Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs releases its own report on the Gaza conflict

On 30 January 2009, the Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released its own report on the ‘Operation in Gaza 27 December 2008 – 18 January 2009: Factual and Legal Aspects‘. There are a number of points that merit mentioning that shall be highlighted in the following. Interestingly, the report starts off by noting that [...]

Protecting copyrights from internet piracy should not deprive users of due process rights

The rights and obligations of Internet users have been hotly debated in recent months in a number of European countries. Particularly, challenges arising from illegal file sharing and downloading have caused for a great concern among internet users, politicians and the entertainment industry. Several European countries have so far taken action against internet sites that [...]

Hezbollah Violates Resolution 1701

In past weeks various UN spokespeople have been issuing rare condemnations of Hezbollah’s violations of Resolution 1701. The Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Michael Williams, has said that there were “clearly” violations of the resolution on the part of the organisation; meanwhile Haaretz reports on Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, accusing Hezbollah of maintaining [...]

New issue of the Equality of Arms Review

Below you will find a short notice regarding the new issue of the International Bar Association’s EQ: Equality of Arms Review. Should the ICC investigate the situation in Gaza? Is the ICC Appeals Chamber properly constituted? What is the future for the ICC? These and many other questions are addressed in the latest issue of the [...]

Reality TV Catching up with the Terrorists

If you fancy combining the job of hunting down terrorists with a career on TV then The Wanted, aired on NBC Monday night, might just be something for you. NPR has the story. Maybe some of our American-based readers who happened to watch it can shed some light on the programme. In the programme, the [...]

PCA to render its Award in the ‘Abyei Arbitration case’

Today at 10 o’clock the Permanent Court of Arbitration will render its decision in the ‘Abyei Arbitration case‘. The case concerns a dispute between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army. The issue to be decided are the boundaries of the oil-rich Abyei region in southern Sudan, which has threatened to disrupt [...]

Build-up to Copenhagen

While the build-up to this year’s important climate conference in Copenhagen (where the international community is to hammer out a successor to the Kyoto Protocol) has been going on for years,  the diplomatic grandstanding is now starting to reach new peaks (or rather lows if the international community is to have any success in setting [...]

The International Day of Justice: African Union Decision in Libya Inimical to the ICC and International Criminal Justice

Friday, 17 July 2009 is International Justice Day, which this year marks the 11th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute. As the rest of the world celebrates the advancement of international justice and the efforts of ending impunity for gross violations for human rights, it is unfortunate that Africa’s premier organisation has taken [...]

Human Rights Watch Under Fire

There has been some controversy this week over Human Rights Watch and both its reporting on Israel and its fundraising efforts more generally. The story originated with David Bernstein writing in the Wall Street Journal, but Jeffrey Goldberg‘s article is the most reasonable and informative, and also contains a detailed exchange of emails between Goldberg [...]

Iceland soon to join the EU?

Today the Icelandic parliament voted in favor of applying for membership in the EU. The vote was rather close, 33 to 28. With this decision, the Icelandic government is basically authorized to begin accession talks with the EU. The road to full membership is, however, not a simple one. Several different steps have to be [...]

The challenges for democratisation and human rights in Africa (Part I/III)

The contexts, challenges and prospects for human rights in Africa have changed quite considerably in recent years. Human rights discourses find favour in both political and popular circles, among the ideologues of the state and the interlocutors of civil society, a tribute to the enduring and unfulfilled yearnings for more humane societies deeply rooted in [...]

Gaza Conflict Aftermath: so far “the international community has failed spectacularly”

Two reports have been recently released by the fact-finding missions posted by the major international NGO, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) to the Gaza Strip and South Israel following the 22-day war that took place in the region between December 2008 and January 2009. The Amnesty International investigation team arrived in the Gaza [...]

Swedish presidency of the EU

Today the Swedish government takes over the presidency of the EU from the Czech Republic (official website here). Once again the work programme for the new presdiency is quite extensive. Apparently Sweden wants to focus on the economy, employment and climate. As such the programme is part of a larger 18-months programme drawn up together with [...]