The European Court of Human Rights issued Chamber judgments in a diverse group of cases this week, finding: Russia responsible for violating, inter alia, article 6.2 (presumption of innocence) for a politician’s public comments about a defendant who had been criminally charged with rape and was pending trial at the time (Kuzmin v. Russia); Moldova responsible for violating article 2
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This Week at the IACHR
Inter-American Commissioners Elected to New Posts The seven members of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights elected new officers last week. The new Chair, First Vice-Chair and Second Vice-Chair are Felipe González, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro and Dinah Shelton, respectively. Commissioner Shelton is one of four members who joined the Commission this year. Inter-American Commission Holds 138th Ordinary Session The 138th
Read moreDeaths and Harassment of Honduran Activists Lamented
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights today condemned the acts of violence and harassment in recent months against individuals involved in the resistance to the coup d’etat which took place in Honduras last June. Such acts included the deaths of three individuals and the torture and arbitrary detention of others. See the Commission’s statement here, and its report on human
Read moreECHR Finds Violation in British Transfer of Detainees to Iraqi Custody
Last Wednesday, the European Court of Human Rights issued its decision in Al-Saadoon & Mufdhi v. the United Kingdom, finding that the U.K. had violated its international human rights obligations when it transferred two Iraqi nationals to Iraqi custody because there was a real risk they would face the death penalty. See the press release and judgment. The application was
Read moreIACHR Announces Hearing Schedule for 138th Session
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights published its schedule of hearings for its 138th Period of Session. The hearings will take place at the Commission’s headquarters in Washington, DC from March 19 to 23. The hearings are open to the public. Webcasts and/or audio will also be available for most hearings. As usual, the Commission will hold a mix of
Read moreKaradzic Trial Resumes at ICTY
The trial of Radovan Karadzic for acts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes resumed yesterday before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, in The Hague. The trial, which first began in October 2009, was suspended when Karadzic refused to participate. See the ICTY’s fact sheet on the trial here. Karadzic had previously been sued in the
Read moreIACHR Refers Two Cases to Inter-American Court
Today the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights announced that it filed two applications with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The first, against the State of Ecuador, has to do with an individual who died after failing to receive adequate medical treatment while in detention. The second, against the State of Peru, involves judicial protection against the retroactive elimination of
Read moreThe Week's News
Human Rights Conditions * President Bachelet declares state of catastrophe following powerful earthquake in Chile. [Washington Post] * Interim government organized following Niger coup. [BBC] * Ceasefire signed in Sudan. [Guardian] * Waterboarding defended by former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. [New York Times] * Russia pushed for details on investigation of Chechen human rights defender’s murder in July
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