The present report supplements the main report submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/17/30). It reflects specific situations alleged to be affecting the independence of judges or lawyers or violating the right to a fair trial in 44 countries and 1 another actor. Further, it includes replies received from the Government of the country concerned in response to specific allegations together with the Special Rapporteur’s comments and observations.
2. The report presents summaries of the urgent appeals and allegation letters transmitted by the Special Rapporteur to governmental authorities between 16 March 2010 and 15 March 2011, and of the press releases issued during the same reporting period. During this period, the Special Rapporteur sent a total of 97 communications and issued 6 press statements on situations of particular concern or to highlight a specific event.1 In this connection, the Special Rapporteur wishes to emphasize that the communications presented in the report exclusively reflect allegations she received and subsequently acted upon.
Allegations containing insufficient information, and falling outside the scope of the mandate, or on which due to time or other constraints the Special Rapporteur was not in a position to act, are not included in the report.