May 4, 2009 | News
The ICJ presented today the findings of a worldwide inquiry by a panel of some of the most prominent jurists into the impact of counter-terrorism laws on human rights at the United Nations in New York.
The report of the Eminent Jurists Panel concludes that many governments have confronted the threat of terrorism with ill-conceived measures that have undermined cherished values and resulted in serious violations of human rights.
It illustrates the devastating effects that notorious counter-terrorism measures such as extraordinary rendition, torture, arbitrary detention, and unfair trials have had on human rights worldwide.
It also warns of the increasing secrecy preventing accountability, and the danger of “temporary” measures becoming permanent features of law and practice in many states.
UN leadership in counter-terrorism-press release-2011 (full text, PDF)
Mar 13, 2009 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ urged all Governments to review and repeal laws and policies on operations of intelligence services in countering terrorism that had served to deprive victims of their right to an effective remedy and reparation.
The call was made in interaction with the UN Special Rapporteur.
ICJ intervention in the interactive dialogue-non-legal submission-2009 (full text, PDF)
Mar 3, 2009 | News
The ICJ urged the Human Rights Council to adopt new mechanisms for enhanced protection of civilians in times of de facto and de iure emergencies, including in armed conflicts.
The Council was also demanded to start using its multiple instruments to address gross violations in individual countries and articulate measures to remedy damage done in counter-terrorism, which requires a renewed commitment to human rights and rule of law principles.
The following documents are available:
ICJ urges to HRC unconditional protection of civilians-Press releases-2009 (full text, PDF)
Feb 16, 2009 | News
An independent panel of eminent judges and lawyers presents alarming findings about the impact of counter-terrorism policies worldwide and calls for remedial action.
Jan 13, 2009
A new ICJ report assesses that the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Body System has developed empirically, without clear vision of the intended role for the system as a whole.
As a result, individual treaty bodies exercise often different and distinct functions and do not operate through the uniform working methods. Only incremental reform initiatives have been possible so far, including the one of harmonizing the reporting guidelines for the common core document and focused periodic reports.
With the increase in number of States parties and reporting burden, establishment of the ninth treaty body and continual differences in function and operation of individual committees, the system reaches its limits both in terms of serviceability and effectiveness. The systematic reform has yet to take place to establish holistic and integral treaty body system.
Central is the question how to ensure equal implementation and standardized monitoring of all human rights obligations.
The ICJ suggests some of the key functions for the future treaty body system to become more effective, visible and accessible.
One of the essentials is to increase the treaty body system’s capacity to deal with urgent country situations, including through the system of early-warning and urgent action procedures and a set of targeted country visits.
Reform of the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Body System-Thematic reports-2008 (full text, PDF)
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