Jun 4, 2011 | Events
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.
Flyer-event-2011
May 23, 2011 | News
Amnesty International and the ICJ today condemned the ongoing arrests and imprisonment of several prominent lawyers in Iran which they see as part of an orchestrated attempt to repress dissent in the country.
Iran-persecution lawyers-press release-2011 (full text, PDF)
May 19, 2011 | News
The ICJ today expressed its concern at the recent attack on a lawyer involved in a high profile case in Moscow.
On 13 May, Elena Levina, a Russian lawyer representing Mikhail Khodorkovsky in the appeal of his conviction on charges of theft of almost 350 million tons of oil and money laundering, was attacked as she was returning home late at night.
Russian Federation-Russian authorities-investigate an attack against lawyer-press release-2011-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Russian Federation-Russian authorities-investigate an attack against lawyer-press release-2011-rs (full text in Russian, PDF)
Mar 17, 2011 | News
The Court of Appeal overturned the conviction of Pol. Maj. Ngern Thongsuk due to insufficient evidence in the case of enforced disappearance and presumed murder of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit (photo).
Mar 11, 2011 | Agendas
On 11th March 2011, the Court of Appeals rendered a verdict acquitting all five police officers accused of abducting, killing and “disappearing” prominent Muslim lawyer, Somchai Neelapaijit. This decision has important consequences not only for the Somchai case itself, but for broader issues of justice, human rights and rule of law in Thailand. The Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) will be holding a public event to examine key legal and political issues concerning this case, from 12:00 – 15:00 on 17th March at the FCCT. The event will be in Thai and English, with simultaneous translation. It will feature a film of Somchai’s last public speech the night before his enforced disappearance, followed by speakers:
- Angkhana and Pratabjit Neelapaijit, widow and daughter of Somchai
- Vitit Muntarborn, Professor, Chulalongkorn University, UN human rights expert
- Roger Normand, ICJ Asia Pacific Director
Their brief presentations will be followed by an extended question-and-answer session. Complimentary refreshments will be served.
Thailand-judgement Somchai Neelapajit case-agenda-2011-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Thailand-judgement Somchai Neelapajit case-agenda-2011-tha (full text in Thai, PDF)
