Jan 1, 1984
The government of the United States, uniquely among major nations, is committed through historical tradition, Congressional legislation and Presidential pronouncement to the defense of international human rights.
This policy—pursued fitfully, uncertainly and on occasion even disparaged—exemplifies a set of principles enunciated originally by the Founding Fathers. Traditionally, the pattern for American foreign policy initiatives has been set by the Presidency, and implemented by the Department of State after Congressional deliberation.
Significantly, however, it was the force of legislative directives that provided the essential stimulus to establish human rights objectives as an explicit factor in this country’s relationships with other nations. The application of this policy has provoked recurrent and still inconclusive public discussion on the essential nature, purposes and modalities of American foreign relations.
This report was published by the American Association for the ICJ. It was written by David Heaps, after consultation with members of the Association’s Board of Directors and the Secretary-General of the ICJ.
US-human rights and foreign policy-thematic report-1983eng (full text in English, PDF)
Jan 1, 1983
This study contains an introduction by Niall MacDermot, and country studies of over 15 countries which had experienced states of emergency in the 1960s and 1970s.
Dec 1, 1982
At 1.30 am on 5 February 1982, the body of Dr Neil Aggett, a trades union organizer, was found hanging against the grille of his cell at John Vorster Square police headquarters.
Jun 1, 1981
Basic working paper by Philip Alston following the conference on ‘Development and the rule of law’, held in The Hague, 27 April-1 May 1981.
This paper is designed to provide an overview of some of the main development issues with which the international human rights community has been attempting to grapple in recent years.
This paper includes:
- Introduction
- Redressing the curative imbalance in the United Nations’ approach to human rights : the role of lawyers
- The relationship between the two sets of rights : civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights
- Participation in the development process
- Agrarian reform, labour legislation and legal resources for the rural and urban poor
- Human rights and the formulation and application of development policies : (a) the national level, (b) the international level
- Human rights and the New International Economic Order
- The right to development as an emerging human right
Universal-rule of law development-working paper-1981-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Apr 1, 1981
Report by Hans Thoolen, former executive secretary of the ICJ, of the Symposium on the independence of judges and lawyers, November 28, 1980, Helsinki.
Best practice on how to ensure an independent judiciary. Hans Thoolen explains the creation of the Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, and defines the conditions of such independence.
international protection independence lawyers judges-seminar report-1981-eng (full text in English, PDF)
