US Government must provide necessary medical treatment for Guantánamo detainee Ammar al-Baluchi, a victim of its torture programme
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Amnesty International, the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) today called on the United States authorities to provide for Guantánamo detainee Ammar al-Baluchi to be medically assessed by an independent medical panel and be provided with the medical treatment and rehabilitative services he needs.
Survivor to testify at German Trial of Alleged Gambian ‘Death Squad’ Driver
A woman who survived the murder of a renowned Gambian journalist will testify on 6 and 7 October in the German city of Celle at the trial of a man allegedly involved in the killing, human rights groups said today.
Thailand: ICJ co-hosts a Workshop on the investigation and adjudication of psychological torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment
Thailand must act to minimize torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment by passing a draft law before the Senate that would criminalize such violations, international experts and Thai human rights defenders urged at a workshop co-hosted on 24 May in Bangkok by the International Commission of Jurists (“ICJ”), Thailand’s Ministry of Justice and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
ICJ and IBAHRI call on Belarus to comply with its international human rights obligations (UN Statement)
At a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the ICJ and IBAHRI have called on Belarus to comply with its international human rights obligations, including by releasing those arbitrarily detained and ceasing abusive prosecutions as well as harassment of lawyers.
The oral statement read as follows:
“Madame President,
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) are concerned at the continuing human rights violations in Belarus following the Presidential election. Widespread arbitrary arrests, police violence against peaceful protesters, torture and other ill-treatment of detainees and allegations of enforced disappearances, violate Belarus’s international law obligations, and require accountability.
Our organizations are particularly concerned about reports that these violations are accompanied by widespread denial of detainees’ access to a lawyer. Lawyers face harassment and obstacles in carrying out their professional duties.
We highlight the recent arrests and detention of two prominent lawyers, Ilya Salei and Maxim Znak, on politically motivated charges on 9 September 2020. According to official information, the lawyers are charged with the crime of “calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus”.
We urge the Council to call on Belarus to:
- comply with its international human rights obligations, including by releasing those arbitrarily detained and ceasing abusive prosecutions;
- provide detainees with confidential access to lawyers of their choice;
- end harassment of lawyers and ensure accountability and reparations for those whose human rights have been violated; and
- request OHCHR to monitor and report to the Human Rights Council on the human rights situations in Belarus.
Thank you”
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