The object of this volume is to present a comprehensive survey of the early history and activities of the International Commission of Jurists, highlighting its achievements in defining, developing, and promoting the Rule of Law. It seeks to give readers an awareness of the Commission's unique role in the evolution of the Rule of Law concept, which is not otherwise available. While there were several international organizations, including the Commission, working in the field of human rights following upon the adoption of the Universal Declaration, the Commission was unique in that it focused on the development of the Rule of Law as a sine qua non for the protection and advancement of human rights. The scope of this work is therefore much wider than mere identification and promotion of human rights. It deals with the principles identified by the Commission as underlying the Rule of Law and the institutions and procedure necessary to safeguard those principles; it reviews in-depth studies by eminent jurists on aspects of the Rule of Law; it surveys applications and violations of the Rule of Law in different countries or regions of the world; and it draws attention to trials of persons arrested or detained under cover of legislation patently offending against the Rule of Law. The work also covers the many initiatives taken by the Commission either by itself or in collaboration with the United Nations and other international organizations to ensure better recognition of and respect for the Rule of Law and human rights. Reference is made in this connection to different initiatives of national sections both at the regional and national level.

During the past year, the ICJ has proceeded to tackle vigorously several of the manifold challenges currently confronting the international human rights movement. To name just a few: the threat to the primacy of fundamental rights posed by counter-terrorism measures, the failure of many States to honour their human rights obligations they have undertaken; the struggle to preserve a rule of law upheld by an independent and impartial judiciary; and the tendencies towards the overall weakening of universal and regional systems of human rights protection. This Yearbook is intended to serve as a conduit for dissemination of information, analysis and guidance to jurists, governments, NGOs and the wider human rights community as they in their own right to strive to meet these challenges. The International Commission of Jurists was founded in 1952 to promote understanding and observance of the rule of law throughout the world. The ICJ is dedicated to the legal promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all parts of the world .In 1978, the ICJ created the Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (CIJL) with the task to inform lawyers of the plight of their colleagues in other countries who are persecuted for their professional work and to mobilise lawyers organisations to take action in support of them. The ICJ Yearbook 2004 contains reports of fact-finding missions and country monitoring (e.g Swaziland, Nepal, Tunisia, Criminal Justice Reform in India and trial observations in Turkey and Malaysia) it also includes several articles on human rights and judicial independence as well as a number of judicial documents.