right to life – Page 19 – International Justice Resource Center

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

UN Establishes Commission of Inquiry and Independent Expert on Central African Republic, as Widespread Human Rights Violations Continue

January 25, 2014 IJRC crime & impunity, international criminal law, international human rights, international humanitarian law, military and humanitarian intervention, right to life, security & rule of law, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Human Rights Council, UN Security Council, UN Special Procedures

Amid ongoing sectarian violence in the Central African Republic, including reported war crimes and crimes against humanity, the United Nations has established two expert mechanisms to monitor the human rights situation, but has so far stopped short of authorizing a UN peacekeeping mission to support the French and African Union troops already in the country. Hundreds have been killed and

Special Tribunal for Lebanon Opens Trial of 4 Accused in Rafiq Hariri Assassination, in Abstentia

January 23, 2014 IJRC crime & impunity, international criminal law, internationalized criminal tribunals, right to life, UN Security Council

Last week, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) opened the trial proceedings against Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra for the Beirut bombing that killed 22 individuals, including the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, on February 14, 2005. See STL, Prosecutor v. Ayyash et al. (Case STL-11-01), Indictment (Public Redacted Version), 10

Nepal Supreme Court Prohibits Amnesty for Serious Human Rights Violations Committed during Armed Conflict

January 8, 2014 IJRC crime & impunity, due process & judicial protection, international human rights, right to life

Last week, Nepal’s highest court released a decision prohibiting grants of amnesty for serious human rights violations committed during the nation’s 10-year internal conflict. The Supreme Court found that grants of amnesties, limitations on criminal prosecutions, and the 35-day time limit on filing cases do not conform to the standards established by the Nepalese Constitution and international law. [OHCHR] If

European Court of Human Rights Hears Extraordinary Rendition Cases, as "War on Terror" Controversies Continue

December 11, 2013 IJRC African System, European System, Inter-American System, interim measures, international human rights, liberty & security of person, right to life, security & rule of law

Over the past week, the European Court of Human Rights has held hearings in several cases relating to the “war on terror,” at the same time as the United States has forcibly repatriated two Guantanamo Bay detainees, despite their fears of persecution. The following post summarizes these developments and – in follow-up to this previous post – also surveys recent advances in other

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights Holds Public Hearings in Cases against Burkina Faso and Tanzania

December 9, 2013 IJRC African System, crime & impunity, due process & judicial protection, international human rights, liberty & security of person, property, right to life, thought, expression & association

During its 31st Ordinary Session, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) held public hearings in two pending cases, one involving the unsolved assassination of a prominent journalist in Burkina Faso and the other concerning alleged criminal due process violations and arbitrary detention in Tanzania. On November 28-29, the AfCHPR heard arguments on the merits in Beneficiaries of the Late

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

El Salvador Allows Caesarean, but Not Abortion, to Save Life of Pregnant Woman Granted Provisional Measures by IACtHR

June 5, 2013 IJRC domestic courts, health, Inter-American System, interim measures, international human rights, reproductive and sexual rights, right to life

On May 29, 2013, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (the Court) granted provisional measures ordering El Salvador to take all necessary measures to protect the life and personal integrity of “Beatriz,” an ill, pregnant 22-year-old Salvadoran woman, in effect mandating termination of her pregnancy. I/A Court H.R., Matter of B. Provisional Measures. Judgment of May 29, 2013, para. 17.

Committee on Enforced Disappearances Issues its First Concluding Observations, on State Reports from Uruguay and France

May 2, 2013 IJRC civil society, crime & impunity, due process & judicial protection, enforced disappearance, international human rights, judicial independence, liberty & security of person, UN treaty bodies

The United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) held its fourth session from April 8 to 19, 2013 and reviewed State reports for the first time. Uruguay and France were the first States to be reviewed by the CED, which has now issued its “concluding observations” on those governments’ compliance with the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from

UN Votes to Adopt Arms Trade Treaty, Restricting Export of Weapons that May Be Used for Human Rights Violations

April 2, 2013 IJRC international human rights, international humanitarian law, right to life, security & rule of law, UN General Assembly

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to adopt an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on April 2, 2013. The treaty regulates international trade of conventional arms, and aims to “[contribute] to international and regional peace, security and stability.” ATT, art. 1. Among other requirements, States Parties must prohibit the international transfer of arms whenever the government has knowledge that