International Criminal Court starts first war crimes trial Today the trial of Thomas Lubanga at the International Criminal Court (ICC) will (finally) begin. After much confusion and delay inter alia regarding the issue of disclosure of evidence from the prosecutor to the defence/judges of the court (we reported earlier here, here and …
Leer »New judges at the International Criminal Court
New judges at the International Criminal Court At the seventh session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which opened on 19th January at the UN Headquarters in New York, six members of the ICC were elected (see press release). 1. SHAHABUDDEEN, …
Leer »New database on regional trade agreements
New database on regional trade agreements The website of the WTO has opened the doors to a new database on regional trade agreements. The database, which can be searched by country, region, legal provision, date of notification or entry into force of the regional trade agreement, contains all the notifications, …
Leer »UN Human Rights Council condemns the Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip
UN Human Rights Council condemns the Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip On 12 January 2009, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in the Gaza strip. The Resolution is entitled “The Grave Violations of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory particularly due to …
Leer »What to do with Captured Pirates
What to do with Captured Pirates As the international community ramps up its fight against rampant piracy off the coast of Somalia, the patrolling naval forces have started to capture pirates. As recently as January 2, 2009, France captured pirates in the Gulf of Aden. Because this is not the …
Leer »The maritime border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia
The maritime border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia Tensions have been unfortunately increasing again in last days between Slovenia and Croatia. Below you can find an excerpt from The Conundrum of the Piran Bay, co-authored by Matej Avbelj and myself, which it is once again extremely actual. Let us hope somebody learns …
Leer »60 Years of the Genocide Convention
60 Years of the Genocide Convention Many thanks to Dapo for inviting me to blog here at EJIL: Talk! – hopefully the blog will turn out to be as successful in the blawgosphere as the EJIL is in print. In the next couple of weeks I intend to write on …
Leer »UN General Assembly Adopts the Optional Protocol to ICESCR
UN General Assembly Adopts the Optional Protocol to ICESCR On 10 December the UN General Assembly at its plenary meeting unanimously adopted an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Protocol is undoubtedly a milestone in the history of the universal human rights system. …
Leer »Ban Ki-moon on Human Rights Council
Ban Ki-moon on Human Rights Council This week saw the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Although immense progress has been made in those 60 years toward the aim of universal respect for fundamental rights, it is often asserted that major setbacks have occurred in the area …
Leer »Call for the African Union Intervention in Zimbabwe
Call for the African Union Intervention in Zimbabwe While addressing an international press conference in Nairobi over the weekend, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga called on the African Union (AU) to oust Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and end the oppression the Zimbabwean people are being subjected to. Odinga specifically called …
Leer »EU court annuls counter-terrorist measure of the European Union
EU court annuls counter-terrorist measure of the European Union On 4 December the Court of First Instance delivered its judgment in the matter People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (”PMOI”) v Council of the European Union (Case T?284/08), where it declares one of the EU’s key instruments for the “fight against …
Leer »An International Environmental Law Court?
An International Environmental Law Court? It is well-known that the issue of enforcement remains the Achilles heel of international law in general and international environmental law in particular. Given the rate with which natural resources are depleted and the number of species facing extinction is increasing the issue of enforcement …
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