Today, the ICJ’s Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers released its sixth annual report on the harassment and persecution of judges and lawyers. The report covers the period from June 1993 until December 1994.
The time is right for an International Criminal Court, and the momentum is strong, says the ICJ.
The General Assembly of the United Nations will convene an Ad Hoc Committee at the U N Headquarters in New York from 3 to 13 April 1995, and, if necessary, from 14 to 25 August 1995, to discuss the establishment of such a court.
In June 1994, the International Law Commission (ILC) finalised its consideration of the issue and proposed a Revised Draft Statute to the General Assembly. During the last General Assembly meeting, States were requested to comment on the Statute by 15 March 1995.
The ICJ has some concerns on what is overall an excellent and realizable framework for an International Criminal Court.
ICJ Campaign International Criminal Court-non-legal submission-1995-eng (full text in English, PDF)
ICJ Campaign International Criminal Court-non-legal submission-1995-fra (full text in French, PDF)
The ICJ voiced its concern today over the fact that a small clique of States continues to systematically insist on trying to set limitations on the work of human rights defenders.
These defenders are vital to any society. It is they who promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms on the ground. Limiting their effectiveness is to limit human rights.
The 10th Session of the UN Working Group on Human Rights Defenders ended last Friday 27 January. But while confirming the need for greater protection for defenders, it has been a profound disappointment. A declaration reinforcing rights for persons and groups promoting the observance of human rights in all countries of the world has been the goal of ten years of annual meetings of the Working Group. And while there has been the persistent call from the international community for a rapid achievement of a “Defenders’ Charter,” this year, only three articles of the Charter were agreed to during the two-week session in Geneva.
Cuba, for instance, never lost one opportunity to suggest that the defenders should act “subject to national law” throughout every operative article ot the proposed Charter. Furthermore, one or two States suggested that defenders should be permitted to defend only “their” own rights. This position was maintained despite reminders from the ICJ and others that many victims are unable to advocate their own rights, such as children, the internally displaced, and the disappeared.
But the ICJ considers it encouraging that notwithstanding the negative attitude displayed by a minority of participants, a clear majority of States and NGOs recognized that the real objectives of the Working Group were sufficiently important to warrant continuation of this body’s efforts in the future. The ICJ hopes that the 1996 Session will be able to adopt a clear and unambiguous Declaration to ensure the protection of human rights workers throughout the world.
This Triennial Report record s the extraordinary scope of the activities pursued by the dedicated officers of the ICJ under the leadership of the Secretary-General, Mr. Adama Dieng.
For a body with such a small budget and modest staff complement, the range, depth, novelty and importance of the activities of the ICJ are truly astonishing. When the ICJ intervenes in the councils of the United Nations, in the countless missions, seminars, trial observances and the other activities recorded in these pages, it is listened to.
It has earned this attention by the integrity and responsibility shown by the Secretary-General and his distinguished predecessors and by its staff, supported by Commission Members who comprise some of the most notable judges and lawyers in the world.
ICJ-report on activities 1992 1994-annual report-1995-eng (full text in English, PDF)
The betterment of the human condition is closely related to the protection of human dignity. A life full of human dignity requires certain minimum standards in the field of civil and political liberties as well as economic and social requirements.
HRC on Iran: the Council must condemn human rights violations by all parties to this conflict
Lao PDR: Addressing gaps in access to justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence
Libya’s UPR Outcome: ICJ Raises Concerns on Detention Abuses, Women’s Rights, and Migrants![Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the village of Taybeh in southern Lebanon [Source: Al Jazeera]](https://www.icj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-15.56.24-300x200.png)
Lebanon: Israel must immediately stop using unlawful mass displacement orders and inflicting terror on civilians