PAPER CHASE NEWSBURSTDigest RSS feedFull RSS feed
Serious law. Primary sources. Global perspective.


Wednesday, January 17, 2007

UN rights investigator visiting US to review terror detention practices
Jeannie Shawl at 4:56 AM ET

Photo source or description
[JURIST] A UN human rights expert has received permission from US officials to visit the United States to examine US practices when detaining terror suspects. Martin Scheinin [official profile], the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism [official website], issued a statement on the upcoming visit Tuesday:
I look forward to having an open and constructive dialogue with the Government, the judiciary, lawyers, security and law enforcement personnel, non-government organizations, civil society and all other relevant actors in order to study and discuss US counter terrorism laws, policies and practices. I intend to examine, in depth, issues regarding the detention, arrest and trial of terrorist suspects and the rights of victims of terrorism or persons negatively impacted by counter terrorism measures. I also aim to identify effective measures of preventing and countering terrorism and to formulate pertinent conclusions and concrete recommendations with the objective of helping to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the fight against terrorism.
Scheinin said he hopes to schedule the official visit for the second half of May 2007.

In October 2006 Scheinin expressed concern [JURIST report] that the US Military Commissions Act of 2006 (MCA) [text; JURIST news archive] would lead to lower worldwide standards regarding interrogation techniques and trial procedures for noncitizen detainees. Reuters has more. The UN News Service has additional coverage.



Link | |  | print | subscribe | RSS feeds | latest newscast | Facebook page

For a one-stop snapshot of the latest legal news that matters, with breaking documents, new legal videos, live law-related webcasts, commentary by expert law professors and more - all updated through the day in real time, with no ads and no registration barriers - visit JURIST's homepage and check back often...


LATEST LEGAL NEWS

 FBI report shows reported hate crimes in US up two percent
2:17 PM ET, November 23

 Leaked documents question propriety of UK involvement in Iraq
2:02 PM ET, November 23

 Kenya committee unveils new draft constitution
1:04 PM ET, November 23

 click for more...

Get JURIST legal news on your intranet, website, blog or news reader!

LATEST FORUM

A Risk Worth Taking: Civilian Trials for Guantanamo Terror Suspects

L. Friedman/ V. Hansen
New England School of Law

ABOUT

Paper Chase is JURIST's real-time legal news service, powered by a team of 30 law student reporters and editors led by law professor Bernard Hibbitts at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. As an educational service, Paper Chase is dedicated to presenting important legal news and materials rapidly, objectively and intelligibly in an accessible, ad-free format.

CONTACT

Paper Chase welcomes comments, tips and URLs from readers. E-mail us at JURIST@pitt.edu