International News
The members of Magistrats Européens pour la Démocratie et les Libertés (MEDEL) express their full solidarity with their Lebanese colleague Tarek Bitar and will follow with vigilance the evolution of the situation of the Lebanese Justice, in struggle with the political power. You can read the statement below:
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In Lebanon, the independence of justice is threatened
(Presented by the Syndicat de la Magistrature - France)
On August 4, 2020, a double explosion occurred in the port of Beirut, killing more than 200 people and injuring more than 6,500 others, while devastating entire neighbourhoods of the Lebanese capital. For years, this country, at the crossroads of all cultures and in the heart of an unstable geopolitical zone, has been aspiring to peace and full democracy.
Mariarosaria Guglielmi, Vice-President of MEDEL, will sit in the panel of judges of The Peoples Tribunal on the Murder of Journalists, opening on November 2nd.
The Indictment underlines that “[s]ince 1992, at least 1400 journalists have been killed for doing their vital job: bringing reliable information to the public. […]. In 86% of these cases, none of the perpetrators are brought to justice”.
Witnesses will include Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa and UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan.
On occasion of the 19th World Day Against the Death Penalty, MEDEL co-signed with 62 other organisations of the World Coalition Against Death Penalty a joint statement on the death penalty and women's rights
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À l'occasion de la 19ème Journée mondiale contre la peine de mort, MEDEL a co-signé avec 62 autres organisations de la Coalition mondiale contre la peine de mort une déclaration conjointe sur la peine de mort et les droits des femmes.
MEDEL has been following with deep concern the events in Afghanistan. The bureau sent a letter to UNHCR, affirming MEDEL's availability to help in the settlement of all those magistrates, lawyers and human rights defenders that manage to escape.
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MEDEL suit avec une profonde inquiétude les événements en Afghanistan. Le bureau a envoyé une lettre au HCNUR, affirmant la disponibilité de MEDEL à aider à l'installation de tous les magistrats, avocats et défenseurs des droits de l'homme qui parviennent à s'échapper.
MEDEL europe supports and endorses the "International Fair Trial Day", calling for the respect of Human Rights and the right to a fair trial in Turkey.
Join the Inaugural International Fair Trial Day event today, June 14th, 2021 (15.00-17.20 CET):
- via Zoom: http://bit.ly/iftdwebinar
- on YouTube: http://bit.ly/iftdyoutube
MEDEL fully supports the statement issued on 5 May 2021 by its member association "Juezas y Jueces para la Democracia" on the situation of El Salvador and calls on the Salvadoran authorities to respect the independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law.
Statement of MEDEL of solidarity with its brazilian Public Prosecution partner organisations, regarding the proposed changes intended to reduce the role of Public Prosecution in criminal investigations (in English and Portuguese):
MEDEL – Magistrats Européens pour la Démocratie et les Libertés has been given notice by its partner organisations of Brazilian Public Prosecutors, of the ongoing debate in the Brazilian Parliament about changes to the Criminal Procedure Code, namely the opinion presented on April 14th, 2021, suggesting that the competence in criminal investigation should be given to the police, leaving to the Public Prosecution a mere accessory role.