Nov 22, 2006 | Digest
On November 21, the European Court of Human Rights issued a unanimous decision in the case Roda and Bonfatti v. Italy. The applicants contested a decision of the Italian children’s court, rendered in 1998, which took Mrs. Roda’s daughter into public care to protect her from sexual abuse. The Court held that the removal itself did not violate Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, but that the same Article had been violated by the fact that no satisfactory contact between the child and the family was arranged. For more information see here.
Nov 21, 2006 | Digest
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, toured the Gazan town of Beit Hanoun, where 19 Palestinians were killed on November 8th when Israeli Defence Forces shelled a residential area. The High Commissioner told journalists that an independent, credible and thorough inquiry was needed to determine where responsibility lies for the deaths in Beit Hanoun. Arbour further stated that the lack of accountability for human rights in Gaza has left Palestinians in the territory with a complete sense of abandonment.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20669&Cr=Palestin&Cr1=
Nov 20, 2006 | Digest
In a recent Investment Compact’s Investment Reform Index Report, the OECD analyzes the economic policies of Southeast European countries. The OECD recommends that, to attract more foreign investment, governments engage in further regional economic integration.
For further information, see http://www.oecd.org/document/50/0,2340,en_2649_201185_37656498_1_1_1_1,00.html
Nov 19, 2006 | Digest
The ICC commenced the public hearing for the confirmation of charges against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo on November 9, scheduled to end on November 28. If the Pre-Trial Chamber confirms the charges brought against Dyilo, then there will be subsequent proceedings. Dyilo is being charged for war crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the conscription of children under the age of fifteen. Legal representatives of the victims will make opening statements at the hearing, which notably marks the “first time in international criminal law that victims have been able to participate in the proceedings.â€
See http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/202.html
Nov 19, 2006 | Digest
On November 16th, NATO’s highest military body concluded meetings in Brussels in anticipation of the Riga Summit. The meetings were intended to build consensus-based advice that will inform the military discussion at the upcoming summit.
For more, see http://www.nato.int/ims/news/2006/n061116e.htm
Nov 17, 2006 | Digest
Massive flooding in Kenya has uprooted more than 78,000 Somali refugees. The UN will begin airlifting critical supplies to the stranded refugees over the weekend. The UN hopes to deliver emergency health kits, fuel, and 25,000 tarpaulins for constructing shelters.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20632&Cr=kenya&Cr1=
