Sep 23, 2009
The ICJ commended the decision of at least nine States to sign the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights when it opens for signature in New York on 24 September 2009.
It called on other States, including those already engaged in procedures aimed toward becoming a party to the Optional Protocol, to follow this example and do its utmost to sign the Optional Protocol on that occasion or soon afterwards, with a view towards its ratification and subsequent entry into force. Once in force, the Optional Protocol would restore the original holistic vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and provide the victims of violations of economic, social and cultural with a means to seek justice at the international level.
Optional Protocol to the ICESCR-open letter-2009
Sep 21, 2009 | Advocacy, Open letters
The ICJ urged the UN Human Rights Council to establish a new expert mandate to exercise early-warning of human rights violations in crisis situations, aimed at securing the protection of civilians in conflicts.
Such a mandate would carry out a fact-finding and make recommendations to the UN in order to prevent and help stop human rights violations and crimes, and to ensure accountability of their perpetrators.
ICJ Intervention Following the Update by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights-Open Letters-2009 (Full text, PDF)
Sep 17, 2009 | Events
The ICJ and other NGOs are hosting a side event at the 12th Session of the Human Rights Council: the Role of International Law in the Protection of People of Diverse Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities.
Featured speakers include ICJ Commissioner Vitit Muntarbhorn, Kenya National Human Rights Commissioner Lawrence Mute, and Alternative Law Forum co-founder Arvind Narrain. The occasion is also the launch of the Practitioner’s Guide on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and International Human Rights Law.
HRC Side Event on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity-Events-2009 (Full text, DOC)
Sep 15, 2009 | News
The ICJ urged the UN Human Rights Council to establish a new expert mandate to improve protection of human rights of individuals in armed conflicts and generally in any crisis situations.
The ICJ requested the Council to harness protection of judges and lawyers from violence and intimidation inflicted on them for their professional functions. It also sought accountability for human rights violations and international crimes committed by the Israeli Army, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups during the recent war in Gaza.
ICJ urges that the HRC establish new expert mandate_Prss Pelease_2009 [Full text PDF]
Jul 23, 2009
Esta guía explica como el derecho internacional puede y debe ser usado para proveer a las víctimas de violaciones de derechos humanos en el campo de la orientación sexual o la identidad de género, de la protección que merecen.
La guía explica como aplicar los Principios de Yogyakarta, recientemente adoptados, y contiene pasajes seleccionados de decisiones de cortes y tribunales regionales.
En cualquier parte del mundo, con independencia del entorno político, cultural o religioso, se cometen violaciones de derechos humanos en razón de la orientación sexual o la identidad de género real o percibida de las personas, incluídas violaciones graves como la detención, la tortura y las ejecuciones extrajudiciales.
Muchos países tienen legislación y prácticas nacionales discriminatorias, al igual que leyes que penalizan expresiones de la orientación sexual y la identidad de género.
Todos los seres humanos son personas ante la ley con independencia de su orientación sexual o identidad de género, y gozan de los derechos y libertades que se derivan de la dignidad inherente a la persona humana, así como de la igualdad ante la ley sin discriminación.
Los jueces y abogados, desempeñan un papel esencial como protectores y garantes de los derechos y libertades de todas las personas, con independencia de su orientación sexual o de su identidad de género.
El derecho internacional provee a la judicatura y al gremio legal de una poderosa herramienta para la protección de los derechos negados en base a la orientación sexual y la identidad de género.
sexual orientation international law-Practitioners Guide-2009-spa (texto completo en español, PDF)
