Strengthening the rule of law has become a key factor for the transition to democracy and the protection of human rights. Though its significance has materialized in international standard setting, ...the question of implementation is largely unexplored. This book describes judicial independence as a central aspect of the rule of law in different stages of transition to democracy. The collection of state-specific studies explores the legal situation of judiciaries in twenty states from North America, over Western, Central and South-Eastern Europe to post-Soviet states and engages in a comparative legal analysis. Through a detailed account of the current situation it takes stocks, considers advances in and shortcomings of judicial reform and offers advice for future strategies. The book shows that the implementation of judicial independence requires continuous efforts, not only in countries in transition but also in established democracies which are confronted with ever new challenges.
The article considers different modes of State involvement in serious violations of international law and the legal criteria for unlawful contributions. Giving special attention to participation ...below the level of complicity – when a State contributes to serious violations without possessing positive knowledge – the author considers primary rules of international law that prohibit indirect participation, such as the duty to respect and ensure fundamental human rights. The article argues in favour of a risk-based ex ante responsibility in order to prevent cooperation between States which violate fundamental legal norms of the international community. Accordingly, States incur responsibility for indirect participation if they do not exercise the necessary diligence to prevent such violations. Though due diligence is usually referred to when States fail to intervene in cases of third party abuse, it applies a fortiori in cases of active contributions. While the article concentrates on serious human rights violations, it also refers to other fields of international law, including breaches of international humanitarian law. By specifying the legal parameters of due diligence as a general principle it thus contributes to the scholarly debate on the content of due diligence in international law more generally.
Law of the Sea in Dialogue Hestermeyer, Holger; Matz-Lück, Nele; Seibert-Fohr, Anja ...
2010, 2011, 2010-10-18, Letnik:
221
eBook
The interrelation between different fields of public international law has particular relevance for the systematic understanding of international law. The book contains a collection of essays on the ...law of the sea and its interdependencies with other current legal issues of global importance. The issue of the relationship between global warming and law of the sea matters are one focus. In a second thematic section the collection addresses the global commons. The third part deals with security issues. The recent increase in piracy activities has shown the relevance of discussing the linkage between the law of the sea and security issues.
Abstract
Der Aufsatz nimmt die Diskussion um die Verfassungsrichterbestellung zum Anlass, um auf aktuelle Verfassungsreformen im europäischen Ausland hinzuweisen und in einen breiteren ...Entwicklungszusammenhang zu stellen. Am Beispiel der jüngsten Verfassungsänderungen in England und Frankreich weist die Autorin nach, dass mit der zunehmenden Bedeutung des Grundrechtsschutzes tiefgreifende verfassungsorganisatorische Änderungen einhergehen, die langfristig auch Einfluss auf die Richterbestellung haben. Dabei geht sie insbesondere auf die im Juli 2008 in Frankreich verabschiedete Verfassungsänderung zur Modernisierung der Institutionen der Fünften Republik und die nun bevorstehende Einführung der konkreten Normenkontrolle durch den Conseil constitutionnel sowie den im Oktober 2009 geschaffenen britischen Supreme Court ein. Die mit diesen Reformen einhergehenden Forderungen nach einer wirksameren institutionellen Absicherung der richterlichen Unabhängigkeit haben dazu geführt, dass in mehreren Staaten inzwischen der Einfluss der politischen Gewalten durch die Einrichtung unabhängiger Berufungskommissionen zurückgedrängt wurde.
The article discusses the current trend of constitutional changes in the European Union (EU); examining human rights laws & the effect on the judiciary & judge selection in individual member state; & ...primarily focusing on the United Kingdom & France. First, the author examines the process behind the creation of the Supreme Court in the UK, while keeping in mind the national laws reflected in the Human Rights Act of 1998 & the Constitutional Reform Act of 2005, & then an engaging focus on the Continent; looking at the French Constitutional Reform of 2008. Next, the article studies the reasons for these constitutional changes, providing a historical perspective & citing examples from EU member nations' constitutions & judicial systems, including relevant human rights laws. Then the Author looks at the new rolls regarding the judiciary, as they pertain to the state & government, including Parliamentary sovereignty issues from the UK; & then delves into the factors behind judge selection as a mirror for a functioning judiciary, & the effects on human rights issues, personal rights & civil liberties or civil rights protection issues in the EU. Finally, the author discusses the elements for the justification in strengthening judicial independence. First, looking at the traditional elements, then examining the new methods, & concluding with a reflection on the entire process. Adapted from the source document.
