Disappearances and procedural guarantees in Turkey and Tajikistan (UN Statement)

Disappearances and procedural guarantees in Turkey and Tajikistan (UN Statement)

At the interactive dialogue with the Working Group on Enforced and Involunatary Disapparances during the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the ICJ has called on Tajikistan and Turkey to comply with the recommendations by the Working Group and to end practices of abduction and forced return.

The Chair of the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disapperances in his replies to the questions pressed Turkey to implement the recommendations of the Working Group’s report.

The oral statement read as follows:

Mr Vice-President

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) welcomes the report by the Working Group on the follow up of its recommendations on its visit to Turkey (A/HRC/45/13/Add.4) and shares its concerns at the lack of implementation by the Turkish authorities and at the State-sponsored practice of “abductions and forced returns” (para 8). The ICJ agrees with the Working Group that a critical factor that fosters impunity in Turkey is “the lack of judicial independence and impartiality” (para 17).

The ICJ also welcomes the Working Group’s report on Tajikistan (A/HRC/45/13/Add.1). The ICJ shares its concern at the forcible return of Tajikistan nationals to the country, involving enforced disappearances (para 53), the harassment of  lawyers (para 9) including the lengthy imprisonment of Buzurgmehr Yorov and Nuriddin Makhkamov, the obstruction of lawyers’ access to detainees, and inadequate judicial review of detention (para 47).

The ICJ urges both countries to fully implement the recommendations of the Working Group and particularly:

  • on Tajikistan, to end forced return of their nationals, and to ensure prompt and confidential access to lawyers for detainees and prompt and independent judicial review of detention.
  • on Turkey, to stop all practices of abduction and forced return from other countries and to restore the independence of its judiciary.

 

ICJ and IBAHRI call on Belarus to comply with its international human rights obligations (UN Statement)

ICJ and IBAHRI call on Belarus to comply with its international human rights obligations (UN Statement)

At a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the ICJ and IBAHRI have called on Belarus to comply with its international human rights obligations, including by releasing those arbitrarily detained and ceasing abusive prosecutions as well as harassment of lawyers.

The oral statement read as follows:

“Madame President,

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) are concerned at the continuing human rights violations in Belarus following the Presidential election. Widespread arbitrary arrests, police violence against peaceful protesters, torture and other ill-treatment of detainees and allegations of enforced disappearances, violate Belarus’s international law obligations, and require accountability.

Our organizations are particularly concerned about reports that these violations are accompanied by widespread denial of detainees’ access to a lawyer. Lawyers face harassment and obstacles in carrying out their professional duties.

We highlight the recent arrests and detention of two prominent lawyers, Ilya Salei and Maxim Znak, on politically motivated charges on 9 September 2020. According to official information, the lawyers are charged with the crime of “calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus”.

We urge the Council to call on Belarus to:

  • comply with its international human rights obligations, including by releasing those arbitrarily detained and ceasing abusive prosecutions;
  • provide detainees with confidential access to lawyers of their choice;
  • end harassment of lawyers and ensure accountability and reparations for those whose human rights have been violated; and
  • request OHCHR to monitor and report to the Human Rights Council on the human rights situations in Belarus.

Thank you”

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