democracy & political rights – Page 11 – International Justice Resource Center

ECtHR: Ukrainian Opposition Supporter’s Detention for Symbolic Act of Protest Violated Rights

November 4, 2014 IJRC democracy & political rights, due process & judicial protection, European System, liberty & security of person, thought, expression & association

In a judgment released last week, the European Court of Human Rights unanimously held that Ukraine violated the rights to freedom of expression and an appeal in criminal matters when, in 2011, it detained Ms. Galyna Shvydka for ten days under the charge of petty hooliganism due to her act of political protest in support of the opposition party. See

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Holds Hearings on Racism in U.S. Criminal Justice System, Social Protests in Mexico, the Internet, and Other Human Rights Issues

October 29, 2014 IJRC civil society, crime & impunity, democracy & political rights, discrimination, economic, social & cultural rights, human rights defenders, immigration & asylum, indigenous communities, Inter-American System, international human rights, judicial independence, LGBTI rights, liberty & security of person, thought, expression & association, women's rights

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is holding its 153rd session from October 23 to November 7, 2014, with public hearings on October 27, 28, 30 and 31. The hearings allow both States and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide the IACHR with information and context on 53 human rights issues, ranging from the impact of mining operations on human

In Karimov v. Azerbaijan, European Court of Human Rights Holds Special Polling Stations for Military Personnel Violate the Right to Free Elections

September 30, 2014 IJRC democracy & political rights, due process & judicial protection, European System, Uncategorized

Last week, the European Court of Human Rights held that the establishment of military polling stations, in contravention of the Azerbaijani Electoral Code, violated the right to free elections under the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights. ECtHR, Karimov v. Azerbaijan, no. 12535/06, ECHR 2014, Judgment of 25 September 2014, para. 52. The applicant, Mr. Hasan Huseyn

European Court of Human Rights Releases Six New Thematic Factsheets on Landmark Cases

June 17, 2014 IJRC democracy & political rights, discrimination, European System, immigration & asylum, liberty & security of person, persons with disabilities, thought, expression & association, women's rights

The European Court of Human Rights has released six new factsheets summarizing its jurisprudence on the topics of: hunger strikes in detention, migrants in detention, domestic violence, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and political parties and associations. The factsheets provide valuable insights into the kinds of issues being raised before the Court, direct practitioners to key cases and decisions, and

UN Human Rights Committee Issues Concluding Observations on State Reports of Chad, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and the United States

April 3, 2014 IJRC civil society, democracy & political rights, discrimination, due process & judicial protection, human rights defenders, immigration & asylum, indigenous communities, international human rights, international humanitarian law, judicial independence, LGBTI rights, liberty & security of person, reparations, reproductive and sexual rights, right to life, security & rule of law, thought, expression & association, transitional justice, UN treaty bodies, women's rights

The UN Human Rights Committee held its 110th session from March 10 to 28 to consider the State reports of Chad, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and the United States of America. Following the session, the Committee released its concluding observations, detailing key concerns and recommendations for these States’ improved implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

International Human Rights Bodies Condemn Violence, Gov’t Responses to Protests in Thailand, Ukraine, and Venezuela

February 25, 2014 IJRC democracy & political rights, European System, extrajudicial executions, Inter-American System, liberty & security of person, thought, expression & association, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Tensions have escalated in Thailand, Ukraine, and Venezuela in recent weeks as political protests have given rise to violent clashes and political upheaval. The United Nations and international human rights bodies have called upon each government to engage in meaningful dialogue to address these conflicts and develop solutions. [OHCHR; COE; UN News Centre] UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon emphasized that “there

IACtHR to Hear Cases Involving Extrajudicial Killings in Peru, Guatemala, and Venezuela during 102nd Regular Session

February 4, 2014 IJRC children, crime & impunity, democracy & political rights, due process & judicial protection, human rights defenders, Inter-American System, interim measures, international human rights, liberty & security of person, right to life, security & rule of law

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights will hear expert and witness testimony in three pending cases concerning extrajudicial executions, convene two private hearings on States’ compliance with prior decisions, and deliberate on the merits of two cases concerning alleged criminal due process violations during its ongoing 102nd Regular Session, being held from January 27 through February 7 at its headquarters

ECtHR Rules Turkey’s Automatic and Indiscriminate Ban on Prisoners’ and Parolees’ Voting Rights Is Too Harsh

September 23, 2013 IJRC democracy & political rights, European System

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), in the case of Söyler v. Turkey, no. 29411/07, Judgment of 17 September 2013, has held that Turkey’s ban on convicted prisoners’ voting rights violates Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 (right to free elections) to the European Convention on Human Rights. [ECtHR Press Release]

International Community Urges Egyptian Authorities to Respect Rule of Law and Human Rights, amid Mixed Reactions to President’s Ouster

July 15, 2013 IJRC democracy & political rights, due process & judicial protection, international human rights, liberty & security of person, right to life, security & rule of law, thought, expression & association, UN Special Procedures, Universal Periodic Review

Immediately following the military-led ouster of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president, and amidst clashes between authorities and protesters, supranational bodies urged all parties involved to respect human rights and adhere to the rule of law. Morsi, an Islamist politician elected in June 2012 following the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak, faced increasing public opposition as he expanded executive

In First Judgment on the Merits, African Court Finds Tanzania Violated Citizens’ Right to Participate in Democracy by Prohibiting Independent Candidates

July 5, 2013 IJRC African System, democracy & political rights, discrimination

In a major victory for advocates of a more participatory and representative Tanzanian government, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights recently issued its first merits decision, in which it held that Tanzania had violated its citizens’ rights to freely participate in government directly or through representatives regardless of their party affiliation. The decision ordered Tanzania to take constitutional,