by Eric Surber
Judicature International (2024) | An online-only publication
Cover Photo: The Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose, Costa Rica (Wirestock)
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) is a judicial body headquartered in San Jose, Costa Rica that oversees and enforces human rights standards within the Americas. The court was established following the ratification of the American Convention on Human Rights on July 18, 1978, and is composed of seven judges drawn from the 23 Latin American member nations of the Organization of American States (OAS). The IACHR adjudicates human rights cases, issues advisory opinions, monitors compliance with its decisions, and promotes human rights awareness among OAS member states. Read more »
China 🇨🇳
A Chinese court sentenced a former banker to death for taking “extremely large” bribes, state media reported on May 29. China’s top corruption watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, initiated a major crackdown on the finance sector this year, following President Xi Jinping’s directive to strengthen the country’s financial power and mitigate risks. (TheIndependent, 5/29/2024) Keep Reading »
Israel 🇮🇱
The International Court of Justice ruled in May that Israel must “immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.” Israel contends that its actions are not in violation of a close reading of this ICJ’s ruling. (The Guardian, 5/29/2024) Keep Reading »
Kazakhstan 🇰🇿
A former economy minister of Kazakhstan was sentenced to 24 years in prison on May 13 for murdering his wife following a widely watched trial that some saw as a litmus test of the president’s promise to strengthen women’s rights. (Reuters, 5/13/2024) Keep Reading »
Latin America 🌐
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights held a final hearing in Brazil on May 29 in a case that’s part of a global wave of climate litigation, as several international courts prepare first-time opinions on what countries must do to combat climate change. (Reuters, 5/29/2024) Keep Reading »
Poland 🇵🇱
Poland has officially exited Article 7, the European Union’s exceptional mechanism to rein in countries that openly defy the bloc’s fundamental values. “We consider there is no longer a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law in Poland,” said European Commissioner Věra Jourová. (euronews, 5/29/2024) Keep Reading »
South Africa 🇿🇦
South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma was barred from running for parliament in the country’s May 2024 election, the Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled on May 20, 2024, a judgment that was expected to influence the outcome and potentially trigger unrest from Zuma’s supporters. Final results from the election are expected Sunday, June 2. (Reuters, 5/20/2024) Keep Reading »
Ukraine 🇺🇦
Transparency International, an anti-corruption organization, has ranked Ukraine at its highest level since 2006: currently 104th out of 180 countries in its Corruption Perceptions Index. The new ranking highlights the country’s progress toward eliminating corruption, although experts are calling for additional efforts — especially during wartime. (BBC, 5/21/2024) Keep Reading »
