Monthly archive February, 2016

The UNWGAD’s Opinion in the case concerning Julian Assange: Some remarks on ‘Elephants in the Room’

1. Introduction On 22 January 2016 the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD)[1] rendered its opinion[2] in the case concerning Julian Assange. It held that the ‘deprivation of liberty of Mr. Assange’ is arbitrary and contravenes various rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[3] (Articles 9 and 10) and in the...

L’avis no 54/2015 adopté par le Groupe de travail sur la détention arbitraire concernant la situation de Julian Assange

1. Introduction Le dernier rebondissement de la saga Julian Assange a été communiqué au grand public par la voie des médias le 5 février 2016. Dans son avis no 54/2015 adopté à sa 74ème session (30 novembre – 4 décembre 2015),[1] le Groupe de travail sur la détention arbitraire du Conseil des droits de l’Homme...

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s opinion in the Assange case: flawed or flawless?

Introduced by Eirik Bjorge (Jesus College, University of Oxford)   The opinion by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention finding that Julian Assange is arbitrarily detained was handed down on 5 February 2016, attracting unprecedented levels of attention. The initial reception was extremely critical. The British Foreign Secretary referred to the decision as ‘ridiculous’ and...