice of law as dangerous professions.
The purpose of the following investigation carried out by the “Comisión Andina de Juristas Seccional Colombiana” (Andean Commission of Jurists Colombian Section) and sponsored by the ICJ, is to analyze thirteen years of violent acts against judges and lawyers which are the result of the exercising of their profession (1979-1991). It shows a dismaying panorama concerning the independence of the judicial power and the protection of legal professionals in Colombia.
The thirteen years covered by the study are a perfect general view of Colombia during the last decade. The violence encouraged by the government as well as that perpetrated by paramilitary groups, drug-traffickers and guerrilla groups appears throughout the period covered by the study, as does the manifest impunity of the acts carried out by them . The efforts encouraged by the State to stop this atmosphere of anguish have not been effective enough, nor can they be considered respectful of human rights.
The remarkable number of cases registered, the combination of different factors and motives for violence that are briefly described in the research report, the types of violence, and even the particularities in the consummation of the deed show the complexity of Colombia’s case. This complexity, which can not be assimilated as a state of confusion, has created an atmosphere of resignation that has not promoted integrated responses, but rather temporary, short-term ones to the problem of violence in Colombia.
The study is based upon a substantial collection of statistical data, which are also reproduced in the report.
Colombia-violence against judges and lawyers-thematic report-1992-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Colombia-violence against judges and lawyers-thematic report-1992-spa (full text in Spanish, PDF)
El Salvador: Crimes against humanity within the framework of public security policy
HRC61: Joint oral statement of The ICJ in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Counter-terrorism and Human Rights
A Human Rights-Based Approach to Decriminalizing Conduct Associated with Poverty and Status
HRC61: Oral statement of The ICJ in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities