UNITED NATIONS E Economic and Social Distr. Council GENERAL E/CN.4/2000/61 21 February 2000 Original: ENGLISH COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Fifty-sixth session Item 11 (d) of the provisional agenda CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE QUESTIONS OF: INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, IMPUNITY Report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Mr. Param Cumaraswamy, submitted in accordance with Commission resolution 1999/31 CONTENTS Paragraphs Page Executive summary............................................................................................................. 5 Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 - 2 6 I. TERMS OF REFERENCE ......................................................... 3 - 6 6 II. METHODS OF WORK.............................................................. 7 8 III. ACTIVITIES OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ................... 8 - 26 8 A. Consultations ....................................................................... 8 - 10 8 B. Missions/visits ..................................................................... 11 - 15 9 C. Communications with governmental authorities ................. 16 - 20 9 GE.00-11177 (E) E/CN.4/2000/61 page 2 CONTENTS (continued) Paragraphs Page D. Cooperation with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.......................................... 21 10 E. Cooperation with other United Nations procedures and bodies ............................................................................ 22 - 26 10 IV. THEORETICAL ISSUES........................................................... 27 - 32 12 A. Honour killings .................................................................... 27 - 28 12 B. Judicial corruption ............................................................... 29 - 30 12 C. Human rights defenders ....................................................... 31 - 32 12 V. STANDARDS............................................................................. 33 - 35 13 VI. JUDICIAL DECISIONS REFLECTING THE INDEPENDENCE AND IMPARTIALITY OF THE JUDICIARY.......................... 36 - 37 13 VII. SITUATIONS IN SPECIFIC COUNTRIES OR TERRITORIES ........................................................................... 38 - 328 14 Argentina..................................................................................... 40 - 42 15 Australia...................................................................................... 43 - 45 15 Bahrain ...................................................................................... 46 - 49 16 Belarus ...................................................................................... 50 - 56 17 Belgium ...................................................................................... 57 - 69 18 Belize ...................................................................................... 70 - 76 20 Bolivia ...................................................................................... 77 - 78 21 Boznia and Herzegovina ............................................................. 79 - 82 21 Brazil ...................................................................................... 83 - 89 22 Cambodia .................................................................................... 90 - 92 23 Cameroon.................................................................................... 93 - 98 24 Chile ...................................................................................... 99 - 100 25 China ...................................................................................... 101 - 117 26 Colombia..................................................................................... 118 - 126 30 Croatia ...................................................................................... 127 - 128 32 Cuba ...................................................................................... 129 - 132 32 Democratic Republic of the Congo............................................. 133 - 136 33 E/CN.4/2000/61 page 3 CONTENTS (continued) Paragraphs Page Djibouti ...................................................................................... 137 - 142 34 Egypt ...................................................................................... 143 - 147 35 Equatorial Guinea ....................................................................... 148 - 149 36 Gambia ...................................................................................... 150 - 152 37 Guatemala ................................................................................... 153 - 156 37 Haiti ...................................................................................... 157 - 159 38 Indonesia ..................................................................................... 160 - 163 39 Iran (Islamic Republic of)........................................................... 164 - 166 39 Israel ...................................................................................... 167 - 169 40 Japan ...................................................................................... 170 - 186 41 Kenya ...................................................................................... 187 - 190 44 Lebanon ...................................................................................... 191 - 192 44 Malaysia...................................................................................... 193 - 207 45 Mexico ...................................................................................... 208 - 210 48 Nepal ...................................................................................... 211 - 212 49 New Zealand ............................................................................... 213 - 217 49 Pakistan ...................................................................................... 218 - 230 51 Palestine ...................................................................................... 231 - 232 53 Paraguay...................................................................................... 233 - 234 54 Peru ...................................................................................... 235 - 237 54 Philippines................................................................................... 238 - 239 55 Rwanda ...................................................................................... 240 - 242 55 Saudi Arabia................................................................................ 243 - 244 56 South Africa ................................................................................ 245 - 246 56 Sri Lanka..................................................................................... 247 - 259 56 Sudan ...................................................................................... 260 - 264 59 Suriname ..................................................................................... 265 - 269 60 Switzerland ................................................................................. 270 - 272 61 Trinidad and Tobago................................................................... 273 - 274 61 E/CN.4/2000/61 page 4 CONTENTS (continued) Paragraphs Page Tunisia ...................................................................................... 275 - 286 62 Turkey ...................................................................................... 287 - 302 64 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland............. 303 - 322 67 Yemen ...................................................................................... 323 - 324 71 Yugoslavia .................................................................................. 325 - 328 71 VIII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................... 329 - 341 72 A. Conclusions.......................................................................... 329 - 334 72 B. Recommendations................................................................ 335 - 341 73 E/CN.4/2000/61 page 5 Executive summary This is the sixth annual report of the Special Rapporteur whose mandate, created by Commission resolution 1994/41, called upon him: (a) To inquire into any substantial allegations transmitted to him or her and report his or her conclusions thereon; (b) To identify and record not only attacks on the independence of the judiciary, lawyers and court officials but also progress achieved in protecting and enhancing their independence, and make recommendations including the provision of advisory services or technical assistance when they are requested by the State concerned; (c) To study, for the purpose of making proposals, important and topical questions of principle with a view to protecting and enhancing the independence of the judiciary and lawyers. The report contains seven chapters dealing with his methods of work, the activities undertaken during the year, some theoretical issues, some judicial decisions reflecting the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, situations in 51 countries or territories and his conclusions and recommendations. During the year the Special Rapporteur sent out several interventions including 11 urgent appeals and 19 urgent appeals in association with other special rapporteurs. In the course of the year, the Special Rapporteur undertook a visit to Guatemala and a separate report on this mission will be before the Commission. The Special Rapporteur has expressed his disappointment and embarrassment