International Commission of Jurists

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ICJ oral intervention on the adoption of the outcome document of the universal periodic review of Belgium

ICJ oral intervention on the adoption of the outcome document of the universal periodic review of Belgium

21 Sep 2011

The UN Human Rights Council adopted the outcome document of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Belgium.

The ICJ made a statement during this adoption process, urging the implementation of recommendations accepted by Belgium related to protecting the rights of asylum seekers.

It also called for the formal abolition by Belgium of mechanisms of automatic expulsion that fail to take into consideration the principle of non-refoulement, and urged Belgium to reconsider its decision to reject the recommendation of the UPR Working Group that Belgium accede to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families.

Belgim-ICJ oral interventipn-non-judicial submission-2011

ICJ Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Syria

ICJ Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Syria

17 Mar 2011

Since 1963, under the framework of a State of Emergency, serious and widespread human rights violations have been committed in Syria, including torture and other ill-treatment, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests and detentions.

Suspected political opponents, human rights lawyers and other defenders have been regularly and arbitrarily detained, ill-treated and, in many cases, held without charge or trial for several years. Others have been convicted and sentenced, under the emergency law and other restrictive dispositions of the Syrian Penal Code (in particular Articles 267,273, 285, 286, 287, 288, and 307),to lengthy prison terms after grossly unfair trials before military courts, the Supreme State Security Court (SSSC), or civilian courts.

In spite of the persistent and consistent reports of these human rights violations, Syrian authorities have failed to investigate them promptly and independently, and to bring to justice State officials and laws enforcement officers allegedly responsible for these violations. They have enjoyed effective impunity.

Syria-UPR submission ICJ-non-legal submission-2011 (full text, PDF)

ICJ submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review on Sweden

ICJ submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review on Sweden

2 Dec 2009

The ICJ draws attention to the absence of prosecutions related to Swedish involvement in renditions, and to a few other other issues.

These include: the potential of a new law on interception of communications to violate privacy rights; and issues related to deportation proceedings and administrative detention of migrants.

Sweden-ICJ submission on the universal periodic review-non-legal submission-2009 (full text, PDF)

ICJ Submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review on Spain

ICJ Submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review on Spain

1 Dec 2009

The ICJ addresses the practice of incommunicado detention, and the transfer of persons as part of the alleged cooperation of Spain in the US-led renditions programme.

The ICJ also draws attention to the threat to judicial independence posed by the recent prosecution of Investigative Judge Baltasar Garzón Real; to the recent limitations introduced on the use of universal jurisdiction to prosecute crimes under international law; and to the limited scope of the offence of torture contained in the Criminal Code.

Universal Periodic Review Spain-non-legal submission-2009 (full text, PDF)

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Italy

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Italy

8 Sep 2009

In this review, the ICJ addresses the breaches or risks of breaches of Italy’s human rights obligations.

These are resulting from:

  • its immigration law, policy and practice; frequent expulsions on grounds of national security;
  • widespread attacks on the judiciary and its members;
  • the abuse of the state secrets privilege in order to obstruct the prosecution and trial of international crimes, and the failure to define torture as a criminal offence in its domestic legislation.

Italy-ICJ submission UPR-non-legal submission-2009 (full text in English, PDF)

ICJ submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of human rights violations in Iran

ICJ submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of human rights violations in Iran

2 Sep 2009

The ICJ addressed the persistent failure of Iran to meet many of its human rights obligations and the wave of fresh human rights violations in the country in the aftermath of the June 2009 disputed presidential election.

The ICJ urged Iran to refrain from torture and ill treatment, end violations of freedoms of expression and assembly, abolish the death penalty and co-operate with international human rights mechanisms, including the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council and the treaty bodies.

Iran-UPR-advocacy-2009 (full text, PDF)

Submission to the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Submission to the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

28 Apr 2009

The ICJ drew attention to the persistent violence and the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation mainly due to the repeated and large-scale armed conflicts in the country.

It urged the Council to call for urgent measures to establish the rule of law, curb impunity and ensure the protection of civilians and internally displaced persons and full enjoyment of human rights for the population.

DR Congo-UPR-non-legal submission-2009 (full text, PDF)

Macedonia: ICJ submission to the universal periodic review

Macedonia: ICJ submission to the universal periodic review

11 Nov 2008

The ICJ submits its comments to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of “the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”.

In this submission the ICJ is drawing the Working Group on the UPR’s and the Human Rights Council’s attention to the frequent allegations of ill-treatment by police either during arrest or in police custody, and the lack of adequate investigations into such allegations. In addition, the Working Group should address the Macedonian Government’s failure to provide for a thorough and independent investigation into the detention at the Macedonian border of Mr Khaled El-Masri, and his subsequent transfer to Afghanistan under the CIA rendition programme.

Macedonia-ICJ Submission to the Universal Periodic Review-non-legal submission-2008 (full text, PDF)

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Malta

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Malta

11 Nov 2008

In this review, the Working Group on the UPR and the Council should address the violations or risks of violations of Malta’s human rights obligations resulting from its immigration law, policy and practice.

In particular, the ICJ draws attention to measures of administrative detention and expulsion of migrants in light of the right to liberty and security of the person and of the right to non-refoulement where there are substantial grounds for believing that there is a real risk of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or other serious violations of human rights.

Malta-ICJ Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Malta-non-legal submission-2008 (full text, PDF)

Russia: ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review

Russia: ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review

15 Sep 2008

The ICJ presents its submission to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Russian Federation.

The Working Group on the UPR and the Council should address as a matter of priority the serious violations of human rights, including extra-judicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary, including secret, detention, and torture and other ill-treatment taking place in the context of Russian counter-terrorism operations, in particular in Chechnya, and the widespread impunity for these acts.

Russia-ICJ submission UPR-non-legal submission-2008 (download full submission in PDF)

Russia-UPR16-AdvocacyNote-NonLegalSubmission-2013 (download advocacy note in PDF)

Russia-UPR16-ComparisonChart-NonLegalSubmission-2013 (download comparison with first cycle UPR of Russia)

ICJ submission on universal periodic review of Uzbekistan

ICJ submission on universal periodic review of Uzbekistan

24 Jul 2008

The ICJ is contributing to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Uzbekistan, which is of particular importance given the gross and systematic violations of human rights that continue to take place in that country.

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan

19 Feb 2008

The ICJ raised in its submission the Government of Pakistan’s failure to fully and effectively ensure and protect human rights and the rule of law in the fight against terrorist acts and to protect people against terrorism.

The ICJ also addressed the issue of the Government’s attacks on the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the legal profession over the last nine months, and especially since 3 November 2007. These concerns should be addressed as a matter of priority in the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan.

Pakistan-UPR-advocacy-2008 (full text, PDF)

ICJ submission to the universal periodic review on Sri Lanka

ICJ submission to the universal periodic review on Sri Lanka

19 Feb 2008

The ICJ addressed in its submission the deteriorating human rights situation, occurring in the context of an armed conflict and emergency anti-terrorism measures that have weakened the rule of law.

The ICJ also raised an appalling prevalence of impunity for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and the lack of capacity by state institutions and mechanisms to protect people from increasing human rights violations.

Sri Lanka-ICJ Submission to the Universal Periodic Review-Non-judicial submissions-2008 (full text, PDF)

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