Abu Omar case: no more concessions on accountability

Abu Omar case: no more concessions on accountability

The ICJ today expressed satisfaction that the Italian judiciary and prosecutors have begun to address some of the worst human rights abuses arising in the post-11 September environment.

The Tribunal of Milan convicted 23 of 26 CIA agents charged with the kidnapping and enforced disappearance of Nasr Osama Mustafa Hassan (known as Abu Omar) in February 2003. Abu Omar was abducted by CIA agents from the streets of Milan in February 2003, with the cooperation of Italian officials, and transferred through Germany to Egypt, where he was subjected to torture.

Italy-Abu Omar case-press release-2009 (full text, PDF)

Zimbabwe: Mission by UN Special Rapporteur on Torture blocked

Zimbabwe: Mission by UN Special Rapporteur on Torture blocked

The Coalition of International NGOs against Torture (CINAT) strongly condemns Zimbabwe’s refusal to receive an officially planned fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe by the United Nations (UN). 

The visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Mr. Manfred Nowak, was postponed at the last minute by Zimbabwe’s Foreign Ministry while he was on transit to the country.

 

Zimbabwe-blockmission-news-2009 (full text, PDF)

 

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Italy

ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Italy

In this review, the ICJ addresses the breaches or risks of breaches of Italy’s human rights obligations.

These are resulting from:

  • its immigration law, policy and practice; frequent expulsions on grounds of national security;
  • widespread attacks on the judiciary and its members;
  • the abuse of the state secrets privilege in order to obstruct the prosecution and trial of international crimes, and the failure to define torture as a criminal offence in its domestic legislation.

Italy-ICJ submission UPR-non-legal submission-2009 (full text in English, PDF)

ICJ submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of human rights violations in Iran

ICJ submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of human rights violations in Iran

The ICJ addressed the persistent failure of Iran to meet many of its human rights obligations and the wave of fresh human rights violations in the country in the aftermath of the June 2009 disputed presidential election.

The ICJ urged Iran to refrain from torture and ill treatment, end violations of freedoms of expression and assembly, abolish the death penalty and co-operate with international human rights mechanisms, including the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council and the treaty bodies.

Iran-UPR-advocacy-2009 (full text, PDF)

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