Apr 19, 2012
In this submission, the ICJ highlights the failure of the Syrian authorities to comply with the Committee’s previous recommendations.
By letter of 23 November 2011 to the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to UNOG, the Committee against Torture requested Syria to present a special report, prompted by by the Committee’s deep “concern at numerous, consistent and substantiated reports and information, from various reliable sources, about the widespread violations of the provisions of the Convention by the authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic since the adoption of the Committee’s Concluding Observations on the State Party’s initial report to the Committee (CAT/C/SYR/CO/1), in May 2010”.
In response to this special reporting procedure, the ICJ is highlighting the Syrian authorities failures to: incorporate into Syrian domestic legislation the crime of torture as defined in the Convention; reform the Syrian legal framework in accordance with international human rights standards; investigate thoroughly all cases of torture and ill-treatment committed in Syrian prisons and detention facilities; and address the pressing issue of impunity for acts of torture and other serious human rights violations in Syria.
Syrian Arab Republic-Special report Torture- non-legal submission-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Apr 18, 2012 | News
The ICJ today called upon the Tunisian authorities to take immediate steps to ensure the rights of victims of human rights violations to effective remedies and to reparation.
Apr 11, 2012 | News
The ICJ today called upon the Bahrain authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Abdulhadi Al Khawaja, an internationally renowned human rights defender.
Mar 30, 2012 | Advocacy
During the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, the ICJ made an oral statement during the Council’s consideration and adoption of the outcome document in the Universal Periodic Review of Syria.
The statement focussed on the lack of investigations into human rights abuses, including ongoing gross human rights violations, and called on UN bodies responsible for peace and security and human rights to take effective measures to allow regular access for humanitarian assistance, including essential supplies of food, water and medicines.
Syrian Arab Republic-oral intervention UPR-advocacy-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Mar 29, 2012 | Advocacy
During the 19th session of the Human Rights Council, a Special Debate was held on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic.
In an oral statement during that Debate, the ICJ expressed deep concern on the continuing deterioration of the situation in Syria.
It emphasised that the Security Council should take meaningful steps to break the cycle of impunity, including by referring the situation to the International Criminal Court, and that the General Assembly should take steps towards the suspension of Syria’s rights in the Assembly until its authorities comply with the Commission of Inquiry recommendations and put a stop to the gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law, and hold those responsible to account.
Syria-oral intervention-advocacy-2012 (full text in English)
