Monthly News Updates: Human Rights Mechanisms - March 2021
By: Irene Aparicio García, Junior Research Associate, PILPG-NL
The following post summarizes and highlights some of the updates on the work of regional and international human rights mechanisms around the world in the month of March.
EUROPE
European Court of Human Rights | Changes in the case processing of the Court
The ECtHR has a new system to deal with the large number of complaints received every year. The ECtHR will follow a prioritization approach to classify the impact of complaints in seven categories, following established criteria that include the repercussion that a judgment could have in interpreting international legislation. Complaints falling under the three first categories will be dealt with by the Grand Chamber or Chambers of seven judges, and the rest by Committees formed by three judges. [March 17, 2021]
European Court of Human Rights | Interim measures in Armenia-Azerbaijan’s conflict and notification to the Committee of Ministers
The ECtHR has notified the Committee of Ministers of the interim measures established following the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Such measures include a general call to both states to cease military attacks against civilians and civilians’ objects and individual decisions concerning deportation cases of prisoners of war. The ECtHR urged both countries to provide information about the detainees and has now notified the Committee of Ministers because Azerbaijan has not provided the required information in the established time period. [March 16, 2021]
AFRICA
African Court on Human and People’s Rights | Letter from the President of the AfCHPR to the President of Tanzania following the death of Magufuli
The President of the AfCHPR, Hon. Justice Sylvan Ore, has sent a condolence letter to the new President of Tanzania, Samia Suhulu, following the death of President Magufuli on March 17. In the letter, Magufuli is praised for his dedication to Africa’s development. [March 26, 2021]
African Commission on Human and People’s Rights | Concern over protests in Senegal after Ousman Sonko’s detention
The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights has expressed its concern regarding the violent protests in Dakar that left 3 people dead after the arrest of Ousman Sonko, the opposition leader. Of particular concern was the impediment in the transmission signals of some journalistic platforms. The Commission has reminded Senegal of its obligations under several legal instruments, including the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights. [March 9, 2021]
THE AMERICAS
Inter-American Commission of Human Rights | IACHR praises law abolishing the death penalty in the State of Virginia in the U.S.
The IACHR has welcomed the law abolishing the death penalty in the State of Virginia, signed by its governor on March 24. The Commission considers detaining prisoners on death row, awaiting execution, as inhumane treatment and recalls the recommendation made in its report on the death penalty in 2011. [March 24, 2021]
Inter-American Commission of Human Rights | Claims of violation of due process by the detainees of the 2019 political crisis in Bolivia
The IACHR has urged Bolivia to respect the rights to due process of those arrested for involvement in the interim government during the 2019 political crisis. This includes the arrest of Jeanine Añez, interim president of Bolivia, who is currently on a hunger strike in protest against the conditions of her imprisonment. The arrested individuals are accused of sedition and terrorism, and the Bolivian state, its Ombudsman, and the Attorney General have provided information that aims to contravene the claims of the detainees. The IACHR also expressed its concern over the definitions of the crimes of terrorism and sedition in the Bolivian constitution, considering the definitions as too broad and ambiguous. [March 16, 2021]
UN MECHANISM
Human Rights Council (Special Rapporteur on violence against women) | Turkey withdrawal from Istanbul Convention is worrying for women’s rights
The President of Turkey, Erdoğan, has decided to withdraw from the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence of the Council of Europe, commonly known as the Istanbul Convention. As such, The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, the Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, and other UN and regional human rights experts have condemned the decision and have urged Turkey to reconsider. [March 23, 2021]
Human Rights Council | Abuse of human rights defenders in Belarus
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders has expressed her concern over increasing brutality against human rights defenders in Belarus following last August’s elections. The concern extends to the ill-treatment by the police of two advocates of the human rights of persons with disabilities that collaborated with the UN. [March 19, 2021]
Human Rights Council | UN experts suggest issuing claims over universal jurisdiction against Myanmar’s military perpetrators
Multiple UN Special Rapporteurs have expressed their concern over the human rights situation in Myanmar following the military coup d’etat of last February. During the past weeks, protests have led to several deaths, detentions, and disappearances that could amount to crimes against humanity. As such, the Rapporteurs call on other states to investigate Myanmar’s military commanders or perpetrators under universal jurisdiction if necessary. [March 18, 2021]