Jun 12, 2024 | Events, News
On 5 and 6 June 2024, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and its partners – the Institute of Commonwealth Studies and the Commonwealth Secretariat – held an Africa regional consultation on a human rights-based approach to criminal law with stakeholders in Nairobi, Kenya.
Jan 19, 2024 | News
On 15-16 January 2024, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), in cooperation with ARTICLE 19, organized a workshop in the province of Chiang Mai where over two dozen civil society actors and human rights defenders considered how to invoke and apply international law and standards related to land. The goal was to advocate for better protection of the human rights of affected individuals and communities across Thailand.
“Access to, use of, and control over land can have direct and indirect implications for the enjoyment of a range of human rights, particularly those under the International Covenant on the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) to which Thailand is a party,” said Seree Nonthasoot, Member of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR).
Thailand has a long-standing track record of failing to meet its human rights obligations related to land, especially concerning Indigenous Peoples, peasants, and other traditional communities, many of which have a material and spiritual relationship with their ancestral lands. Violations include the failure to ensure the security of tenure and meaningful and effective participation of communities in land-related decision-making processes.
Large-scale forced evictions conducted in violation of international law, inadequate and inconsistent compensation provided to affected communities and individuals due to land-related policies, and displacement of entire communities that are consequently struggling to access livelihoods without adequate support from the State have also been reported.
“When the social, cultural, spiritual, economic, environmental, and political value of land for communities is systematically disregarded by domestic law, international law and standards become important tools for victims and civil society to use in their advocacy for the protection of human rights. International mechanisms also offer crucial avenues for exposing serious human rights violations and seeking accountability,” added Sanhawan Srisod, ICJ’s Legal Adviser.
The workshop aimed to build participants’ documentation skills, strengthen their advocacy and promote networking. Further, the training explored different approaches and the benefits of engaging with UN human rights mechanisms for the protection of human rights in relation to land. The workshop provided a space for participants to discuss how civil society actors can utilize the outputs of these mechanisms in their activities, as well as how to effectively communicate with such mechanisms to ensure that their engagement is strategic and productive.
Background
Speakers included:
- Pairoj Ponpesh, Adviser, National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
- Pratubjit Neelapaijit, National Human Rights Officer, OHCHR’s Regional Office for Southeast Asia
- Sanhawan Srisod, Legal Adviser, ICJ
- Seree Nonthasoot, Member of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
Unofficial translations of key CESCR’s jurisprudences into Thai were also provided and shared with the participants. These included:
For more information regarding the legal framework, policies, and practices related to land in the context of the establishment and development of special economic zones (SEZs) against international law and standards, available in English and Thai.
Contact:
Sanhawan Srisod, Associate International Legal Adviser, ICJ Asia Pacific Programme; e: [email protected]
Aug 14, 2023 | Agendas, Events, News
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), in collaboration with the Nationwide Movement “Yuksalish” and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA), has announced the launch of the first Human Rights Summer School on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ESCR) in Uzbekistan from 14 to 18 August.
Organized within the framework of “Enhancing the Quality of Uzbekistan’s Application of International Law (EQUAL)”, funded by the European Union, this five-day educational course stands to make a real impact in advancing human rights education in Uzbekistan.
Apr 4, 2023 | Advocacy, News
The economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) guaranteed in Nepal’s Constitution are enforceable in Nepal’s courts, which routinely apply international human rights law and standards, including the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Nevertheless, Nepali lawyers have bemoaned the authorities’ failure – as elsewhere in the world – to execute and implement court orders and judgments.
Feb 17, 2023 | Advocacy, News
In Mathare, Kenya, there is an urgent need to improve access to quality public education, and to regulate private actors providing educational services in the community. These were the conclusions of a consultation with members of the Mathare Community Education Taskforce (Taskforce) convened by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), the East African Centre for Human Rights (EACHRights) and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR).