The curtain of secrecy enshrouding one of the world’s most isolationist States, North Korea, is being partially lifted this week through the testimony of more than 30 witnesses, including several who have fled the country, at public hearings held by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Yesterday, survivors of North Korean prison
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European Court of Human Rights’ Updated Country Fact Sheets Present Detailed Portrait of State-Specific Jurisprudence & Caseload
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) announced yesterday that it has updated its country-specific Factsheets to include new information on pending and resolved cases, as well as its caseload statistics. This State-specific information provides valuable insights into the types of human rights problems being raised before the Court in each Council of Europe Member State, the nature and effectiveness of victims’ and advocates’ engagement
Read moreInternational Community Urges Egyptian Authorities to Respect Rule of Law and Human Rights, amid Mixed Reactions to President’s Ouster
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
Read moreIJRC Events
IJRC regularly hosts events and trainings intended to raise awareness of human rights issues and advocacy opportunities, and to build connections among activists and attorneys working to address inequalities and injustices. To keep informed of IJRC events in the San Francisco Bay Area, write to [email protected] to be added to the Bay Area Human Rights email list. For information on
Read moreUN Working Group to Hold First Meeting on Draft Declaration on Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas
The United Nations is one step closer to specially protecting the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, as the open-ended intergovernmental Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas prepares to hold its first meeting. [OHCHR] Underscoring the need to achieve the Millennium Development Goals to eradicate poverty and hunger by
Read moreIn First Judgment on the Merits, African Court Finds Tanzania Violated Citizens’ Right to Participate in Democracy by Prohibiting Independent Candidates
In a major victory for advocates of a more participatory and representative Tanzanian government, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights recently issued its first merits decision, in which it held that Tanzania had violated its citizens’ rights to freely participate in government directly or through representatives regardless of their party affiliation. The decision ordered Tanzania to take constitutional,
Read moreUN Expert Proposes Universal Standard for State Surveillance, Infringement on Right to Privacy
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
Read moreOAS General Assembly Elects Three New IACHR Commissioners during its 43rd Regular Session
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]
Read moreAfrican Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights Takes Action on Access to Information, Reproductive Health during 53rd Session
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
Read moreUN Human Rights Council Concludes 22nd Session with Resolutions on North Korea, Mali, Syria, and Human Rights Defenders
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
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