UN Council Hears Urgent Appeals on Rights Violations in Tunisia and El Salvador

During the general debate of the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) delivered an oral statement highlighting two critical situations involving the erosion of rule of law. The organization called on member states to intervene in Tunisia, where judicial proceedings have been used to target opposition figures, and in El Salvador, where a state of exception has led to mass detentions without adequate legal safeguards.

According to the ICJ, the situation in Tunisia has deteriorated significantly with the government intensifying its crackdown on human rights defenders and civil society organizations. The Commission noted that the Court of Cassation recently upheld lengthy prison sentences for opposition leaders and lawyers, many of whom were charged with conspiracy against state security. These actions have effectively silenced key voices in the public sphere, prompting the ICJ to demand an end to politically motivated prosecutions.

Judicial Sentences Target Civil Society

The statement cited specific cases involving high-profile figures, including the president of the transitional justice commission and the head of the Association of Tunisian Magistrates. According to the ICJ, these individuals received sentences of up to 45 years for their legitimate professional work. The organization reported that Tunisia has suspended or dissolved a significant number of human rights associations, creating an environment where freedom of association and expression are severely constrained. The ICJ urged the Council to call on Tunisian authorities to guarantee these fundamental rights and cease the use of the judiciary as a tool for political control.

Systemic Detention Under State Exception

In El Salvador, the ICJ raised alarms regarding widespread arbitrary detention under the state of exception that has been in force since 2022. The Commission reported that over 93,000 people have been deprived of liberty, often without warrants and under a system of police arrest quotas. Many of these detainees have been denied access to legal counsel or their families, with some cases involving enforced disappearance. The organization highlighted that mass trials conducted under single case files represent a systematic denial of the right to a fair trial, while hundreds of alleged unlawful deaths in custody remain unacknowledged and uninvestigated by state authorities.

Calls for Restoring Rule of Law

The ICJ, along with its partner Cristosal, called on the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to effectively address the collapse of the rule of law in El Salvador. The statement emphasized the need for independent oversight and accountability mechanisms to ensure that justice is not compromised by emergency powers. As the session continues, the focus remains on whether member states will translate these appeals into concrete diplomatic pressure or international monitoring initiatives to protect human rights in both nations.