ICJ submission on the 2011 recast of the EU Reception Directive
The ICJ published today its observations on the 1 June 2011 recast of the European Union “Directive laying down standards for the reception of asylum seekers”.
ICJ oral intervention on the adoption of the outcome document of the Universal Periodic Review of Greece
The UN Human Rights Council adopted the outcome document of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Greece.
The ICJ made a statement during this adoption process, urging the implementation of recommendations accepted by Greece related to protecting the rights of asylum seekers, particularly concerning their treatment in Greece.
It also called on Greece to reconsider its decision to reject the recommendation of the UPR Working Group that Greece accede to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families.
ICJ oral intervention on the adoption of the outcome document of the universal periodic review of Belgium
The UN Human Rights Council adopted the outcome document of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Belgium.
The ICJ made a statement during this adoption process, urging the implementation of recommendations accepted by Belgium related to protecting the rights of asylum seekers.
It also called for the formal abolition by Belgium of mechanisms of automatic expulsion that fail to take into consideration the principle of non-refoulement, and urged Belgium to reconsider its decision to reject the recommendation of the UPR Working Group that Belgium accede to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families.
ICJ submission in LADELE & MCFARLANE v. United Kingdom
In Ladele & McFarlane v. United Kingdom, the applicants argue that the failure of their employers to grant them a religious exemption from serving same-sex couples is a violation of their rights under Article 9 of the European Convention. Ladele, whose case was profiled in Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Justice: A Comparative Law Casebook, was a town registrar who claimed a religious objection to performing civil unions for same-sex couples. McFarlane was a relationships counsellor who objected to providing psycho-sexual therapy for same-sex couples on religious grounds. In its Submission, the ICJ argues that comparative law and practice demonstrate no support for exemptions from non-discrimination and equality laws for religiously motivated individuals. In fact, the laws and judicial decisions of States both within and outside the Council of Europe demonstrate the overriding importance attached to the objective of eradicating sexual orientation discrimination.
Italy : migrants rights are undermined by rushed EU law implementation
The ICJ today expressed its concern at the move by the Italian Government to extend the maximum length of administrative detention for undocumented migrants to up to 18 months.
The measure is contained in certain provisions of the draft legislation ratifying Law Decree no. 89 of 2011, approved on 14 July by the House of Representatives and now under consideration by the Senate, which aims at implementing EU Directive 2008/115/EC (“the Return Directive”).
Italy-migrant rights-press release-2011-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Italy-migrant rights-press release-2011-ita (full text in Italian, PDF)
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