About ICJ

• The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) is an international non-governmental organisation which promotes human rights and the rule of law. 
• Its membership consists of sixty eminent jurists from around the world. 
• The ICJ has an International Secretariat based in Geneva, which has smaller regional offices in South Africa, Thailand, Nepal and Central America.

Why in News?

• The International Commission of Jurists has said civil rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan’s conviction for criminal contempt of court by the Supreme Court seemed to be inconsistent with the freedom of expression law guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that India was a party to.

About ICCPR

• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966, and it came into force in 1976.
• The ICCPR, together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, are considered the International Bill of Human Rights. 
• The covenant commits its parties to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial.
• At present, the Covenant has 173 parties (including India).

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/prashant-bhushans-conviction-seems-at-odds-with-international-free-speech-law-international-commission-of-jurists/article32496322.ece