International Justice Resource Center

Jordan’s Prince Zeid to Succeed Navi Pillay as New United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in September 2014

June 25, 2014 IJRC civil society, international human rights, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Universal system

The United Nations General Assembly has approved the appointment of Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein as Navanethem (Navi) Pillay’s successor to head the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The High Commissioner is the official with the foremost responsibility for human rights activities at the United Nations. See UN General Assembly, Resolution 48/141, High Commissioner for

World Refugee Day 2014 Draws Attention to Record Number of Displaced Persons

June 23, 2014 IJRC African System, immigration & asylum, Inter-American System, international human rights

On Friday, June 20th the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and nations around the world marked World Refugee Day with diverse tributes and activities. In its efforts to raise awareness about the struggles faced by refugees, UNHCR emphasized that the number of displaced persons in 2013 was the highest in the post-World War II era.

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

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Publishes Policy Paper on Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes

June 12, 2014 IJRC International Criminal Court, international criminal law, transitional justice, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, women's rights

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ms. Fatou Bensouda, has published a Policy Paper on Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes describing the approach her office will take with regard to such crimes going forward. The Policy Paper, released on June 5th of this year, is the latest indicator that the Office of the Prosecutor plans to emphasize sexual and gender-based

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Adopts Resolution Condemning Violence and Discrimination against LGBTI Persons

June 10, 2014 IJRC African System, discrimination, human rights defenders, LGBTI rights

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted a landmark resolution (Resolution 275) condemning acts of violence, discrimination and other human rights violations against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity during its 55th Ordinary Session held from April 28 to May 12, 2014 in Luanda, Angola. See ACommHPR, Res. 275: Protection Against Violence and other Human

UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to Review Six Countries’ Reports during Ongoing 66th Session

June 5, 2014 IJRC children, UN treaty bodies

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child is currently holding its 66th Session in Geneva, Switzerland. The session began on May 26 and will continue until June 13, 2014. During this time, the Committee is scheduled to review State reports from Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, the United Kingdom, India, Indonesia, and St. Lucia on their implementation of the Convention

New Inter-American Commission Session Report Includes Details on the Status of Decisions, Rights Conditions in the Americas

May 27, 2014 IJRC civil society, Inter-American System

For apparently the first time, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has published a detailed report concerning its most recent session that: identifies forthcoming decisions on the admissibility and merits of petitions; lists the working meetings held between members of the Commission, States, and civil society; summarizes the information gathered through thematic hearings on a range of rights topics; and, describes

Mexico Adopts Legislation Limiting Military Courts’ Jurisdiction over Soldiers’ Human Rights Abuses

May 19, 2014 IJRC Uncategorized

The Mexican Congress has adopted a revision of the country’s Code of Military Justice to transfer jurisdiction over alleged human rights abuses committed by members of the armed forces against civilians to the ordinary, civilian justice system. [LA Times] Mexico’s military plays an important role in policing and law enforcement in the country, and although thousands of serious human rights abuses by soldiers are reported each

June 19 Women’s Rights Training: New Speakers, MCLE Approval & More

May 14, 2014 IJRC IJRC Updates, women's rights

The International Justice Resource Center is pleased to announce additional details concerning Protecting Women’s Rights: International Law & Advocacy, our June 19, 2014 human rights training for lawyers, advocates, and students working on women’s rights issues. New Speakers Lisa Davis has joined the incredible lineup of expert presenters, to share her experience and insights on using international human rights advocacy to

European Court Finds Georgia Plea Bargain Procedure Compatible with Human Rights Convention, Despite “Shady Factual Circumstances”

May 13, 2014 IJRC due process & judicial protection, European System

In a judgment released on April 29, the European Court of Human Rights examined the compatibility of a plea bargain procedure with the fair trial protections of the European Convention on Human Rights. See ECtHR, Natsvlishvili and Togonidze v. Georgia, no. 9043/05, Judgment of 29 April 2014. This Chamber decision marks the first case in which the European Court has analyzed in detail any