International Legal News
Updated: Oct 21, 2019
Weekly update: 1 October to 7 October 2019
The following media round-up of international legal and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period 1 October - 7 October 2019
The Guernica Group will provide weekly media updates from the International Criminal Court, European Court of Human Rights, United Nations, European Union and other sources. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Nenad Vucijak for consideration.
United Nations: 1 October 2019
1st October marked the International Day of Non-Violence, which this year coincided with the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Ghandi.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/10/1048362
Tanzania: 1 October 2019
The repeated delays in the trial of Tanzanian Investigative journalist Erick Kabendera, the sixth delay being announced on 1st October, shows that the Tanzanian authorities are using the judicial system to target and harass Erick Kabendera despite not having any evidence against him.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/10/tanzania-harassment-of-detained-journalist-must-end/
United Nations: 2 October 2019
A human rights lawyer who took to horseback to help more than 10,000 stateless people gain nationality in Krgystan after the break-up of the Soviet Union has been awarded the UN refugee agency’s prestigious 2019 Nansen Refugee Award.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/10/1048382
European Court of Human Rights: 3 October 2019
In the case of Pastörs v Germany, the Court held that the applicant, a member of the Land Parliament who had been convicted for denying the Holocaust during a speech to Parliament, had intentionally stated untruths to defame jews.
https://echr.coe.int/Pages/home.aspx?p=home
Iraq: 3 October 2019
The Iraqi government must immediately order security forces to stop using excessive, including lethal, force against protesters and ensure that the investigation announced into the reported killing of at least 18 protesters and one police officer begins immediately and is fully independent and impartial.
Venezuela: 3 October 2019
Human Rights Watch calls for the United Nations Human Rights Council and UN member states to defeat Venezuela’s candidacy for the Human Rights Council. On October 17, 2019, the UN General Assembly will elect 14 new members of the Council for a three year term beginning in January 2020. The Americas director at Human Rights Watch stated that United Nations member countries should send a clear message to the Nicolás Maduro administration that they will not reward cruel and abusive policies that have destroyed the lives of millions of people with a seat on the UN’s top human rights body.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/10/04/un-deny-venezuela-human-rights-council-seat
European Court of Human Rights: 3 October 2019
In the case of Fountas v Greece, the Court found a violation of the right to life on account of the failure of the Greek authorities to involve the applicant in the investigation into the death of his son, who was shot and killed in 2010 during a police patrol.
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=003-6523886-8616009
Ecuador: 5 October 2019
President Moreno has been urged to guarantee the rights of protesters, journalists and social leaders in response to numerous allegations of excessive use of force and arbitrary arrests of indigenous leaders, transport leaders and demonstrators in Ecuador.
South Sudan: 7 October 2019
The South Sudanese authorities have allowed impunity to flourish overs serious human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since brutal conflict broke out in December 2013. In a report released by Amnesty International, a hustice system crippled by a lack of independence was revealed in which Prosecutors will only follow the directives of the executive, in the absence of such directives, no investigation takes place.
Indonesia: 7 October 2019
More than 16,000 residents have fled Indionesia’s Papua region. According to authorities, several dozen people were killed when violence broke out in Wamena city last month, with some victims burned alive when buildings were ablaze and others stabbed, according to authorities. Human Rights Watch called for an enquiry into 33 deaths during the WAmena riots led by the Southeast Asian country’s National Commission on Human Rights.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/16000-flee-unrest-indonesia-papua-region-191007100152636.html
Cambodia: 7 October 2019
Ahead of the appeal hearing in the case of prisoner of conscience Rath Rott Mony at the Court of Appeal, the Cambodian courts are urged to quash the conviction. The charges against Mony are said to be bogus and an attempt to intimidate anyone else who seeks to uncover human rights violations in Cambodia. Mony helped expose Cambodia’s sexual exploitation crisis and was an outspoken trade unionist.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/10/cambodia-quash-conviction-rt-documentary-fixer/
Iraq: 7 October 2019
Iraq’s military admitted for the first time, that “excessive force” was used in Baghdad after a mass protest led to clashes that medics and security officials said left 15 people dead. In a statement released by the military, excessive force was admitted to, being used outside the rules of engagement, announcing steps being taken to hold accountable those commanding officers who carried out the wrong acts.