scholarly journals A Move Towards UNCAT Accession by Malaysia: Challenges and Prospects

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (2021) ◽  
pp. 104-113
Author(s):  
Anati Kisahi ◽  
Rohaida Nordin
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Member States ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Minority Member ◽  
Convention Against Torture ◽  
Degrading Treatment ◽  
International Human

The Convention against Torture and Other CAruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 1984 (UNCAT) which was drafted after having regard to certain international human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966, is an instrument specifically drafted to put an absolute prohibition on any forms of torture, and other acts of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. So far, a majority number of 169 Member States of the United Nations has become State Parties to UNCAT, save for Malaysia and some other minority Member States. Although there have been calls for Malaysia to accede to UNCAT, Malaysia has always argued and maintained its position that it is not ready for accession. Therefore, this manuscript aims: (a) to establish a backdrop to this research by identifying the meaning of “torture” and “other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” and State Parties’ duty under UNCAT; (b) to ascertain the challenges and potential for Malaysia in becoming a State Party to UNCAT and accordingly, to recommend the approach to be taken by Malaysia pertaining to UNCAT accession. A legal research methodology via qualitative method that uses primary sources such as international human rights instruments and secondary sources such as academic literatures, is adopted for the purpose of this article.

Influence of the ICCPR in Asia

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yogesh Tyagi
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Judicial Discourse ◽  
International Human ◽  
Golden Jubilee ◽  
Civil And Political Rights ◽  
The Impact

The golden jubilee of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) coincides with the emergence of Asia as a centre of global attention. However, greater attention to Asia has been accompanied by some scepticism over its attitude towards human rights. The chapter provides an overall assessment of the impact of the ICCPR on the major Asian States, with an analysis of the factors affecting such influence. The chapter considers the involvement in, observance of, and compliance with the provisions of the ICCPR by these States. It further delves into the academic and judicial discourse on the ICCPR within these States, recording the domestic disposition towards judgments of foreign courts, the output of the Human Rights Committee, and the work of other international human rights bodies. It makes suggestions for developing mechanisms to improve the effectiveness of the ICCPR and for creating databases to perform further research in the area.

17. Freedom from torture; cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment

2019 ◽  
pp. 312-329
Author(s):  
Rhona K. M. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Monitoring Systems ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Human Rights Law ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Real Risk ◽  
Degrading Treatment ◽  
International Human

This chapter examines the prohibition of torture and similar forms of punishment by international human rights law. Regional and international human rights bodies have developed specific instruments and monitoring systems designed to combat such practices. The chapter argues that exhaustive definitions of the components of the prohibition on torture would not help in abolishing the practice; there is a real risk that such a list would encourage ever more innovative and horrific examples of inhumanity.

21. Indigenous peoples’ and minority rights

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhona K. M. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Minority Rights ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
Minority Status ◽  
Human Rights Law ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Minority Protection ◽  
International Human

This chapter examines the scope and application of indigenous peoples’ rights and minority rights in international human rights law. It discusses the recognition of the need for minority protection in the drafting of the International Bill of Human Rights; analyses the provisions of Art 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and describes tests employed to determine minority status. The chapter also considers developments in the protection of minority rights in Europe. The rights of indigenous peoples are also examined.

scholarly journals International Human Rights Law and the Response to the covid-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-269
Author(s):  
Sarah Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
Human Rights Law ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Cultural Rights ◽  
Human Rights Treaties ◽  
International Human ◽  
Civil And Political Rights ◽  
Do So

Abstract States have duties under Article 12(2)(c) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to prevent, control and treat covid-19. Implementation of these three obligations is analysed, taking account of countervailing human rights considerations. Regarding prevention, lockdowns designed to stop the spread of the virus are examined. Control measures are then discussed, namely transparency measures, quarantine, testing and tracing. The human rights compatibility of treatment measures, namely the provision of adequate medical and hospital care (or the failure to do so), are then examined. Finally, derogations from human rights treaties in times of pubic emergency are discussed.

scholarly journals The Triangle that could Square the Circle? The Un International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the Eu and the Universal Periodic Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Desmond
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Periodic Review ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Member States ◽  
International Convention ◽  
Universal Periodic Review ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
International Human ◽  
The Eu

Even before it had been fully drafted, the un International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was blighted by a debilitating lack of support from States. Described by one of the participants in the drafting process as the un’s best-kept secret, it remains the least popular of the ten core international human rights instruments and has not been signed or ratified by any of the 28 eu Member States. This article is the first substantive examination of the Convention in the context of the un’s universal periodic review. It suggests that the universal periodic review may give the kiss of eu life to the Convention by raising awareness of it, re-energising civil society to more actively advocate for its ratification and forcing Member States to once again justify non-ratification.

Hong Kong's Bill of Rights: Its Reception of and Contribution to International and Comparative Jurisprudence

1998 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 306-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes M. M. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
Bill Of Rights ◽  
Human Rights Law ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
International Human ◽  
The Impact

The Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance entered into force on 8 June 1991. Its purpose is to incorporate into the law of Hong Kong the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“the ICCPR”) as applied to Hong Kong. Being one of the first occasions where the ICCPR has been given direct legal force in a common law jurisdiction, the Hong Kong experience will provide an interesting case study on how an international human rights instrument is received and interpreted in domestic law. Indeed, shortly after the coming into operation of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance, the late Professor Opsahl predicted that it would give the ICCPR, and by implication the Human Rights Committee, a potential impact on the Hong Kong domestic legal system which could hardly be expected in other countries. He even suggested that, in dealing with matters which the Human Rights Committee has not yet considered, the interpretation of the Hong Kong courts in applying the Bill of Rights may provide a useful supplement to international human rights law. The Bill of Rights Ordinance is now seven years old. This article will address two issues: first, the impact international and comparative jurisprudence has had on the interpretation of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights and, second, the contribution the Hong Kong jurisprudence on the Bill of Rights has or could have made to the development of international and comparative human rights law.

scholarly journals An Undemocratic Guardian of Democracy - International Human Rights Complaint Procedures

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 199
Author(s):  
Shotaro Hamamoto
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Narrow View ◽  
Human Rights Treaties ◽  
International Human ◽  
Civil And Political Rights ◽  
The Individual

This paper discusses the individual complaints procedures established pursuant to international human rights treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It discusses the bases on which these systems have been criticised as undemocratic. After considering how these democratic failings could be ameliorated through greater involvement of domestic parliaments, it questions this narrow view of democracy that looks only to parliamentary involvement, suggesting instead that apparently undemocratic individual complaints procedures can actually have a beneficial "democratising" effect.

scholarly journals Conflict over Conflict: The Right to Strike in International Law

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane F Frey
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
International Labour Organisation ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Cultural Rights ◽  
Human Rights Treaties ◽  
International Human ◽  
The Right

<p>The existence of a right to strike under international law has been challenged by the International Organization of Employers since the late 1980s. The employer group claims that no such right exists under international law and has been moving to undermine recognition of the right at the International Labour Organisation (ILO). This article examines the right to strike in international human rights law. It considers specifically the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and finds that the right to strike exists in both of these treaties. Further, the article demonstrates that while the ILO employers group may challenge the existence of the right to strike, its government members have overwhelmingly ratified international human rights treaties contradicting the employer group's position that there is no such right.</p>

scholarly journals Death Penalty in Pakistan in nexus with International Human Rights Laws and Sharia’h

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-86
Author(s):  
Muhammad Waqas Javed ◽  
◽  
Naila Kareem ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Death Penalty ◽  
Capital Punishment ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
International Human ◽  
Civil And Political Rights ◽  
International Fair

In the instant study, we focus to point out Islamic perspective in relation to international human rights laws pertaining to death penalty in the context of Pakistan. We have discussed the perspective certain jurists who claim qisas is an alternative prayer, and it can be abolished. However, the study maintains that Islamic injunctions support, and recommend for capital punishment for certain offences, while diyatis an alternative penalty. Further, we have deliberated death penalty in the light of human rights conventions with special focus on Article 6 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966. The debate also surrounds abolitionists or retentionists views with special reference to Pakistan. It concludes that immediate abolishment of death penalty may not be possible in Pakistan. Nevertheless, as a first step, it needs to re-interpret the phrase “most serious crimes” envisaged under Article 6 of ICCPR in its true letter and spirit, or to exercise de facto abolishment of it until its crippled criminal justice system ensures international fair trial standards. As internal peace and security situation improves in Pakistan, so it may enforce de-jure halt.

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