【人權訊息】 司法獨立性 Independence of the judiciary （聯合國人權事務高級專員辦事處Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights)

由於注意到侵害法官、律師和法院人員獨立性的事件日益增多，以及司法機關和律師所受保障的削弱與侵犯人權事件的嚴重性和頻繁性之間存在聯繫，人權委員會於1994年在第1994 /41號決議（英文）中決定任命一位法官和律師獨立性問題特別報告員，任期三年。和其他特別程序一樣，該項任務由人權理事會執行（大會第60/251號決議），並將其延長一年，但須經理事會審查（人權理事會第2006/102號決定）。

2008年6月，法官和律師獨立性問題特別報告員的任務經人權理事會審查延長三年。在第8/6號決議中，人權理事會回顧了早先人權委員會的決議，包括第1994/41號（英文）、第1995/36號（英文）、第2002/37號（英文）和第2005 /33號決議，以及大會決議，包括第40/32號和第45/166號決議。在第17/2號決議中，人權理事會回顧了其第8/6號、第12/3號、第13/19號和第15/3號決議，並決定將特別報告員的任期再延長三年，同時要求特別報告員：

（a）對轉交給他（她）的任何實質性指稱進行調查，並就調查的結論和建議提出報告；

（b）不僅查明並記錄攻擊司法機關、律師和其他法院人員獨立性的時間，而且還查明和記錄在保護和增強他們的獨立性方面取得的進展，如有關國家提出要求，可提出具體建議，包括提供諮詢服務或技術援助；

（c）明確改進司法制度的方式方法，並提出相關具體建議；

（d）為提出建議而按主題研究重要原則問題，以保護和加強司法機關、律師和法院人員的獨立性；

（e）在其工作中採用性別平等的觀點；

（f）在避免重複的條件下，繼續與有關聯合國機構、任務、機制以及區域組織密切合作；

（g）按照理事會的工作計劃定期向理事會報告，並向大會提交年度報告。

在履行這些職能時：

（a）特別報告員根據提請其關注的有關違反司法獨立性和公正性的信息、以及違反法律職業獨立性的信息採取行動，向有關政府遞送指控函和緊急呼籲，要求其澄清和/或提請其關注這些案件。特別報告員對這些來文和收到的政府回復進行摘要，以年度報告的形式提交給人權理事會，並在其中評論各國的情況。詳見個人投訴

（b）特別報告員可在得到政府邀請後進行國家訪問。特別報告員向人權 ​​理事會就該訪問提交一份報告，展示其發現、結論和建議。詳見國家訪問

（c）特別報告員每年一次向人權 ​​理事會報告該年的活動，強調重要議題或受關注的領域。特別報告員同時向大會進行年度報告。詳見年度報告

 

加芙列拉·克瑙爾女士，法官和律師獨立性問題特別報告員

Mrs. Gabriela Knaul, Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers

Independence of the judiciary:

In 1994, the Commission on Human Rights, in resolution 1994/41, noting both the increasing frequency of attacks on the independence of judges, lawyers and court officials and the link which exists between the weakening of safeguards for the judiciary and lawyers and the gravity and frequency of violations of human rights, decided to appoint, for a period of three years, a Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. Like other Special Procedures, this mandate was assumed by the Human Rights Council (General Assembly resolution 60/251), and extended for one year, subject to the review to be undertaken by the Council (Human Rights Council decision 2006/102).

In June 2008, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers was subject to review undertaken by the Human Rights Council and extended for a period of three years. In resolution 8/6, the Human Rights Council recalled earlier Commission on Human Rights resolutions, including 1994/41, 1995/36, 2002/37 and 2005/33, and General Assembly resolutions, including 40/32 and 45/166. In resolution 17/2, the Human Rights Council recalled its resolutions 8/6, 12/3, 13/19 and 15/3 and decided to further extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a period of three years and requested the Special Rapporteur:

(a) To inquire into any substantial allegations transmitted to him or her and to report his or her conclusions and recommendations 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 concrete recommendations, including the provision of advisory services or technical assistance when they are requested by the State concerned;

(c) To identify ways and means to improve the judicial system, and make concrete recommendations thereon;

(d) 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 and court officials;

(e) To apply a gender perspective in his or her work;

(f) To continue to cooperate closely, while avoiding duplication, with relevant United Nations bodies, mandates and mechanisms and with regional organizations;

(g) To report regularly to the Council in accordance with its programme of work, and annually to the General Assembly.

In the discharge of these functions:

(a) The Special Rapporteur acts on information submitted to his attention regarding alleged violations regarding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and the independence of the legal profession by sending allegation letters and urgent appeals to concerned Governments to clarify and/or bring to their attention these cases. The Special Rapporteur summarizes these communications as well as replies received from Governments in an annual report to the Human Rights Council in which he/she also comments on various country situations. See Individual Complaints

(b) The Special Rapporteur conducts country visits upon the invitation of the Government. The Special Rapporteur submits a report of such visit to the Human Rights Council, presenting his findings, conclusions and recommendations. See Country Visits

(c) Annually, the Special Rapporteur reports to the Human Rights Council about the activities undertaken during the year, highlighting important issues or areas of concern. The Special Rapporteur also reports annually to the General Assembly. See Annual Reports

英語版連結：http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Judiciary/Pages/IDPIndex.aspx