Sep 26, 2015
The ICJ submitted a briefing to the UN Human Rights Committee in advance of the Committee’s examination of Greece’s compliance with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
In its submission the ICJ expressed concern and made recommendations about the following issues:
i. the Greek asylum system’s failure to comply in practice with the
non-refoulement obligations and the right to an effective remedy (article 2.3, read in conjunction with articles 6, 7, 9 and 14 ICCPR, in particular);
ii. the immigration detention of refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants and the conditions of their detention (article 7, 9 and 10 ICCPR);
iii. the treatment and immigration detention of unaccompanied children (articles 7, 9 and 24 ICCPR); and
iv. the reception and living conditions of asylum seekers amounting to
destitution (article 7 ICCPR).
Contact:
Massimo Frigo, Europe Programme Legal Adviser, email: massimo.frigo(a)icj.org
Greece-Europe-HRC Briefing-Advocacy-non-legal submissions-2015-ENG (full text in PDF)
Sep 21, 2015
The ICJ today urged the European Council to mandate the EU institutions and Member States to take urgent co-ordinated action to protect the human rights of migrants and refugees who are now arriving in Europe on a large scale, to avoid exacerbating an already grave human rights crisis.
European Council President, Donald Tusk, has called for an extraordinary, informal meeting of heads of State and government for Wednesday 23 September, to discuss a common coordinated approach to address the situation.
The ICJ is following with extreme concern the latest developments in the refugee and migration emergency, with thousands of persons trying to reach the EU every day, including those fleeing war or persecution in Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan and Ethiopia.
“The current situation represents an acid test for the EU’s identity as a legal order based on human rights and the rule of law,” said Róisín Pillay, Director of the ICJ Europe programme.
“In this rapidly developing human rights crisis, the EU institutions and Member States must respond in accordance with their international human rights and refugee law obligations, which are also founding principles of the EU,” she added.
The unprecedented number of refugees and other migrants – 9,000 persons crossed the Hungarian-Serbian border only on 14 September – has already seen numerous tragedies, including deaths by drowning in the Mediterranean Sea, the ICJ deplores.
It has also seen incidents raising serious human rights concerns, the Geneva-based organization says.
These include the numbering on their skin of refugees and migrants to the Czech Republic; ill-treatment of persons trying to cross the Greek-Macedonian border; and, most lately, deployment of the Hungarian army at the border with Serbia and allegations of ill-treatment, seizure and push-backs by the Hungarian authorities.
“The EU must urgently take co-ordinated action to provide adequate reception conditions and effective access to international protection for people fleeing war, persecution and other serious violations of human rights,” said Massimo Frigo, Legal Adviser of the ICJ Europe Programme.
The ICJ stresses that all refugees and other migrants, regardless of their status, are entitled to full protection of their human rights under international law.
The EU institutions and all EU Member State authorities have a duty to safeguard these rights at all times, including under the EU Treaties and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the ICJ adds.
Contact:
Massimo Frigo, Legal Adviser, ICJ Europe Programme, t: +41 22 979 3805 ; e: massimo.frigo(a)icj.org
Europe-Migration statement-Advocacy-analysis brief-2015-ENG (full text in pdf)
Photo: EPA
Sep 21, 2015 | News
Today, the ICJ has started its mission to the Kyrgyz Republic on organisation and functioning of the legal profession.
During the mission, which will last from 21 to 25 September, the ICJ will assess the implementation of the new legislation unifying the legal profession under a single national bar association, including establishment of new structures and standards for the self-governance of the profession regarding qualification, disciplinary action and professional ethics.
A round table with independent lawyers will be held during the visit, other meetings with bodies of the Bar Association, State officials and other stakeholders that take part in the reform will be held.
The mission will include Jeroen Brouwer, former President of the Dutch Bar Association, Róisín Pillay, Director of the Europe Programme and Temur Shakirov, Legal Adviser of the Europe Programme.
The mission will be followed by a brief report with recommendations for reform.
Contact:
Róisín Pillay: roisin.pillay(a)icj.org
Temur Shakirov: temur.shakirov(a)icj.org
Aug 19, 2015
Today the ICJ joined a number of human rights organizations in an appeal to the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan regarding a recent case of obstruction of work of lawyer Snezhanna Kim, practicing in the country.
The incident took place on 24 July 2015, when lawyer Snezhanna Kim was having a meeting with a client in detention facility no. 161/1 in the city of Kostanay.
The signatories called on the Prosecutor to ensure that Snezhanna Kim and other lawyers are able to freely carry out their professional activities, including by visiting clients held in places of detention without hindrance and communicating with them based on full respect for the confidentiality of the lawyer-client relationship and without pressure of any kind.
Kazakhstan-Violations Lawyer’s rights-Advocacy-Open letters-2015-ENG (full text in PDF, English)
Kazakhstan-Violations Lawyer’s rights-Advocacy-Open letters-2015-RUS (full text in PDF, Russian)
Aug 19, 2015 | Адвокаси, Открытые письма
Сегодня МКЮ присоединился к ряду правозащитных организаций в обращении к Генеральному прокурору Республики Казахстан по поводу недавнего дела об отказе от работы адвоката Снежанны Ким, практикующей в стране.
Инцидент произошел 24 июля 2015 года, когда адвокат Снежанна Ким встретилась с клиентом в здании следственного изолятора №. 161/1 в городе Костанай.
Подписавшие стороны обратились к Прокурору с просьбой обеспечить, чтобы Снежанна Ким и другие юристы могли свободно осуществлять свою профессиональную деятельность, в том числе путем беспрепятственного посещения клиентов, содержащихся в местах задержания под стражей, и общения с ними на основе полного уважения конфиденциальности адвоката- клиентских отношений и без какого-либо давления.
Kazakhstan-Violations Lawyer’s rights-Advocacy-Open letters-2015-RUS (полный текст на русском, PDF)
