Constance Johnson

Tax Amnesty Adopted (Sep. 14, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Denmark's Tax Authority, Skat (Skat website (last visited Sept. 14, 2012)), established a tax amnesty program, under legislation adopted in May 2012, that runs until ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Quebec Court Decision Saves Gun Registry (Sep. 13, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On September 10, 2012, a judge of the Cour Sup;rieur (Superior Court) of Quebec issued a decision that declared part of a Canadian federal law to ...

Topic: Firearms
Jurisdiction: Canada

Media Law Passed (Sep. 12, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Uganda's Parliament recently passed a new media law, the Uganda Communications Act 2012, and created a "contents committee" to review complaints submitted about the contents of ...

Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: Uganda

Plan in Place to Revise Immigration Law (Sep. 11, 2012) by Constance Johnson

The Government of Sri Lanka is planning to revise the country's 2006 immigration law, with the goal of curtailing illegal smuggling of migrants. A draft law ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Future Green Goods Trade Pact Considered (Sep. 07, 2012) by Constance Johnson

The 21-member nations of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have been working on an agreement to reduce tariffs for environmental goods since November 2011, when the ...

Topic: Trade and commerce
Jurisdiction: APEC / Indonesia

Domestic Workers Treaty to Become Effective Next Year (Sep. 06, 2012) by Constance Johnson

The Convention on Domestic Workers, a United Nations treaty providing international standards aimed at improving the lives of domestic workers around the world, will come into ...

Topic: Labor
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Legalization of Medical Cannabis Considered (Sep. 05, 2012) by Constance Johnson

In a recent interview, Erkki Palva of Finland's national pharmaceutical agency, Fimea, stated that the agency will, within a few weeks, issue an assessment of the ...

Topic: Narcotics and drug abuse
Jurisdiction: Finland

Court Asks for Complete Papers in Test of Corruption Commission Law (Sep. 04, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On August 30, 2012, Indonesia's Constitutional Court, which is considering a challenge to the constitutionality of the law that established the country's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Government Proposes Outlawing Prostitution (Aug. 30, 2012) by Constance Johnson

It was reported in July 2012 that the Danish government intends to move forward with a proposal to make purchasing sexual acts illegal. The legislation would ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Terrorist Finance Act to Be Revised (Aug. 29, 2012) by Constance Johnson

According Sri Lankan Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, speaking for the nation's Cabinet on August 24, 2012, the government has approved a plan to revise legislation on ...

Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

New Court to Try Former Chadian Leader (Aug. 29, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On August 22, 2012, the African Union and Senegal concluded an agreement on a special tribunal to try Hissandegrave;ne Habr;, the former leader of Chad. The ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: Senegal

Challenge to Law on Homosexuality Permitted (Aug. 27, 2012) by Constance Johnson

In an August 21, 2012, decision, the Court of Appeal of Singapore ruled that a constitutional challenge, lodged against the Penal Code provision criminalizing male homosexuality, ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Singapore

Corruption Court Judges Arrested (Aug. 23, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Two judges of local corruption courts in Indonesia have themselves been accused of taking bribes by the national Corruption Eradication Commission (Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi, or KPK). ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

De Facto Moratorium on Capital Punishment (Aug. 21, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Zimbabwe currently retains the death penalty, with 60 people facing death sentences. However, no one has been subjected to capital punishment in eight years, and at ...

Topic: Capital punishment
Jurisdiction: Zimbabwe

VAT Rules Amended (Aug. 17, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On August 7, 2012, Luxembourg issued a decree amending its VAT rules for independent groups of persons. The amended rule, published in the official gazette (Journal ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Luxembourg

New Investment Code (Aug. 15, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On July 11, 2012, Cape Verde published a new Investment Code Law in its Official Gazette (Law 13/VIII/2012). The new Code replaces two previous laws, Law ...

Topic: Investments
Jurisdiction: Cape Verde

Emoticon Trademark Abrogated (Aug. 15, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Although previously the Finnish National Board of Patents and Registration (last visited Aug. 13, 2012) permitted a Finnish man to trademark the "smiley" emoticon, consisting ...

Topic: Intellectual property
Jurisdiction: Finland

Sharia Law Imposed in North (Aug. 14, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Ansar Dine (Defenders of Faith) and the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) have occupied northern Mali, controlling about 60% of the country, ...

Topic: Legal systems
Jurisdiction: Mali

EACJ to Establish Sub-Registry Offices in Member States (Aug. 14, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: East African Community

Commodity Prices to Be Controlled (Aug. 13, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On August 6, 2012, Indonesia's President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, announced that the State Logistics Agency (Badan Urusan Logistik, or Bulog) will soon be able to control ...

Topic: Trade and commerce
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Seabed Floor Expedition to Determine Extent of Territory (Aug. 10, 2012) by Constance Johnson

The six nations that border the Arctic Sea (Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Russia, and the United States) each claim territory 200 nautical miles (about 230 miles) ...

Topic: Maritime law
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Recent Human Rights Assessments Identify Problems (Aug. 08, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Two recent reports, one by the United Nations and one by the non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch (HRW), have pointed out continuing, serious human rights problems ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Burma

Court Rules on Draft Constitutional Amendment (Aug. 07, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Thailand's ruling Phuea Thai party has for the moment withdrawn plans to amend the nation's Constitution, in part due to a court decision. In late July ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Thailand

Agreement on Access to Indonesian Seas Planned (Aug. 06, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On August 1, 2012, Indonesia's Defense Ministry announced plans for a future agreement with Australia that would permit Australian ships to patrol Indonesian waters under some ...

Topic: Maritime law
Jurisdiction: Australia / Indonesia

Preliminary Investigation Launched into Recent Violence (Jul. 23, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On July 18, 2012, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, stated that an inquiry is being launched into the recent violence ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: International Criminal Court / Mali

Sedition Law to Be Repealed (Jul. 19, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On July 12, 2012, Malaysia's government announced that it will repeal a law that has been on the books since the colonial era and been used ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Malaysia

New Pricing Regulations for Biomass Power Plants (Jul. 16, 2012) by Constance Johnson

According to Kardaya Warnika of Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, speaking on July 10, 2012, the country will soon adopt new pricing regulations for biomass ...

Topic: Energy
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Proposal to Extend Sugar Tax (Jul. 16, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On July 5, 2012, Finland's Sugar Tax Working Group released an interim report, recommending extension of the tax on sugar. (Press Release No. 141/2012, Ministry of ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Finland

Controversial Courts to Be Abolished (Jul. 03, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On June 27, 2012, it was reported that Turkey's ruling party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is planning to propose reform of the court system, ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: Turkey

Editor Punished by Court (Jul. 03, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On June 28, 2012, newspaper editor Abdulhamid Adiamoh, a Nigerian citizen, was sentenced by a court in Gambia for contempt of court. His punishment is a ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Gambia

Pedophile Organization Banned (Jul. 02, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On June 27, 2012, the civil court in Assen, the Netherlands, outlawed the pedophile association Martijn, ordering its immediate dissolution. The reason for the decision, according ...

Topic: Children
Jurisdiction: Netherlands

NASCO Ruling on Salmon Fishing (Jun. 25, 2012) by Constance Johnson

In June 2012, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) decided to continue a moratorium on commercial fishing of the species off Greenland. Unless the number ...

Topic: Natural resources
Jurisdiction: International

Terrorism Law Amendments Approved in Lower House of Parliament (Jun. 25, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On June 20, 2012, the lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of Tajikistan's parliament (Majlisi Oli) approved amendments to the country's law on fighting terrorism. The changes had ...

Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: Tajikistan

Court Determines Lisbon Treaty Signing Constitutional (Jun. 20, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On June 15, 2012, Denmark's Eastern High Court ruled that the country's government need not have held a referendum before signing the Treaty of Lisbon. The ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Defense Lawyers Boycott Major Trial (Jun. 19, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On June 15, 2012, defense lawyers in Turkey boycotted a high profile trial in protest over a judicial ruling in a case that began with press ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Turkey

Atheist Sentenced in West Sumatra (Jun. 18, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On June 14, 2012, Alexander Aan, a civil servant charged with blasphemy, was given a sentence of two and a half years in prison plus a ...

Topic: Religion
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Appellate Body Issues Annual Report (Jun. 15, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On June 13, 2012, the Appellate Body (AB) of the World Trade Organization issued its Annual Report for 2011. (Appellate Body Issues Annual Report for ...

Regulation on Crating of Produce (Jun. 14, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Beginning on June 11, 2012, Sri Lanka's Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal Trade will enforce a regulation first adopted several months earlier. The regulation requires the ...

Topic: Commerce and industry
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Government Reform Proposed (Jun. 14, 2012) by Constance Johnson

The Indonesian government has recently proposed three bills on administrative reform; they are now being discussed in the legislature. The bills cover the organization of the ...

Topic: Administrative law
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Local Ordinance to Require Wearing of Headscarves (Jun. 07, 2012) by Constance Johnson

The city of Tasikmalaya, in Indonesia's West Java Province, is in the process of adopting an ordinance that would require Muslim women to wear headscarves. The ...

Topic: Women
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Telecom Tax Bill (Jun. 07, 2012) by Constance Johnson

A proposed Telecommunication Tax Bill was published in Hungary's official gazette on May 30, 2012. (Tamas Kulcsar, Hungary: Telecommunication Tax Bill Published, TAX NEWS SERVICE (May ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Hungary

Boat Tax Clarified (Jun. 06, 2012) by Constance Johnson

The Italian tax authorities issued a circular on May 30, 2012, to clarify an additional tax on boats introduced in 2011. (Giulia Gallo, Italy: Boat Tax ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Italy

Change in Church/State Relations (Jun. 06, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Norway no longer has a state religion. Due to a constitutional change approved by the Storting (Parliament), there is now a separation between church and state. ...

Topic: Religion
Jurisdiction: Norway

Tax Rule Clarified (Jun. 05, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Under Singapore's 2012 budget, company income gained by the sale of some equity investments, as of the beginning of June 2012, will not be subject to ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Singapore

Government Measures in Response to Earthquakes (Jun. 04, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On May 29, 2012, northern Italy suffered its second earthquake in a little over a week; in all, the disasters caused the deaths of about 24 ...

Topic: Disasters
Jurisdiction: Italy

Court Orders Government to Finish Constitution; Failed Efforts Result in Disbanding of Legislature (May. 29, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On May 24, 2012, Nepal's Supreme Court ordered the country's government to finish a draft of a new constitution by May 27, denying a request from ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Nepal

Government Plans Support for Women Accused of Witchcraft, While Others Call for Legislation (May. 29, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Earlier this month, Burkina Faso announced a plan to offer legal and other types of support to persons accused of witchcraft and driven from their homes. ...

Topic: Women
Jurisdiction: Burkina Faso

Right to Food Issues Raised (May. 24, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Olivier De Schutter, who has been the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food since appointed to the post by the U.N. Human Rights ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Canada

Human Rights Crisis (May. 23, 2012) by Constance Johnson

In the last few weeks, two prominent nongovernmental human rights organizations have released statements on the human rights crisis in Mali, where internal strife has led ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Mali

MOU to Be Signed (May. 23, 2012) by Constance Johnson

According to Dilan Perera, the Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare, Oman and Sri Lanka are planning to sign a Memorandum of Understanding ...

Topic: Labor
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Airspace over Islands to Revert to Indonesia (May. 22, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On May 16, 2012, an official from Singapore, Raj Kumar, stated that control of the airspace above the Indonesian Riau Islands could revert to Indonesia. Singapore ...

Topic: Aviation
Jurisdiction: Indonesia / Singapore

Rights Commissioner Urges Repeal of Homophobic Laws (May. 18, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Navanethem Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, honored International Day Against Homophobia on May 17, 2012, by issuing a statement calling for the ...

Topic: Discrimination
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Minister Opposes Arctic Oil Drill Ban (May. 15, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On May 2, 2012, Sweden's Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, released a statement on the issue of whether to ban drilling for oil in the Arctic region. ...

Topic: Natural resources
Jurisdiction: Sweden

Draft Constitution to Include Press Freedom (May. 07, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Zambia released a draft constitution on April 30, 2012, that has been praised for its provisions on freedom of the press. The document also contains a ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Zambia

Protests over Deaths of Migrant Workers (May. 02, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On April 26, 2012, several Indonesian officials made a formal protest to Malaysia over the shooting deaths of three Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia in late ...

Topic: Labor
Jurisdiction: Indonesia / Malaysia

Controversial Law Stayed After UN Official Expressed Concerns (May. 01, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On April 27, 2012, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, expressed concern about trends in the governance of Papua New Guinea (PNG), ...

Topic: Legal systems
Jurisdiction: Papua New Guinea

New Regulations on Air Guns Stir Controversy (Apr. 30, 2012) by Constance Johnson

As of the beginning of June 2012, new regulations on firearms will tighten control of air guns in Denmark. Any such weapon with a 5.5 millimeter ...

Topic: Firearms
Jurisdiction: Denmark

New Smoking Law Controversial (Apr. 24, 2012) by Constance Johnson

A new smoking law agreed to on April 21, 2012, in Denmark, will impose a ban on smoking in educational institutions designed for children and youths ...

Topic: Tobacco and smoking
Jurisdiction: Denmark

New Security Law Being Considered (Apr. 17, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On April 10, 2012, a bill for a new law on national security was introduced in the Malaysian Parliament. It will be debated in the lower ...

Topic: National security
Jurisdiction: Malaysia

Medicinal Plants Protected in More Areas (Apr. 13, 2012) by Constance Johnson

The Thai government has added eight more places to the list of twelve previously designated locations that are medicinal plant protection zones. A dozen species of ...

Topic: Natural resources
Jurisdiction: Thailand

Mines and Minerals Law to Be Amended (Apr. 13, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On April 5, 2012, Zimbabwe's Mines and Mining Development Ministry announced plans to finalize an amendment to the country's Mines and Minerals Act. The revised provisions ...

Topic: Mining and mineral resources
Jurisdiction: Zimbabwe

Measure to Curb Textile Dumping to Be Introduced (Apr. 12, 2012) by Constance Johnson

In a new policy in force from late March 2012, the Government of Zimbabwe is working to improve the country's textile industry. Measures will be introduced ...

Topic: Customs
Jurisdiction: Zimbabwe

State of Jammu and Kashmir Amends Public Safety Act (Apr. 11, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On April 5, 2012, the legislature of Jammu and Kashmir, a state in northern India, amended the state's 1978 Public Safety Act (PSA), limiting its strict ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: India

Constitution to Be Reinstated (Apr. 09, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On April 1, 2012, Amadou Haya Sanogo, the de facto head of Mali since the military took control in a coup on March 22, announced that ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Mali

Foreign Ministers Discuss Conduct Code for South China Sea (Apr. 05, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On April 2, 2012, foreign ministers of the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), while meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, discussed a proposed ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: ASEAN

Tax on DHMO to Be Proposed (Apr. 04, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Denmark's Environment Ministry is planning to propose a tax on the chemical dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO) as a method to discourage its use. DHMO is odorless but ...

Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: Denmark

History of Oppression of Indigenous Peoples to Count in Sentencing (Mar. 30, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On March 23, 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that judges must take into account any history of oppression when sentencing aboriginal defendants in Canada. ...

Topic: Native peoples
Jurisdiction: Canada

Restrictions Placed on Sale of Herbicide (Mar. 28, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health has announced it will impose strict regulation on the sale of Paracot, a widely used brand of the herbicide paraquat. The ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Same-Sex Marriage to Be Approved (Mar. 22, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Denmark's government announced a proposal on March 13, 2012, that would legalize same-sex marriages in the country, beginning on June 15 of this year. According to ...

Topic: Family
Jurisdiction: Denmark

More Mainland Chinese Investment to Be Permitted (Mar. 22, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On March 19, 2012, Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs, Shih Yen-shiang, announced the government's intention to allow mainland Chinese investors to participate in 161 kinds of ...

Topic: Investments
Jurisdiction: Taiwan

Uniform Framework on Freedom of Expression, Information Considered (Mar. 21, 2012) by Constance Johnson

From March 5-9, 2012, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held a meeting of its Technical Committee on Legal and Judicial Affairs and the ...

Topic: Freedom of information
Jurisdiction: Economic Community of West African States

New Agreement on Electronic Waste (Mar. 21, 2012) by Constance Johnson

A new agreement signed by the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Secretariat of the Basel Convention (SBC) was announced on March 12, 2012. ...

Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Gay Family Rights Ruling (Mar. 19, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On March 15, 2012, Italy's Supreme Court (Corte Suprema di Cassazione) determined that a gay couple who married outside of Italy could not be considered legally ...

Topic: Family
Jurisdiction: Italy

Police to Undergo Drug Testing (Mar. 19, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Police authorities in several Indonesian provinces have begun subjecting police officers to drug tests, and the capital city, Jakarta, plans to do so in the near ...

Topic: Police
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Media Outlets Face Approval Requirement (Mar. 14, 2012) by Constance Johnson

In a directive dated March 9, 2012, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) under Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence announced that media organizations will need ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Draft General Administrative Law Act Amendment Would Change State Liability for Damages to Individuals (Mar. 14, 2012) by Constance Johnson

The Lower House of the Dutch Parliament is now considering a draft amendment to the General Administrative Law Act that would change provisions on the liability ...

Topic: Administrative law
Jurisdiction: Netherlands

Tax on Sugar Proposed (Mar. 13, 2012) by Constance Johnson

In order to improve the health of its citizens by reducing their use of sugar, Denmark's government is considering taxing the product. Speaking on March 5, ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Doctor Acquitted in Virginity Test Case (Mar. 13, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On March 11, 2012, an Egyptian court acquitted Dr. Ahmed Adel, who had been accused of forcing a woman to undergo a virginity test. The charges ...

Topic: Women
Jurisdiction: Egypt

Attendance of Legislators to Be Public Information (Mar. 08, 2012) by Constance Johnson

The Ethics Council of Indonesia's House of Representatives adopted a new rule on March 6, 2012. According to Muhammad Prakosa, the Chairman of the Council, any ...

Topic: Legislative power
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Businesses Object to Ministerial Decree on Export of Natural Resources (Mar. 07, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On February 9, 2012, Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mining Resources [ESDM] issued a regulation that will ban the export of some raw materials. (Peraturan ...

Plan to Cut Childcare Benefits Considered (Mar. 05, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Finland's government is considering shortening the time period in which some families can receive funding from the government to cover the costs of private childcare. According ...

Topic: Children
Jurisdiction: Finland

Sanctions Result in Review of Immigration Policy (Mar. 05, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On February 23, 2012, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) sanctioned Italy for its policy of sending to Libya African migrants who have approached Italy ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: European Court of Human Rights / Italy

Proposed New Immigration Act (Mar. 01, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On February 16, 2012, Canada's Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister, Jason Kenney, introduced a new draft law designed to protect the integrity of the country's immigration ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: Canada

Stricter Anti-Tobacco Rules Being Drafted (Feb. 23, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On February 21, 2012, Bambang Sulistomo, an advisor to Indonesia's Health Ministry, announced the country would be going forward with stricter rules on tobacco sales and ...

Topic: Tobacco and smoking
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Health Records Proposal Leads to Controversy (Feb. 21, 2012) by Constance Johnson

A new Danish executive order would permit local government officials to collect information about how an individual used health care services, in order to enhance public ...

Topic: Right of privacy
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Journalist Deported to Face Blasphemy Charges (Feb. 17, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On February 9, 2012, the police in Malaysia detained a journalist from Saudi Arabia, Hamza Kashgari; on February 12 he was sent back to Saudi Arabia. ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Malaysia / Saudi Arabia

Foreign-Funded Business and Banking Laws Amended (Feb. 17, 2012) by Constance Johnson

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) amended its law on registration of businesses that have foreign funding. The change came via a decree issued ...

Topic: Foreign investment
Jurisdiction: North Korea

Dispute over Policy on Influx of Mothers from China Giving Birth in Hong Kong (Feb. 16, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Leaders in Hong Kong have disagreed recently on how to handle the problem of expectant women from mainland China entering the city in an attempt to ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: Hong Kong

Atheist to Be Charged with Blasphemy (Feb. 09, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Alexander Aan, an Indonesian civil servant living in Pulau Punjung, in West Sumatra Province, posted the statement "God doesn't exist" on a Facebook page in January ...

Topic: Religion
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

ACTA Signed in Tokyo (Feb. 07, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On January 26, 2012, the European Union and 22 of its member countries signed the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade ...

Topic: Intellectual property
Jurisdiction: European Union

Court Permits Candidacy for Third Presidential Term (Feb. 03, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On January 30, 2012, Senegal's Constitutional Court, the Conseil Constitutionel, determined that the current leader of the country, President Abdoulaye Wade, can run for a third ...

Topic: Elections
Jurisdiction: Senegal

Papuans Indicted for Treason (Feb. 02, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On January 30, 2012, the district court at Jayapura, the capital of the Indonesian province of Papua, indicted five activists from the province on charges of ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Journalists and Politician Sentenced on Terrorism Charges (Feb. 01, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On January 26, 2012, a court in Ethiopia sentenced five people to terms in prison varying from 14 years to, in one case, life, on charges ...

Topic: Freedom of speech
Jurisdiction: Ethiopia

Support for International Anti-Crime Agreements (Jan. 27, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On January 26, 2012, the Vatican moved to support three international conventions that are designed to fight various kinds of criminal activity. (Vatican OK's Moves ...

Court Upholds Decision in Mass Arrests Case (Jan. 26, 2012) by Constance Johnson

In a January 25, 2012, ruling, a Danish court upheld a lower court decision that found that police had acted improperly in carrying out mass arrests ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Labor Law to Be Revised (Jan. 25, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On January 17, 2012, Indonesia's Constitutional Court ruled that outsourcing labor, which in this context means hiring workers on short-term contracts without benefits, is unconstitutional. The ...

Topic: Labor
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Criticism of Laws on the Judiciary, Data Protection, and the National Bank (Jan. 23, 2012) by Constance Johnson

On January 17, 2012, President Jose Manuel Barroso of the European Commission (EC) announced the initiation of legal action against Hungary by means of three Letters ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: European Union / Hungary

Human Rights Groups Denounce Use of Security Law (Jan. 17, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Both governmental and nongovernmental human rights organizations in Indonesia have raised questions about the way police have implemented the country's security rules. On January 10, 2012, ...

Topic: Police
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Law on Adoption to Be Reviewed (Jan. 17, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Tissa Karalliyadde, Sri Lanka's Minister of Child Development and Women's Affairs, has announced plans to amend the country's law on adoption. The law will be reviewed ...

Topic: Adoption
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Plan to Rewrite Law on Visa Procedures (Jan. 17, 2012) by Constance Johnson

Denmark's Justice Minister Morten Bandoslash;dskov recently made it known to a Danish newspaper that the government is planning to revise a 2011 law that changed procedures ...

Topic: Government organization
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Belgian Employees May Lose Tax Deferral (Dec. 30, 2011) by Constance Johnson

The second chamber of the Dutch legislature recently approved changes to the conditions that apply to the "30% rule," whereby employees of foreign companies operating in ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Netherlands

U.N. Commissioner Urges Respect for Defendants' Rights (Dec. 28, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On December 22, 2011, Navi Pillay, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR), expressed the concern that judges in Kyrgyzstan failed to ensure respect for ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan)

Higher Pollution Tax to Take Effect (Dec. 27, 2011) by Constance Johnson

For 2012, Denmark is raising taxes on pollution by district heating facilities to a level five times as high as those previously in force. While at ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Bill on Peaceful Assembly Criticized (Dec. 09, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Malaysia's parliament has passed a bill on peaceful assembly that has been called a threat to the basic freedom in that country. The law has been ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Malaysia

Village Government Bill (Dec. 07, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Indonesia has long been considering a law on village governance. The bill was dropped from the legislative agenda in 2009 for re-drafting and then was submitted ...

Topic: Administrative law
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Ban on Sending Workers to Malaysia Lifted (Dec. 06, 2011) by Constance Johnson

In 2009, following reports of Indonesian domestic workers being abused in Malaysia, a ban on sending migrant laborers there was instituted. On November 30, 2011, the ...

Topic: Labor
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Agreement to Halt Drug Traffic (Nov. 30, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On November 28, 2011, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) praised the three-way pact on drug smuggling signed by officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, ...

Topic: Narcotics and drug abuse
Jurisdiction: Afghanistan / Iran / Pakistan

Bali Council Adopts Stringent Anti-Smoking Rules (Nov. 30, 2011) by Constance Johnson

It was reported on November 28, 2011, that the Legislative Council of the Province of Bali endorsed harsh punishments for persons caught smoking in non-smoking areas. ...

Topic: Tobacco and smoking
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Referendum on Constitutional Changes (Nov. 23, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On November 13, 2011, Equatorial Guinea held a referendum on proposed constitutional changes. Official reports state that 91% of the electorate participated and that the proposals ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Equatorial Guinea

Government Permitted to Expropriate Certain Businesses (Nov. 14, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On November 9, 2011, the Parliament of Sri Lanka passed legislation that will permit the government of the country to expropriate 37 businesses that are currently ...

Topic: Commerce and industry
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Law on Taxes and Fees Amended (Nov. 07, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On October 13, 2011, Latvia amended its Law on Taxes and Fees; most of the new provisions will become effective on November 9. A number of ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Latvia

Expert Criticizes Plan to Repeal Laws on Indigenous Peoples (Nov. 03, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On October 28, 2011, James Anaya, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, advocated the rejection of a proposal made by one ...

Topic: Native peoples
Jurisdiction: Norway / United Nations

Supreme Court Orders Government to Enforce Law (Oct. 26, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On October 20, 2011, the Supreme Court of Mongolia ruled that the country's government must enforce its 2009 environmental protection resolution restricting mining in some locations. ...

Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: Mongolia

Activist Sentenced to Two Years in Jail (Oct. 26, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On October 20, 2011, a court in Senegal sentenced Malick Noel Seck to two years of imprisonment following his conviction for issuing a death threat and ...

Topic: Freedom of speech
Jurisdiction: Senegal

Implementation of New Immigration Law Delayed (Oct. 24, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Indonesia adopted a new law on immigration on April 7, 2011, replacing a 1992 statute. (Undang-undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 6 Tahun 2011 Tentang Keimigrasian [Law ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Draft Law on NGOs (Oct. 18, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On October 14, 2011, a United Nations human rights expert criticized a draft Cambodian law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as potentially in violation of international law, ...

Topic: Non-governmental organizations
Jurisdiction: Cambodia

South China Sea Agreement (Oct. 17, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On October 11, 2011, China and Vietnam signed an agreement aimed at resolving their disputes over control of parts of the South China Sea. The maritime ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: China / Vietnam

Psychologist Held in Contempt of Court in Torture Case (Oct. 11, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On October 6, 2011, a retired military psychologist refused to break client confidentiality in a case in Copenhagen's Eastern High Court and was charged with contempt ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Legal Aid Law Passed (Oct. 07, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On October 4, 2011, Indonesia's House of Representatives passed a new law on legal aid (Undang-undang tentang Bantuan Hukum [Law Concerning Legal Aid], House of ...

Topic: Lawyers
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Human Rights Office Calls for Protection of Roma from Discrimination (Oct. 06, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Beginning on September 23, 2011, Bulgaria has experienced demonstrations against the Roma people, an ethnic minority, which were set off when a Bulgarian was killed in ...

Topic: Discrimination
Jurisdiction: Bulgaria / United Nations

Medical Waste Regime Recommended (Sep. 19, 2011) by Constance Johnson

As reported on September 14, 2011, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Toxic Waste, Calin Georgescu, is proposing that an international legal regime ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Experts to Review Syrian Human Rights Abuses (Sep. 15, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On September 12, 2011, the Human Rights Council of the United Nations appointed three specialists to look into allegations of recent human rights abuses in Syria. ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Syria

Jurisdiction to Try Crimes Committed Abroad (Sep. 13, 2011) by Constance Johnson

As reported in early September 2011, India's Supreme Court has ruled that Indian citizens who commit crimes while abroad can in some cases be tried in ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: India

Amputation Imposed as Sentence for Theft (Sep. 13, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On September 8, 2011, a Shariah court in Nigeria's northern, predominately Muslim region sentenced two men to amputation for theft. The sentence of amputation at the ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Nigeria

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Begins Session (Sep. 06, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On August 29, 2011, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention began a five-day session to consider 43 cases of arbitrary dentention from 22 countries. ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Congo Assets Case Tests Sovereign Immunity (Sep. 01, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On August 26, 2011, China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee unanimously affirmed an earlier decision of a Hong Kong court, declaring that companies cannot sue ...

Topic: Sovereign immunity
Jurisdiction: China / Hong Kong

Court Sentences Anti-Slavery Activist, Acquits Others (Sep. 01, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On August 22, 2011, eight individuals accused of "unauthorized gathering and rebellion" were acquitted by a court in Mauritania, while the remaining defendant, Belkheir Ould Cheikh, ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Mauritania

Proposal to Change Funding for Asylum Programs (Aug. 29, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Iceland's Minister of the Interior, andOuml;gmundur Jonasson, recently proposed changing the way funding is allocated to support facilities for persons seeking asylum in the country. He ...

Topic: Refugees and asylum
Jurisdiction: Iceland

Special Rapporteur Says More Must Be Done on Human Trafficking (Aug. 24, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On August 19, 2011, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, said that Thailand must work more effectively against human trafficking. ...

Topic: Trafficking in persons
Jurisdiction: Thailand / United Nations

Court Rules Determines Only Federal Government Can Bring Treason Charges (Aug. 17, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On August 10, 2011, the Lahore High Court in Pakistan ruled that only the federal government has jurisdiction to charge a person with high treason. The ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Pakistan

Tax Holiday for Innovators (Aug. 17, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On August 15, 2011, Indonesia announced a plan to give major investors in some sectors of the economy a tax holiday. Companies considered to be pioneers ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Protection of Information Bill Controversial (Aug. 16, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On August 10, 2011, the South African organization Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) issued a statement criticizing a clause of the Protection of Information Bill as ...

Topic: Freedom of information
Jurisdiction: South Africa

State Companies to Limit Their Investments in Some Businesses (Aug. 11, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Vietnam's Ministry of Finance has drafted a decree that will change the maximum level of investment by state-owned enterprises in businesses outside of their core areas ...

Topic: Investments
Jurisdiction: Vietnam

House Approves Law on Futures Trading (Jul. 25, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On July 19, 2011, Indonesia's House of Representatives, the country's legislative body, passed a new law on futures trading, revising the 1997 Law on Commodity Futures ...

Topic: Securities markets
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Citizenship Changed for Residents from the South (Jul. 20, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On July 13, 2011, the Parliament of Sudan passed a law that ends Sudanese citizenship for residents of the newly independent state of South Sudan. Although ...

Topic: Nationality and citizenship
Jurisdiction: Sudan

Media Report Prompts Review of Asylum Procedures (Jul. 18, 2011) by Constance Johnson

A July 10, 2011, news story led the Ministry of Refugee, Immigration, and Integration Affairs of Denmark to review the implementation of its procedures for interviewing ...

Topic: Refugees and asylum
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Free Trade Agreement Meeting to Be Held (Jul. 11, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Pakistan and Sri Lanka held the tenth session of meetings of their Joint Economic Commission from July 4-5, 2011, in Islamabad, Pakistan. At the meetings, the ...

Topic: Trade and commerce
Jurisdiction: Pakistan / Sri Lanka

Framework Accord Between Government and Liberation Movement (Jul. 01, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On June 28, 2011, the "Framework Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-North) on Political Partnership between the National Congress ...

Topic: Treaties and agreements
Jurisdiction: Sudan

Lawyers Sue over Rights Violations (Jun. 10, 2011) by Constance Johnson

In late May 2011, lawyers from the East Africa Law Society (EALS) filed several suits with the East African Court of Justice in Arusha, Tanzania, against ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: East African Community / Kenya / Uganda

Court Ruling on Genocide Law (Jun. 07, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On June 1, 2011, Denmark's 1955 genocide law was ruled not applicable to the prosecution of foreigners for genocidal acts committed outside Denmark. The Roskilde Court, ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Court Rules for Plaintiff in Abortion Rights Case (Jun. 01, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On May 26, 2011, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued a judgment in an abortion case brought by a Polish woman who had been ...

Topic: Abortion
Jurisdiction: European Court of Human Rights / Poland

Law on Discrimination Based on Caste (May. 26, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On May 24, 2011, Nepal's legislature passed the Bill on Caste-Based Discrimination and Untouchability, designed to end discriminatory practices aimed at those considered to be members ...

Topic: Discrimination
Jurisdiction: Nepal

Amnesty for Military Coup Participants (May. 26, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On May 19, 2011, the unicameral legislature of Niger approved a law that gives amnesty from prosecution to members of the military ruling group that ousted ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Niger

Initiative on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (May. 26, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On May 20, 2011, the United Nations began the U.N. Indigenous Peoples' Partnership (UNIPP), an effort to protect the rights of indigenous peoples. The project was ...

Topic: Native peoples
Jurisdiction: United Nations

UN Officials Critical of Human Rights Record (May. 25, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Vijay Nambiar, the United Nations envoy for Burma (also called Myanmar), spoke in closed session to the U.N. Security Council concerning recent developments in the country. ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Burma / United Nations

Sexual Violence Trial Begins (May. 17, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On May 4, 2011, the trial of two men from Rwanda accused of ordering others to carry out massacres and multiple rapes in the Democratic Republic ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the / Germany

Eight Countries Sign Nagoya Protocol (May. 17, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On May 11, 2011, at the 19th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development held in New York, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, South ...

Topic: Biological diversity
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Indonesia Offers Assistance Toward Resolving Border Dispute (May. 11, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On May 8, 2011, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concluded a summit meeting in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, which is currently chairing the ...

Topic: Boundaries
Jurisdiction: Cambodia / Thailand

Measure to Counter Foreign Takeovers (May. 10, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On March 31, 2011, Italy issued a decree that established a national fund to acquire equity in companies in key industries if those companies are threatened ...

Topic: Commerce and industry
Jurisdiction: Italy

Senate Endorses New Law on Political Parties (May. 05, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On April 28, 2011, Burundi's Senate, one of the two houses that make up the country's legislature, passed a new law on political parties; it had ...

Topic: Politics and government
Jurisdiction: Burundi

Panel Finds Reports of War Crimes Credible (Apr. 29, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On April 25, 2011, the United Nations released the report that a panel of experts had completed about a month earlier, concerning accountability in the final ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka / United Nations

Convictions in War Crimes Trials (Apr. 26, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On April 15, 2011, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), a United Nations-sponsored war crimes tribunal based in The Hague, convicted two former ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: Croatia

Local Content Likely to Be Required in Energy Sector (Apr. 26, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Speaking on April 21, 2011, in Accra, Ghana, Deputy Minister of Energy Inusah Fuseini discussed the plan to make the country's local content and local participation ...

Topic: Energy
Jurisdiction: Ghana

Provisions on Real Estate Prices (Apr. 20, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On March 16, 2011, China's National Development and Reform Commission promulgated "Provisions on Clear Price Indication in Sales of Commercial Houses"; they will become effective on ...

Topic: Real property
Jurisdiction: China

Proposals Aimed at Services to Foreigners (Apr. 13, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Denmark's welfare state is experiencing stress due to high costs, and the government is considering moving from the current tax-based welfare model, the approach common in ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: Denmark

No Jurisdiction for Georgian Claim (Apr. 05, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On April 1, 2011, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague announced that it does not have jurisdiction to decide on a ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: International Court of Justice

Plan for Aid to University Students to Be Developed (Apr. 01, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Sri Lanka's Minister of Higher Education, S.B. Dissanayake, recently proposed a new law, the Human Capital Development Finance Act. The plan has been approved by the ...

Topic: Education
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Court Rules 1981 Martial Law Unconstitutional (Mar. 30, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On March 16, 2011, Poland's Constitutional Tribunal issued a ruling declaring the imposition of martial law in 1981 under the military government headed by General Wojciech ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Poland

Stricter Law Enforcement Planned (Mar. 28, 2011) by Constance Johnson

In two separate moves reported on March 25, 2011, the Netherlands moved to crack down on offenses. Under a plan announced by Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten, ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Netherlands

Use of Military, Police Against Civil Society Criticized (Mar. 28, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On March 23, 2011, the Zimbabwean human rights group Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition issued a statement denouncing the use of that country's army and police forces ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Zimbabwe

Reform of Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act Proposed (Mar. 25, 2011) by Constance Johnson

The international human rights organization Amnesty International (AI) has called on India to respect the rights of its people and stop the practice of carrying out ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: India

Single Visa Program Considered (Mar. 22, 2011) by Constance Johnson

The ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), based in Jakarta, Indonesia, recently issued a five-year strategic plan for tourism in the region. A key point ...

Topic: Documents
Jurisdiction: ASEAN

Torture Cases Heard (Mar. 21, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On March 18, 2011, the Zhalkair District Court in Kazakhstan began hearings in a case in which prison officials are accused of torture of inmates and ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Kazakhstan

Hamburger Tax Under Consideration (Mar. 17, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Matolcsy added that the specifics of which products would be taxed and how the revenue so raised would be used have not yet been determined. (Id.) ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Hungary

Supreme Court Ruling on Parliament's Authority over Police, Military (Mar. 17, 2011) by Constance Johnson

According to a unanimous decision of the Supreme Court of the Maldives, that country's police and national defense forces must answer questions from the Parliament's National ...

Topic: Police
Jurisdiction: Maldives

Group Questions Legality of Cabinet Appointments (Mar. 14, 2011) by Constance Johnson

A former Burmese political party formally dissolved last year, the National League for Democracy (NLD), recently published a statement arguing that the President-elect of the country ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Burma

Move Toward Providing Health Care, Education for Illegal Immigrants (Mar. 14, 2011) by Constance Johnson

The Swedish government and the Green Party recently announced an agreement on a policy toward migrants. The plan would allow even those in the country illegally ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: Sweden

Gender Equality Law on the Agenda (Mar. 14, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On March 8, 2011, the head of Indonesia's Ministry for the Empowerment of Women and the Protection of Children, Linda Agum Gumelar, announced at an event ...

Topic: Women
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Government Campaign Against Dengue Relies on Fines (Mar. 07, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Sri Lanka has resorted to fining individuals and businesses that do not take the necessary actions to curtail mosquito breeding as a part of the country's ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

New Investment Law Planned (Mar. 07, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Sri Lanka's Senior Minister of International Monetary Co-Operation, Dr. Sarath Amunugama, stated that the country's government plans to introduce a new investment law to encourage foreign ...

Topic: Investments
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Law on Intangible Cultural Heritage Adopted (Mar. 02, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On February 25, 2011, China's National People's Congress Standing Committee adopted a law on intangible cultural heritage (ICH) designed to preserve traditions considered to have historic, ...

Topic: Intellectual property
Jurisdiction: China

Nuclear Power Plant Law to Be Revised (Mar. 01, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On February 22, 2011, the Polish government announced its plan to amend the country's current law on construction of nuclear power plants; the Council of Ministers ...

Topic: Energy
Jurisdiction: Poland

Clearance Needed for Artists and Students to Go Abroad (Feb. 24, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On February 23, 2011, Pakistan's Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, described a government policy on Parkistani artists and students leaving the country with scholarships to study abroad. ...

Topic: National security
Jurisdiction: Pakistan

Calls for Inquiry into Possible Human Organ Sales (Feb. 23, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On February 16, 2011, Lamberto Zannier, Special Representative of the United Nations in Kosovo, called for an inquiry into allegations of trafficking in human organs in ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: Kosovo

State of Emergency over Tunisian Refugees (Feb. 22, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Italy has declared a state of emergency following the arrival, within five days, of 5,000 refugees from Tunisia on the small Italian island of Lampedusa, which ...

Topic: Refugees and asylum
Jurisdiction: Italy

Controversy over Proposed Media Law (Feb. 16, 2011) by Constance Johnson

The members of the journalist community in Kenya have raised concerns about a Media Bill 2010 proposed by the Minister for Information and Communication, Raphael Tuju, ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Kenya

Proposed Changes to Retirement Fund Rules (Feb. 14, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Sri Lanka's Minister of Labor, Gamini Lokuge, submitted a draft of the Employees' Provident Fund (Amendment) Act to the legislature. The amendment would make changes to ...

Topic: Pensions and retirement
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Transfer Tax for Long-Term Land Leases to Foreigners (Feb. 14, 2011) by Constance Johnson

Sri Lanka's Cabinet recently approved a plan to tax long-term leases of land to foreigners. The proposal came from Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of the country, ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Constitutional Amendment on Elections (Feb. 09, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On January 20, 2011, revisions of certain articles of the 2006 Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were adopted in Kinshasa. (Law 11/002, ...

Topic: Elections
Jurisdiction: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the

Retirement Age Raised (Feb. 03, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On January 25, 2011, Denmark's Prime Minister Lars Landoslash;kke Rasmussen announced a plan to reform the country's early retirement program. The move has two goals: to ...

Topic: Pensions and retirement
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Minimum Age for Migrant Domestic Workers Raised (Jan. 27, 2011) by Constance Johnson

In January 2011, the Cabinet of the Sri Lankan government approved a proposal to raise the minimum legal age of employment for migrant domestic workers from ...

Topic: Labor
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Irrigation Ordinance to Be Amended (Jan. 19, 2011) by Constance Johnson

It was reported on January 13, 2011, that Nimal Siripala de Silva, Sri Lanka's Minister of Irrigation and Water Management, has announced that the country's 64-year-old ...

Topic: Natural resources
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Supreme Court Permits Suit Against Prime Minister over Lisbon Treaty (Jan. 14, 2011) by Constance Johnson

On January 11, 2011, Denmark's Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, permitted a group of plaintiffs to sue the country's Prime Minister, Lars Loekke Rasmussen, over ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Denmark

New Law on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Jan. 11, 2011) by Constance Johnson

The Senate and the National Assembly of the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) passed a law on the rights of indigenous peoples on December 30, 2010. ...

Topic: Native peoples
Jurisdiction: Congo

New Law Bans Some Internet Content (Dec. 30, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On December 20, 2010, after less than a week of consideration and with the support of the ruling party, Venezuela's National Assembly adopted the Law on ...

Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: Venezuela

Government Considers Regulating Microfinance Companies (Dec. 28, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Sri Lanka does not at present regulate the companies that provide micro-financing to businesses in the country. Although there have not been a large number of ...

Topic: Banks and financial institutions
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Decision in CIA Kidnapping Case (Dec. 22, 2010) by Constance Johnson

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On December 15, 2010, the Appeals Court in Milan, Italy, rendered a decision in the case of the kidnapping of Abu Omar. Omar ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Italy

Law Enforcement Cooperation Agreement (Dec. 22, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On December 17, 2010, China and Russia agreed to increase the cooperation between the two nations in law enforcement. During a meeting between Chinese State Councilor ...

Topic: Police
Jurisdiction: China / Russian Federation

Measures on Release of Food Safety Information (Dec. 20, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On November 3, 2010, China's Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Commerce, together with other government agencies, jointly issued the Measures for Administration of Release of ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: China

Cabinet Action on Ownership of Alluvial Diamond Mines (Dec. 14, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Topic: Mining and mineral resources
Jurisdiction: Zimbabwe

Reform of Public Order Act Considered (Dec. 14, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On December 8, 2010, Zimbabwe's Parliament passed amendments to the country's Public Order and Security Act (Public Order and Security Act No. 1 of 2002, Cap. ...

Topic: Police
Jurisdiction: Zimbabwe

Lawsuit over Election Law Violations (Dec. 14, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On December 8, 2010, the main opposition party in the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), announced that it will sue four members ...

Topic: Elections
Jurisdiction: Taiwan

Violation of Convention Provision on Free Expression (Dec. 13, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On December 7, 2010, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Scotland had violated articles 10 and 13 of the European Convention on Human ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: European Court of Human Rights / Scotland

Examination of Recent Incidents as Possible War Crimes (Dec. 09, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On December 7, 2010, Luis Moreno Ocampo, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), stated that following the receipt of communications from Korean citizens on ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: International Criminal Court / South Korea

Air Cargo Carriers Fined by European Commission for Cartel (Dec. 01, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On November 9, 2010, 11 air cargo carriers were fined by the European Commission for maintaining a six-year cartel over surcharges for fuel and security costs. ...

Topic: Aviation
Jurisdiction: European Union

Agreement to Cooperate on Security Research (Nov. 29, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On November 18, 2010, the European Union and the United States concluded the Implementing Arrangement for Cooperative Activities in the Field of Homeland/Civil Security Research. The ...

Topic: National security
Jurisdiction: European Union / United States

Anti-Doping Treaty Ratified (Nov. 24, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On November 17, 2010, Fiji deposited its instrument of ratification of the International Convention Against Doping in Sport with the United Nations. Under the provisions of ...

Topic: Sports
Jurisdiction: Fiji

Dual Citizenship Law Vetoed (Nov. 23, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On November 18, 2010, Dalia Grybauskaite, the President of Lithuania, vetoed a new Law on Citizenship that would have permitted dual citizenship in more cases than ...

Topic: Nationality and citizenship
Jurisdiction: Lithuania

Code of Conduct for Legislators Approved (Nov. 22, 2010) by Constance Johnson

In a November 9, 2010, report on the progress made by nations applying for European Union membership, the European Commission praised Iceland's recent reforms. The report ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: European Union / Iceland

Nuclear Security Agreement (Nov. 18, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On November 4, 2010, the United States' National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) concluded a memorandum of understanding with the West African nation of Cameroon. The cooperation ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: Cameroon / United States

New Rules on Tax Residence Forms (Nov. 16, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Serbia's Minister of Finance adopted a rulebook on tax residence certificate forms on October 21, 2010, that will become effective on January 1, 2011. As of ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Serbia

Businessman Convicted of Genocide (Nov. 12, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On November 1, 2010, Gaspard Kanyarukiga was convicted of supervising the massacre of 2,000 Rwandans in 1994. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) found Kanyarukiga, ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Rwanda

Venice Commission Recommends Further Amendment of Language Law (Nov. 12, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The Slovak Republic enacted a State Language Law that became effective on September 1, 2009. The Law limited the public use of languages of minority peoples ...

Topic: Languages
Jurisdiction: Slovak Republic

Prime Minister Plans to End Child Soldiering (Nov. 10, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On November 2, 2010, Somalia's Prime Minister, Mohammed Abdullah I Mohammed, met in Somalia's capital city of Mogadishu with the United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative ...

Topic: Children
Jurisdiction: Somalia

Proposal to Strengthen Legislature (Nov. 10, 2010) by Constance Johnson

In late October 2010, the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) submitted its model constitution to the Constitutional Select Committee and to the Constitutional Affairs Minister, Eric ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Zimbabwe

Eligibility for Shorter Jail Terms for Foreigners Proposed (Nov. 08, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Bermuda's Home Affairs Minister, David Burch, has said that the government plans to amend legislation to establish the eligibility of foreign inmates for shorter terms of ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Bermuda

Proposal to Ban Arabic-Language News Channels (Nov. 05, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The leader of the Danish People's Party (DF), Pia Kjandaelig;rsgaard, has recently proposed banning access to two Arabic-language news channels, Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya. The ...

Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Government Group Established to Implement Reconciliation Commission Findings (Nov. 04, 2010) by Constance Johnson

In order to implement the recommendations of the Sri Lankan Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, the country's Cabinet decided on October 28, 2010, to establish an ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Real Estate Administration Notice Published (Oct. 29, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On September 21, 2010, China's Ministry of Land and Resources and Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development jointly issued the Notice on "Further Intensifying Administration and ...

Topic: Real property
Jurisdiction: China

Special Human Trafficking Court to Be Established in Dubai (Oct. 28, 2010) by Constance Johnson

According to a statement given recently by Judge Ahmed Ibrahim Saif to the EMARAT AL YOUM newspaper, Dubai is planning to set up a special court ...

Topic: Trafficking in persons
Jurisdiction: United Arab Emirates

Torture Committee Chair Calls for Increased Efforts (Oct. 27, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Claudio Grossman, the Chairperson of the United Nations Committee Against Torture, stated on October 19, 2010, that countries need to increase their efforts to combat the ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Election Process Called "Deeply Flawed" (Oct. 27, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Tomandaacute;s Ojea Quintana, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Myanmar (Burma), stated on October 21, 2010, that he is disappointed with ...

Topic: Elections
Jurisdiction: Burma

War Crimes Case Confirmed (Oct. 26, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On October 19, 2010, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that it was charging a former official of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with war ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the / International Criminal Court

Supreme Court Decides Sex Discrimination Case (Oct. 26, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On October 22, 2010, Finland's Supreme Court decided that a Lutheran clergyman was guilty of discrimination based on gender. The case stemmed from a 2007 incident ...

Topic: Discrimination
Jurisdiction: Finland

International Criminal Court Treaty Signed (Oct. 15, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On October 13, 2010, Moldova signed the 1998 Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC). There are now 114 parties to this ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: Moldova

Attorney Calls for Resignation of Head of Supreme People's Court (Oct. 13, 2010) by Constance Johnson

According to a recent report from the advocacy group Human Rights in China (HRIC), Yang Jinzhu, a prominent defense attorney, has begun a non-violent protest campaign ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: China

Water, Sanitation Rights Binding (Oct. 06, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on September 30, 2010, that declares the right to safe drinking water and sanitation to be basic ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: U.N. Human Rights Council

Draft Law on Public Gatherings Criticized (Oct. 04, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Uganda's proposed law, the Public Order Management Bill, has been criticized by a number of legislators and by civil society organizations as limiting civil liberties, as ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Uganda

Reduction of Salaries Proposed for Judges (Oct. 01, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek announced on September 26, 2010, that in two weeks the government will propose the lowering of the salaries of judges and ...

Topic: Judges
Jurisdiction: Czech Republic

Rapes to Be Investigated by U.N. Official (Sep. 30, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On September 28, 2010, Margot Wallstrand#337;m, the United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, began a mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the / United Nations

Terror Charges Against Pakistanis Dismissed (Sep. 29, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On September 23, 2010, in Uganda, the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court released two men from Pakistan who had been in custody in the case of the ...

Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: Uganda

Mediation Boards Planned for Northern Province (Sep. 29, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The Ministry of Justice of Sri Lanka has announced plans to establish mediation boards for the Northern Province of the country, with one board in each ...

Topic: Civil procedure
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Pain Management for Dying Patients (Sep. 28, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On September 23, 2010, the Finnish government announced new guidelines for the care of the dying. The new rules apply to both public and private institutions ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: Finland

Report on Human Rights Violations Disputed (Sep. 28, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The Government of Burundi sent a strong protest, in the form of an official note to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, over a draft U.N. report ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Burundi

Humanitarian Law Seminar (Sep. 28, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On September 28, 2010, a three-day seminar, "National Implementation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL)," began in Abuja, Nigeria. Senior government officials from 35 states that are ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: Economic Community of West African States

Report Recommends Investigation of Extrajudicial Killings (Sep. 24, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On September 23, 2010, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal released a report recommending the establishment of an ...

Topic: Police
Jurisdiction: Nepal / United Nations

Court Rejects Appeal of Case Involving Sodomy Charge Against Opposition Leader (Sep. 23, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On September 20, 2010, the Court of Appeals in Malaysia rejected an appeal from an August 16 decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court in a ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Malaysia

Officials Urge De-Criminalizing Homosexuality (Sep. 21, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On September 17, 2010, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, called for all the nations of the world to eliminate criminal law ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Annual Treaty Signing Campaign Launched (Sep. 21, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The third week of September is the annual United Nations push to have nations sign, ratify, or accede to a number of international accords. The ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Rules for Victim Participation, Reparations to Be Considered by Tribunal (Sep. 17, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia, the body conducting the war crimes trial of members of the Khmer Rouge, opened its eighth plenary session ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: Cambodia

Journalist Released on Bail (Sep. 16, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Shiva Nazar Ahari, a journalist arrested in 2009, was tried in September 2010 in Tehran on charges of "warring against God" (Moharebeh), conspiring to commit a ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Iran

Commission Suggests Charging Officials with Negligence in Financial Crisis (Sep. 16, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On September 11, 2010, a nine-member parliamentary commission in Iceland recommended that the former Prime Minister of that country, Geir Haarde, be charged, tried, and punished ...

Topic: Banks and financial institutions
Jurisdiction: Iceland

Mining Banned in Three Provinces (Sep. 16, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On September 11, 2010, Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), ordered that mining be suspended in three provinces in the eastern ...

Topic: Mining and mineral resources
Jurisdiction: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the

Plan to Introduce Resolution on Religious Minorities (Sep. 13, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On September 13, 2010, Italy's Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, announced that the country plans to present a resolution at the next United Nations General Assembly. ...

Topic: Religion
Jurisdiction: Italy / United Nations

MOU Signed on Shared Satellite (Sep. 10, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Norway and Spain are planning to jointly acquire and run a communications satellite; the two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the project on September ...

Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: Norway / Spain

Preliminary Draft Constitution Prepared (Sep. 09, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On September 2, 2010, Niger's ruling Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy released a description of a new, draft constitution for the country. Among the ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Niger

Concern Raised over Executions (Sep. 01, 2010) by Constance Johnson

In August 2010, four men, including three former military officers, were executed in Equatorial Guinea, after having been charged with treason and terrorism. They were accused ...

Topic: Capital punishment
Jurisdiction: Equatorial Guinea / United Nations

Free Health Care to Be Limited for Addicts (Aug. 31, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On August 26, 2010, Maithripala Sirisena, Sri Lanka's Minister of Health, announced a plan to amend that country's laws so that the free medical facilities that ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Aid to Combat Corruption (Aug. 25, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is working to build up the justice system of Afghanistan, in order to fight corruption. UNODC ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Afghanistan / United Nations

Genocide Ideology Law Being Reviewed (Aug. 20, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Rwanda's government has invited the non-governmental organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to comment on the three-year-old genocide ideology law that is at present under ...

Topic: Freedom of speech
Jurisdiction: Rwanda

Human Rights Commissioner Asks Return of Blood Diamonds (Aug. 19, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Sierra Leone's Human Rights Commissioner, Yasmin Jusu-Sheriff, recently called for the return of the "blood diamonds" that internationally known model Naomi Campbell was given by Charles ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: Sierra Leone

Cluster Munitions Convention in Effect (Aug. 09, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On August 1, 2010, the Convention on Cluster Munitions came into force (text available from the Convention website, http://
www.clusterconvention.org/pages/pages_ii/iia_textenglish.html (last visited Aug. ...

Topic: Weapons
Jurisdiction: International

First Sentence for a Government Official Tied to Drug Trafficking (Aug. 09, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On August 3, 2010, the Primary Court of the Afghan Criminal Justice Task Force sentenced a former police chief to ten years in prison, in addition ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Afghanistan

High Court Upholds War Crimes Conviction (Aug. 05, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On July 30, 2010, Croatia's Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Branimir Glavas on war crimes charges, but reduced his sentence from ten years of imprisonment ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: Croatia

Extradition of Terror Suspects Approved by Court (Aug. 05, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On July 29, 2010, an appeals court in Senegal approved the extradition to their home country of three men from Morocco who had been accused of ...

Topic: Extradition
Jurisdiction: Senegal

Reparations Paid for 1990 Invasion of Kuwait (Aug. 03, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On July 29, 2010, new reparations totaling US$650 million were paid by the United Nations for losses incurred from the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in ...

Topic: War
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Protestant Church Ordered to Pay Damages (Aug. 02, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On July 29, 2010, the Minsk City Economic Court, in Belarus, ordered a church to pay compensation for environmental damage it allegedly caused in the city. ...

Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: Belarus

Case Against Legislator Criticized (Jul. 16, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On July 13, 2010, the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR) released a report on the August 2009 case before the Phnom Penh Municipal Court against ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Cambodia

Trial of Congolese Leader to Continue (Jul. 14, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On July 12, 2010, Judge Erkki Kourula and Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova of the International Criminal Court (ICC) turned down a request by Germain Katanga, a militia ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: International Criminal Court

Wiretapping Bill Criticized (Jul. 14, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On July 13, 2010, Frank La Rue, United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, criticized a draft Italian law on wiretapping. The proposed law covers ...

Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: Italy / United Nations

Business Tax Exemptions (Jul. 13, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On June 28, 20210, China's State Administration of Taxation issued a ruling exempting certain proceeds from business taxation. The exempted proceeds are those earned through providing ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: China

Student Grant Rules to Be Changed (Jul. 09, 2010) by Constance Johnson

It was reported on July 8, 2010, that Denmark's government is planning to amend rules on state grants to students to limit the number of years ...

Topic: Education
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Protest Staged Against Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Jul. 08, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On July 6, 2010, members of the largest opposition party in Sri Lanka's legislature, the United National Party (UNP), held a demonstration against the constitutional amendments ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Bill Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Passed by National Assembly (Jul. 07, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On July 6, 2010, the French National Assembly adopted a bill that prohibits the use of cluster munitions; the vote was unanimous. The bill had been ...

Topic: Weapons
Jurisdiction: France

Workers Permitted to Carry Knives in Public (Jun. 29, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Under a new rule issued by the Crown Prosecutor of Denmark, Jandoslash;rgen Steen Sandoslash;rensen, an existing ban on possession of knives in public has been relaxed. ...

Topic: Weapons
Jurisdiction: Denmark

NGOs Press for End of Emergency (Jun. 25, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On June 22, 2010, 55 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) issued a statement asking that the Thai government end the state of emergency that has been in place ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Thailand

Tax Ordinance Adopted (Jun. 25, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On June 23, 2010, Romania published an Emergency Ordinance designed to combat tax evasion and improve the collection of taxes (Ordinance No. 54, Official Gazette No. ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Romania

Global Labor Standard on HIV/AIDS Adopted (Jun. 21, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On June 17, 2010, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations body devoted to labor issues, adopted a standard on HIV and AIDS. The action ...

Topic: AIDS
Jurisdiction: International Labour Organization

Court Strikes Down Harsher Penalties for Illegal Immigrants (Jun. 17, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On June 10, 2010, Italy's Constitutional Court held unconstitutional a law that had imposed stricter penalties for illegal immigrants if they were convicted of other crimes ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: Italy

Same-Sex Marriage Approved (Jun. 17, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The Althingi, Iceland's parliament, on June 11, 2010, unanimously approved same-sex marriages. The new concept of marriage as being neutral on gender-orientation will replace the ...

Topic: Family
Jurisdiction: Iceland

Court Rules Against Guaranteed Income for Students at Religious Institutes (Jun. 16, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On June 14, 2010, Israel's High Court of Justice issued a ruling that ends the payment of a guaranteed income to certain students. The group affected ...

Topic: Education
Jurisdiction: Israel

War Crimes Conviction for Seven Serbs (Jun. 16, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On June 10, 2010, two former Bosnian Serb officers were given sentences of life in prison by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

New Tax on Use of State-Owned Land (Jun. 11, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Albania's Parliament adopted a law on April 22, 2010, that initiates a tax for the use of state-owned land for construction (Law No. 10270, On the ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Albania

Press and Broadcasting Laws to Be Revised (Jun. 10, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On June 3, 2010, the government of Macau announced that the 20-year old Press Law and Broadcasting Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) would ...

Topic: Press
Jurisdiction: Macau

First Convictions in Bhopal Case (Jun. 09, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On June 7, 2010, a court in India convicted seven men of "death by negligence" in the 1984 Bhopal chemical disaster. These were the first convictions ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: India

Deforestation Agreement (Jun. 07, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Indonesia and Norway have established a partnership through which Norway will grant the equivalent of US$1 billion in aid to Indonesia for forest preservation and climate ...

Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: Indonesia / Norway

Evidence Obtained by Torture to Be Excluded (Jun. 03, 2010) by Constance Johnson

It was reported in the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST on May 31, 2010, that two new sets of guidelines have been issued by China that limit ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: China

Call for Nations to Join ICC (Jun. 02, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On May 28, 2010, three days before the opening in Kampala, Uganda, of the first review conference on the International Criminal Court (ICC), United Nations Secretary-General ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: International Criminal Court

Court Authorizes Extradition of Terror Suspect (Jun. 02, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On May 31, 2010, the Court of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, authorized the extradition to the United States of a terrorism suspect from Somalia. The suspect, ...

Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: Netherlands

Gay Couple Pardoned (Jun. 02, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On May 29, 2010, Malawi's President, Bingu wa Mutharika, announced a pardon for Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, who had been sentenced to 14 years of ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Malawi

Trial of Somali Pirates Underway (May. 27, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On May 25, 2010, the District Court of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, began what is expected to be a five-day trial of five Somali citizens accused ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Netherlands

Anti-Terror Squad Abuses Alleged (May. 27, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On May 26, 2010, the Muslim Lawyers Team (TPM, a group of lawyers known for defending the suspects in the Bali bombing of 2002) submitted a ...

Topic: Police
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Mine Ownership Proposal (May. 24, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On May 19, 2010, the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, an umbrella organization of companies involved in the mining industry, proposed a much more moderate rule ...

Topic: Mining and mineral resources
Jurisdiction: Zimbabwe

Anti-Corruption Plan Adopted (May. 24, 2010) by Constance Johnson

In April 2010, Vietnam adopted an implementation plan for the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC, signed by Vietnam on Dec. 10, 2003, and ratified on ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Vietnam

Court Orders Confiscation of Musharraf's Property (May. 20, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On May 13, 2010, the Peshawar High Court in Pakistan dismissed an appeal, thereby upholding a lower court's verdict on the confiscation of the property of ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Pakistan

Amendment to Regulate Phone Taps to Be Introduced (May. 17, 2010) by Constance Johnson

India's government has announced it will introduce amendments to the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, to regulate and broaden permissible use of passive (off-the-air interception) of phone ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: India

Constitutional Reform to Be Proposed (May. 13, 2010) by Constance Johnson

According to Sri Lankan Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena, that country's government is preparing draft constitutional reforms. The proposal is now being considered by the Attorney ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Terror Suspects Convicted, Sentenced (May. 13, 2010) by Constance Johnson

It was reported on May 10, 2010, that eight people were convicted in Belgium for leading a terrorist group and recruiting people to fight for the ...

Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: Belgium

Conference on Child Labor (May. 11, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On May 10, 2010, a two-day conference opened in The Hague to discuss a campaign to end the worst forms of child labor. The conference's ...

Topic: Labor
Jurisdiction: International Labour Organization / Netherlands

Fines Impopsed for Illegal Additives in Fish (May. 10, 2010) by Constance Johnson

It was reported on May 6, 2010, that five Danish companies have recently been fined for adding a banned dye to salmon. The additive, sodium nitrite, ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Piracy Prosecution Center to Be Established (May. 07, 2010) by Constance Johnson

With the support of the United Nations, Seychelles will establish a center to prosecute pirates apprehended by the European Union Naval Force Somalia Operation (EU NAVFOR). ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Seychelles / United Nations

Older Foreigners to Be Permitted to Own Property (May. 06, 2010) by Constance Johnson

In a move designed to make Indonesia attractive to foreign retirees, the government is considering revising regulations to permit foreigners over the age of 55 to ...

Topic: Real property
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Free Legal Aid for Detainees (May. 03, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On April 28, 2010, a meeting was held in Amman, Jordan, to review the United Nations program to provide legal assistance to detainees in Iraq. Aid ...

Topic: Lawyers
Jurisdiction: Iraq / United Nations

Law on Public Information in Force (Apr. 30, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On April 30, 2010, Indonesia's Law on Freedom of Information will come into effect; it was adopted in 2008. Under its provisions, public institutions, including government ...

Topic: Freedom of information
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Whistleblower Protection Law to Be Considered (Apr. 26, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On April 20, 2010, Liberia's President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, sent a bill to the country's two legislative bodies, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Liberia

Funds Sought for Genocide Court (Apr. 22, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On April 19, 2010, United Nations Under Secretary-General Patricia O'Brien, the U.N. Legal Counsel, called for donors to contribute funds to support the genocide tribunal in ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: Cambodia / United Nations

Parliamentary Panel Blames Officials for Role in Financial Collapse (Apr. 13, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On April 12, 2010, a Special Investigation Committee of the Althingi, Iceland's parliament, released a special report on the collapse in 2008 of the country's financial ...

Topic: Banks and financial institutions
Jurisdiction: Iceland

Legal Aid Group Reports Torture of Detainees (Apr. 13, 2010) by Constance Johnson

According to a survey released on April 9, 2010, between 70 and 80% of those detained by the police in Indonesia were the victims of torture ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

New Finance Law Adopted (Apr. 09, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On January 1, 2010, Benin adopted a new Finance Law; it went into effect on the same day. The new provisions change the withholding tax rates ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Benin

Appeals Tribunal Hears First Cases (Apr. 08, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The United Nations internal appeals tribunal, established in 2009 to handle disputes between staff members and managers of the international body, handled 33 cases in its ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Seven Laws Approved in Principle (Apr. 07, 2010) by Constance Johnson

At the Lao Government's last monthly meeting, held March 29-31, 2010, seven legal documents were approved in principle. The documents are designed to support the country's ...

Topic: Legal systems
Jurisdiction: Laos

Court Denies Injunction Against Protest (Apr. 07, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On April 5, 2010, a court in Thailand denied a request from that nation's government for an injunction against protesters in the capital city of Bangkok. ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Thailand

Tax Law, Treaties Adopted (Apr. 07, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The Government of Liechtenstein adopted the Law on Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters on March 30, 2010. This legislation will facilitate the implementation of agreements on ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Liechtenstein

Decision on Withholding Rule (Apr. 05, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On March 15, 2010, the Delhi High Court delivered a ruling on the issue of whether Indian companies that pay mobilization and demobilization costs to foreign ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: India

Resolution Critical of Record on Freedoms (Mar. 31, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On March 26, 2010, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) passed a resolution calling for Myanmar's (Burma's) government to ensure that this year's elections are ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Burma / U.N. Human Rights Council

War Crimes Trials Planned; ICC Ratified (Mar. 29, 2010) by Constance Johnson

In February 2010, the Government of Bangladesh announced that trials would be held for those accused of war crimes during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Prosecutors ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: Bangladesh

New Guidelines on Inheritance and Gift Taxes (Mar. 24, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Finland's government issued new guidelines on March 8, 2010, that affect the taxation of inheritances and gifts received after January 1, 2010. The goal in ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Finland

Finance Law Adopted (Mar. 17, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On February 5, 2010, Gabon adopted a new Finance Law. It is applicable from the beginning of the year and sets individual income tax rates based ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Gabon

Agreement on Technical Assistance in Africa (Mar. 16, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On March 9, 2010, a memorandum of understanding was concluded by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) at ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: United Nations / World Trade Organization

Emergency Laws Extended (Mar. 12, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On March 9, 2010, Sri Lanka's Parliament, which had been dissolved, met for a short session to approve a one-month extension for the nation's emergency laws. ...

Topic: National security
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Defense Mobilization Law Approved (Mar. 10, 2010) by Constance Johnson

China's National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) approved the National Defense Mobilization Law on February 26, 2010; it was promulgated by President Hu Jintao and will ...

Topic: National defense
Jurisdiction: China

Anti-Terror Law Rejected by Constitutional Council (Mar. 08, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On March 4, 2010, following an appeal by 32 Members of the National Assembly, the Constitutional Council of Mauritania rejected the country's new law on terrorism, ...

Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: Mauritania

Proposed Budget Includes Tax Changes (Mar. 03, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Both direct and indirect tax regimes will be amended under the 2010/2011 budget presented by the Indian government on February 26, 2010. The direct tax amendments ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: India

Tax Procedures Changed (Mar. 01, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Albania's tax procedures have been amended by a law that became effective on February 5, 2010. Law No. 10209 amends tax reporting, violation, and penalty provisions ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Albania

Stamp Duty on Some Property Sales (Feb. 25, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On February 19, 2010, Singapore's Inland Revenue Authority issued a tax guide in electronic form on the imposition of a stamp duty on the seller of ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Singapore

Convention on Displaced Persons Ratified (Feb. 25, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Uganda recently became the first nation to ratify the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (the Kampala Convention). The agreement ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: African Union / Uganda

New Budget Includes Tax Changes (Feb. 22, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The 2010 budget for the Ivory Coast includes a number of tax provisions. Newly incorporated companies will be given tax incentives, as will companies that resume ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Ivory Coast

Deal Made to Compensate Toxic Waste Victims (Feb. 19, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Victims of toxic waste poisoning in the Ivory Coast have reached an agreement with the Dutch company Trafigura; the deal concerns distribution of approximately US$45 million ...

Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: Ivory Coast

Cluster Munitions Treaty to Take Effect (Feb. 19, 2010) by Constance Johnson

According to a February 16, 2010, United Nations press release, the Convention on Cluster Munitions will enter into force in August 2010. The 29th and 30th ...

Topic: Weapons
Jurisdiction: International

Legal Profession Developing (Feb. 18, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The legal profession has grown in China in the last few years. According to Ministry of Justice statistics for 2009, there were more than 15,000 law ...

Topic: Lawyers
Jurisdiction: China

New Finance Law in Force (Feb. 12, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Mauritania's Finance Law for 2010, which was adopted on December 23, 2009, came into effect on January 1, 2010. It includes provisions on direct taxation, indirect ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Mauritania

Tax Reform in Place (Feb. 12, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On January 28 and 29, 2010, Burkina Faso's Parliament adopted new legislation to reform the tax system in the country. The changes include introducing a corporate ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Burkina Faso

Tax Administration Guidelines on Islamic Finance (Feb. 04, 2010) by Constance Johnson

The tax administration of Luxembourg issued a circular on January 12, 2010, on taxation of Islamic finance instruments. (Circular L.G.A. No. 55, cited in Ren; Offermanns, ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Luxembourg

Legislature Passes Constitutional Amendment (Jan. 29, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On January 28, 2010, Nepal's legislature passed the seventh amendment to the country's interim constitution. The amendment, which passed with a two-thirds majority, will permit the ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Nepal

Supreme Court Upholds Controversial Immigration Law (Jan. 27, 2010) by Constance Johnson

In January 2010, Denmark's Supreme Court issued a decision in an immigration case that retains a controversial rule. Since 2002, immigrants to Denmark that become naturalized ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Criminal Age May Be Lowered (Jan. 26, 2010) by Constance Johnson

Denmark's parliament began hearings on January 12, 2010, on a bill that would lower the age of criminal responsibility to 14. At present, it appears that ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Denmark

New Obligation to Report Payments to Tax Havens (Jan. 25, 2010) by Constance Johnson

As of the first of this year, Belgian companies and the permanent establishments in Belgium of foreign companies are required to include on their tax returns ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Belgium

Anti-Corruption Law Planned (Jan. 25, 2010) by Constance Johnson

According to a statement by Dilan Perera, a Member of the Sri Lankan parliament and the Justice Minister, the country's President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is planning to ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Budget Promulgated with New Tax Rates (Jan. 13, 2010) by Constance Johnson

On December 31, 2009, Madagascar's 2010 budget was promulgated as Ordinance No. 2009-14. It includes information on direct and indirect taxation rates. The rate for corporate ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Madagascar

Finance Law Effective New Year's Day (Dec. 31, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On November 10, 2009, the Minister of Finance of Niger announced a Finance Law 2010 bill. If approved, the new Law will come into force on ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Niger

Wiretapping of Jurists Ruled Out (Dec. 31, 2009) by Constance Johnson

It was reported on December 29, 2009, Turkey's Council of State has ruled against a law that would have permitted the Justice Ministry to wiretap judges ...

Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: Turkey

Partnership with ICANN on Linguistic Diversity (Dec. 29, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) recently agreed to cooperate so as to ...

Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: UNESCO

Regional Government Bill Proposed (Dec. 22, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On December 8, 2009, Ugandan local government minister Adolf Mwesige introduced in the parliament the Regional Governments Bill 2009. (Joyce Namutebi, Regional Governments Bill Tabled, THE ...

Topic: Government organization
Jurisdiction: Uganda

Freedom of Information Act Approved by Senate (Dec. 17, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On December 14, 2009, the Senate of the Philippines approved a Freedom of Information Act designed to allow access to key public documents, including those related ...

Topic: Freedom of information
Jurisdiction: Philippines

VAT Rules Amended (Dec. 10, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On November 13, 2009, Finland's President ratified a law that implements two European Council Directives on value-added taxation, 2008/8/EC of February 12, 2009, and 2008/9/EC of ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Finland

Social Security Contributions Law (Dec. 07, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On November 23, 2009, implementation regulations for the Law on a Single System of Registration, Control and Collection of Social Security Contributions (the Law) of the ...

Topic: Government organization
Jurisdiction: Bosnia-Herzegovina

Amended Rules on Tax Deferral (Dec. 03, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The Swedish Parliament enacted a bill on November 25, 2009, that amends and liberalizes existing law on the tax applied to individuals in cases of exchange ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Sweden

Several Tax Information Accords Concluded (Dec. 03, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On September 10, 2009, the Netherlands (in respect of Netherlands Antilles) and Norway signed an amending protocol to their income and capital tax treaty of November ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Netherlands

Fishing Treaty Approved (Dec. 01, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On November 25, 2009, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced its approval of a new treaty designed to close ports to illegal fishing ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Child Rights Still a World-Wide Challenge (Nov. 24, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted 20 years ago and has been ratified by 193 countries, the highest number of any human ...

Topic: Children
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Ban on Export of Unfinished Lumber (Nov. 23, 2009) by Constance Johnson

According to a November 6, 2009, announcement, confirmed by the Ministry of Water and Forests, Gabon has decided to ban the export of unhewn timber, beginning ...

Topic: Natural resources
Jurisdiction: Gabon

Agreement on Removing Radioactive Batteries (Nov. 19, 2009) by Constance Johnson

In mid-November 2009, Norway and Finland signed an agreement in which they committed to cooperation with Russia on removing radioactive batteries from the Baltic Sea. The ...

Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: Finland / Norway

Civil Partnerships Permitted for Same-Sex Couples (Nov. 19, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Following weeks of disagreement between Austrian political groups on the subject, on November 17, 2009, the government agreed to permit the registration of civil partnerships for ...

Topic: Family
Jurisdiction: Austria

Bill to Reorganize Nuclear, Space Authorities (Nov. 17, 2009) by Constance Johnson

According to a report in the Lahore newspaper THE DAILY TIMES, on November 11, 2009, Azra Fazal Pechuho, chairperson of the Standing Committee on Defence of ...

Topic: Government organization
Jurisdiction: Pakistan

Report on Environment in Times of Conflict Released (Nov. 10, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On November 6, 2009, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) released a report calling for better environmental protection in wartime. Natural assets need to be better ...

Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Tax Reforms Considered (Nov. 09, 2009) by Constance Johnson

According to recent remarks made by the Treasury Secretary of Sri Lanka, the government is considering reforming the country's tax structure. The purpose of the new ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Treaty on Internally Displaced Persons (Oct. 27, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On October 23, 2009, a new treaty was endorsed at a special summit of African Union heads of state, held in Kampala, Uganda. The treaty concerns ...

Topic: Refugees and asylum
Jurisdiction: African Union

Court Rules Turkey Violated Press Rights (Oct. 26, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On October 20, 2009, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) unanimously ruled that Turkish government actions in closing four newspapers had violated provisions on press ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: European Court of Human Rights

New Measures on Certificates of Practice for Lawyers (Oct. 23, 2009) by Constance Johnson

China's Ministry of Justice promulgated measures on September 21, 2009, designed to regulate the way in which certificates of practice are issued to lawyers and law ...

Topic: Lawyers
Jurisdiction: China

Organ Trafficking Treaty Proposed (Oct. 15, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On October 13, 2009, a study on human organ trafficking, issued jointly by the United Nations and the Council of Europe, was released. (TRAFFICKING IN ORGANS, ...

Topic: Transplantation of organs and tissues
Jurisdiction: Council of Europe / United Nations

U.N. Expert Decries Human Rights Situation (Oct. 06, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On October 1, 2009, Surya Subedi, an independent United Nations expert, spoke of concerns about human rights in Cambodia. The issues raised include the lack of ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Cambodia

Treaty Signing Initiative Successful (Oct. 05, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The United Nations' annual push to have international conventions signed by a large number of countries was highly successful as of the end of September 2009, ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Constitutional Court Established (Oct. 05, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On September 27, 2009, Qatar's Constitutional Court began its work. Originally it was to begin functioning on October 1, 2008; administrative problems delayed the start date. ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: Qatar

Proposal to Compensate Businesses for Computer Hacking of Banks (Oct. 05, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Denmark's Ministry of Commerce has proposed that the country's Financial Supervisory Authority consider a plan to require banks to compensate small businesses for losses due to ...

Topic: Banks and financial institutions
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Shenzhen Stock Exchange Rules (Oct. 01, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On September 15, 2009, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange issued the "Implementing Rules on Listing and Trading of Shares with Sale Restrictions of Listed Companies on the ...

Topic: Securities markets
Jurisdiction: China

Treaty on Maritime Goods Transportation (Sep. 25, 2009) by Constance Johnson

A United Nations treaty on the transportation of goods by sea, adopted by the General Assembly in December 2009, was signed on September 23, 2009, in ...

Topic: Maritime law
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Action Taken Against Book Publication on National Security Grounds (Sep. 24, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On September 16, 2009, the Danish newspaper POLITIKEN published a book entitled JandAElig;GER I KRIG MED ELITEN (HUNTER AT WAR WITH THE ELITE), by ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Secretary-General Urges Signing of Treaties of Global Significance (Sep. 24, 2009) by Constance Johnson

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging nations to sign, ratify, or accede to international treaties with universal implications. The topics of the 39 highlighted accords ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Court Rules Against Poker Player (Sep. 16, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Denmark's Supreme Court ruled recently that a man who had won 194,000 kroner (about US$37,700) playing poker online had to surrender his winnings. The gambler was ...

Topic: Gambling
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Proposed Secrecy Law Controversial (Sep. 16, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Indonesia's government and House of Representatives have agreed on a state secrecy bill that includes the death penalty for those convicted of revealing state secrets. The ...

Topic: Freedom of information
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Highway Safety Code Revised, Fines Increased (Sep. 11, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Among other changes, Italy's new law on traffic offenses imposes heavier penalties for illegal acts that occur in the overnight hours, between 10 p.m. and 7 ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: Italy

Pirate Fishing Agreement Drafted (Sep. 09, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The "Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing," sponsored by the United Nations, has now been worked out ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Environmental Bill Would Strengthen Ministry's Powers (Sep. 03, 2009) by Constance Johnson

A meeting was held in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, on August 26, 2009, to draft a bill to revise the Environmental Law of 1999. The participants included ...

Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Judges Named as Soft on Corruption (Aug. 28, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), a non-governmental organization established in 1998, has issued a report criticizing 221 judges from 57 district courts, three high courts, and ...

Topic: Judges
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Legal Basis for Release of Lockerbie Convict (Aug. 27, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The release from Scottish custody of the only person convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, to his native Libya, has sparked a ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Scotland

Court Rules on Right to Refuse Nourishment (Aug. 26, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On August 14, 2009, in a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of Western Australia determined that the right to refuse medical treatment includes the informed refusal ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: Australia

Memorandum on Aquaculture Signed (Aug. 25, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On August 17, 2009, Norway and Scotland signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Aquaculture. The document was signed in Trondheim, Norway, by the Scottish Environment ...

Topic: Natural resources
Jurisdiction: Norway / Scotland

Investment Deal (Aug. 24, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On August 15, 2009, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the People's Republic of China concluded the ASEAN-China Investment Agreement, the third trade-related agreement ...

Topic: Trade and commerce
Jurisdiction: ASEAN / China

Burka Ban Debated (Aug. 24, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Although Denmark's governing Liberal Party has rejected the idea, other political parties in the ruling coalition have proposed that the country ban the wearing of burkas ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Corruption Monitor to Join Genocide Court (Aug. 21, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On August 12, 2009, the United Nations and Cambodia announced an agreement setting up an ethics watchdog in the special tribunal on the genocide in Cambodia ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Cambodia / United Nations

Court Upholds Vote Count (Aug. 14, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On August 7, 2009, the Indonesian Constitutional Court (Mahkamah Konstitusi, or MK) overturned an earlier decision to affirm the second phase of vote counting in the ...

Topic: Elections
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Disabled Student Takes Education Bureau to Court (Aug. 11, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Tong Wai-ting, an 18 year-old student with a mild form of mental retardation, is asking the Hong Kong High Court to overturn a decision to end ...

Topic: Education
Jurisdiction: Hong Kong

Editors Detained by Police (Aug. 11, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Two editors in the West African nation of Niger have been in custody at the main police station in the capital city of Niamey since August ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Niger

Panel Established in China-U.S. Poultry Dispute (Aug. 06, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On July 31, 2009, the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) set up a panel to consider a dispute between China and the United States ...

Topic: Trade and commerce
Jurisdiction: World Trade Organization

Intelligence May Not Be Kept from Parliament (Aug. 05, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On July 30, 2009, the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany ruled that the government intelligence service (BND) may not withhold information from the legislature, unless there ...

Topic: Executive power
Jurisdiction: Germany

Media Barred from Covering Elections (Aug. 05, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On August 3, 2009, Sri Lanka's government announced it would not permit reporters to cover the local elections in two cities. The elections are being held ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Investment Law Modified, Other Legislation Passed (Aug. 03, 2009) by Constance Johnson

As was reported at a press conference held by Thongteun Sayasane, the spokesman for the legislature of the Southeast Asian nation of Laos, the country has ...

Topic: Legislative power
Jurisdiction: Laos

Regional Human Rights Body for Southeast Asia (Jul. 31, 2009) by Constance Johnson

A new institution devoted to human rights in southeast Asia has been endorsed by the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: ASEAN

Panel Pays Reparations for Kuwait Invasion (Jul. 31, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On July 29, 2009, the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) paid a total of $430 million to settle the damage claims arising from the 1990 invasion ...

Topic: Property
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Former Governor Found Guilty (Jul. 16, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On July 14, 2009, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, located in Arusha, Tanzania, convicted Tharcisse Renzaho for his part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Renzhao ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

War Crimes Judges' Terms Extended (Jul. 10, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On July 7, 2009, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted two resolutions to extend the terms of service of judges on two different war crimes ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Supreme Court Communiqué on Replacement of President (Jul. 09, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The Honduran Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) issued an undated special communiqu; on the subject of the removal of President Jos; Manuel Zelaya Rosales from the ...

Topic: Executive power
Jurisdiction: Honduras

Legislature Downplays Corruption Court (Jul. 08, 2009) by Constance Johnson

It was reported on July 3, 2009, that Indonesia's House of Representatives, the lower house of the country's bicameral legislature, is not planning to take action ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Threats to Lawyers Raise Concerns (Jul. 07, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On July 1, 2009, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Leandro Despouy, expressed concern about a restrictive atmosphere affecting how lawyers ...

Topic: Lawyers
Jurisdiction: Cambodia / United Nations

Conviction Upheld in Saddam Hussein Chemical Supplier Case (Jul. 06, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On June 30, 2009, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands upheld a 2005 conviction of Frans Van Anraat on war crimes charges stemming from his business ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Netherlands

City Government to Shame Polluters (Jul. 01, 2009) by Constance Johnson

According to Ridwan Panjaitan, the head of law enforcement for the City Environmental Management Agency of Jakarta, Indonesia's capital city, the municipality will make public the ...

Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Government Issues Human Rights Report (Jun. 30, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On May 8, 2009, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pham Binh Minh, presented a report on the country's human rights status to the United Nations ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Vietnam

New Tribunals to Handle Staff Complaints (Jun. 26, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On June 22, 2009, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke at the swearing in of judges for two new tribunals. Ban's hope that the new system ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Torture Criminalized in Revised Code (Jun. 26, 2009) by Constance Johnson

According to a news report from Burundi dated June 25, 2009, the country has adopted a revised penal code that criminalizes torture. Article 23 of the ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Burundi

Courts to Be Restored in the North (Jun. 25, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The Sri Lankan Ministry of Justice is working to reestablish a system of courts in the country's Northern Province, according to the Secretary of that Ministry, ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Agreement May Lead to Return to Constitutional Government (Jun. 22, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On June 4, 2009, Mauritania took a step toward a return to constitutional order and democratic rule. The country had undergone a coup d'tat in 2008, ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Mauritania

Court Annuls Legislative Election Results (Jun. 16, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On June 11, 2009, the Constitutional Court of Indonesia annulled the results of a May 2009 legislative election. As a result, at least 26 legislators elected ...

Topic: Elections
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Few Terror Suspects Actually Convicted (Jun. 16, 2009) by Constance Johnson

According to figures from the public prosecutors' department in the Netherlands, very few of the suspects arrested in that country for alleged acts of terrorism since ...

Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: Netherlands

Referendum Scheduled for New Constitution (Jun. 12, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The Council of Ministers of Niger has scheduled a referendum on a proposed new constitution; the vote will take place on August 4, 2009.

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Niger

Measures to Control Dangerous Dogs Introduced (Jun. 10, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The opposition party in the Danish Parliament has been leading efforts to enact stricter controls on dangerous dogs. Now that the measures have support from the ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Proposal to Change Asylum Policy (Jun. 09, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Finland's government is drafting a proposal for changes to the country's policies on asylum; the proposal will be presented to the legislature. The goal is to ...

Topic: Refugees and asylum
Jurisdiction: Finland

System to Try Pirates Being Considered (Jun. 02, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On May 30, 2009, the Group of Eight countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) agreed to work on ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: Group of Eight

Government Effort to Register Citizens (Jun. 02, 2009) by Constance Johnson

In response to a recommendation of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, the government of Burkina Faso has announced a national program ...

Topic: Identification
Jurisdiction: Burkina Faso

Treaty on Shipbreaking (May. 26, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On May 15, 2009, a new treaty on shipbreaking was signed in Hong Kong by 66 countries, including Australia, Brazil, China, and South Africa. The treaty ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: United Nations

New Provisions on Foreign Financial Information Services (May. 22, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Effective June 1, 2009, new provisions will regulate foreign institutions that provide financial information services in China. The document, entitled "Provisions on Administration of Foreign Institutions ...

Topic: Banks and financial institutions
Jurisdiction: China

Amnesty for Some Acts of War (May. 22, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On May 7, 2009, President Joseph Kabila Kabange of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) signed a law that grants amnesty for certain acts of ...

Topic: War
Jurisdiction: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the

Plan to Revise Criminal Code to Include Rape (May. 22, 2009) by Constance Johnson

According to a statement from the Mauritanian Association for Maternal and Child Health, a United Nations-funded nongovernmental organization in the country's capital city of Nouakchott, there ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Mauritania

Economic Zones Agreement (May. 14, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On April 30, 2009, Norway and the United Kingdom concluded an agreement on the boundary between the economic zones of the two nations. Since 1977, when ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: Norway / United Kingdom

U.N. Criticizes Forced Evictions (May. 12, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On May 6, 2009, Raquel Rolnik, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, expressed concern about the fate of 100 families in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, who ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Cambodia

Anti-Terror Laws Criticized (May. 06, 2009) by Constance Johnson

AUSTRALIA Nicholas Cowdery, the head of the New South Wales public prosecution office, has said that Australia's counter-terrorism laws are complex, expensive to apply, and ...

Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: Australia

Special Courts to Try Riot Cases (May. 05, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Five special fast-track courts will be set up to try cases resulting from riots in the Indian state of Gujarat in 2002. The events had resulted ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: India

Land Distribution Proposed (May. 01, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On April 23, 2009, Cambodia's Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction held its annual press conference and announced plans to distribute land concessions to ...

Topic: Property
Jurisdiction: Cambodia

Resettlement Abroad of Some Hmong Refugees (Apr. 30, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Kasit Priomya, Thailand's Foreign Minister, visited the United States in late April 2009, and he discussed the status of ethnic Hmong refugees from Laos now living ...

Topic: Refugees and asylum
Jurisdiction: Laos / Thailand

New Law on Human DNA (Apr. 29, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Tanzania's National Assembly passed a bill on April 22, 2009, that will make it possible to administer and regulate application of DNA technology in the country. ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: Tanzania

Anti-Crime Body Ratified (Apr. 29, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On April 21, 2009, the National Assembly of Togo passed a bill ratifying the establishment of an Africa-wide anti-crime body; that action was followed by the ...

Topic: Police
Jurisdiction: Togo

New Law to Permit Suspending Students (Apr. 17, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Sweden's government is proposing a new law on discipline for school children. The Education Minister, Jan Bjrklund, has called for reforming the existing law, which became ...

Topic: Education
Jurisdiction: Sweden

News Group Director Arrested (Apr. 16, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Abibou Garba, the Director-General of the Dounia radio and television broadcasting group in Niger, was arrested on April 1, 2009. Garba was brought before the public ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Niger

Prosecutors Investigate Quake Damage with a View to Charges (Apr. 16, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The Public Prosecutor's Office in Italy has begun investigation into the damage that resulted from the April 2009 earthquake, in which nearly 300 people died and ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: Italy

Jailed Editor Pardoned (Apr. 16, 2009) by Constance Johnson

According to the organization Reporters Without Borders, on April 8, 2009, the head of Mauritania's military government, General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, pardoned the editor of ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Mauritania

Ethics Monitor Proposed for ECCC (Apr. 14, 2009) by Constance Johnson

United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Peter Taksoe-Jensen, on April 8, 2009, proposed an ethics monitoring mechanism for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Cambodia / United Nations

Steps to Stop Underage Employment (Apr. 14, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Sri Lanka's National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) is taking steps to combat the practice of employing underage children as domestic helpers. According to Jagath Wellawatta, NCPA's ...

Topic: Labor
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Anti-Piracy Law Cuts Internet Traffic (Apr. 13, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Sweden's new anti-piracy law came into force on April 1, 2009, and traffic on the Internet in the country decreased by almost 50 percent. Under the ...

Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: Sweden

Law Restricts Women's Rights (Apr. 07, 2009) by Constance Johnson

A law recently passed by both houses of Afghanistan's Parliament and signed by President Hamid Karzai but not yet published is reported to re-introduce restrictions on ...

Topic: Women
Jurisdiction: Afghanistan, Islamic State of

U.N. Program to Fight Child Marriage (Apr. 06, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Girls must be over the age of 16 to marry legally in Burkina Faso, with an exception that may be granted by a court when there ...

Topic: Children
Jurisdiction: Burkina Faso

Draft Constitutions Presented (Apr. 06, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Several of Nepal's political parties represented in the Constituent Assembly have written concept papers on the new constitution and presented them to the Constitutional Committee. The ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Nepal

Convictions for Terrorism T-Shirts (Mar. 30, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Denmark's Supreme Court has upheld a High Court conviction of six members of the group "Fighters+Lovers." The defendants were found guilty of supporting terrorism through donations ...

Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Radio Stations Suspended (Mar. 27, 2009) by Constance Johnson

According to the press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders, on March 14, 2009, Senegal suspended the operations of three radio stations in the suburbs of Dakar. ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Senegal

Plan to Reform Military (Mar. 25, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On March 19, 2009, Swedish Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors introduced a bill that would institute the largest reform of Sweden's military in several decades. "This will ...

Topic: Military
Jurisdiction: Sweden

Guidelines Target Internet Drug Deals (Mar. 20, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On March 17, 2009, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) issued guidelines on the sale of drugs over the Internet. The INCB is the United Nations' ...

Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Special Court System for Terror Trials Considered (Mar. 18, 2009) by Constance Johnson

A committee of Denmark's parliament has proposed the establishment of a special court system for trials of suspected terrorists who face deportation. The new court would ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Immigration Cases to Be Reopened (Mar. 18, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Birth Randoslash;nn Hornbech, Denmark's immigration minister, has announced that 50 applications for residency that were previously denied will be reconsidered. The cases involve spouses of Danish ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: Denmark

Hacker Sentenced for Computer Fraud (Mar. 13, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Isa "Hacker" Mekhmed was sentenced in Bulgaria on February 23, 2009, after being convicted of computer fraud. His sentence, handed down by a court panel of ...

Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: Bulgaria

Covered Short Selling Ban to Continue (Mar. 13, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On March 5, 2009, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) extended through May 2009 a ban on covered short selling of financial securities. The ASIC ...

Topic: Investments
Jurisdiction: Australia

Public Debt Law to Be Debated (Mar. 13, 2009) by Constance Johnson

A draft law on public debt was discussed on March 9, 2009, in committees of Vietnam's National Assembly, as well as by the Assembly's Council on ...

Topic: Government finance
Jurisdiction: Vietnam

Agreements Signed (Mar. 11, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On March 3, 2009, Sri Lanka and Nepal concluded two agreements, one to establish air service between the two nation's capital cities (Kathmandu and Colombo) and ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: Nepal / Sri Lanka

Electricity Bill Passed (Mar. 10, 2009) by Constance Johnson

A new bill on electrical power was passed by the Sri Lankan Parliament on March 3, 2009. The vote was 109 to 40, amid controversy over ...

Topic: Energy
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

National Security Bill Passed (Mar. 10, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On February 25, 2009, the legislature of the Macao Special Administrative Region of China passed the National Security Bill; it was promulgated March 2 and effective ...

Topic: National security
Jurisdiction: Macau

Financial Shortfall May Lead to Taylor's Release (Mar. 05, 2009) by Constance Johnson

As of May 2009, the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone may face a shortage of funds of more than US$5 million. Donations to the ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: Liberia / Sierra Leone

Government Announces Amnesty (Mar. 04, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The Government of Myanmar (Burma) has reportedly announced an amnesty for 23 political prisoners. The news was welcomed by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who said, "[t]his ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Burma

Emergency Decree on Rape, Immigration (Mar. 03, 2009) by Constance Johnson

A decree increasing the penalty for rape was issued by Italy's government on February 20, 2009; it will go into effect immediately, but must be approved ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Italy

Human Rights Agreement (Mar. 02, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On February 20, 2009, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal and Nepal's National Human Rights Council (NHRC) concluded ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Nepal / United Nations

Protocol to Convention on Organized Crime Approved (Feb. 24, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On February 3, 2009, Indonesia's House of Representatives ratified a Protocol to the U.N. Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Decision on Black Sea Boundaries (Feb. 12, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nation's highest court, issued a unanimous ruling on February 3, 2009, marking the sea border between Ukraine and ...

Topic: Boundaries
Jurisdiction: Romania / Ukraine / United Nations

Guiding Opinions Issued on Layoffs (Feb. 12, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On January 23, 2009, in response to the international financial crisis, four Chinese agencies jointly issued guiding opinions on stabilizing labor relations (the Opinions). The six-part ...

Topic: Labor
Jurisdiction: China

Groundwork Laid for Fishing Treaty (Feb. 12, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) announced on February 3, 2009, that significant progress had been made towards an international treaty designed to stop ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Requirements to Build Eased as Part of Stimulus Plan (Feb. 09, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On February 2, 2009, New Zealand's Prime Minister, John Key, announced a proposal to revise the country's Resource Management Act (RMA). The changes are aimed at ...

Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: New Zealand

Bill Prohibiting Slaughter of Cattle Introduced (Feb. 05, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On January 30, 2009, a Private Member's bill on prohibiting the slaughter of cattle was given to the Speaker of the Sri Lankan House. Acting as ...

Topic: Agriculture
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Anti-Piracy Agreement Signed (Feb. 05, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Nine countries in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea region have signed a Code of Conduct designed to increase cooperation against the piracy off the coast ...

Topic: Piracy
Jurisdiction: United Nations

First Trial on Use of Child Soldiers (Feb. 03, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The trial of Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo at the International Criminal Court (ICC), the first trial in the ICC's history, began on January 26, 2009. ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: International Criminal Court

Justice System Criticized (Jan. 29, 2009) by Constance Johnson

Although Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, it has been placed under a strict monitoring regime by the EU, with particular emphasis on the operation ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: Bulgaria / European Union

New Database of Regional Agreements (Jan. 28, 2009) by Constance Johnson

In January 2009, the World Trade Organization (WTO) launched an online database of regional trade agreements (RTAs). It can be accessed by the public at

Proposal to Raise Marriage Age May Help Counter Trafficking in Girls (Jan. 28, 2009) by Constance Johnson

According to the United Nations, Niger is the country with the highest incidence in the world of early marriages, with many married by age 12 and ...

Topic: Trafficking in persons
Jurisdiction: Mali

Plan to Charge Doctors for Leaving the Country (Jan. 26, 2009) by Constance Johnson

According to the Deputy Health Director of Sri Lanka's Health Ministry, the government of that country is turning to the courts to implement a plan to ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Economic Partnership Agreement Signed (Jan. 23, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On December 25, 2008, Vietnam and Japan concluded an Economic Partnership Agreement; it is expected to come into effect early in 2009, following ratification by each ...

Topic: Commerce and industry
Jurisdiction: Japan / Vietnam

Former Congolese Leader Charged (Jan. 15, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On January 12, 2009, the prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC) formally charged Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo with five counts of war crimes and three counts ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: International Criminal Court

Court Rules on Marcos Assets (Jan. 15, 2009) by Constance Johnson

On January 12, 2009, Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court ruled that assets deposited by an associate of Ferdinand Marcos, the former president of the Philippines, should be ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Switzerland

Fuel Prices Cut, Other Steps Taken to Aid Budget, Industry (Jan. 05, 2009) by Constance Johnson

The Government of Sri Lanka has taken steps to cut the cost of living for its citizens and strengthen the economy. They were announced in a ...

Topic: Government employees
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Shipping Across Taiwan Straits (Dec. 30, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On December 12, 2008, the China Maritime Safety Administration (CMSA) issued Interim Measures on Supervision and Administration of Direct Shipping Vessels across the Taiwan Straits (the ...

Topic: Commerce and industry
Jurisdiction: China

Trademark Treaty (Dec. 30, 2008) by Constance Johnson

The Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, a United Nations-sponsored agreement, will become effective on March 16, 2009. It was adopted by the members of ...

Topic: Intellectual property
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Corruption Court Bill in Deliberations (Dec. 17, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Indonesia's Corruption Court was established under a law promulgated in 2002; that law was ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court in 2006. Since December 2006, work ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: Indonesia

Cluster Bomb Ban Signed (Dec. 16, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On December 3 and 4, 2008, in Oslo, Norway, close to 100 countries signed a pact to ban cluster bombs, a type of weapon considered particularly ...

Topic: Weapons
Jurisdiction: International

Parliament Urges Mining Plan (Dec. 11, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On December 4, 2008, Mongolia's parliament passed a resolution asking President Nambaryn Enkhbayar to report by February 2009 on progress in negotiations over development of two ...

Topic: Natural resources
Jurisdiction: Mongolia

Constitutional Amendment to Qualify for EU Trade Preferences Rejected (Dec. 08, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On December 3, 2008, the Government of Sri Lanka rejected a proposal put forth by an opposition political party to amend the country's constitution that would ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Use of Electronic Law to Imprison Dissidents (Dec. 05, 2008) by Constance Johnson

The Government of Burma's recent use of the country's Electronic Law to charge dissidents and hand out long sentences is having a chilling effect on Internet ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Burma

Radio Station Shut Down (Nov. 26, 2008) by Constance Johnson

According to a press release from the Media Institute of Southern Africa, headquartered in Windhoek, Namibia, on November 20, 2008, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Malawi

Treaty Against Doping in Sports (Nov. 18, 2008) by Constance Johnson

One hundred countries have now signed a global treaty against doping in competitive sports. Paraguay signed the agreement on November 12, 2008, making it possible to ...

Topic: Sports
Jurisdiction: United Nations

New Rules for Taiwan Journalists (Nov. 14, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On November 1, 2008, the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council (SCTAO) promulgated Measures on Reporting by Taiwan Journalists in the Mainland of China. The ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: China

Agreements on Direct Transport, Mail, and Food Safety (Nov. 10, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On November 4, 2008, China (the People's Republic of China, or PRC) and Taiwan (also referred to as the Republic of China) signed several agreements designed ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: China / Taiwan

Agreements Signed (Nov. 04, 2008) by Constance Johnson

During recent meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the 2009 budget for the organization was approved, and a number of agreements and memoranda were signed. ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: Shanghai Cooperation Organization

High Court Judges Selected by Lottery (Nov. 04, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On October 29, 2008, Ecuador selected judges to serve on a temporary Supreme Court of Justice by means of a lottery. The procedure selected 21 of ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: Ecuador

Free Trade Agreement (Nov. 03, 2008) by Constance Johnson

As of November 2008, a free trade agreement between South Korea and Cambodia will be in effect. According to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance of ...

Topic: Commerce and industry
Jurisdiction: Cambodia / South Korea

Niger Found Guilty in Slavery Case (Oct. 30, 2008) by Constance Johnson

The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in a landmark decision, recently found Niger guilty of failing to protect ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Economic Community of West African States

Agreement on Migratory Birds of Prey (Oct. 29, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Twenty-eight nations have signed a United Nations-backed memorandum of understanding to protect migratory birds of prey in Africa, Europe, and Asia. The agreement, signed in Abu ...

Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Bill on Freedom of Assembly Passes (Oct. 28, 2008) by Constance Johnson

The Maldives' government-proposed bill on freedom of assembly, drafted by the Ministry of Legal Reform, was passed by Parliament on October 20, 2008. It had been ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Maldives

Lawsuit Seeks to End Large Lottery Payoff (Oct. 23, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Codacons, a consumer rights organization in Italy, has filed suit against the Italian lottery, with the goal of having the current large jackpot divided into several ...

Topic: Consumer protection
Jurisdiction: Italy

UN Asks World Court to Rule on Kosovo (Oct. 14, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On October 8, 2008, the General Assembly of the United Nations voted 77 to 6, with 74 abstentions, to refer the question of the legality of ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: Kosovo

Trials Underway for Those Arrested in Riots (Oct. 14, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Courts in Mongolia have started to hear the cases of the 182 people charged with crimes in connection with July 1, 2008, riots in the country's ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Mongolia

Journalist Provisionally Released (Oct. 14, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On October 8, 2008, an appeals court in Niamey, Niger's capital, ordered Moussa Kaka released on bail pending trial. Kaka is a well-known journalist currently charged ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Niger

Website Bans to Continue (Oct. 14, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Speaking on October 8, 2008, at an international technology meeting in Istanbul, Turkey's Transportation Minister, Binali Yildirim, said that the practice of banning websites deemed to ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Turkey

Injunction Against Posters Criticizing Dairy Company Linked to Melamine (Oct. 08, 2008) by Constance Johnson

It was reported on October 3, 2008, that a district court in Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital, issued an injunction against a poster campaign in the city. ...

Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Nine Convicted of Conspiracy (Oct. 06, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On September 30, 2008, a court in Matadj County, in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, sentenced nine people convicted of criminal ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the

Gabonese President Ordered to Pay Restitution (Oct. 06, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On September 29, 2008, a court of appeal in Bordeaux, France, confirmed a June 2007 ruling ordering Omar Bongo, the President of Gabon, to return 457,347 ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: France / Gabon

Foreign-Funded Telecom Companies Rules Modified (Sep. 29, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On September 10, 2008, the State Council, China's Cabinet, promulgated amended Provisions on Administration of Foreign-Funded Telecommunication Enterprises, effective immediately. The purpose of amending these Provisions, ...

Topic: Foreign investment
Jurisdiction: China

Border Demarcation Planned in Lake (Sep. 17, 2008) by Constance Johnson

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda are planning to clearly mark their border in Lake Edward. The work will be done by a ...

Topic: Natural resources
Jurisdiction: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the / Uganda

Economic Laws Amended in Legislature (Sep. 15, 2008) by Constance Johnson

The House of Representatives, the lower house of Nigeria's National Assembly, has amended some financial and economic laws in an effort to stabilize the business environment. ...

Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Nigeria

Parliament Dissolved by Decree (Sep. 09, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On August 5, 2008, Guinea-Bissau's President, Joao Bernardo Vieira, issued a presidential decree announcing the dissolution of the Parliament. The decree followed the withdrawal from the ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Guinea Bissau

Fingerprinting of Roma Approved (Sep. 05, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On September 4, 1008, the European Commission rejected accusations that Italy's fingerprinting of Roma gypsies as part of a census of their population in camps in ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: European Union / Italy

Iranian Students Challenge Study Ban (Sep. 05, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Since July 2008, the government of the Netherlands has forbidden Iranians from taking courses related to nuclear technology in Dutch schools. Under the policy, even Dutch ...

Topic: Education
Jurisdiction: Netherlands

Broadcaster Ordered to Suspend Operations (Aug. 29, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On August 19, 2008, the Higher Council for Communications, the media regulatory body of Niger, ordered a radio and television broadcast company to suspend operations for ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Niger

Cyclone Orphan Adoptions Must Follow Procedures (Jul. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Cyclone Nargis, which devastated a large region of Burma, created a number of orphans. The Burmese Department of Social Welfare (DSW) has stressed, however, that they ...

Topic: Family
Jurisdiction: Burma

Law on NATO Human Intelligence Center (Jul. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On June 25, 2008, Romania's two parliamentary chambers approved a draft law establishing a NATO intelligence center. The bill, which was passed unanimously, paves the way ...

Topic: National defense
Jurisdiction: Romania

Abortion Permitted in Rape Case (Jul. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

It was recently reported that Romania is making an exception to its laws to permit an eleven-year-old girl to have an abortion. The girl became pregnant ...

Topic: Abortion
Jurisdiction: Romania

Asylum Procedures to Be Revised (Jul. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On June 24, 2008, the Government of the Netherlands announced a large-scale revision of procedures for asylum seekers. They will no longer be interrogated immediately, as ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: Netherlands

Same-Sex Marriage Approved (Jul. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On June 17, 2008, the Norwegian parliament, the Storting, approved legislation permitting same-sex marriage that will come into force on January 1, 2009. The bill had ...

Topic: Family
Jurisdiction: Norway

Wiretapping Bill Approved (Jul. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On June 18, 2008, Sweden's Parliament passed a law authorizing warrantless wiretapping (draft text in Swedish, Mar. 8, 2007, available at http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/8670/a/78367). The National Defense ...

Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: Sweden

Parliament Passes Law on Elections (Jul. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On July 1, 2008, Sudan's National Assembly passed a draft law on general elections. The bill had been recommended by the Committee on Legislation and Justice. ...

Topic: Elections
Jurisdiction: Sudan

Proposal to Abolish Death Penalty (Jun. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On May 21, 2008, the Justice Minister of the Republic of China on Taiwan, Wang Ching-feng, announced plans to try to abolish the death penalty in ...

Topic: Capital punishment
Jurisdiction: Taiwan

Court Rules in Maritime Dispute (Jun. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

In a May 23, 2008, ruling of the International Court of Justice, Singapore has been accorded sovereignty over an island in the Straits of Singapore. The ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: Malaysia / Singapore

Tribunal Officials Urge More Support for Genocide Trials (Jun. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On June 4, 2008, the Presidents and Prosecutors of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda / International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia / United Nations

Foreigners Banned from Getting Cheap Gas (Jun. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Malaysian Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad announced on May 26, 2008, that operators of foreign-registered vehicles will be forbidden to buy any ...

Topic: Energy
Jurisdiction: Malaysia

Former VP Arrested (Jun. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On May 24, 2008, Jean Pierre Bemba Gombo, a former Vice-President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was arrested in Belgium. The Belgian police ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the / International Criminal Court

Presidential Veto of Amendment to Conflict-of-Interest Provision (May. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Calling the proposed amendment to the law on conflict of interest unsystematic, ill-conceived, chaotic, and incomprehensible, Czech President Vaclav Klaus has vetoed it. Klaus was concerned ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Czech Republic

Accusations Connected with Child Soldiers (May. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Thomas Lubanga Dyilo will be tried in June 2008 by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He is accused of recruiting child soldiers in the Democratic Republic ...

Topic: Children
Jurisdiction: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the / International Criminal Court

Committee on Spread of Weapons Extended (May. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On April 25, 2008, the United Nations Security Council renewed the mandate of a U.N. committee originally established by Security Council resolution in 2004. The term ...

Topic: Weapons
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Proposal to End Death Penalty Meets Opposition (May. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

The government of Mali has proposed ending the use of capital punishment in the country, but opposition politicians have rallied to oppose the move and keep ...

Topic: Capital punishment
Jurisdiction: Mali

Controversial Criminal Code Provision Amended (May. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On April 30, 2008, Turkey's Grand National Parliament passed an amendment to a controversial provision of the Criminal Code. The Turkish legislature had adopted a new ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Turkey

Fishery Agreement Signed (Apr. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Mauritania and Senegal signed a one-year fishery agreement, under which 300 permits will be issued to Senegalese fishermen working in Mauritanian waters. The agreement was concluded ...

Topic: Commerce and industry
Jurisdiction: Mauritania / Senegal

UN Urges Human Rights Improvement (Apr. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

A new United Nations report, prepared by the U.N. mission in Liberia, discusses human rights conditions in the country and makes 12 major recommendations to improve ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Liberia

Disability Rights Convention Entering into Force (Apr. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On May 3, 2008, the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will come into effect, 30 days following ratification by Ecuador, the 20^th ...

Topic: Disability
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Mercenaries Not Regulated (Apr. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

A United Nations working group on the use of mercenaries reported to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 10, 2008. According to the ...

Topic: War
Jurisdiction: United Nations

International Criminal Court Statute Ratified (Apr. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On March 14, 2008, Madagascar deposited its instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute, the instrument that establishes the International Criminal Court, with that court in ...

Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: International Criminal Court / Madagascar

UN Agency Concerned About Abductions (Mar. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Rupert Colville, a spokesperson for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, has expressed concern about the human rights situation in Chad. ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Chad

High Court Rejects Complaint Against Supreme Court Head (Mar. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On March 3, 2008, the Olomouc High Court in North Moravia, the Czech Republic, rejected a complaint against Iya Brozova, the Chairwoman of the Czech Supreme ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Czech Republic

Former Official to Be Tried for Genocide (Mar. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Callixte Nzabonimana, who had been Minister of Youth and Sports in Rwanda in 1994, was arrested on February 19, 2008, in Kigoma, Tanzania. He was sent ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Rwanda

Agreement on Telecommunications Fiber Cable (Mar. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

At a meeting held in mid-February 2008 in Addis Ababa, Indian Ocean islands agreed to be connected to each other and the rest of the world ...

Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: Indian Ocean Commission

ID Offices to Be Computerized (Feb. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Internal Administration has announced that it will establish units in each region of the country to issue computerized identity cards. The new ...

Topic: Identification
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Rice Designated Essential Commodity (Feb. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On January 23, 2008, the Sri Lankan government designated rice an "essential commodity" in accordance with provisions of the Consumer Protection Act. The move, which will ...

Topic: Consumer protection
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Media Gag Rejected (Feb. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

The British Ministry of Defence lost an attempt to prevent a newspaper, THE GUARDIAN, from reporting allegations of serious abuse of Iraqis by soldiers from the ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: United States

Khmer Rouge Victims' Complaints Reviewed (Feb. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

The tribunal established to try Khmer Rouge leaders for their crimes in Cambodia has received more than 500 complaints by victims. The Extraordinary Chambers in the ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Cambodia

Penalties Increased for Drug Crimes (Feb. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Under a new law adopted by Senegal's legislature, the punishment for drug trafficking will be increased to 10 to 20 years of hard labor, double the ...

Topic: Narcotics and drug abuse
Jurisdiction: Senegal

New Immigration Fees Announced (Feb. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

The UK Home Office has announced new immigration fees as part of a reform of border security provisions. Although fees for a number of immigration services, ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: United Kingdom

New Immigration Fees Announced (Feb. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

The UK Home Office has announced new immigration fees as part of a reform of border security provisions. Although fees for a number of immigration services, ...

Topic: Immigration
Jurisdiction: United Kingdom

Twenty NGOs Banned (Feb. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

The Government of Gabon has accused about 20 non-governmental organizations of interfering in the political life of the country and has placed a temporary ban on ...

Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: Gabon

Radio Station Closed (Feb. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On January 16, 2008, police in Chad's capital city, M'Djamena, raided a privately-owned radio station and closed it. Radio FM Libert;'s manager, Djekourninga Kaoutar Lazar, was ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Chad

French Aid Workers Convicted (Jan. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Six French aid workers from the organization Zo;'s Ark have been convicted of attempting to kidnap more than one hundred children in Chad. The court in ...

Topic: Children
Jurisdiction: Chad

Call for Death Penalty Moratorium (Jan. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On December 18, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution calling for a moratorium on capital punishment. The vote, held in a plenary ...

Topic: Capital punishment
Jurisdiction: United Nations

Proposal to Amend Security and Media Laws (Jan. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

On December 18, 2007, Zimbabwe's government introduced proposed amendments to the laws on security and on the media. The changes were introduced in Parliament by Justice ...

Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: Zimbabwe

Attorney General Opposes Non-Summary Proceedings (Jan. 02, 2008) by Constance Johnson

Speaking at a meeting of the Asian Crimes Prevention Foundation on December 15, 2007, the Sri Lankan Attorney General, C. R. De Silva, said that he ...

Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Parliament Passes Draft of Constitution Chapter (Dec. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

The draft constitutional chapter concerned with procedures for amending the Constitution was passed by the Majlis, the Parliament of Maldives. The language written by the Drafting ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Maldives

Anti-Rape Campaign Launched (Dec. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

The Liberian government, with assistance from the United Nations, has undertaken a national campaign to prevent and punish the crime of rape. The project was launched ...

Topic: Women
Jurisdiction: Liberia

Court Approves Extradition of Muslim Cleric (Dec. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

Abu Hamza al-Masri is currently serving a seven-year term in the United Kingdom on terror-related charges. Known as a radical Muslim cleric, he was convicted of ...

Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: United Kingdom

Action Against Child Trafficking Urged (Dec. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

Speaking at an international meeting on trafficking in children and armed conflict, Antonio Maria Costa, the head of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, urged ...

Topic: Trafficking in persons
Jurisdiction: United Nations / Africa

Advancing Rule of Law Deemed Vital (Dec. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

On November 20, 2007, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that upholding the rule of law is "crucial to the cause of peace." He was speaking to ...

Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: United Nations

U.N. Report Calls for Improved Juvenile Justice System (Dec. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

A November 14, 2007, report issued by the United Nations mission in Liberia states that the country's juvenile justice system needs to be made stronger to ...

Topic: Children
Jurisdiction: Liberia

Vice-President Calls for Review of Constitution (Dec. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

Nigeria's Vice-President, Goodluck Jonathan, on November 20, 2007, said that the country's Constitution is inadequate and in need of amendment. Speaking at the International Conference on ...

Topic: Constitutional law
Jurisdiction: Nigeria

First Woman Convicted Under Terrorism Act (Dec. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

Samina Malik, a female employee of the bookstore WH Smith at Heathrow Airport, is the first woman to have been convicted in the United Kingdom under ...

Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: United Kingdom

Ban on Arms Deals Proposed (Nov. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

The Sri Lankan government has issued a special provision under the existing Emergency Regulations on Arms Trading. According to Basil Rajapaksa, a new Member of Parliament, ...

Topic: Arms limitation
Jurisdiction: Sri Lanka

Publisher Charged with Sedition (Nov. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

On October 10, 2007, in southern Nigeria, the publisher of a private newspaper was arrested by officers reported by some to be agents of the State ...

Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: Nigeria

Highest Court Reviews Terrorism Control Orders (Nov. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

On October 31, 2007, the United Kingdom's highest court, the House of Lords, gave broad support to the controversial government control-order regime for terrorism suspects. At ...

Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: United Kingdom

Protocol Agreement (Nov. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

On October 18, 2007, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Central African Republic (CAR) concluded an agreement on cooperation, including provisions on protection by the ...

Topic: War crimes
Jurisdiction: International Criminal Court, the Central African Republic

Cabinet Abolishes Death Penalty (Nov. 02, 2007) by Constance Johnson

L'Essor, a government newspaper in Mali, reported on its Web site on October 18, 2007, that the Cabinet had passed a bill on the abolition of ...

Topic: Capital punishment
Jurisdiction: Mali