Jun 12, 2023 | Advocacy, News
“The evaluation of Thailand’s Eastern Special Development Zone Act B.E. 2561 (2018) (‘EEC Act’) in 2024 must be carried out with meaningful participation from all stakeholders, and ensure compliance with Thailand’s international human rights obligations,” concluded participants at a dialogue hosted by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Land Watch Thai, EEC Watch, and ENLAW Thai Foundation on 8 June 2023 in Bangkok.
Jun 3, 2023
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), in coordination with its local partner Advocacy Forum (AF) and Nepal’s Office of the Chief Attorney (OCA), held a two-day capacity building workshop for the members of the local detention Monitoring Committee, government officials, and human rights defenders in Sudurpaschim Province on 31 May-1 June 2023. The objective of the workshop was to impart knowledge and exchange views on effective monitoring of places of detention and documentation mainly of cases torture and other ill-treatment in detention with a view to facilitating prevention and redress.
May 26, 2023 | Advocacy, News
In response to news on 17 May 2023 of the fatal shooting of Bounsuan Kitiyano, a 56-year-old Lao human rights defender and a refugee recognized by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in a border town in northeastern Thailand, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and nine other organisations urge the government of Thailand to independently, effectively and promptly investigate this incident and ensure effective remedy to the victim’s family and loved ones.
May 26, 2023
The Taliban’s severe restrictions and unlawful crackdown on women and girls’ rights should be investigated as possible crimes under international law, including the crime against humanity of gender persecution, Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists said today in a new report.
May 11, 2023 | News
The ICJ today welcomed the determination by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka regarding the constitutionality of the private member’s bill entitled Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2023 whose stated objective is to repeal “provisions that make sexual orientation a punishable offence”. The Bill had been challenged by three petitioners who sought a determination by the Supreme Court that the Bill was inconsistent with provisions of the Constitution relating to Sovereignty, Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy, and that it required the approval of a two-thirds majority in Parliament and the approval of the People at a referendum. Petitions in support of the Bill were also filed by a number of interveners, such as civil society organizations working to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons in Sri Lanka, academics, and activists, including Professor Savitri Goonesekere who had previously served as a member of the Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy, who had formerly been a United Nations Under Secretary General and the Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict.
