Suchergebnisse

It was around the beginning of November 2006. I was reading a book by Prof. Koen De Feyter World Development Law where I first see the term 'indigenous peoples'. Two of the cases summarized in the book had taken my attention, i.e., the case of Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni indigenous community of Nicaragua, and Ogoni people of Nigeria. The cases were brought at different regional human right courts of America and Africa, respectively. However, both cases involved TNCs complicity in human rights violations of indigenous communities namely, Sol del Caribe S.A. (SOLCARSA) in Nicaragua, and Royal Shell in Nigeria. Both allegations were also brought against the respective states. I keep wondering why the TNCs escape liability which becomes the basic research question for this thesis. The thesis is a critical legal analysis of TNCs human rights liability from the perspective of indigenous peoples human rights violations. The study analyses the problematic situation of TNCs liability in existing state-centered system of international law. It observes the particular weakness of the current system of international law when the human rights victims of TNCs happened to be indigenous peoples. The study also analyses the effectiveness of different attempts made by international organization, corporations and civil society groups towards imposing human rights liability on TNCs. Despite the lack of legal bite and enforceability, the study founds the lack of sensitivity to indigenous peoples human rights in such emerging regulatory and voluntary initiatives which are categorized broadly as soft-laws, self-regulations and social initiatives. This study argues for a binding international law on TNCs as an ultimate solution, but it also equally argues for increased concern to indigenous peoples human rights as an indispensable issue in corporate human rights discourse. In this regard the thesis offers some general and transitional policy measures.

Advancing a bold theory of the relevance of tort law in the fight against human rights abuses, celebrated US law professor George Fletcher here challenges the community of international lawyers to think again about how they can use the Alien Tort Statute. Beginning with an historical analysis Fletcher shows how tort and criminal law originally evolved to deal with similar problems, how tort came to be seen as primarily concerned with negligence and how the Alien Tort Statute has helped establish the importance of tort law in international cases. In a series of cases starting with Filartiga and culminating most recently in Sosa, Fletcher shows how torture cases led to the reawakening of the Alien Tort Statute, changing US law and giving legal practitioners a tool with which to assist victims of torture and other extreme human rights abuses. This leads to an examination of Agent Orange and the possible commission of war crimes in the course of its utilisation, and the theory of liability for aiding and abetting the US military and other military forces when they commit war crimes. The book concludes by looking at the cutting-edge cases in this area, particularly those involving liability for funding terrorism, and the remedies available, particularly the potential offered by the compensation chamber in the International Criminal Court. ; https://scholarship.law.columbia.edu/books/1072/thumbnail.jpg

When 250 workers die in a fire at a Pakistani factory producing jeans for a German discount chain, when the work day lasts 12 hours in Cambodia's garment industry or when workers commit suicide in Chinese factories producing electronics for international brands, should only the corporations in Pakistan, Cambodia and China be held liable? What about the liability of their parent and subcontracting companies abroad? The United Nations increasingly recommends that states ensure that enterprises domiciled in their territory respect human rights throughout their extraterritorial operations. Furthermore, the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development recommend that parent and subcontracting companies conduct human rights due diligence. Both developments are reflected in General Comment 23, which was recently adopted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and relates to the right to just conditions of work. To date, however, there is no domestic law that specifically addresses the liability of parent or subcontracting companies for violations of the right to just working conditions of employees of foreign subsidiaries or suppliers. Although case law is emerging, much uncertainty remains about criteria establishing such liability. France and Switzerland are discussing legislative steps for clarifying corporate liability beyond disclosure requirements to ensure compliance with international recommendations.

This thesis seeks to examine the interplay between business and human rights within the context of political transitions from authoritarian to democratic rule. In the wake of the globalisation process and the subsequent breakdown of the Westphalian state system, transnational corporations (TNCs) have acquired augmented powers at a global level where previously states had been the only players; and yet TNCs have none of the human rights obligations of states, particularly under international law. This dissertation aims to examine why this accountability lacuna exists in relation to corporations, specifically in relation to state-sponsored human rights violations in which TNCs are complicit.

The article investigates the availability of pornographic media to under-aged users, specifically the already marginalised under-aged sector of the South African population. It argues that the availability of pornography is just another illustration of the systemic discrimination against this section of the population. Theoretical, non-experimental and clinical evidence illustrating the negative impact that the exposure to pornography has on children is presented against the background of the social reality of South Africa. The article finds that exposure to pornography leaves children even more vulnerable than they already are. The investigation of relevant legislation indicates that those who broadcast and/or sell pornography contravene South African law. The article concludes that the effects of pornography on children are far-reaching and potentially harmful. Children should be more effectively protected against exposure to pornography. Lastly, the role of faith-based organisations (FBOs) and the possibilities of their effective involvement, is explored. ; http://www.hts.org.za ; hb2015

Moluccas is known as its "Pela-Gandong" culture, an old tradition where the local community live together hand in hand compassionate and respecting each other, maintaining kinship relation. Cases of Human Rights violation in 1999 and 2011 in Ambon have brought serious damage to the kinship relation of local community in Ambon. This study aims to examine and discuss legal responsibility for violence against humanity as a form of Human rights violation. This study used some approaches as legislations, case based approaches, and conceptual approaches. This study shows that criminal system in Indonesia is based on individual responsibility, however, the action done by a group or an organization is a crime against humanity. Legal responsibility for crimes against humanity as a form of Human Rights violations like what happened in Moluccas can be charged to the leader or the officials in the form of imprisonment. Meanwhile, punishment or sanction to the organization must be in the form of organization dissolution.

All companies, regardless of the sector they belong to, can positively or negatively impact human rights. Governments are increasingly aware of the benefits that free trade brings their nations, which has led them to do whatever is necessaryto attract foreign investment, even if it means to act against the interests of their own people. The power relationship between corporations and states generates a tension derived from their nature: while the objective of states is the welfare ofits members, the purpose of corporations is profit. It is in the crack generated by the collision of powers and purposes between these two actors, that this article is intended to raise the discussion on the need to establish an international framework for corporate liability for human rights violations. To achieve its goal, the article will analyze the opportunities and obstacles raised by the exercise of extraterritorial jurisdiction in the American context and its relationship with the developments in the business and human rights field.

All companies, regardless of the sector they belong to, can positively or negatively impact human rights. Governments are increasingly aware of the benefits that free trade brings their nations, which has led them to do whatever is necessaryto attract foreign investment, even if it means to act against the interests of their own people. The power relationship between corporations and states generates a tension derived from their nature: while the objective of states is the welfare ofits members, the purpose of corporations is profit. It is in the crack generated by the collision of powers and purposes between these two actors, that this article is intended to raise the discussion on the need to establish an international framework for corporate liability for human rights violations. To achieve its goal, the article will analyze the opportunities and obstacles raised by the exercise of extraterritorial jurisdiction in the American context and its relationship with the developments in the business and human rights field.

Where EU action affects the legal or factual situation of an individual, guarantees for the affected persons' rights must exist. If rights have been violated, a remedy must be provided. This thesis concentrates on this relationship between the EU and individual applicants in human rights cases. It critically analyses how the EU may be held accountable for violations of human rights through procedures and remedies available to the individual applicant. The key in this situation is for the EU to find a role in the spectrum of human rights law, where it will bear human rights obligations and individuals will be the right holders who may claim their rights. The thesis focuses on procedures for annulling an EU act, claiming damages against the EU as well as engaging the EU's responsibility under international law.

The relevance of the scientific article is due to the changes made to copyright legislation, which established a multiple size of civil liability for violation of copyright and related rights. Such responsibility is atypical for civil law, since it provides for the dependence of its size on the form of guilt of the offender. In the doctrine of civil law and jurisprudence, the presumption of guilt in committing a civil offense is traditionally applied. At the same time, the measures of responsibility are aimed at full compensation for the harm caused, regardless of the form of guilt. Therefore, in civil law there is no normative definition of the forms of guilt. At the same time, in cases on the protection of copyright and related rights, the issue of proving the form of the offender's guilt acquires special significance. This is necessary to establish the basis for civil liability and its size. For this purpose, based on the study of scientific approaches to understanding the category of guilt, the author of the article formulated criteria for establishing a careless form of guilt in violation of copyright and related rights; the signs indicating the absence of guilt in the actions of the offender have been identified; the characterization of intent when committing a violation of these rights is given. The behavior of the violator, which is deliberately aimed at violating the rights of the copyright holder or deliberately ignoring his rights in order to achieve goals useful for himself, should be defined as guilt in the form of intent. The attitude of the subject to the harm caused to the copyright holder is legally unimportant. Intent should be established with respect to the behavior of the subject at the time of the violation, and not after its completion. The application of the criteria for the form of guilt proposed in the article is aimed at solving practical problems in law enforcement

Юридическая ответственность за экологические правонарушения и преступления есть одна из форм обеспечения экологической безопасности населения, охраны окружающей среды и рационального использования природных ресурсов. Юридической ответственности за экологические правонарушения посвящена гл. XIV ФЗ «Об охране окружающей среды». Она предусматривает имущественную, дисциплинарную, административную и уголовную ответственность. Юридическая ответственность служит одним из основных средств обеспечения выполнения требований законодательства по охране окружающей среды и использованию природных ресурсов. Эффективность юридической ответственности зависит, прежде всего от государственных органов, уполномоченных применять меры к нарушителям природоохранного законодательства.

The accountability for human rights violations by multinational corporations ("MNCs") has been one of the most debated human rights issues of the last decade. Nongovernmental organisations, industry groups, governments and even businesses themselves have generated a plethora of recommendations on how best to respond to the negative human rights impacts created by MNCs that operate in States that are unable or unwilling to protect their citizens' human rights. While there is broad agreement among these different stakeholders about the need for an effective regulatory regime, there is less agreement about the form that this should take. The landmark 'Protect, Respect and Remedy' framework proposed in 2008 by John Ruggie, the former Special Representative of the United Nations ("UN") Secretary-General on the issue of business and human rights, followed in 2011 by its 'Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights' (together, the "UN Framework"), has been hailed as the most significant and progressive instrument to date in the business and human rights domain. But, can the UN Framework be considered a game-changer in that it guarantees that victims of MNC human rights abuses are able to obtain effective remedy? This thesis will explore the causes, challenges and possible future remedies of MNC human rights accountability in three distinct ways. First, it will canvass the possible ways in which businesses affect the human rights of individuals and posit a theory of corporate accountability embedded in the fundamental value of human dignity. Secondly, it will evaluate major policy frameworks that purport to regulate MNC human rights responsibilities, including the newly launched UN Framework, with a view to exposing their (in)adequacy in addressing MNC human rights violations. Finally, it will suggest necessary reforms or alternative enforcement mechanisms, which could be used to enhance MNCs human rights accountability at the international realm with both voluntary and legal dimensions.

Abstract: Positive obligations of States to protect and implement human rights are considered a part of various effects of human rights in legislations. In this article, it is argued that a crucial problem arises from the inconsistent practice of addressing violations of human rights committed by juristic persons together with a lack of underlying general theory of liability for human rights violations committed by private entities. Without a major change in the legal doctrine and case-law, we will need to remain focused on the role of the State as a guarantor of human rights, rather than on the imposition of human rights obligations on private-law entities. In this article, it is argued that the nature of the relationship between a juristic person and the State is not the only relevant aspect, as we should also examine the activity of the juristic person in question.Keywords: Positive obligations of States. Juristic persons. State-juristic person nexus. Fundamental rights. Horizontal effect.Resumo: Obrigações estatais positivas de proteger e de implementar direitos humanos são parte dos vários efeitos dos direitos humanos nas legislações nacionais. Neste artigo, argumenta-se que um problema crucial decorre da prática de abordar violações de direitos humanos cometidas por pessoas jurídicas sem uma teoria geral da responsabilidade por violações de direitos humanos cometidas por entidades privadas. Sem uma mudança importante na doutrina e na jurisprudência será preciso permanecer olhando apenas para o papel do Estado como garantidor de direitos humanos. Neste artigo argumenta-se que a natureza da relação entre uma pessoa jurídica e o Estado não é o único aspecto relevante. É preciso examinar também a atividade da pessoa jurídica em questão.Palavras-chave: Obrigações positivas dos Estados. Pessoas jurídicas.

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever their nationality. These rights are expressed and guaranteed by law, in the forms of treaties and customary international law and by national legal frameworks. The internationalization of human rights has been increasingly recognized. International law traditionally considered relation between a state and its citizens to be a domestic affair, falling under the principle of state sovereignty. Individuals were objects of state action, but not international subjects. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations.UDHR is widely recognized by almost every country of the world. With this wide recognition, conflict emerged between the rights of states i. e. soveregnity and rights of the people i.e. human rights. In the post-Cold War era, the recognition of the linkage between violations of human rights and international peace and security has opened the room for humanitarian intervention in international relations. Humanitarian intervention may be defined as: Forcible action by states to prevent or to end gross violations of human rights on behalf of people other than their own nationals, through the use of armed force without the consent of the target government and with or without UN authorization. In the present paper attempt has been made to examine the concept of human right, their violation and humanitarian intervention to stop their violation.

The government is perceived as the main perpetrator on violations of freedom of religion and belief in Indonesia. As the state organizer, the government frequently issues discriminatory regulations and policies and tend to cause intolerance to minority religions and beliefs, particularly to indigenous peoples. While freedom of religion or belief is a constitutional rights that cannot be reduced and is guaranteed universally in constitution and laws, the law provides limitation that causes ambiguity in the fulfillment of the rights of religion and belief. In addition, the government mindset still adheres to the term of "official religion" and "non-official religion" in any policy-making, causing adherents of minority religions and beliefs to be considered as cultural heritage to be preserved. This creates injustice, discrimination, intimidation and intolerance in rights fulfillment in state and society life. This paper discusses the existence of the guarantee of freedom of religion and belief for indigenous people and state liability for violations of freedom of religion and belief. This research used normative juridical method with statute approach and conceptual approach.