JPTi to Co-Organize HRC62 Side Event on United States Emergency Powers and Article 4 of the ICCPR
- Jun 29
- 3 min read
On 2 July 2026, at 11:00, Justice pour Tous Internationale (JPTi) will participate in a side event during the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The event, entitled “Emergency Powers, Human Rights and the Rule of Law in the United States: Article 4 ICCPR, Transnational Repression and Extraterritorial Accountability,” will take place in Room XI.
The full concept paper and the short concept note prepared for the event are available for download here:
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The side event is organized by Public Organization “Public Advocacy,” an NGO in special consultative status with ECOSOC, in collaboration with Justice pour Tous Internationale (JPTi). It will bring together United Nations experts, legal practitioners, civil society representatives and human rights advocates to discuss one of the most important questions facing the international human rights system today: whether powerful States can use domestic executive authority, emergency powers or non-cooperation to avoid international scrutiny.
The discussion will focus on the United States’ continuing non-implementation of Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Although the United States ratified the ICCPR on 8 June 1992, its domestic emergency framework has not been brought into full conformity with the Covenant. In particular, the National Emergencies Act of 14 September 1976 and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 28 December 1977 continue to allow prolonged and renewable executive measures under domestic standards that do not reflect the stricter ICCPR threshold of a public emergency threatening the life of the nation. The absence of formal Article 4(3) notifications to the United Nations Secretary-General remains a central issue of concern.
The event will examine how emergency powers may affect due process, judicial oversight, sanctions regimes, property-related interests, migration measures, freedom of expression and association, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance risks, transnational repression and extraterritorial accountability. The aim is not to politicize scrutiny of the United States, but to reaffirm that emergency powers must remain exceptional, temporary, lawful, necessary, proportionate, non-discriminatory and subject to independent review and effective remedies.
The event will also address the United States’ non-cooperation with the Human Rights Council and the Universal Periodic Review process. The UPR is a universal, equal and non-selective mechanism that applies to every United Nations Member State. No State should be able to remove itself from review through non-participation, procedural obstruction or political pressure. Executive Order 14199 may direct United States officials not to participate in the Human Rights Council, but it cannot remove the United States from the Universal Periodic Review.
In this context, President Trump and the United States administration have a clear opportunity to demonstrate good faith toward the United Nations, the international community and the promotion of human rights worldwide. Constructive engagement with the UPR would show that the United States accepts the same standards of accountability that it encourages other States to respect. It would also strengthen the credibility of the international human rights system at a time when universality and equal treatment must be defended.
JPTi believes that the review of the United States should proceed during the 53rd session of the UPR Working Group in November 2026, on the basis of available United Nations information and stakeholder submissions, whether or not an official delegation is sent. The Human Rights Council Presidency, Member States and civil society should work together to preserve the integrity of the UPR mechanism and ensure that non-cooperation is recorded as such, not rewarded by further postponement.
The speakers will include Professor George Katrougalos, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; Professor Attiya Waris, Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights; Mr. Abdel Wahab Hani, independent human rights expert and former member of the UN Committee Against Torture; Mr. John Packer, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa; Mr. Stefan G. Ziegler, humanitarian practitioner, Associate Professor and filmmaker; Ms. Merna Shalash, President of Partners for Transparency; and Mr. Sharof Azizov, Executive Director of Justice pour Tous Internationale. The event will be moderated by Ms. Matilde Pacheco, Human Rights Officer at JPTi.
JPTi invites Permanent Missions, United Nations experts, civil society organizations, legal practitioners, academics, journalists and all participants with access to the Palais des Nations to attend this important discussion on emergency powers, human rights, UPR universality and the equal application of international legal standards.
Event: Emergency Powers, Human Rights and the Rule of Law in the United States: Article 4 ICCPR, Transnational Repression and Extraterritorial Accountability
Date and time: 2 July 2026, 11:00
Venue: Room XI, Palais des Nations, Geneva
Session: 62nd session of the Human Rights Council
Organized by: Public Organization “Public Advocacy”
In collaboration with: Justice pour Tous Internationale (JPTi)
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