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.
Law of the Sea in Dialogue Hestermeyer, Holger; Matz-Lück, Nele; Seibert-Fohr, Anja ...
2010, 2011, 2010-10-18, Volume:
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.
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.
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.
Tort claims against transnational corporations for human rights violations committed abroad are on the rise, not only in the United States but also in other common law countries, such as Great ...Britain and Australia. At issue are serious human rights abuses including forced labour, the violation of labour standards and grave instances of environmental pollution by American, European or Australian companies in developing countries. These suits are part of an effort to ensure that transnational corporations abide by minimum standards. In the absence of a binding international instrument for transnational corporations, non-governmental organisations have taken advantage of domestic legislations. One example is the US Alien Tort Claims Act providing that US district courts 'shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action by an alien for a tort only, committed in violation of the law of nations or a treaty of the United States.' In Australia and Great Britain, claims have been based on the law of torts. The authors give an overview over the present state of case law by analysing the relevant decisions taken by various domestic courts. Special consideration is given to the latest US Supreme Court decision in Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain. The analysis specifies not only the violations giving rise to civil liability but also considers the different modes of participation. While the focus of domestic enforcement in common law countries has been on civil litigation, there is a trend in continental Europe to initiate criminal proceedings against executives of transnational corporations. Some legislative initiatives seek to spell out the concrete obligations corporations have not only domestically but also in their activities abroad. The overview over the current state of domestic law is not only relevant as a matter of comparative law; the increasing number of domestic judgements may also eventually affect the development of customary international law with respect to corporate responsibility. At least in regard of grave human rights violations, there are already parallels to the TNC Norms drafted by the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. The article concludes with an outlook and recommendations for the future of international corporate liability. Reprinted by permission of J.C.B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck)
