International Justice Resource Center

ECtHR Holds Violent Arrest in front of Child Constitutes Ill-Treatment

November 21, 2019 IJRC children, European System, international human rights, regional human rights protection

In its first judgment to directly consider the issue, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has held that violently arresting a parent in front of a child may constitute inhuman or degrading treatment of the child, in violation of the Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. See ECtHR, A v. Russia, no. 37735/09, Judgment of 12

Recent Developments Highlight Increased Collaboration Among Human Rights Bodies

November 14, 2019 IJRC African System, civil society, discrimination, European System, Inter-American System, international human rights, regional human rights protection, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Universal system

Over the past several months, supranational human rights bodies have announced a flurry of joint events and agreements, highlighting some specific rights challenges and the increasing importance of technical collaboration. Between September and November 2019, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the Inter-American

IACHR Announces Results and Changes in Efforts to Reduce Backlog

November 7, 2019 IJRC civil society, Inter-American System, international human rights, regional human rights protection

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which has long faced a significant backlog in its resolution of individual complaints, has announced developments in the implementation of its Special Procedural Backlog Reduction Program, approved in its Strategic Plan 2017-2021. [IACHR Press Release: Stages] According the IACHR’s press release on its 2019 conclusions, to date, the IACHR has achieved record results

November 2019: UN Treaty Bodies, UPR Working Group & Regional Bodies In Session

October 31, 2019 IJRC African System, Inter-American System, international human rights, monthly overview, regional human rights protection, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, Universal Periodic Review, Universal system

In November, universal and regional human rights bodies and experts will assess States’ compliance with their human rights obligations through the consideration of State and civil society reports and country visits. Five United Nations treaty bodies and one pre-sessional working group will hold sessions to assess States’ progress regarding women’s rights, civil and political rights, the prevention of torture, and

UN Expert Releases Principles to Protect Workers from Toxic Substances

October 30, 2019 IJRC economic, social & cultural rights, health, international human rights, labor rights, UN Special Procedures, Universal system

In a new report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances has laid out 15 principles to guide States and businesses in preventing and remedying workers’ exposure to toxics. [OHCHR Press Release] In September 2019, the Special Rapporteur, Baskut Tuncak, presented the principles to the UN Human Rights Council, which adopted a resolution calling on States

European Court Holds Secret Surveillance Did Not Violate Employees’ Privacy

October 24, 2019 IJRC European System, international human rights, privacy, regional human rights protection

Overturning a previous chamber decision, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held that employees’ right to privacy was not violated when a Spanish supermarket used visible and secret cameras to record public areas of the store when it suspected significant theft by employees. See ECtHR, López Ribalda and Others v. Spain [GC], nos. 1874/13 and

UN Transitions from Peacekeeping to Governance, amid Crisis in Haiti

October 17, 2019 IJRC assembly and association, Inter-American System, international human rights, regional human rights protection, thought, expression & association, UN Security Council, Universal system

As oversight bodies call for restraint amid ongoing protests in Haiti, the United Nations is ending its 15-year peacekeeping mission in the country. [IACHR Press Release; UN News: Protests] On October 16, 2019, a special political mission, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), replaced the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), shifting the UN’s focus

Special Rapporteur’s New Report Addresses Abuses in Reproductive Healthcare

October 10, 2019 IJRC international human rights, reproductive and sexual rights, UN Special Procedures, Universal system, women's rights

In her latest report to the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences outlined a human rights-based approach to the violence and mistreatment that many women suffer in reproductive health services, focusing specifically on childbirth and obstetric care. See Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and

Human Rights Committee Introduces Fixed Eight-Year State Review Schedule

October 2, 2019 IJRC international human rights, UN treaty bodies, Universal system

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has announced changes that will generally reduce the frequency and comprehensiveness of its review of States parties’ implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). With its first Predictable Review Cycle, the Committee will review all 173 States parties to the ICCPR between 2020 and 2027. See OHCHR, The Predictable Review

October 2019: UN Treaty Bodies & Regional Bodies in Session

September 30, 2019 IJRC African System, European System, Inter-American System, international human rights, monthly overview, regional human rights protection, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, Universal system

In October, universal and regional human rights bodies and experts will review States’ compliance with their human rights obligations through the consideration of State and civil society reports and country visits. Four United Nations treaty bodies and two pre-sessional working groups will hold sessions to assess States’ progress regarding enforced disappearances; economic, social, and cultural rights; women’s rights; children’s rights;