IHR LEGAL Newsletter
Selected developments in the field of international human rights
Highlights of our latest newsletter…
IHR LEGAL Newsletter July- September 2023
The IACtHR found that Colombia was responsible for the enforced disappearance of Edisson Guzmán Medina, who has been missing since
On October 20, 2023, the IACtHR found that Colombia was responsible for the enforced disappearance of Edisson Guzmán Medina, who has been missing since 2002. That year, the Colombian government launched a “social recovery plan” in the city of Medellín, which included several military operations in the Comuna 13 neighborhood, amongst them, “Operation Orion”. This operation was carried out by the...
The IACHR released its report on “Migrants and Refugees from Venezuela”, addressing the causes of forced displacement from the country
On November 8, 2023, the IACHR released its report on “Migrants and Refugees from Venezuela”, addressing the causes of forced displacement from the country. According to the IACHR, it is estimated that more than 7 million people have left Venezuela since 2015, leading to a “massive forced exodus” mainly to other countries in the region, such as Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil. This has made...
The IACHR published its Resolution No. 03/2023 on human rights and serious risks to the Rule of Law in Guatemala
On December 11, 2023, the IACHR published its Resolution No. 03/2023 on human rights and serious risks to the Rule of Law in Guatemala. The resolution addressed the political and institutional crisis suffered by Guatemala, due to the arbitrary interference of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the results of the General Election. According to the IACHR, these actions jeopardized the transition...
The ECtHR found Albania responsible for violating the right to life by failing to identify and punish the perpetrator of the death of a protester in front of the Prime Minister’s Office
On November 11th, 2023, the ECtHR found Albania responsible for violating the right to life by failing to identify and punish the perpetrator of the death of a protester in front of the Prime Minister’s Office. The victim, A.N., was shot in the head during a protest in front of the Prime Minister of Albania’s office in 2011, as a result of what he died. The protest, organized by the Albanian...
The ECtHR declared that the Netherlands was responsible for violating the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment by expelling a Bahraini national without carrying out a rigorous risk analysis
On October 24, 2023, the ECtHR declared that the Netherlands was responsible for violating the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment by expelling a Bahraini national without carrying out a rigorous risk analysis. The applicant, is Mr. A.M.A., a Bahraini national. In 2017, Mr. A.M.A. arrived in the Netherlands and applied for asylum, claiming that he was suffering political persecution...
The ACHPR released its Resolution No. 569 on the Need to Protect Civic Space, Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa
On November 9, 2023, the ACHPR released its Resolution No. 569 on the Need to Protect Civic Space, Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa, recalling that these freedoms, that constitute “civic space”, are essential elements in a vibrant democracy. The ACHPR initially stated that the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter) recognizes several rights and freedoms that,...
The OHCHR referred to an official letter published by Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups that raised concerns about the Russian decision banning the international LGBT movement as “extremist”
On December 4, 2023, the OHCHR referred to an official letter published by Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups that raised concerns about the Russian decision banning the international LGBT movement as “extremist”. Last November 30, Russia’s Supreme Court determined that the “international LGBT movement” is an “extremist organization”, jeopardizing all forms of LGBT activities and...
The OHCHR published a technical note on the “Human Rights of Intersex People”
On November 3, 2023, the OHCHR published a technical note on the “Human Rights of Intersex People”. Therewith, the OHCHR aimed to bring national legislation into line with international human rights standards and norms. Intersex people are those who were born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions for male or female bodies, including sexual anatomy, reproductive organs,...
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IHR LEGAL Newsletter April – June 2023
IHR LEGAL NewsletterIHR LEGAL NewsletterApril - June 2023In this issue:Highlights of our latest newsletter On June 7, 2023, IHR Legal assisted J.P. and her daughter A.P., a child with hearing loss arbitrarily institutionalized since 2017 in Colombia, in filing a...
IHR LEGAL Newsletter January – March 2023
– On March 27, 2023, the OHCHR launched a new country report concerning freedom of expression in Yemen. In the report, the OHCHR recalled that the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds is guaranteed to all individuals, without distinction of any kind. In addition, the OHCHR affirmed that freedom of expression also includes a free, uncensored, and unhindered press and media, which are essential in society to ensure freedom of opinion and expression. Regarding Yemen specifically, the OHCHR pointed out that the ongoing conflict in the country has entered its ninth year due to conflict-driven propaganda and disinformation which led to ideological and socio-political conflicts throughout the country. In this sense, the parties to the conflict have characterized critical voices in society as foreign actors who want to threaten national security, which has directly delegitimized the work of journalists and even caused self-censorship. The consequences of this scenario were manifold: many of the journalists who wanted to maintain the integrity of their work left the country, women journalists suffered severe bullying on the internet, and threats, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and killings continued to be a constant reality in the country.
IHR LEGAL Newsletter October-December 2022
On July 7, 2022, the ECtHR ruled that Italian authorities did not respond with the requisite promptness and diligence in dealing with domestic violence in the case of “M.S. v. Italy”. The applicant, M.S., an Italian national, was assaulted, harassed, and threatened for years by her then-husband, D.P., for which reason she filed several complaints against him. However, the State authorities began to take measures late, for which reason the ECtHR held the State responsible for the period in which it did not take effective measures.
