International Justice Resource Center

Training Registration Now Open: Protecting Women’s Human Rights through International Law and Advocacy

April 3, 2014 IJRC children, Commission on the Status of Women, economic, social & cultural rights, human rights defenders, IJRC Updates, Inter-American System, reproductive and sexual rights, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, Universal Periodic Review, women's rights

The International Justice Resource Center (IJRC) is pleased to announce an upcoming training seminar on women’s human rights. See the draft agenda for additional details. WHEN: Thursday, June 19, 2014 WHERE: UC Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, California WHO: Experts in international human rights law and women’s rights will share insights and examples with advocates and attorneys whose work

UN Human Rights Committee Issues Concluding Observations on State Reports of Chad, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and the United States

April 3, 2014 IJRC civil society, democracy & political rights, discrimination, due process & judicial protection, human rights defenders, immigration & asylum, indigenous communities, international human rights, international humanitarian law, judicial independence, LGBTI rights, liberty & security of person, reparations, reproductive and sexual rights, right to life, security & rule of law, thought, expression & association, transitional justice, UN treaty bodies, women's rights

The UN Human Rights Committee held its 110th session from March 10 to 28 to consider the State reports of Chad, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and the United States of America. Following the session, the Committee released its concluding observations, detailing key concerns and recommendations for these States’ improved implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

58th Commission on the Status of Women Closes with Commitment to Pursuing Gender Equality, Women’s Human Rights in Post-2015 Development Agenda

April 1, 2014 IJRC Commission on the Status of Women, discrimination, women's rights

The Commission on the Status of Women held its 58th Session from March 10 to 21 at the UN Headquarters in New York, bringing together States and civil society organizations to discuss the priority theme of “challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls.” The discussion both centered on, and informed revisions to,

New Educational Videos and Handbooks on the Inter-American Human Rights System

April 1, 2014 IJRC IJRC Updates, Inter-American System

IJRC is pleased to share some new informational tools for advocates and individual complainants in the Americas, which can now be found in the Online Resource Hub. Our popular animated video and legal handbook on the Inter-American human rights system have been revised to reflect important changes in the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ Rules of Procedure and the Inter-American Court

RightsCon Silicon Valley 2014: Some Highlights from a Tech and Human Rights Convening

March 10, 2014 IJRC civil society, human rights defenders, international human rights, thought, expression & association

As the world becomes more reliant on the internet, digital communication, and other innovations, it is increasingly apparent that technology presents both solutions and challenges for human rights defenders, and can also give rise to new forms of rights abuses. Unfortunately, many of the same tech tools that allow activists to work more effectively also leave them vulnerable to attack. And, in

International Women’s Day 2014: Equality for Women is Progress for All

March 7, 2014 IJRC Universal system, women's rights

International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, provides opportunities for discussion and engagement around the human rights of women. This year, the United Nations has chosen the theme, “Equality for women is progress for all” to focus on the critical importance of gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s human rights for economic and social development. [UN] Celebration of Women’s Day

RightsCon 2014: Technology and Human Rights Discussions This Week

March 4, 2014 IJRC civil society, international human rights, thought, expression & association

This week, the International Justice Resource Center (IJRC) is participating in RightsCon 2014, a conference focused on the intersections between technology and human rights “with the goal of protecting the open internet and the digital rights of its users.” The three-day convening is hosted by Access and is taking place in San Francisco, California.

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

In Landmark Ruling, Haitian Court Opens Investigation into Jean-Claude Duvalier for Crimes against Humanity

February 25, 2014 IJRC crime & impunity, domestic courts, due process & judicial protection, enforced disappearance, extrajudicial executions, international criminal law, liberty & security of person

On February 20, 2014, a historic Haitian appellate court ruling opened the door to the possible prosecution of former Haitian President Jean-Claude Duvalier (“Baby Doc”) for crimes against humanity. Survivors of the Duvalier regime’s abuses and human rights activists see the decision as an important victory in their quest for justice and accountability. [UN Radio; Reuters]