The ICJ is writing to express deep concern about Article 217 of the draft Penal Code in Rwanda.
Based on the assessment of proposed legislation, ICJ believes the enactment of Article 217 would constitute a breach of Rwanda’s obligation under international law, as provided for in treaties to which Rwanda is a party.
Rwanda-letter Parliament draft-open letter-2009 (full text in English, PDF)
The ICJ is pleased to announce that Justice Azhar Cachalia will observe the trial in the matter of The State versus Roy L Bennett in the High Court of Zimbabwe.
Mr. Bennett is charged with the possession of weapons with the intention to commit sabotage, terrorism, banditry and insurgency. He had earlier been charged with treason but this was dropped. Initially he was charged with contravening section 25 of the Immigration Act requiring persons getting out of Zimbabwe to present themselves before an Immigration officer but this charge was thrown out by court at the initial remand proceedings.
Zimbabwe-case State v. Bennett-web story-2009 (full text in English, PDF)
The ICJ expresses its serious concern at the unlawful detention and prosecution of Mordecai Mahlangu, a prominent human rights and media lawyer from Zimbabwe.
The Coalition of International NGOs against Torture (CINAT) strongly condemns Zimbabwe’s refusal to receive an officially planned fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe by the United Nations (UN).
The visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Mr. Manfred Nowak, was postponed at the last minute by Zimbabwe’s Foreign Ministry while he was on transit to the country.
Zimbabwe-blockmission-news-2009 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ provided its views on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The ICJ suggested that the Committee address the issues of forced labour, exploitative child labour, discrimination against minorities and women in access to health and education services and in the labour market, and the issue of sexual violence and of effective recourse by victims of human rights violations to justice.
Congo-ICJ comments reports-analysis brief-2009 (full text, PDF)
Tunisia: Quash sham conviction and sentence of judges’ association President, Anas Hmedi
The UN Human Rights Council makes significant but limited progress in addressing human rights around the world, as atrocities multiply in the Middle East and elsewhere
ICJ hosts an African Regional Convening in Kenya on Transformative Equality Jurisprudence
Russian Federation: Arbitrarily detained human rights lawyer Maria Bontsler must be released