Attacks on Justice 2005: Guatemala
In Guatemala, the independence and impartiality of the judiciary is severely threatened by the increasing politicization of the justice system and, in particular, of the members of the Constitutional Court.
Attacks on Justice 2005: Honduras
The Honduran Judiciary remains deeply politicized with the highest judicial offices still being distributed between the two main parties.
Attacks on Justice 2005: Bolivia
Following the far reaching institutional reforms undertaken in the 1990s, additional judicial reforms have been introduced over the past two years in Bolivia.
They have made significant progress, both in the normative field with the entrance into force of the new Criminal Procedure Code and in the institutional ambit with the implementation of regulations on the judicial career.
In April 2004, the Constitution was amended to authorize a constituent assembly, scheduled for 2005, to rewrite the Constitution. The judiciary continues to be influenced by politics and is severely understaffed, as Congress only appointed 6 Supreme Court Judges, the Prosecutor General and 2 Counsellors of the Judicial Council on 17 December 2004.
The relations between the Country’s highest judicial authorities, namely the Constitutional Tribunal, the Supreme Court and the judicial Council are rather tense. The controversial Prosecutor General Oscar Crespo finally adopted the prosecutor career regulations in August 2004.
A public defence system and Integrated Justice Centres should boost people’s access to justice. In a landmark judgement on 17 May 2004, the Constitutional Tribunal awarded jurisdiction to civilian courts in cases of military forces accused of human rights abuses.
There are ongoing efforts to bring to trial former President Lozada for the abuses committed during his governance. Investigations into disappearances which took place while the country was governed by the military have been commenced.
Bolivia-Attacks on Justice 2005-Publications-2008 (full text, PDF)
Colombia: contribución de la CIJ al Examen Periódico Universal
La CIJ presentó un informe sobre Colombia en el marco del Examen Periódico Universal.
La CIJ reconoce la grave situación de derechos humanos y persistente impunidad agenciada como política gubernamental por parte de las autoridades colombianas. En ese marco, y conciente del volumen de informes que serían presentados sobre el país, el documento se enfoca en los reiterados ataques contra la independencia judicial, en especial la Corte Suprema de Justicia, que se han venido produciendo en el país, principalmente por parte de funcionarios del Poder Ejecutivo. Estos ataques revisten particular gravedad para la vigencia de postulados básicos del estado de derecho y la protección de los derechos humanos en Colombia.
Recomendaciones:
- Instar al Gobierno de Colombia para que todos sus funcionarios respeten las decisiones judiciales y se abstengan de realizar pronunciamientos públicos denostando la labor judicial
- Llamar al Gobierno a que realice un firme compromiso público de dar cumplimiento con el contenido de las sentencias judiciales.
- Subrayar que las acusaciones de que jueces colaboran con “el terrorismo“ y con “la guerrilla“ socavan la institucionalidad en el país por constituir una intromisión indebida en la independencia del poder judicial.
- Garantizar la protección física de los Magistrados amenazados.
Colombia: contribución de la CIJ al Examen Periódico Universal
La CIJ presentó un informe sobre Colombia en el marco del Examen Periódico Universal.
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