Sep 29, 2019 | News
On September 27-28, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), in cooperation with the Union of Lawyers of the Republic of Tajikistan, held a training on protecting the rights of lawyers and guarantees of the legal profession as well as the role of the Bar Association in protecting its members.
Around thirty lawyers from all regions of the Tajikistan took part in the training. Over two days lawyers discussed effective use of international mechanisms and international law and standards related to the protection of the rights of lawyers.
Particular attention was paid to the organization, functioning and role of the Commission for the Protection of the Professional Rights of Lawyers of the Union of Lawyers of the Republic of Tajikistan.
The event was attended by members of the Commission who had an opportunity to discuss the role and the effective work of this specialized body on protection of lawyers.
The Committee on the protection of the rights of lawyers of the Ukrainian National Bar Association delegated its members to the event to share their best practices and recommendations to overcome the challenges which arise in the work of these bodies.
Sep 27, 2019 | News
On 27 September, the Nederlands Juristen Comité voor de Mensenrechten (NJCM) and the ICJ held a a closed-door roundtable discussion in the Hague on investigative procedures and procedural rights in counter terrorism: implementing the EU Directive 2017/541 on combating terrorism. The discussion took place in the framework of the EU funded project “Judges Uniting to Stop Terrorism with International, Constitutional and European law (JUSTICE) project”.
Judges, prosecutors and lawyers from 11 EU countries shared their practices and experiences in the application of the investigative procedures and procedural rights related to the prosecution of the criminal offences enshrined in the EU Directive 2017/541 on combating terrorism within the different legal systems of the European Union (EU).
The discussion focused on investigative powers, evidence gathering, pre-trial detention, cross border cooperation and the European Arrest Warrant. These practices were assessed in light of international human rights law principles in order to identify best practices that could be promoted throughout the EU.
This is the second out of four roundtables organized within this project between April and November 2019 by the ICJ and partners.
See the agenda here.
Sep 25, 2019 | Events, News
The ICJ is organizing its first fundraising Gala concert on Monday 14 October at 7:30pm in the Palais Eynard, 4 rue de la Croix Rouge, Geneva. The event will support the ICJ and its fight for the defense of the Rule of Law in the world and marks the end of the series of events we organized for our 60th anniversary in the city of human rights.
The theme of our Gala will be: “Geneva, the Defense of the Rule of Law: What can I do?”
After a welcome from the Mayor of Geneva and an introduction from Me Pierre de Preux, former Bâtonnier of the Geneva Bar, ICJ Commissioners including Sir Nicolas Bratza (former President of the European Court of Human Rights), Dame Silvia Cartwright (former Judge and Governor General of New Zealand), Professor Bob Goldman (ICJ President and former President of the Inter-american Commission on Human Rights) and Ms Roberta Clarke (ICJ Executive Chair, UN Women’s Office for the Caribbean, UN Women’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific) will give concrete answers to this question.
But the evening is also to enjoy a wonderful Concert of the ‘Soloists of the Menuhin Academy’ (photo) and the cocktail after that.
To reserve: Pascale.andris@icj.org
You cannot come but still want to make a donation: please click here
Download the invitation
Invitation Gala 14 Oct
Sep 17, 2019 | Advocacy
In a statement issued today, the ICJ and other human rights groups, as well as lawyers and members of the legal profession, expressed deep concern over the increasing attacks against lawyers under President Duterte’s administration.
Find the full statement available as PDF here: Philippines-attacks against lawyers escalating-advocacy-2019-ENG
Sep 17, 2019 | Advocacy
The ICJ welcomes the final report of the FFM (Independent International Fact Finding Mission).
Having monitored justice and human rights in Myanmar for over 50 years, the ICJ has an established presence in the country, and supports justice sector actors to implement reforms necessary to protect human rights through the rule of law.
With this experience, the ICJ concurs with conclusions of the FFM and the Special Rapporteur: particularly those highlighting the pervasive damage of unchecked military power and impunity on human rights, the rule of law, and development of an inclusive democratic society.
Myanmar’s Government has failed to fulfill international law obligations to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of rights violations. In this context, the launch of an IIMM (Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar) is necessary, and welcome. Myanmar should cooperate with the Mechanism, whose files may enable future prosecutions of individual criminals.
But this Mechanism is not a court: all States, particularly Myanmar, must work toward holding criminal trials, in competent jurisdictions, inline with international standards – noting that prosecutions target criminals, not the country.
Other immediate opportunities for Myanmar to protect human rights include: amending the National Human Rights Commission Law to expand its mandate and independence; amending laws that facilitate impunity such as the 1959 Defence Services Act; enacting an anti-discrimination law; and reviewing the 1982 Citizenship Law. These legislative reforms are urgent and possible steps that are necessary to demonstrate if the Government is genuine about its international law obligations. Any constitutional reform must also expand rights protections.
As the FFM’s mandate is ending, the ICJ would like to ask the experts: how can States best monitor and implement your recommendations, particularly related to international criminal accountability?
See also:
ICJ, Achieving Justice for Gross Human Rights Violations in Myanmar, January 2018
Terms of Reference for the UN Independent International Mechanism for Myanmar (unofficial Burmese translation), 16 January 2019, available here.
Statement to the Human Rights Council by Mr. Nicholas Koumjian, Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (unofficial Burmese translation with accompanying English text), 9 September, available here.
