ICJ urges that the Human Rights Council establish new expert mandate to protect individuals against abuses in times of crises

ICJ urges that the Human Rights Council establish new expert mandate to protect individuals against abuses in times of crises

The ICJ urged the UN Human Rights Council to establish a new expert mandate to improve protection of human rights of individuals in armed conflicts and generally in any crisis situations.

The ICJ requested the Council to harness protection of judges and lawyers from violence and intimidation inflicted on them for their professional functions. It also sought accountability for human rights violations and international crimes committed by the Israeli Army, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups during the recent war in Gaza.

ICJ urges that the HRC establish new expert mandate_Prss Pelease_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)

UN Human Rights Council: military jurisdiction inadequate for ensuring justice in Mexico

UN Human Rights Council: military jurisdiction inadequate for ensuring justice in Mexico

The ICJ and other human rights groups underscored the rejection by the international human rights bodies of the use of military prosecutors and courts in cases involving abuses against civilians in Mexico.

The organizations said that the jurisdiction of military courts should be limited to offenses that are strictly military in nature. It was pointed to the practices by the Mexican military prosecutors and courts that routinely investigate members of the military accused of committing human rights violations, which violate Mexico’s obligations under international law and appear to contravene Article 13 of Mexico’s Constitution.

Mexico-Joint Oral statement-non-legal submissions-2009 (full text, PDF)

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