New KROC publication: Human rights and targeted sanctions, strengthening due process procedures

The Sanctions and Security Research Program (SSRP) of the Fourth Freedom Forum and the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame has issued its latest research report, Human Rights and Targeted Sanctions: An Action Agenda for Strengthening Due Process Procedures.

The paper offers a timely menu of policy options for the [...]

Chairperson of the Committee Against Torture- summary of draft general comment No. 3 (Implementation of a systematic approach to the evaluation of facts and evidence for the individual complaints procedure under articles 3 and 22)

Read it here.

UN counter-terrorism measures must adapt to evolving threat, Security Council told

The threat posed by terrorist groups such as Al-Qaida and the Taliban is evolving and United Nations efforts to combat the scourge must keep up to date through effective counter-measures such as sanctions and reinforced regional cooperation to prevent the smuggling of materials for weapons of mass destruction, the Security Council was told on 13 [...]

Tunisia: Human Rights Committee dissatisfied with government’s reply

In the follow-up to the recommendations of the Human Rights Committee’s periodic review of Tunisia, the government submitted, in March 2009, a reply to four of the recommendations. The Committee then wrote a follow-up letter in which it stated that such information was insufficient.

Human Rights Committee and Security Council Reports to the GA

The Report of the Human Rights Committee to the 64th session of the General Assembly is now available (A/64/40 Vol.I). The report covers the Committee’s 94th, 95th and 96th sessions which were held in Geneva from 13-31 Oct. 2008, 16 Mar.-3 Apr. 2009 and 13-31 July 2009 respectively.
The Report of the Security Council to the [...]

US removes Vinck and Barakaat international from domestic terrorist list, but not Kadi and Sayadi

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) removed Patricia Rosa Vinck, Barakaat International, and Barakaat International Foundation from its Specially Designated Nationals List on November 3, having found that Vinck and the two entities no longer present a significant threat of supporting terrorism.  Today’s action was taken in conjunction with [...]

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights comments to the CTC

Delivered on 29 October 2009. Read them here.

Report of UN Special Rapporteur on Counterterrorism on his mission to Egypt

An advanced edited version of the UN Special Rapporteur’s report on Egypt is out now. (A/HRC/13/37/Add.2, 14 October 2009). It will be discussed at the Human RIghts Council’s Thirteenth Session in March 2010.

In this report the Special Rapporteur examines the emergency law, criminal law provisions on terrorist crimes, and amended article 179 of the Constitution [...]

Human Rights Committee voices concern on Russian Terrorism law.

The Committee was concerned about several aspects of the 2006 Federal Law “on Counteracting Terrorism”, which imposed a wide range of restrictions on Covenant rights; had broad definitions of terrorism and terrorist activity; and lacked procedural safeguards or judicial or parliamentary oversight. In that connection, the Committee was concerned about the large number of convictions [...]

Iraq renews call for UN inquiry after recent bombings

[JURIST] Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari on Monday renewed calls for a formal UN inquiry to investigate those responsible for bombings in the country following twin suicide bombings in Baghdad Sunday, which are believed to have killed more than 150. Zebari asked the UN General Assembly and the Security Council to appoint a special envoy [...]