The ICJ today called on the UN Human Rights Council to urge Venezuela to withdraw charges brought against Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni (photo) for the legitimate exercise of her professional functions.
In a General Debate under Item 5 (human rights bodies and mechanisms), the ICJ made reference to Judge Afiuni’s case as one profiled in the report of the UN Secretary-General on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field. Judge Afiuni was arrested in December 2009 for ordering the release on bail of Mr Eligio Cedeno, reportedly in part on the basis that his detention had been declared arbitrary by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
The General Debate took place during the 24th regular session of the Human Rights Council (9 to 27 September 2013).
- Venezuela-HRC24-Item5-OralStatement-Afiuni-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full statement, in English)
- A-HRC-24-29 (download Secretary-General’s report, in English)
Joint ICJ HRW statement on Judge Afiuni before the Human Rights Council
Presentación conjunta de ICJ y HRW sobre Jueza Afiuni ante el Consejo de Derechos Humanos