The ICJ condemns the conviction pronounced today by the Supreme Court of Spain against Judge Baltasar Garzón, who will be banned from the judicial office for a period of 11 years.The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemns the conviction pronounced today by the Supreme Court of Spain against Judge Baltasar Garzón, who will be banned from the judicial office for a period of 11 years.
The ICJ and other human rights groups call on the Supreme Court of Spain to act in accordance with international law standards on the independence of the judiciary and accountability for international crimes. Judge Garzón is accused of criminal malfeasance for authorizing investigations into the alleged disappearance, torture and execution of more than 110.000 persons during the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent Franco’s regime. The trial against Judge Garzón will begin on 24 January 2012.
Spain-trial judge Garzón-press release-2012 (full text in English, PDF)
Spain-trial judge Garzón-press release-2012-SPA (full text in Spanish, PDF)
On 3 June, the ICJ and other human rights groups organized a parallel event at the Human Rights Council on “Combating Impunity: The Role of Judges and Lawyers in Times of Crisis”.
The panel comprised Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzón (photo), Wolfgang Kaleck (General Secretary, European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights) and Robert Husbands (OHCHR-Rule of Law and Democracy Section); Immaculada Barcia (Asian Legal Resource Centre) moderated the discussion. The meeting addressed the responsibility of jurists to protect and promote human rights vis-à-vis governmental attempts to interfere in and block investigations and prosecutions against former State officials even in the case of serious human rights violations.
The ICJ and the Judiciary of Lesotho will on 28th – 30th July 2010 hold a Judges’ Symposium in Maseru, Lesotho on the theme ‘Judicial Independence, Impartiality, Accountability and Reform in Lesotho’.
The Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (CIJL) of the ICJ today raised concerns about ongoing attacks against the professional and personal integrity of Justice Richard Goldstone.
OPT-statement harassment Goldstone-press release-2010 (full text in English, PDF)
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