The ICJ urged all Governments to review and repeal laws and policies on operations of intelligence services in countering terrorism that had served to deprive victims of their right to an effective remedy and reparation.
The call was made in interaction with the UN Special Rapporteur.
ICJ intervention in the interactive dialogue-non-legal submission-2009 (full text, PDF)
The declaration has become a beacon for the development of international law, the institution of universal human rights mechanisms and procedures and a primary instrument for those who struggle for dignity.
Nevertheless, the promise of the Universal Declaration has yet to be fully realised.
“Despite the burgeoning of a culture of human rights in parts of the world, major objectives of the Universal Declaration remain unfulfilled, as the efforts to implement human rights have left many men and women behind”, said Lukas Machon, ICJ Representative to the UN.
UN-Universal declaration of human rights at its 60th anniversary-news-2008 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ welcomed the nomination of the South African judge Ms. Navanethem Pillay by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the UN’ next High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The ICJ today concluded its second high-level mission to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
ICJ Commissioners Professor Pedro Nikken and Professor Rajeev Dhavan led the mission. In the West Bank, they met with senior Palestinian officials, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Mr. Issa Abu Sharar, the Public Prosecutor, Mr. Ahmed Maghni, and representatives of local NGOs and the legal community. They also visited illegal settlements and the wall of separation in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In Israel, the ICJ delegation held meetings with senior governmental officials and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel, Ms. Dorit Beinisch
This mission followed the first ICJ mission to Gaza, led by its Secretary-General in December 2007. The first mission met with representatives of the dismissed government of Hamas, senior judges, lawyers, local NGOs and representatives of the legal community. The mission visited refugee camps in Jabaliya, Dir Al Balah, Khan Younes, witnessing the devastating impact of the Israeli siege of Gaza on the humanitarian situation in these camps and the human rights of the civilian population in Gaza.
Palestine-Israel-ICJ Includes a Second High Level Mission to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel-web-2008 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ today condemned the bomb attacks that occurred across Bangkok on New Year’s Eve which are reported to have killed three and injured over 20.
“Thorough and impartial investigations will be needed to discover who committed these bombings and why. But it is already self-evident that there can be no justification for these violent acts”, said Nicholas Howen, ICJ Secretary-General. “These are criminal acts and those responsible will have to be brought to justice in accordance with international standards”, he added.
The ICJ expressed its condolences to the victims and their families.
Thailand-new year bomb attacks-Press releases-2007 (full text, PDF)
More than fifty years on: enforced disappearance, the families who named it, and the reframing of international protection
Türkiye: Osman Kavala must be immediately released following European Court order to quash his conviction
Sudan: ICJ joins call to extend UN Fact-Finding Mission and strengthen accountability
ICJ hosts Johannesburg roundtable on the draft Crimes Against Humanity Treaty with the Malala Fund and other civil society actors