armed conflict – Page 5 – International Justice Resource Center

ICC Asserts Jurisdiction over Rape, Sexual Slavery Charges Against Ntaganda

January 17, 2017 IJRC armed conflict, children, International Criminal Court, international criminal law, international humanitarian law

A trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) recently rejected defendant Bosco Ntaganda’s claim that the Court lacks jurisdiction to try him for the war crimes of rape and sexual slavery of child soldiers in his own forces. [ICC Press Release] The January 4 decision was issued in response to the defense’s claim that the Court cannot assert jurisdiction

News Clips- January 6, 2017

January 6, 2017 IJRC armed conflict, Asia, assembly and association, civil society, discrimination, economic, social & cultural rights, human rights defenders, immigration & asylum, International Criminal Court, international criminal law, international human rights, international humanitarian law, internationalized criminal tribunals, liberty & security of person, migrants, News Clips, thought, expression & association, universal jurisdiction, Universal system

Civil Society The United Nations requested the government of Burundi to remove a ban placed this week on a prominent rights group in the region, and to lessen other restrictions waged against civil society organizations in the past three months. [Washington Post] This Thursday, Bahrain reinstated arrest powers within its domestic spy service in a move that diverges from reforms

New Clips – December 31, 2016

December 30, 2016 IJRC armed conflict, children, civil litigation, civil society, democracy & political rights, environmental rights, European System, human rights defenders, immigration & asylum, international human rights, migrants, News Clips, UN Security Council, UN Special Procedures, Universal system

Civil Society In Argentina this week, human rights advocate Milagro Sala, and other members of the organization Tupac Amaru, were sentenced to 2-3 years probation, or suspended prison, for “aggravated damage” after participating in a protest. [Telesur] A United Nations agency condemned the murder of journalist, Larry Que, of the Phillippines, and called for an investigation into the death as

News Clips – December 23, 2016

December 23, 2016 IJRC armed conflict, Asia, assembly and association, civil society, conditions of detention, crime & impunity, democracy & political rights, discrimination, due process & judicial protection, economic, social & cultural rights, extrajudicial executions, human rights defenders, immigration & asylum, indigenous communities, Inter-American System, international criminal law, international human rights, internationalized criminal tribunals, liberty & security of person, migrants, News Clips, privacy, regional human rights protection, right to life, thought, expression & association, torture, UN General Assembly, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Security Council, UN Special Procedures, Universal system

Civil Society This week, Human Rights Watch reported that police officers regularly mistreat prisoners in India through the use of torture and the failure to bring detainees before a judge soon after arrest. [Washington Post] On Wednesday, a civil society organization reported escalated violence against human rights defenders in Guatemala, including 14 murders and seven attempted murders this year. [FIDH]

News Clips- December 16, 2016

December 16, 2016 IJRC African System, armed conflict, Asia, assembly and association, civil society, cultural rights, democracy & political rights, discrimination, due process & judicial protection, economic, social & cultural rights, environmental rights, health, human rights defenders, indigenous communities, international human rights, judicial independence, liberty & security of person, migrants, News Clips, regional human rights protection, right to life, thought, expression & association, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Special Procedures, Universal system

Civil Society Canada issued guidelines this week on supporting human rights defenders. [ISHR] Two UN Special Rapporteurs noted this week that the human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are frequently arbitrarily arrested and detained. [OHCHR Press Release] Protesters at a film festival in south India were arrested this week after refusing to stand for the national anthem. [Guardian]

UNHCR Issues Guidelines on Refugee Status of Those Fleeing Conflict

December 14, 2016 IJRC armed conflict, immigration & asylum, international criminal law, international humanitarian law, migrants, women's rights

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued new guidelines relating to individuals who are fleeing their countries due to armed conflict and violence, seeking to ensure that States consistently apply international law when conducting refugee determinations and generally view these individuals as possible refugees. [UN News Centre] The guidelines are intended to resolve discrepancies in States’ application of

News Clips- December 9, 2016

December 9, 2016 IJRC armed conflict, Asia, assembly and association, civil society, conditions of detention, crime & impunity, cultural rights, democracy & political rights, discrimination, economic, social & cultural rights, environmental rights, equal protection, freedom of religion, human rights defenders, ICTY, immigration & asylum, indigenous communities, International Criminal Court, international criminal law, international human rights, judicial independence, LGBTI rights, liberty & security of person, migrants, News Clips, right to life, thought, expression & association, torture, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, universal jurisdiction, Universal system

Civil Society This week, seven Tibetans in China were given prison sentences that ranged from five to 14 years. [HKFP] Egyptian authorities arrested a prominent human rights activist, Azza Soliman. [AI] Harsh winter weather forced demonstrators to temporarily evacuate the protest site at Standing Rock where they have been protesting the construction of a pipeline. [Washington Post] A Human Rights

ICC Releases Annual Report on Progress of Preliminary Examinations

December 6, 2016 IJRC armed conflict, extrajudicial executions, International Criminal Court, international criminal law, international humanitarian law, massacres, torture, transitional justice

On November 14, the International Criminal Court (ICC) released its 2016 annual report on its pending preliminary investigations into alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide. [ICC Press Release] The report details the Court’s progress on the 10 situations being evaluated for possible investigation, including two examinations initiated during the reporting period of November 1, 2015 to October 31, 2016

News Clips- December 2, 2016

December 2, 2016 IJRC African System, armed conflict, Asia, assembly and association, civil society, democracy & political rights, discrimination, economic, social & cultural rights, enforced disappearance, environmental rights, extrajudicial executions, human rights defenders, indigenous communities, Inter-American System, international human rights, liberty & security of person, News Clips, persons with disabilities, regional human rights protection, right to life, thought, expression & association, UN Security Council, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, Universal system

Civil Society Reports indicate that Facebook has developed a censorship software to use in the Chinese market. [Guardian] The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders denounced the numerous travel bans imposed on human rights activists in Egypt. [OHCHR Press Release] Ahead of elections in Gambia that took place on Thursday, President Jammeh banned international phone calls,

December 2016: United Nations and Regional Human Rights Bodies in Session

November 30, 2016 IJRC African System, armed conflict, assembly and association, children, civil society, corporate accountability, cultural rights, discrimination, economic, social & cultural rights, enforced disappearance, environmental rights, European System, family, health, human rights defenders, immigration & asylum, indigenous communities, Inter-American System, international human rights, labor rights, LGBTI rights, liberty & security of person, massacres, migrants, monthly overview, regional human rights protection, reproductive and sexual rights, right to life, thought, expression & association, torture, UN General Assembly, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, Universal system, women's rights

In the month of December, various universal and regional bodies will be in session. Three United Nations treaty bodies will meet to engage with States regarding their treaty obligations related to torture, racial discrimination, and enforced disappearances. Seven UN special rapporteurs and one working group will conduct country visits, and three working groups will meet in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss