The ICJ strongly condemns the indiscriminate killing of worshipers during evening prayers on June 8th at the Alfurquan Mosque in Ai Payae Village, Narathiwat Province, Thailand.
Thailand-ICJ Condemns Killing of at least 10 Worshipers-Press releases-2009 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ is submitting the following contribution to an Amicus Curiae brief of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) in the case of Secretary for Justice v William Roy Leung – CACV 317/2005.
The ICJ welcomes today’s decision of the Hong Kong Court of Appeal in the case of William Roy Leung vs Secretary for Justice.
The Hong Kong Court of Appeal upheld the decision of a lower court that a provision of the Hong Kong Crimes Ordinance (section 118C) was discriminatory based on sexual orientation, as it prohibits consensual male homosexual sex until both parties are above 21 years old. The Court also affirmed that this provision constitutes an arbitrary interference on the right to privacy.
“The decision is a vindication of the right to equality before the law and non discrimination and is consistent with Hong Kong’s obligations under the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, ” said Philip Dayle, Legal Officer at the ICJ.
The Crimes Ordinance criminalizes parties to consensual male homosexual sex even if both participants are over 16 years of age, but one party is under the age of 21. Consensual sex between heterosexual persons who are above the age of 16 is not similarly outlawed. The Court reasoned that, “…section 118C of the Crimes Ordinance significantly affects homosexual men in an adverse way compared with heterosexuals.”
The ICJ offered an exposition of the international human rights and comparative public law analysis in relation to sexual orientation in this matter. This intervention was incorporated in the amicus brief of the Equal Opportunities Commission of Hong Kong and was presented to the court.
Both the decision of the court of appeal and the ICJ arguments in this matter are available on the ICJ website
Hong Kong-Roy court appeal-Press releases-2006 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ today welcomed the consideration of a bill by the Philippines’ Senate that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The ICJ today called on the Knesset to repeal a law that prevents Palestinians from the Occupied Territories being united with their Israeli spouses after a small majority of judges (6-5) upheld the law on 14 May.
Kyrgyz Republic: ICJ welcomes Constitutional Court ruling blocking reintroduction of the death penalty
UN HRC: ICJ Statement on the Human Rights Situation in Venezuela
FES-ICJ High-Level Conference: The role of civil society in the UN80 Initiative
Laos: After 13 years, renewed international action needed to ensure justice in Sombath Somphone’s enforced disappearance