thought, expression & association – Page 17 – International Justice Resource Center

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

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

UN Expert Proposes Universal Standard for State Surveillance, Infringement on Right to Privacy

June 11, 2013 IJRC international human rights, privacy, thought, expression & association, UN Special Procedures, Universal system

Last week, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression presented his report to the UN Human Rights Council concerning “the implications of States’ surveillance of communication on the exercise of the human rights to privacy and to freedom of opinion and expression.” These rights have their roots in the International Covenant

OAS General Assembly Elects Three New IACHR Commissioners during its 43rd Regular Session

June 8, 2013 IJRC civil society, human rights defenders, indigenous communities, Inter-American System, international human rights, LGBTI rights, thought, expression & association, women's rights

The General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) held its 43rd regular session from June 4 to 6, 2013 in Antigua, Guatemala. [OAS; IACHR] Notably, the General Assembly filled three upcoming vacancies on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), electing two new Commissioners and electing current IACHR Chair José de Jesús Orozco to a second term. [OAS Press Kit]

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights Takes Action on Access to Information, Reproductive Health during 53rd Session

April 10, 2013 IJRC African System, civil society, health, indigenous communities, international human rights, reproductive and sexual rights, thought, expression & association, torture, women's rights

The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) is currently holding its 53rd Ordinary Session, from April 9 to April 23, 2013 in Banjul, The Gambia. During the session, the Commission’s agenda will include public hearings on the human rights situation in Africa, the review individual complaints (“communications”), States’ reports, and activity reports, and the launch of a model

UN Human Rights Council Concludes 22nd Session with Resolutions on North Korea, Mali, Syria, and Human Rights Defenders

March 27, 2013 IJRC human rights defenders, international human rights, military and humanitarian intervention, right to life, security & rule of law, thought, expression & association, torture, transitional justice, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures, Universal Periodic Review

The United Nations Human Rights Council concluded its twenty-second regular session last week after adopting a number of decisions, statements and resolutions to address pressing concerns in a handful of countries, advance its work on a range of human rights issues, and call for greater protection of human rights defenders. [OHCHR] Among other notable decisions during the four-week session, the

Mali Conflict: Concerns Persist for Protection of Human Rights, Displaced Populations, Minority Groups

February 5, 2013 IJRC African System, crime & impunity, democracy & political rights, International Criminal Court, international human rights, military and humanitarian intervention, right to life, security & rule of law, thought, expression & association, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Human Rights Council, UN Security Council, Universal Periodic Review

The West African nation of Mali, previously hailed as a democratic model for other regional governments, has become engulfed in a human rights and political crisis that is now the target of international attention and military intervention. Government and foreign forces are attempting to reclaim territory from separatist rebel groups, while the International Criminal Court and UN and African human rights

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.

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