Jul 11, 2008
In the considered period, several scandals concerning the illegal funding of political parties and corruption within the judiciary have been widely reported in the media, as have a number of cases of attacks on judges.
Early 2004 was marked by lawyers’ strikes protesting against both the conditions in which the justice system operates and the ‘Perben laws’, part of a controversial judicial reform programme. Increasingly, lawyers as well as judges are protesting about staff shortages in courts, inadequate premises and lengthy proceedings.
France-Attacks on Justice 2005-Publications-2008 (full text, PDF)
Jul 8, 2008
The ICJ submitted its comments for consideration by the Human Rights Committee along with the UK’s sixth periodic report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The ICJ drew Committee’s attention to a number of counter-terrorism measures of concern in the UK, such as deportations on grounds of national security, use of diplomatic assurances against the risk of torture, the control orders or prolonged pre-charge detention. Those measures raise concerns as regards their compliance with Articles 7, 9, 12 and 14 of the Covenant.
United Kingdom-ICJ´ Comments on the 6th Periodic Report-Legal submission-2008 (full text, PDF)
Jun 24, 2008 | News
The ICJ today expressed its concern at government attacks on the independence of the judiciary in relation to a case involving the Prime Minister, Mr Silvio Berlusconi.
In a letter to the President of the Senate, read out to the Senate last week, the Prime Minister alleged that a criminal prosecution against him had been initiated for political purposes by “extreme left magistrates”, and accused judges and prosecutors involved in the case of politicisation and bias.
Italy-ICJ calls for end to government interference with judicial independence-Press releases-2008-Eng (full text, PDF)
Italy-ICJ calls for end to government interference with judicial independence-Press releases-2008-Ita (full text in Italian, PDF)
Jun 23, 2008
The ICJ provides its views to the Human Rights Committee, in advance of the preparation of the list of issues for the Periodic Report of Spain.
In this short submission, the ICJ highlights several issues which it considers should be of particular concern to the Committee in its consideration of the Spanish report.
Spain-ICJ submission on 5th periodic report-legal submission-2008 (full text, PDF)
Jun 18, 2008
Denmark suggests it would use diplomatic assurances against torture as a basis for the return of foreign nationals to countries where they face a risk of torture, and that it might promote the use of such assurances at an EU level.The ICJ and other human rights groups wrote to the Danish Minister for Justice to express concerns about this suggestion.
Denmark-Diplomatic assurances against grave violations of human rights-Open letters-2008 (full text, PDF)
