The Kenyan Section of the ICJ and other human rights institutions will be convening the Third Roundtable on strengthening the African human rights system in Mombasa, Kenya from 20 – 21 October 2011.
The ICJ and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) stressed that accountability for human rights violations and alleged crimes is paramount, including for all those under the command of the Syrian authorities.
These include members of the Presidential Guard, the Fourth Division of the Army and the Shabbiha “civilian militia” forces.
The ICJ and OMCT welcomed the resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council, strongly condemning the continued grave and systematic human rights violations committed by the Syrian authorities and establishing an independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the human rights situation in the country.
Syria-violation of human rights-non-legal submission-2011 (full text, PDF)
During a second special session on the human rights situation in Syria, the ICJ and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) addressed the Human Rights Council.
They welcomed the strong terms of the draft resolution before the Council and called for unanimous adoption of the resolution; they also called for action by all States in their capacity as members of the Security Council, or as States who might influence the Security Council, to urge the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
Syria-violation of human rights-non-legal submission-2011 (full text, PDF)
Photo by Freedom House
SADC Tribunal: the Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will continue to have pervasive effects on human rights and the rule of law in the SADC region.
This is despite the advice of the World Trade Institute Advisors (WTIA) and the finding of the SADC Committee of Ministers of Justice/Attorneys-General that the Protocol on the Tribunal took effect through its incorporation into the Treaty by the adoption of the Agreement Amending the Treaty in August 2001; that the effectiveness of both the Protocol and the Agreement Amending the Treaty in August 2001 did not require ratification; and that the SADC Tribunal was legally constituted, and its decisions are binding on all SADC Member States, the SADC,
Regional legal consultative meeting-events-2011 (full text, PDF)
Conference synopsis-event-2011 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ urged the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to further press for the regulation or prohibition of military courts.
This is essential for the proper administration of justice, respect of the right to fair trial and the eradication of impunity, the ICJ said.
UN Sub-Commisssion-administrration justice-non-legal submission-2011 (full text, PDF)
HRC60: Statement by the International Commission of Jurists in the Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence
HRC60: International Commission of Jurists in the General Debate under Item 2
Serbia: Political leaders must cease interference with the judiciary
Asia Pacific Region: human rights defenders consider how to address new UN Cybercrime Convention