Combating Impunity

“Impunity” is the term used for a systemic failure to hold people, especially state agents, accountable for human rights violations. It is hugely destructive of the rule of law and erodes faith in the justice system and state institutions in general.

The longer it goes on, the more it poisons contemporary society, even when it relates to crimes of the past. A failure to hold a state to account for patterns of past human rights violations, fuels the risk that they will be repeated at home or abroad when similar circumstances arise. This is why impunity is a prime target of human rights activists throughout the world.

Latest press releases and publications

Nov

Just News November 2020

04/11/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeJust News, News

Inside this issue: While the pandemic may continue to dominate the political agenda and our day to day lives, there have been significant developments in relation to human rights in many other areas. We explore some of these developments in this new edition of Just News. Contributors include Lilian Seenoi-Barr of the North West Migrants...

Oct

CAJ response to the Independent Review of Administrative Law (IRAL)

27/10/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

CAJ has responded to the UK’s government’s Independent Review of Administrative Law (IRAL). This was set up following a commitment in the Conservative Party 2019 Manifesto “to consider options for reform to the process of Judicial Review”. In our submission, we assert that it is not necessary or appropriate to seek to restrict judicial review,...

Oct

Written evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill

14/10/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill was introduced to the UK Parliament on 24 September 2020, and is scheduled to complete passage through the House of Commons by 15 October 2020. The Bill will amend existing legislation to create a new process of ‘Criminal Conduct Authorisations’, which will allow MI5, police forces, and a range...

Oct

Briefing for Second Reading of the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill

01/10/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill was introduced on 24 September 2020, with its Second Reading scheduled for 5 October 2020. The Bill will amend existing legislation to create a new process of ‘Criminal Conduct Authorisations’, which will allow MI5, police forces, and a range of other public authorities to authorise their agents...

Sep

New law lets MI5 authorise crimes with no hard limits

24/09/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

A joint press release from CAJ, Reprieve, Privacy International, and the Pat Finucane Centre. Agents of MI5 and other Government bodies could be legally authorised to commit crimes under new legislation introduced today. There appear to be no express limits in the legislation on the types of crime which could be authorised. The Covert Human...

Sep

Written Evidence from the Model Bill Team to the Human Rights (Joint Committee) on the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill

22/09/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

This submission was prepared by the ‘Model Bill Team’, which is comprised of experts from CAJ and Queen’s University Belfast. The team has produced a range of technical briefings and reports designed to help inform public debates on dealing with the past in Northern Ireland. Their new submission highlights how the draft Overseas Operations (Service...

Sep

Council of Europe sets final deadline for UK to come clean on NI legacy bill and Pat Finucane investigation

04/09/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

The body overseeing implementation of the judgements of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has given a final deadline to the UK government by which it must provide details of its proposals to deal with the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland. The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has requested the information...

Jul

MI6 apologise for asking court staff to withhold evidence from Judges in case about crimes by covert agents

27/07/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

MI6 has been forced to apologise to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal after two of its officers asked court staff to return documents relating to MI6’s use of agents and not show them to judges. The Tribunal suggested MI6’s actions were “inappropriate interference”. The revelation emerged in an ongoing legal case considering what crimes intelligence informants...

May

Submission to UN Committee Against Torture: Follow up on the UK’s sixth periodic report

07/05/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

Last year, the UK submitted its sixth periodic report on its compliance with the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. All states signed up this convention – including the UK – have a duty to prevent and investigate torture, support victims of torture, and ensure perpetrators are punished....

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