Oct 31, 2019 | News
On 29-30 October the ICJ, in partnership with dhColombia and the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF), hosted a two-day training workshop in Bogotá on the legal framework around enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings.
The training aimed to improve the understanding of victims and human rights lawyers of the domestic law on extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Colombia. It included an analysis of both the ordinary justice system, as well as transitional justice mechanisms. It also explored the role of the forensic sciences in tackling impunity for those crimes.
The ICJ in furtherance of its objective to promote accountability, justice and the rule of law in Colombia, has been continuously monitoring the investigation and prosecution of serious human rights violations and abuses, particularly extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Perpetrators of such violations, which constitute crimes under international law, have enjoyed a high level of impunity. While there are numerous unresolved cases dating back to the 1970s, violations have continued even after a comprehensive peace agreement was signed in 2016 following decades of armed conflict.
In Colombia, achieving accountability for those crimes has proven difficult for several reasons, including the ineffective functioning of the justice system. Victims and their lawyers have faced serious obstacles in gaining access to effective remedies. In addition, the creation of new institutions by the Peace Agreement has changed some basic rules and procedures for the investigation and prosecution of those crimes. Consequently, the Colombian justice system is more complicated to understand not only for victims but for lawyers.
The training workshop was part of a broader regional project addressing justice for extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Colombia, Guatemala and Peru. Participants were victims and human rights lawyers from different regions of the country, especially those where that is less opportunity to access legal and forensic training. Considering that capacity building activities are essential to the effective achievement of accountability, it is expected that participants of the training will obtain valuable tools to demand justice and remedy and reparations for serious human rights violations.
Contacts:
Rocío Quintero M, Legal Adviser, Latin America. Email: rocio.quintero(a)icj.org
Carolina Villadiego, ICJ Legal and Policy Adviser, Latin America, and Regional Coordinator of the Project. Email: carolina.villadiego(a)icj.org
Oct 22, 2019 | Artículos, Noticias
La CIJ anuncia visita de delegación internacional de alto nivel para participar en la VII Conferencia Regional sobre Independencia Judicial el 25 y 26 de Octubre.
La CIJ en Centroamérica llevará a cabo la VII Conferencia Regional sobre Independencia Judicial, con el tema central de la Seguridad de Jueces y Juezas.
En ella se debatirá sobre el papel que deben de jugar los estados, para la protección de jueces y juezas, así como la relación que existe entre la independencia judicial y la seguridad de quienes imparten justicia.
Han llegado al país, la magistrada de la Corte Suprema de Justicia de Serbia y Comisionada de la CIJ, Radmila Dragicevic, el Magistrado Emérito del Tribunal Supremo Español y Comisionado de la CIJ José Antonio Martín Pallín, dos Jueces de Noruega Erland Flaterud y Finn-Arne Schanche y 9 Jueces de Centroamérica, entre los cuáles se encuentra el Magistrado de la Corte Suprema de Justicia de El Salvador Leonardo Ramírez Murcia. Además, participará el Presidente de la Corte Suprema de Justicia de Costa Rica, Fernando Cruz Castro.
Guatemala-Judicial Conference CA-News-2019-SPA
Oct 22, 2019 | News
On 25 and 26 October, the ICJ in Central America will hold the VII Regional Conference on Judicial Independence, with the central theme of the protection and security of Judges.
The Conference will discuss the role that governments should play in the protection of judges, as well as the relationship between judicial independence and security of those who deliver justice.
Participants from outside the region include Radmila Dragicevic Justice of the Supreme Court of Cassation of Serbia and Vice-President of the ICJ; José Antonio Martín Pallín, Judge Emeritus of the Spanish Supreme Court of Justice and ICJ Commissioner, and Erland Flaterud and Finn Arne Schanche, both judges from Norway.
Nine other judges from Central America will attend, including Leonardo Ramírez of the Supreme Court of Justice of El Salvador Murcia and Fernando Cruz Castro, President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica.
The ICJ regrets that the Supreme Court of Justice of Guatemala has not been in a position to receive this important delegation at its plenary on 23 October to address the issue of the security of judges.
The ICJ recalls that this Conference is held within the framework of a letter of cooperation and understanding agreed with the former President of the Judicial Branch and the Supreme Court of Justice, Ranulfo Rojas Cetina in 2015.
The ICJ is particularly concerned that there is presently an unfilled vacancy for Chief of Security for the judiciary, following the resignation of the former Chief who had allegedly engaged in conduct not consistent with his function.
Ramón Cadena, Director of the ICJ for Central America, said: “It is the duty of the Supreme Court of Justice to inform the Guatemalan public about the Judges Protection System, so that it does not become a source of corruption or in any way interferes with the work of independent, and impartial judges.”
In Guatemala, the international delegation will meet with judges such as Yassmín Barrios, Ericka Aifán, Miguel Ángel Gálvez, Carlos Ruano and Pablo Xitumul among others. They have been the subject of seemingly unfounded complaints which have posed risks to their personal security and independent judicial functioning.
Oct 7, 2019 | Artículos, Noticias
La semana pasada el defensor de derechos humanos Germán Romero Sánchez recibió nuevas amenazas que estarían relacionadas con su labor de abogado defensor de víctimas de graves violaciones a los derechos humanos por parte de agentes estatales
En esta ocasión, las amenazas se realizaron a través de llamadas telefónicas a la residencia del abogado Romero. La primera llamada fue atendida por la compañera del abogado Romero a la cual le dijeron “no te voy a dejar vivo toda la vida, ¿oyo?”. La llamada se produjo minutos después de que el abogado Romero saliera de su casa a llevar a una de sus hijas al colegio.
Esta no es la primera vez que el abogado Romero recibe amenazas por su labor como representante de víctimas y defensor de derechos humanos. Hace menos de un mes, el abogado Romero realizó una denuncia pública dando cuenta de varios hechos de hostigamiento y percusión de los que ha sido víctima él y su familia. Igualmente, en enero de este año, recibió amenazas contra su vida por su labor como abogado defensor de Alfamir Castillo, cuyo hijo fue ejecutado extrajudicialmente por parte de miembros del Ejército Nacional.
El abogado Romero es un reconocido abogado de derechos humanos con más de quince años de experiencia acompañando víctimas de crímenes de Estado. Es uno de los abogados líderes de la organización Asociación Red de Defensores y Defensoras de Derechos Humanos (dhColombia) con la cual la CIJ ha realizado diferentes proyectos en Colombia.
Como lo hizo en oportunidades pasadas, la CIJ vuelve a resaltar la difícil situación de seguridad que atraviesan los defensores de derechos humanos en Colombia. Solo en el año 2018, la Oficina en Colombia de la Alta Comisionada de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos reportó el asesinato de 110 personas defensoras de derechos humanos. La CIJ exhorta al Gobierno Nacional y las demás autoridades competentes para que se tomen medidas efectivas que garanticen la seguridad de los defensores de derechos humanos colombianos.
Sep 26, 2019 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
The ICJ today highlighted challenges and urged strengthening and support for the Special Jurisdiction for Peace in Colombia, at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The statement was delivered during a general debate on technical assistance and capacity-building. It read as follows:
“The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) appreciates the contribution of UN technical assistance and capacity-building to implementation of the Peace Agreement in Colombia.
Full implementation of the Peace Agreement is important to the fulfilment of Colombia’s international human rights obligations, including rights of victims. In particular, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP by its Spanish acronym) is playing a key role in addressing accountability for gross human rights violations committed during the internal conflict in Colombia.
The JEP faces several challenges.[1] First, the JEP must do more to strengthen effective participation of victims in its procedures. Second, the Special Jurisdiction from the outset should ensure that the sanctions it imposes and reparation measures it orders are sufficient and appropriate to meet international standards. Third, national authorities, including the President and the Parliament, must respect the judicial independence of the Special Jurisdiction.
The ICJ also highlights the need for effective measures to address security threats faced by victims and witnesses appearing before the JEP.
We urge the UN, States and other stakeholders to provide technical assistance and capacity building towards strengthening guarantees for victim’s rights in the JEP’s procedures, and we urge the Human Rights Council to follow closely the work of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace to ensure it makes an effective contribution to fulfilling Colombia’s obligations under international law.”
[1] See also ICJ, Colombia: The Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Analysis One Year and a Half After its Entry into Operation (executive summary in English and full report in Spanish available at: https://www.icj.org/colombia-the-special-jurisdiction-for-peace-one-year-after-icj-analysis/).
