Lesotho: ICJ makes a submission to the Universal Periodic Review
On 11 October 2024, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) made a submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in advance of its consideration of Lesotho’s human rights record during the 49th session of the UPR in April and May 2025.
Afghanistan: Joint appeal to UN HRC to advance accountability for crimes under international law
To: Permanent Representatives to the UN Human Rights Council RE: Meaningful action needed at UN Human Rights Council to advance accountability for past and ongoing crimes under international law in Afghanistan Excellencies, We, the undersigned human rights...
ICJ’s statement at the conclusion of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council
Friday, the 55th of April 2024, marks the end of the 55th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva. This has been the longest session in the history of the main UN human rights body lasting a whole six weeks.
Cambodia: UN Human Rights Council urged to respond to human rights and rule of law crisis
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) called the Human Rights Council’s (HRC) attention to the entrenched pattern of human rights violations in Cambodia, and called on the HRC to adopt a resolution to extend the Special Rapporteur’s mandate and ensure it has adequate resources and support.
Oral statement of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia
“Madam Vice President,
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) concurs with the Special Rapporteur’s assessment that Cambodia has largely failed to implement the 20 human rights-related benchmarks proposed in his previous report to this Council.
In the lead-up to the national elections, there was a rapid escalation of the human rights and rule of law crisis in Cambodia. Human rights defenders and political opponents were convicted based on non-human rights compliant laws for exercising their right to freedom of expression, both online and offline, with new draconian laws on cybercrime and cybersecurity being drafted and considered.
The authorities have arbitrarily revoked licenses and blocked online access to independent media outlets without due process. The government at the highest level has employed rhetoric, reproduced online, to threaten and incite violence against political opponents with impunity, with credible reports of actual physical violence as an apparent consequence.
This systematic disregard for Cambodia’s international human rights obligations has been further exacerbated by the absence of an independent and impartial judiciary. The convictions of human rights defenders and political opponents were frequently accompanied by massive fair trial violations, including the effective application of a presumption of guilt.
It is imperative that the Council responds decisively to reverse this entrenched pattern of human rights violations in Cambodia by adopting a resolution to extend the Special Rapporteur’s mandate and ensuring it has adequate resources and support.
Thank you.”
Contact
Sandra Epal Ratjen, ICJ UN Representative and Senior Legal Adviser, e: [email protected]
Daron Tan, ICJ Associate International Legal Adviser, e: [email protected]