Jul 31, 2019 | News, Publications, Reports, Thematic reports
In a report released today on Libya’s criminal justice system, the ICJ said the United Nations, international actors and States must prioritize accountability for crimes under international law in their engagement with Libya.
This includes the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry or similar mechanism to document and report on gross human rights violations and to collect and preserve evidence of crimes for future criminal proceedings.
“The Libyan criminal justice system needs comprehensive reform to dismantle the structural impunity that prevails in the country,” said Said Benarbia, the ICJ’s MENA Programme Director.
“Rather than assuming the system is capable of ensuring justice for the egregious human rights violations and abuses still being perpetrated in Libya, international actors should establish a mechanism to monitor, report on and address these violations and prioritize human rights in any agreement with Libyan authorities,” he added.
The report Accountability for Serious Crimes under International Law in Libya: an Assessment of the Criminal Justice System finds that investigations and prosecutions of crimes under international law have been limited to a handful of cases and that future cases are unlikely meet international standards necessary to ensure fair and effective justice, in particular the rights to liberty and a fair trial and the prohibition on torture and ill-treatment.
Fragmentation in Libyan executive and legislative bodies, with the internationally recognized government unable to control significant parts of the territory, has weakened political structures and led to a precarious security situation that impedes the effective functioning of the judiciary, which has remained largely unified.
“Accountability efforts in Libya are hindered by cycles of violence, weak and ineffective law enforcement agencies, the arbitrary exercise of policing and detention powers by armed groups, and a web of amnesties, immunities and defences that shield perpetrators from justice,” said Kate Vigneswaran, the ICJ’s MENA Programme Senior Legal Adviser.
“Victims should not have to wait any longer for these obstacles to be removed and justice delivered. Peace and justice in Libya can only be achieved if the rule of law is fully established,” she added.
Since 2011, crimes under international law and other gross human rights violations, including torture and ill-treatment, enforced disappearance, enslavement and rape, have been committed by State and non-State actors on a widespread scale, including against thousands of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers arbitrarily detained.
“The recent upsurge in conflict and related commission of direct and indiscriminate attacks against civilians and mass displacement of the population makes tackling the climate of impunity vital for combating the commission of crimes,” said Benarbia.
To this end, States should fully support International Criminal Court efforts to conduct Libya-related investigations and prosecutions, including with a view to enforcing arrest warrants and bringing alleged perpetrators before the court for trial.
In her address to the Human Rights Council on 24 June, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet stated that “Libya is not a port of safe return” and that “[t]he international community must come together to support pathways to sustainable peace in the country.”
Key recommendations for international actors, including UN bodies and States, include:
- The United Nations Human Rights Council should establish a Commission of Inquiry or similar mechanism, with a mandate to monitor, document, establish the facts and report on gross human rights violations in Libya, including with a view to collecting and preserving evidence of crimes under international law for future criminal proceedings before national or international courts;
- States should exercise universal jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute crimes under international law committed in Libya, including when the perpetrator is within their territory or otherwise under their jurisdiction;
- States should fully cooperate with and adequately resource the ICC to enhance its capacity to conduct its investigations and prosecutions, enforce related arrest warrants, and bring alleged perpetrators to account; and
- States and UN actors should refrain from entering into or implementing agreements with Libyan authorities, including in relation to the detention of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and the provision of arms, where it is reasonably foreseeable that violations of rights under international law might occur.
Contact:
Said Benarbia, Director, ICJ Middle East and North Africa Programme, t: +41-22-979-3817; e: said.benarbia(a)icj.org
Kate Vigneswaran, Senior Legal Adviser, ICJ Middle East and North Africa Programme, t: +31-62-489-4664; e: kate.vigneswaran(a)icj.org
Libya-Accountability report launch-News-Press releases-2019-ENG (full story, in English, PDF)
Libya-Accountability serious crimes-Publications-Reports-Thematic reports-2019-ENG (full report in English, PDF)
Libya-Accountability report launch-News-Press releases-2019-ARA (full story in Arabic, in PDF)
Libya-Accountability serious crimes-Publications-Reports-Thematic reports-2019-ARA (full report in Arabic, PDF)
Jul 12, 2019 | News, Publications, Reports
In a report published today, the ICJ called on the Lebanese authorities to prevent, address and ensure accountability for all forms of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls, including by adopting legislative, judicial and other appropriate measures.
The report Gender-based Violence in Lebanon: Inadequate Framework, Ineffective Remedies concludes that the persistence of GBV against women and girls in Lebanon is rooted in entrenched patriarchal norms and cultural stereotypes about the roles and responsibilities of women and men in society prevalent throughout the country, including within the judiciary and among other law enforcement officials.
Moreover, legal frameworks and ineffective procedures for the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of GBV fail to adequately protect women’s rights, the report says.
While steps taken by the Lebanese authorities to remedy some deficiencies in the legal framework are commendable, there is still a long way to go to dismantle the web of legal provisions, including in the Criminal Code, the Nationality Law and Personal Status Laws, which discriminate against women or fail to adequately protect their rights.
“Gender discrimination embedded in family laws and in practices is one root cause of violence against women and girls,” said Roberta Clarke, Chair of the ICJ’s Executive Committee.
“Discrimination and economic dependency act as barriers to women’s access to justice,” she added.
The ICJ is particularly concerned that discriminatory practices and bias against women continue to undermine criminal investigations and prosecutions in GBV cases.
“Lebanon should provide for gender-sensitive investigations and evidence-gathering procedures in order to enable women to report violence against them, and ensure that any case of gender-based violence is prosecuted effectively whenever warranted by the evidence, even where no formal complaint has been lodged or when a complaint is withdrawn,” said Kate Vigneswaran, Senior Legal Adviser for the ICJ’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.
Based on an analysis of 30 judicial decisions related to GBV cases and other research, the ICJ found that stereotyping by justice system actors results in direct and indirect discrimination against women.
This, in turn, greatly diminishes the chance that judges granting remedies are both free from biased assumptions and effective, thereby undermining the justice system’s impartiality.
“Judges must decide gender-based violence cases based on the law and facts of the case, rather than pre-conceived cultural beliefs and social stereotypes that are biased against women,” said Said Benarbia, ICJ MENA Director.
“Courts must not use ‘honour,’ ‘fit of fury’ and victim blaming to shield perpetrators of violence against women from accountability,” he added.
Contact:
Said Benarbia, Director, ICJ Middle East and North Africa Programme, t: +41-22-979-3817; e: said.benarbia@icj.org
Kate Vigneswaran, Senior Legal Adviser, ICJ Middle East and North Africa Programme, t: +31-62-489-4664; e: kate.vigneswaran@icj.org
Additional information
This week, ICJ Commissioner Roberta Clarke led the delegation that met with Lebanese authorities and justice and civil society actors in Beirut to present the ICJ’s report and discuss its findings and recommendations.
The delegation met with Chief Justice Jean Fahed, President of the Lebanese Cassation Court and the High Judicial Council; Mrs. Claudine Aoun Roukoz, President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women; George Fiani, head of the Legal Aid Division of the Beirut Bar Association; representatives of the office of the Prime Minister and the office of the Minister of State for Economic Empowerment of Women and Youth; members of the Internal Security Forces; a member of the National Human Rights Institution; and representatives of civil society and the United Nations.
Lebanon-Gender Violence-Publications (full report, English, in PDF)
Lebanon-Gender Violence-Publications-ARA (full report, Arabic, in PDF)
Lebanon-GBVReport2 launch-News-Press releases-2019-ARA (full story, Arabic, in PDF)
Jun 28, 2019 | News, Publications, Reports, Thematic reports
In a report released today in Rabat, the ICJ called for the removal and eradication of legal obstacles and discriminatory judicial attitudes hindering women’s and girls’ ability to seek justice and redress for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Morocco.
The ICJ’s report Obstacles to Women’s and Girls’ Access to Justice for Gender-based Violence in Morocco (available in English and Arabic) explores the various obstacles that women seeking justice in Morocco face, and addresses recommendations to the Moroccan government and judiciary with a view to improving access to justice and effective remedies for women and girls who are victims of SGBV.
“The Moroccan authorities should amend Law 103/13 and the Penal Code to ensure compliance with international human rights law and standards. Morocco’s Office of the Public Prosecutor and the country’s judicial authorities, including the High Judicial Council, should ensure that detailed guidelines on investigation and prosecution of SGBV crimes are developed and complied with, and that awareness-raising programmes be rolled out to counter judicial stereotyping and victim-blaming,” said Saïd Benarbia, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the ICJ.
Notwithstanding the recent adoption of Law 103/03 on combatting violence against women, SGBV has not been adequately addressed; it remains widespread in Morocco, with a profoundly detrimental human rights impact on victims and society at large. Law 103/3 fails to define rape in a manner consistent with relevant international law and standards, with the crime still addressed through the lens of morality and public decency, rather than as a violation of one’s bodily integrity and autonomy; Law 103/3 also fails to criminalize child and early marriage, lending support to this harmful practice.
In addition to discriminatory laws and procedures, women and girls seeking justice and redress as survivors of SGBV in Morocco have to face a judiciary that often harbours biased assumptions, and propounds negative gender stereotypes, including cultural norms rooted in patriarchy.
Against this background, the ICJ’s report analyses how exceedingly lenient sentences – for instance in cases of marital rape – and the heightened risk women and girls face of being charged with consensual extramarital sexual relations deter them from seeking justice and redress in case of physical and sexual abuse of which they may be victims, either at the hands of their husband or of individuals with whom they are not married.
To begin addressing women’s and girls’ predicament in these and other respects related to SGBV, the report calls on the Moroccan authorities to:
- Adopt legislation that recognizes one’s right to sexual autonomy, and that recognizes equal relationships as requiring free and full consent of both parties;
- Adequately define and fully criminalize through a gender-neutral definition acts of rape, including by criminalizing marital rape as a separate offence;
- Repeal Article 490 of the Penal Code criminalizing extramarital sexual relations, and ensure that Article 19 of the Family Code on the minimum age of marriage is stringently observed;
- Enact policies, legislative and procedural measures aiming at enhancing the effectiveness of judicial and other public sector services related to women’s access to justice, including enforcing spousal and child support, providing free legal assistance to victims of SGBV, granting protection orders, and adopting other urgent measures;
- Develop and enforce guidelines on investigating and prosecuting SGBV crimes;
- Develop a national protocol for SGBV-related medical, forensic examinations, and ensure forensic-testing services be available and affordable;
- Provide training and awareness-raising programmes aimed at countering judicial stereotyping, victim-blaming and other harmful practices.
Contact:
Saïd Benarbia, Director of the ICJ Middle East and North Africa Programme, t: +41.22.979.3817, e: said.benarbia(a)icj.org
Additional information:
ICJ Commissioner Martine Comte led the delegation that met with different Moroccan authorities, justice and civil society actors this week in Rabat in order to present ICJ’s report and discuss its findings and recommendations. The ICJ delegation met with Mr Mohamed Aujjar, Minister of Justice; Mr Taoufik El Maimouni, President of the Commission on Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights at the Chamber of Deputies; Mr Larbi Tabit, Secretary General at the Minister of Solidarity, Women, Family and Social Development; Ms Amina Bouayach, President of the National Human Rights Council and representatives of the judiciary and of the civil society.
Download:
Morocco-Obstacles GBV-Publications-Reports-Thematic report-2019-ENG (full report in English, PDF)
Morocco-Obstacles GBV-Publications-Reports-Thematic report-2019-ARA (full report in Arabic, PDF)
Morocco-Women HR report-News-2019-ARA (News story in Arabic, PDF)
Jun 28, 2019 | Nouvelles, Publications, Rapports
Dans un rapport publié aujourd’hui à Rabat, la CIJ a appelé à l’élimination et à l’éradication des obstacles légaux et attitudes judiciaires discriminatoires entravant l’habilité des femmes et des jeunes filles à demander justice et réparation pour violences sexuelles et basées sur le genre au Maroc.
Le rapport de la CIJ Obstacles to Women’s and Girls’ Access to Justice for Gender-based Violence in Morocco (disponible en anglais et en arabe seulement) explore les différents obstacles auxquels sont confrontées les femmes qui cherchent à obtenir justice au Maroc, et adresse des recommandations au Gouvernement et au pouvoir judiciaire marocains afin d’améliorer l’accès à la justice et à des voies de recours utiles pour les femmes et jeunes filles victimes de violences sexuelles et basées sur le genre.
« Les autorités marocaines devraient modifier la Loi 103/03 et le Code Pénal afin d’assurer leur conformité au droit et aux normes internationales relatives aux droits de l’homme. Le parquet et les autorités judiciaires marocaines, dont le Conseil Supérieur du Pouvoir Judiciaire, devraient assurer que des directives détaillées concernant l’enquête et la poursuite des crimes de violences sexuelles et basées sur le genre soient développées et respectées, et que des programmes de sensibilisation soient déployés afin de lutter contre les stéréotypes de genre et le blâme des victimes dans les procédures judiciaires », a déclaré Saïd Benarbia, Directeur du Programme Moyen-Orient et Afrique du Nord de la CIJ.
Malgré la récente adoption de la Loi 103/03 relative à la lutte contre les violences envers les femmes, la violence sexuelle et basée sur le genre n’a pas encore été correctement adressée; elle reste très répandue au Maroc et nuit profondément aux droits des victimes et à la société dans son ensemble.
La Loi 103/03 ne définit pas le viol de manière conforme au droit et aux normes internationales pertinentes: le crime est encore considéré au regard de la moralité et de la décence publique, plutôt qu’en tant que violation de l’intégrité physique et de l’autonomie corporelle d’une personne; la Loi 103/13 est également une opportunité manquée de criminaliser le mariage précoce et d’un enfant, soutenant cette pratique néfaste.
En plus de lois et procédures discriminatoires, au Maroc, les femmes et jeunes filles cherchant à ce que justice leur soit rendue pour les violences sexuelles et basées sur le genre dont elles ont été victimes doivent faire face à un système judiciaire souvent influencé par des présomptions biaisées, et qui véhicule des stéréotypes de genre négatifs, dont des normes culturelles ancrées dans le patriarcat.
Dans ce contexte, comme analysé dans le rapport de la CIJ, des peines excessivement clémentes – par exemple dans les affaires de viol conjugal – et les risques accrus pour femmes et jeunes filles d’être poursuivies en justice sur la base de relations extra-conjugales consentantes dissuadent femmes et jeunes filles de demander justice et réparation pour abus physiques et sexuels dont elle ont été victimes soit des mains de leur époux soit d’individus auxquels elles ne sont pas mariées.
Afin de commencer à adresser les obstacles à l’accès à la justice rencontrés par les femmes et jeunes filles victimes de violences sexuelles et basées sur le genre, le rapport invite les autorités marocaines à :
- Adopter une législation qui reconnaît le droit individuel à l’autonomie sexuelle, et qui reconnait qu’une relation égalitaire exige le libre et entier consentement des deux parties ;
- Définir de manière adéquate et criminaliser dans toutes ses formes et selon une définition neutre sur le plan du genre les actes de viol, y compris en criminalisant le viol conjugal comme une infraction autonome ;
- Abroger l’article 490 du Code Pénal selon lequel les relations sexuelles extra-conjugales constituent une infraction pénale, et assurer que l’article 19 du Code de la Famille concernant l’âge minimal requis pour se marier soit strictement respecté ;
- Promulguer des politiques, mesures législatives et procédurales ayant pour but d’améliorer l’efficacité du système judiciaire ainsi que des autres services du secteur public liés à l’accès à la justice pour les femmes, y compris en faisant appliquer les décisions concernant les pensions alimentaires au conjoint ou aux enfants, en fournissant une assistance juridique gratuite pour les victimes de violences sexuelles et basées sur le genre, en octroyant des ordonnances de protection et en adoptant toutes autres mesures urgentes ;
- Développer et appliquer des directives portant sur l’enquête et la poursuite de crimes de violences sexuelles et basées sur le genre;
- Développer un protocole national relatif aux examens médicaux et médico-légaux dans des cas de violences sexuelles et basées sur le genre, et garantir un service d’analyses médico-légales disponible et abordable ;
- Fournir des programmes de formation et de sensibilisation visant à combattre, au sein du pouvoir judiciaire, les stéréotypes, le blâme des victimes et autres pratiques néfastes;
Informations supplémentaires
Cette semaine à Rabat, une délégation de la CIJ dirigée par la Commissaire Martine Comte a présenté le rapport à plusieurs autorités marocaines, ainsi que des acteurs de la justice et de la société civile afin de discuter de se conclusions et recommandations. La délégation de la CIJ a rencontré M. Mohamed Aujjar, Ministre de la Justice ; M. Taoufik El Maimouni, Président de la Commission Justice, Législation et Droits de l’Homme à la Chambre des députés ; M. Larbi Tabit, Secrétaire Général au Ministère de la Solidarité, de la Femme et du Développement Social ; Mme Amina Bouayach, Présidente du Conseil National des Droits de l’Homme ; ainsi que des représentants du pouvoir judiciaire et de la société civile.
Morocco-Obstacles GBV-Publications-Reports-Thematic report-2019-ENG (rapport en anglais, PDF)
Morocco-Obstacles GBV-Publications-Reports-Thematic report-2019-ARA (rapport en arabe, PDF)
Jun 23, 2019 | Events, News
The ICJ joins other NGOs and UN experts in presenting a side event to the UN Human Rights Council, Thursday 27 June, 11:30am – 12:30pm, in Room VIII, Palais des Nations
Less than a week after the UN Human Rights Council adopted its most recent resolution on the safety of journalists, Saudi Arabia dispatched a hit squad to its Istanbul consulate to murder Washington Post journalist and regime critic Jamal Khashoggi.
This crime against freedom of expression shocked the world. It laid bare the chasm between the international community’s stated commitments to the safety of journalists, and the ability of UN human rights mechanisms to protect at-risk journalists, and respond quickly and effectively to support investigations into killings of journalists, and end the cycle of impunity for such attacks.
This human rights crisis is not limited to autocratic countries or nascent democracies – after several years in decline, the number of killings of journalists worldwide spiked in 2018, whilst impunity for historic cases remains troublingly high, fueling further violence. In Malta, a report by PACE Special Rapporteur Pieter Omtzigt into the killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia more than 18 months ago, highlighted serious concerns over national investigations, pointing to systemic rule of law failings in the country.
As the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, arbitrary or summary executions, Dr. Agnès Callamard, presents the findings of her independent investigation into the killing of Jamal Khashoggi to the 41st Session of the UN Human Rights Council, join us to discuss what recent attacks on journalists have taught us about gaps in prevention, protection and prosecution, and how to enhance the UN’s response to impunity.
| Panelists |
Dr. Agnès Callamard |
UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions |
|
David Kaye |
UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression |
|
Hatice Cengiz |
Fiancée of Jamal Khashoggi |
|
Pieter Omtzigt |
Special Rapporteur, Council of Europe |
|
Rob Mahoney |
Deputy Executive Director, Committee to Protect Journalists |
|
Yahya Assiri |
Founder and Director, ALQST |
| Moderator |
Thomas Hughes |
Executive Director, ARTICLE 19 |
