Lisl Brunner contributes this post on recent developments in Uruguay’s compliance with the Gelman v. Uruguay judgment of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in follow-up to her article, Is Uruguay Foundering on the Path to Accountability?: The Aftermath of the Gelman decision of the Inter-American Court, published this summer in the American Society of International Law newsletter Accountability. ___________________________ by Lisl Brunner Uruguay has
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News Clips – October 11, 2011
In the wake of the killing of Al-Qaida militant and U.S. citizen Anwar al-Awlaki in late September by a U.S. drone strike in Yemen, many have questioned the Obama Administration’s legal justification for killing U.S. citizens and others outside combat zones, as discussed by IJRC Board member Jamil Dakwar in “State Sanctioned Killings”, published in the ezine Jadaliyya last Friday.
Read moreOverview of the Human Rights Framework
WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS? Every human being is entitled to protection of, and respect for, their fundamental rights and freedoms. Human rights are those activities, conditions, and privileges that all human beings deserve to enjoy, by virtue of their humanity. They include civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Human rights are inherent, inalienable, interdependent, and indivisible. This means we
Read morePressure on Libya to Comply with AfCHPR's Provisional Measures to Protect Civilians
Late last month, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights issued an order for provisional measures, directing the Libyan government to “immediately refrain from any action that would result in loss of life or violation of physical integrity of persons”, in response to Application No. 004/2011 from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Human Rights Watch,
Read moreJudge Garzón Challenges Prosecution for Investigation of Franco-Era Abuses
London-based human rights organization The International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights (INTERIGHTS) has filed an application with the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón against the Spanish government, challenging Judge Garzón’s criminal prosecution for malfeasance, initiated by private groups in response to his judicial investigation of crimes committed under the Franco dictatorship. [INTERIGHTS;
Read moreFollowing Return from Exile, Jean-Claude 'Baby Doc' Duvalier Facing Criminal and Civil Liability for Fraud and Human Rights Abuses
Following the unexpected return of former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude (“Baby Doc”) Duvalier to Port-au-Prince earlier this month after 25 years in exile, the former President for Life is facing criminal prosecution on fraud charges and several civil suits alleging human rights abuses and crimes against humanity, committed during his 15-year rule. [Democracy Now!; Guardian] Calls for Duvalier’s prosecution came as soon as
Read moreNews Clips – October 25, 2010
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights begins holding hearings today in its 140th Period of Sessions. Issues to be discussed today include the Situation of Environmentalists in Mesoamerica, and Discrimination against the Transsexual, Transgender, and Transvestite Population in Brazil. See the week’s schedule of hearings here. Webcast of some hearings is available here. The role of humanitarian aid in contributing
Read moreNews Clips – October 15, 2010
The loss of leading international human rights scholar Louis Henkin is mourned, while the legal community remembers his long career dedicated to the development of international law and the protection of human rights. [Human Rights First] Moldova has ratified the Rome Statute to become the newest State Party to the International Criminal Court, bringing the total to 114. [UN] Canadian
Read moreNews Clips – October 3, 2010
In Ecuador, a state of emergency remains in place following last week’s uprising of members of the military against President Correa’s government, prompting human rights defenders to call for a quick restoration of full civil liberties. [CEJIL] The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights condemned the attack against Correa. [IACHR] Germany today commemorates 20 years of reunification and will use its
Read moreNews Clips – through Sept. 14, 2010
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Syria welcomes its first visit from a UN special rapporteur, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, in a showing of increased participation with the UN Human Rights Council’s monitoring mechanisms, including its upcoming Universal Periodic Review. [The National; OHCHR] The Special Rapporteur estimates that 2 to 3 million people face food insecurity in
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