international human rights – Page 63 – International Justice Resource Center

Venezuela Denounces American Convention on Human Rights as IACHR Faces Reform

September 19, 2012 IJRC Inter-American System, international human rights

Overview On September 10, 2012 the Government of Venezuela denounced the American Convention on Human Rights (the American Convention). Pursuant to Article 78 of the American Convention, the Government of Venezuela officially made its denunciation through a letter delivered to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza. When the withdrawal takes effect in one year’s

Recent Developments for NGO Engagement with the UN

September 18, 2012 IJRC civil society, human rights defenders, indigenous communities, international human rights, UN Human Rights Council, UN treaty bodies, Universal Periodic Review, Universal system

Recent developments have made it easier for civil society to engage in advocacy in before various UN human rights bodies. The changes particularly benefit NGOs that lack a permanent presence in Geneva and New York, allowing them to watch sessions or in some cases even participate even when travel to Geneva is not feasible. Online Speaker Lists for NGOs at

52nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission to be Held October 9-22

September 18, 2012 IJRC African System, civil society, international human rights, regional human rights protection, thought, expression & association

The 52nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights will take place October 9-22 in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire. The session will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the formation of the African Commission, which is tasked with promoting and protecting human rights throughout the African Continent as well as interpreting the African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The Status of Guantánamo and Extraordinary Rendition Litigation before Regional Tribunals

September 11, 2012 IJRC interim measures, international human rights, liberty & security of person, regional human rights protection, security & rule of law, torture, UN treaty bodies

On September 8, Adnan Latif became the ninth Guantánamo Bay detainee to die in U.S. custody. [NY Times] The military publicly announced Latif’s identity today, the eleventh anniversary of the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001. Those terrorist attacks gave rise to a more public, aggressive and extensive “war on terror” whose features have included the use of “black sites”

Reprisals for Reporting Human Rights Violations

August 31, 2012 IJRC civil society, human rights defenders, international human rights, liberty & security of person, thought, expression & association, UN Human Rights Council

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, will present his annual report on government reprisals against persons who report human rights abuses to the UN at the Human Rights Council in September 2012. The Secretary-General’s report (A/HRC/21/18) presents numerous countries and cases where human rights defenders were subjected to intimidation and harassment by government for interacting or communicating with

10 Essential Steps for First Time Advocacy at the Human Rights Council

August 14, 2012 IJRC civil society, due process & judicial protection, human rights defenders, international human rights, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures, Universal Periodic Review, Universal system

1) Define your objectives realistically Why? As with any form of advocacy, the first step for engaging with the Human Rights Council is to clearly define your objectives based on realistic expectations of what is achievable. Advocates should recognize that the Council seeks to promote respect for human rights primarily through political dialogue. The Council holds no mandate to decide

New Video Tutorial and Advocacy Manual on the Inter-American System

July 16, 2012 IJRC human rights defenders, Inter-American System, international human rights, regional human rights protection

The International Justice Resource Center is pleased to announce the release of a five-part educational video on the Inter-American System for the protection of human rights, which monitors, promotes and enforces the human rights commitments of all 35 independent countries in the Americas. IJRC’s aim in producing the video and accompanying manual is to contribute to greater understanding and effective use

United Nations Invites Nominations for the Forum on Business and Human Rights

July 10, 2012 IJRC corporate accountability, international human rights, progressive development of law, UN Human Rights Council

The Secretariat of the United Nations Human Rights Council* is seeking all governments, national human rights institutes, and non-governmental organizations in consultative status to nominate persons to serve as the Chairperson of the upcoming Forum on Business and Human Rights.

Guantanamo, Ten Years On: A Look Back

January 11, 2012 IJRC civil litigation, due process & judicial protection, international human rights, security & rule of law, U.S. courts

Today marks the tenth year anniversary of the United States government’s use of the prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba to hold individuals suspected of supporting or being associated with al Qaeda or other groups – some, but not all, of which were designated terrorist groups by the U.S. government. See Mark Denbeaux et al., Report on the Guantanamo Detainees: