Dec 20, 2004 | Non-legal submissions
The ICJ today submitted a Memorandum to the European Commission on the establishment of a human rights agency in the European Union.
The ICJ sets out clear benchmarks for a human rights institution that would provide a strong mechanism to address human rights and rule of law problems in the European Union.
“We call on the European Commission to elaborate a proposal for a EU Human Rights Agency, which is in line with international standards for independent and effective human rights institutions”, says Gerald Staberock, Coordinator of ICJ’s National Implementation Programme. “This step is long overdue and the agency should have a real impact on the promotion and protection of human rights in the European Union and its member states. A weak and flawed institution, on the other hand, would not increase the legitimacy of EU policies but could raise concerns about double-standards, internally and externally.”
Submission on the establishment of a EU Human Rights Agency [full text, PDF]
Dec 20, 2004 | News
The ICJ today submitted a Memorandum to the European Commission on the establishment of a human rights agency in the European Union.
Oct 31, 2003 | News
A group of international Non-Governmental Organisations has launched a Joint Declaration calling on the United Nations to monitor the impact on human rights of the fight against terrorism.
Practices such as torture, detention without judicial review, unfair trial, criminalisation of acts in exercise of fundamental rights, and suppression of the right to association have been sharply on the rise as a result of measures taken in the fight against terrorism.
The Declaration calls on the UN Commission on Human Rights at its 60th session in March/April 2004 to establish as a matter of utmost priority an independent mechanism on the question of human rights and counter-terrorism.
“The events of 11 September 2001 ushered in a waive of measures by a number of states that threaten basic and universally subscribed human rights principles”, said ICJ Legal Adviser Ian Seiderman. “It is unconscionable that throughout the last two years, the United Nations human rights system has lacked the impetus to tackle this grave threat by monitoring and evaluating the laws and practices of its member States.”
The founding signatories of the Declaration include the seven members of the Coalition of International Non-Governmental Organisations against Torture (CINAT) (Amnesty International, Association for the Prevention of Torture, International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (FIACAT), International Commission of Jurists, International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), Redress: Seeking Reparation for Torture Survivors, and World Organization against Torture (OMCT)), as well as Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme (FIDH), Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers), Human Rights Watch, and International Service for Human Rights.
The Declaration is now open to all international and national NGOs for signature.
monitoring human rights in terrorism fight-press release-2004-eng
Jan 1, 1988 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
Article by Niall MacDermot, Secretary-General of the ICJ, who first outlines the contents and history of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He then describes the contribution of NGOs to the United Nations and regional mechanisms, in terms of standard-setting and interventions on violations.
Reprint from the book “Human rights in the changing world”, published by the International Law Association Regional Branch (India) and edited by E.S. Venkataramiah.
Role NGOs human rights-non-legal submission-1988-eng (full text in English, PDF)
Feb 15, 1965 | Events
The document contains the provisional programme of the Conference, information for Conference participants, Standing Orders, Conference Officers, participants and observers.
dynamic aspects rule of law-programme-1965-eng (full text in English and French, PDF)
Working papers are available at:
dynamic aspects rule of law-working paper congress-1965-fra (full text in French, PDF)
The report is available at:
dynamic aspects rule of law-conference report-1965-eng (full text in English, PDF)
dynamic aspects rule of law-conference report-1965-fra (full text in French, PDF)
dynamic aspects rule of law-conference report-1965-spa (full text in Spanish, PDF)
