Digest – Page 76 – Harvard International Law Journal

The European Court of Human Rights Considers the Legality of KFOR and UNMIK Actions in Kosovo

November 15, 2006

On November 15, the European Court of Human Rights began hearings in the case of Saramati v. France, Germany and Norway. Between April 2001 and October 2002, Mr. Saramati, a Kosovar of Albanian origin, was detained by orders of UNMIK and KFOR officers who were of French, German or Norwegian nationality. He was convicted of attempted murder but his conviction was later quashed by the Supreme Court of Kosovo and a re-trial was ordered. Mr. Saramati claims that France, Germany and Norway violated several provisions of the European Convention of Human Rights related to life and security on one hand and to fair trial on the other. More information is available here.

Digest

United Nations Backs Polio Immunizations in Iraq

November 15, 2006

A UN-backed polio immunization drive is now underway in Iraq after a one-week delay due to security concerns. The goal is to immunize every child under five. This is Iraq’s second polio campaign this year. Iraq is currently polio-free, but a recent global resurgence of the virus has brought a renewed threat to the region. See http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20610&Cr=iraq&Cr1=

Digest

ECtHR Considers France’s Responsibility for 1999 NATO Bombing in Kosovo

November 15, 2006

On November 15, the European Court of Human Rights began hearings in the case of Behrami v. France. Mr. Behrami, a Kosovar, alleges Franceâ€™s responsibility for the death of one of his sons and for serious injuries suffered by his second son. Both events occurred in 2000 while the two children were playing with unexploded cluster bombs, dropped during the NATO bombing raids of 1999. During the operation France was in command of multinational forces operating in the sector. More information about the case is available here.

Digest

WTO Appellate Body Rules on US-EU Customs Dispute

November 14, 2006

The WTO Appellate Body ruled that the United States could challenge the collective implementation of EU customs regulations, but declined to rule whether or not the state-by-state EU system of regulation violated commitments to uniformity under WTO agreements. More particularly, the Appellate Body upheld a lower ruling that non-uniform EU regulation of customs on LCD monitors violated WTO commitments. The appellate body report, WT/DS315/AB/R, is available at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds315_e.htm.

Digest

Vietnam to Become 150th Member of the WTO

November 7, 2006

The WTO’s General Council approved Vietnam’s membership agreement on November 7 after eleven years of preparation and 8 years of negotiations. The country will accede to membership thirty days after it informs the WTO of its ratification of the membership agreement. See http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres06_e/pr455_e.htm.

Digest

OECD Working Paper on Unemployment

October 27, 2006

On October 27, an OECD Working Paper was released, entitled “From Inactivity to Work: The Role of Active Labor Market Policies.”Â The paper finds that unemployment benefit expenditures have risen in many OECD countries. It also gives an overview and an analysis of the work-availability requirements imposed on unemployment benefit recipients.

See http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/44/8/36945194.pdf