June 2020 - Human Rights Courts and Committees Updates
By: Diana Sposito & Mohammed Nazeeruddin Khan, Junior Research Associates, PILPG-NL
This month, several updates happened throughout the Human Rights Mechanisms. This article summarizes and highlights the most relevant news, from 16 different Human Rights Mechanisms around the world.
INTERNATIONAL
Human Rights Council | Philippines: UN report details widespread human rights violations persistent impunity
A stringent crackdown on national security threats and illegal drugs has caused serious human rights violations in the Philippines, including killings and arbitrary detentions, as well as the vilification of dissent, a new report by the UN Human Rights Office found. The report focuses on violations by the state as well as non-state actors, including the New People’s Army. [4 June 2020]
Human Rights Council | Resolutions of the HRC
The Human Rights Council adopted 14 resolutions, including a resolution on the excessive use of force by law enforcement officers against Africans and people of African descent. In this regard, the HRC requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights, with the assistance of relevant Special Mandate Holders, to prepare a report on systemic racism and violations of international human rights law against Africans and people of African descent by law enforcement agencies. The HRC request took special regard to the incidents that resulted in the death of George Floyd and other Africans and people of African descent. Among other issues, the resolutions also concerned the right to work, the rights of indegenious persons, and the right to food. [19 June 2020]
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women | Failure to Criminalize Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Mali is a Human Right Violation
The UN Women’s Rights Committee issued a report about the FGM situation in Mali. The Committee said that millions of women and girls that are subjected to this practice suffer grave and systematic violation of their rights, and condemned Mali’s failure to criminalize FGM. [24 June 2020]
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination | UN Experts call for Reform and Justice Concerning Systemic Racism
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) called on the United States to address systemic racism and racial bias in American criminal justice system, as well as to investigate and ensure accountability in situations of excessive use of force by the police. The Committee also issued a statement concerning the protests against racial discrimination, which took place nationally. [5 June 2020]
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination | CERD calls the US to Comply with the State’s International Obligations
The CERD called the US to make urgent reforms to tackle racial injustice and to comply with the State’s international obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as well as provide training and education about the Covenant to law enforcement officials. [15 June 2020]
AFRICA
African Court on Human and People’s Rights | 57th Ordinary Session of the Court
The African Court on Human and People’s Rights conducted its 57th Ordinary session amid covid-19. This session became the first virtual session conducted by the Court through online media to keep access to justice open during the pandemic. The session, which began on the first of June, lasted four weeks and saw the delivery of eight judgements. [1-26 June 2020]
African Commission on Human and People’s Rights | Statement announcing the CPTA theme for 2020
In line with its usual practice, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Africa (the CPTA), a Special Mechanism of the the Commission, has identified its annual theme for 2020 as “the prohibition of the use, production and trade of equipment or substances designed to inflict torture or ill-treatment.” In furtherance, the CPTA called upon states to follow guidelines on prevention of torture and police custody (the Luanda Guidlines). [3 June 2020]
THE AMERICAS
Inter-American Court of Human Rights | 135 Ordinary Period of Sessions
The IACtHR celebrated the beginning of the 135 Ordinary Period of Sessions, which goes from June 1 to July 31, 2020. During this period, the Court will deliberate sentences, resolution, precautionary measures, among other activities. For the first time, it is being held virtually. [5 June 2020]
Inter-American Court of Human Rights | Translation of Decisions to English
The IACtHR announced the translation of several decisions from relevant Judgments and one Advisory Opinion to English, as an effort to allow accessibility from judges, lawyers, and all stakeholders worldwide to its judgments and human rights standards. The translation includes the case of Herzog et al. v. Brazil, a well-known case of a Yugoslavian-Brazilian journalist that allegedly committed suicide in 1975, while held as a prisoner in the Operation Center of Internal Defense (DOI-CODI) during the Brazilian military dictatorship. The Court found that Brazil violated several of Herzog’s fundamental human rights.[24 June 2020]
Inter-American Commission of Human Rights | Call for Democracy and Rule of Law Guarantees During COVID-19
The IAComHR called on states to strengthen democracy and rule of law institutions through a human rights approach and to comply with international obligations under the American Convention on Human Rights. The Commission noted that this is fundamental especially in times of the pandemic. [10 June 2020]
EUROPE
European Court of Human Rights | New Judgments Published
In the case of Association Innocence en Danger and Association Enfance et Partage v. France, the Court held that there had been a violation of the prohibition of torture. The case concerned the death of an eight-year-old girl as a result of abuse by her parents. The applications were lodged by two French child protection associations. The ECHR concluded that the measures taken by the authorities between the time of the “report of suspected ill-treatment” and the child’s death had not been sufficient to protect the girl from severe abuse by her parents. (4 June 2020]
The ECtHR, while dismissing the petitioners claim in the case of Ghoumid and Others v France, held that when a person holds a dual nationality and is stripped of one nationality by the concerned state, it does not make the person stateless. The case pertained to two individuals who were convicted on terrorism charges. [25 June 2020]
More judgements of the ECtHR can be viewed here : https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press#{%22sort%22:[%22kpdate%20Descending%22]}
ASIA
ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights | Meeting to Discuss the Five-Year Work Plan 2021-2025
The AICHR deliberated on its new Five-Year Work Plan 2021-2025, via video conference, and discussed measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 to the implementation of AICHR’s programs and activities in 2020. [11 June 2020]