ICJ addresses Human Rights Council on corporate complicity and access to justice

ICJ addresses Human Rights Council on corporate complicity and access to justice

The ICJ today submitted to the United Nations a written statement concerning corporate complicity in human rights abuses and access to justice for victims of such abuses.

The statement is made ahead of the UN Human Rights Council’s 23rd session (27 May to 14 June 2013) and comments on a report of the Council’s Working Group on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.

Setting out issues concerning obstacles to justice for victims of human rights abuses by business enterprises, the ICJ calls on the Working Group to take various steps to address such issues, including by:

  • Exploring the further development of international standards;
  • Raising specific allegations of corporate abuse with relevant State authorities and business enterprises; and
  • Addressing more clearly the issue of access to justice in cases of corporate complicity.

HRC23-Item3-WGBHR-WrittenStatement-LegalSubmission-2013 (download statement in PDF)

ICJ statement on human rights defenders in Southern Africa

ICJ statement on human rights defenders in Southern Africa

The ICJ today requested the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders to call on Zimbabwe, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Swaziland to take effective measures to prevent and end attacks on and persecution of human rights defenders.

The ICJ delivered its oral statement today during an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur as part of the Human Rights Council’s 22nd regular session (25 February to 22 March 2013).

The ICJ also noted the need for these States to:

  • Ensure adherence to international standards on detention and fair trial in cases where human rights defenders have been arrested;
  • Conduct prompt and impartial investigations and, where human rights abuses are criminal in character, prosecute all persons responsible; and
  • Ensure that affected human rights defenders have access to effective remedies and reparation for such abuses.

Also addressed to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders was a written statement submitted earlier this month concerning legislative restrictions on ‘homosexual propaganda’ that threaten LGBT human rights defenders.

SouthernAfrica-HRC22-IDItem3-SRHRDs-Non-LegalSubmission-2013 (download oral statement in PDF)

For the written statement click here

 

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