During the 20th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the ICJ delivered an oral statement on remedies and reparations for women who have been subjected to violence.
ICJ-HRC20-VAW Panel-Oral statement-non-legal submission 2012 (Download in English)
On 21 June 2012 the ICJ held a parallel event on advancing business and human rights in the Human Rights Council. The summary note of this event can be found here.The panel was moderated by Professor Marco Sassoli and included Professor Andrew Clapham, Dr. Michael Addo, Ms Harriet Berg and Ms Rachel Groux-Nurnberg, as speakers.
The event was convened in order to provide delegations and civil society with a forum to explore ways for further enhancing international standards within the Human Rights Council on the issue of businesses’ human rights responsibilities.
Over 50 participants, including representatives from affected communities, civil society, international organisations and members of the diplomatic community in Geneva attended.
ICJ-HRC20-Summary Note of Parallel Event on Business and HR-event-2012
The ICJ released a statement commenting on the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights, Ben Emmerson, to the 20th session of the UN Human Rights Council
On 18 June, during the 20th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the ICJ released a statement commenting on the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, Ben Emmerson. The report is largely focused on the human rights protections for victims of terrorist acts. The ICJ endorses the view of the Special Rapporteur that protecting persons from terrorism is a core human rights concern, as well as the necessary elements he sets out for investigating, prosecuting and remedying terrorist crimes. However, the ICJ expresses concern that the report inappropriately conflates the distinct legal regimes governing responsibility of terrorist criminals and the obligation of states to protect persons from such acts.
ICJ-HRC20-statement_victims_terrorism-2012 (download the statement)
The ICJ, together with 21 other nongovernmental organisations, today participated in the 19th Annual Meeting of the Human Rights Council Special Procedures.
Following up on a joint NGO statement from the 18th Annual Meeting of the Special Procedures in 2011, the group of NGOs welcomed recent positive developments and raised certain issues for particular attention and discussion regarding the work and functioning of the Special Procedures.
HRC-SpecialProcedures-NGOJointLetter-non-legal submission (2012) (download joint letter in PDF)
ICJ-SP-AM19-OralStatement-non-legal submission (2012) (download ICJ oral statement in PDF)
The ICJ recalls the three main issues proposed by a number of civil society organizations as priorities for the Working Group. These priority issues are: (1) to explore the further development of international standards; (2) to improve access to remedies, and in particular access to justice for victims of human rights abuses; and (3) to address the impact of business on indigenous people and other vulnerable groups.
The ICJ urges the Human Rights Council and the Working Group to:
Human Rights Council-20th session-non-legal submission-2012 (full text, PDF)
Israel/Palestine: Immediately halt Gaza’s occupation plan
Nepal: Lawyers urge authorities to address inaccessibility of justice system to women and girls with disabilities
Syria: Impartially and independently investigate the crimes committed in Suwayda
Kenya: The ICJ’s new Report calls for an End to Discriminatory Laws Restricting Persons with Disabilities’ Access to Justice