Mar 30, 2012
At the closing of the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, held on 27 February to 23 March 2012, the ICJ joined a statement delivered on behalf of nine NGOs.The statement comments on key elements that will continue to influence the work of the Council, namely concerning:
- reprisals against human rights defenders;
- addressing gross and chronic human rights violations;
- the Council’s first panel discussion on ending human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity;
- NGO participation in the work of the Council and its subsidiary bodies; and
- innovative approaches to the work of the Council.
joint statement-analysis brief-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Mar 29, 2012
This Report explores the relationship between bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and international human rights law.
It argues that there is a significant and growing potential for conflict between these bodies of law, and that international investment tribunals can and should interpret BITs in a manner that mitigates these conflicts.
treaties law interpretation-thematic report-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Feb 29, 2012
The ICJ presented today its response to the European Commission’s Green Paper on the right to family reunification of third-country nationals living in the European Union.
The ICJ addressed questions, which relate to its expertise on international law, and in particular international human rights law and international refugee law.
family reunification EU-analysis brief-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Feb 1, 2012
The ICJ and other human rights groups have presented comments on the follow-up to the Interlaken and Izmir Declarations on future reforms of the European Court of Human Rights.
This document focuses in particular on the various reform proposals which are currently being discussed in the context of the preparation of the Steering Committee for Human Rights’ (CDDH) Final Report to the Committee of Ministers on measures requiring amendment of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The organizations raised concerns about new proposals raised at a late stage in the work of the CDDH by a number of states.
future European court-analysis brief-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Jan 19, 2012
The ICJ and other human rights groups sent an open letter to Permanent Missions in Geneva concerning a proposal by the Russian Federation on the reform of the human rights treaty system.
Russia proposed to establish an open-ended Working Group of the General Assembly to conduct negotiations on the the reform of the system.
Due to a lack of prior consultations with experts in Geneva, and the risk that Russia’s proposal might undermine the High Commissioner’s continuing process on the strengthening of the treaty bodies, the open letter calls for a delay in taking action on the proposal in order to allow proper consultation before the draft resolution of the Russian Federation is out to a vote in New York.
