The judicial system in India remained overburdened but able to function independently. There was some controversy during the year regarding the lack of members of lower castes and indigenous populations in higher judicial office.
A drastic reform of the judicial infrastructure is to be carried out by the Judicial System Reform Council established in June 1999.
The Chinese judiciary is subject to the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. Lawyers cannot function independently, as the Ministry of Justice has significant control over lawyers, law firms and bar associations.
The judicial system is subject to the military regime and is used to support a policy of repression.
The Malaysian judiciary, although it generally acts independently, was widely seen to be complicit in political prosecutions by the government, particularly in the trial of former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.
Joint Letter: Urgent diplomatic action to halt further executions in eastern Libya
Czech Republic: UN Committee on the Rights of the Child finds that immigration detention of children violated the prohibition of arbitrary detention and ill-treatment
UN Human Rights Council once again navigates troubled waters to protect human rights in crisis situations, despite global setbacks.
Joint statement: States Must Act Now to Protect the International Criminal Court from Unlawful US Sanctions