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 …
Leer »Czech Constitutional Court gives green light to the Lisbon Treaty
Czech Constitutional Court gives green light to the Lisbon Treaty Today the Czech Constitutional Court rendered its much awaited decision on the relationship between the Czech constitution and the Lisbon Treaty. The Court decided that “[t]he Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and Treaty on establishing the European Community and …
Leer »Greenland takes another step toward independence
Greenland takes another step toward independence Final results of yesterday’s referendum in Greenland show that 75.54 per cent of voters voted for home rule and greater autonomy, whereas 23.57 per cent voted against. This result paves the way for Greenland’s eventual independence from Denmark and reaffirms its sovereign rights to manage …
Leer »Swedish parliament votes in favor of the Lisbon Treaty
Swedish parliament votes in favor of the Lisbon Treaty Yesterday, the Swedish parliament voted to approve the Lisbon Treaty (see press release here). After almost 9 hours of debate in the Riksdag, 243 MP voted in favour, 39 against, 13 abstentions (while 54 MP were not present). Apparently large parts …
Leer »Judgment of 18 November 2008
Judgment of 18 November 2008 NEW Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Croatia v. Serbia) – Preliminary Objections (317 Kb)Read more … [via International Court of Justice, The Hague, Netherlands]
Leer »Another new case for the International Court of Justice
Another new case for the International Court of Justice The list of cases pending before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) continues to grow. Yesterday (17 November 2008) a new case was added to the docket when the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYRM) instituted proceedings against Greece. The case …
Leer »Winograd Commission’s appraisal of Israel’s violations of international law during the war in Lebanon in 2006
Winograd Commission’s appraisal of Israel’s violations of international law during the war in Lebanon in 2006 The Winograd Commission published a lengthy report in the Hebrew language dealing with its assessment of the factual findings that came out of the investigation of the violations of international law during the War …
Leer »Kenyan Commission Recommends an International Crimes Tribunal
Kenyan Commission Recommends an International Crimes Tribunal The Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence (CIPEV) established to investigate the violence witnessed after the 27 December 2007 elections in Kenya officially presented its much-anticipated report to President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on 15 October 2008. The CIPEV, or …
Leer »The Occupation of the Gaza Strip and the continued renouncement of responsibility
The Occupation of the Gaza Strip and the continued renouncement of responsibility A recent judgment of the Israeli Supreme Court in the case of HCJ 10265/05 Physicians for Human Rights v Defense Minister (judgment of 7 October 2008) reexamines a number of questions concerning not only the status of the …
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