Law Commons^™

Impediments To Human Rights Protection In Nigeria, Jacob Abiodun Dada

Annual Survey of International & Comparative Law

The promotion and protection of human rights have engaged the attention of the world community, and though the African country of Nigeria has subscribed to major international human rights instruments, violations continue to occur with disturbing frequency and regularity in that nation. Why is this so? This article examines the multifarious and multidimensional impediments which have hamstrung meaningful enjoyment of human rights in Nigeria. It points out the shortcomings of the dualist model under the Nigerian Constitution and stresses the objectionable wide amplitude of the derogation clauses. It also makes suggestions for reform.

Cite as: 18 Annl. Survey Int'l. Comp. …

Corrective Rape In South Africa: A Continuing Plight Despite An International Human Rights Repsonse, Roderick Brown

Annual Survey of International & Comparative Law

First, this paper will discuss the historical and societal basis for corrective rape, then, its scope and presence globally. Subsequently, the paper will introduce the laws and policies that should address the problem of corrective rape, and how the South African state and citizens violate them, including, first, the international human rights framework that existed before corrective rape came into the spotlight; then, it will address the recent developments that were instituted in response to violations of LGBTI rights globally. Finally, the paper will provide specific laws and policies that should be implemented in order to provide effective and durable …

Proportionality In Interpreting Constitutional Rights: A Comparison Between Canada, The United Kingdom And Singapore And Its Implications For Vietnam, Jack Tsen-Ta Lee

Jack Tsen-Ta LEE

Proportionality In Interpreting Constitutional Rights: A Comparison Between Canada, The United Kingdom And Singapore And Its Implications For Vietnam [Thuyết Cân Đối Trong Vấn Đề Giải Thích Các Quyền Về Hiến Pháp: So Sánh Giữa Canada, Liên Hiệp Các Vương Quốc Anh Và Singapore Và Kinh Nghiệm Cho Vìệt Nam], Jack Tsen-Ta Lee

Jack Tsen-Ta LEE

Few rights that are guaranteed by constitutions and bills of rights are expressed to be absolute. In many jurisdictions, the legislature is permitted to impose restrictions on rights for specified reasons and under particular conditions. However, constitutional or bill of rights text often do not expressly indicate how the courts should determine that applicants’ rights have been legitimately restricted. To this end, courts in jurisdictions such as Canada and the United Kingdom have adopted the European doctrine of proportionality. Essentially, this requires them to balance opposing types of public interests – the interest sought to be protected by the rights …

Dual Lenses: Using Theology And International Human Rights To Assess China's 2005 Regulations On Religion, Joel A. Nichols

Pepperdine Law Review

In order for China to move forward in the international community, it needs to continue to improve its standing on human rights issues. Of particular concern to many observers is the relationship between the government and religion. While foreign religious organizations and missionaries are still heavily regulated by a 1994 law, a new law respecting religious citizens and organizations within China went into effect in 2005. This new law is salutary in some respects in that it provides a much fuller delineation of the relationship between government and religion within China, and it appears more solicitous toward religious rights than …

Bride-Burning: The "Elephant In The Room" Is Out Of Control , Avnita Lakhani

Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal

This article is an attempt to answer the question of why the practice of bride-burning continues and propose alternative ways to not only look at the problem, but also to define workable solutions. It is only via a thorough conflict analysis of this complex issue that the world might rein in a problem that is clearly out of control in this day and age. Section II examines the origins of bride-burning, its continued practice, and societal ramifications. Section III analyzes some of the current and proposed efforts in place for banning bride-burning and punishing those who illegally engage in this …

Who Killed The Friendly Settlement? The Decline Of Negotiated Resolutions At The European Court Of Human Rights , Gregory S. Weber

Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal

The "Friendly Settlement"--the negotiated settlement of cases at the European Court of Human Rights--is on the decline. The Friendly Settlement's decline will likely provoke mixed sentiments in the international human rights camp. Some may applaud the development, including those who believe that only judgments by the Court are likely to chastise member states sufficiently and to announce standards of conduct for other states to follow. But others may shed more than a few mournful tears. An active settlement program can help reduce the Court's huge case backlog and give complaining parties a faster, and often more generous, measure of resolution …

The Treaty Of Lisbon And Accession Of The European Union To The European Convention On Human Rights, Elizabeth F. Defeis

ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law

The Treaty of Lisbon, adopted in December 2009, constitutes a major step in the development of the protection of Human Rights in Europe.

Mr. Ban-Tear Down The U.N'S Wall Of Immunity/Impunity (Before A National Court Does)!!, Great L. Rios, Edward P. Flaherty

ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law

Immunity has been proven to be not only a living anachronism, but one which often leads to impunity for the worst kinds of rights violations.

Transnational Surrpgacy And International Human Rights Law, Barbara Stark

ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law

Surrogacy refers to the process through which a woman intentionally becomes pregnant with a baby that she does not intend to keep.

Parochialism, Cosmopolitanism, And The Foundations Of International Law, Mortimer N.S. Sellers

Books

Summary: "This book determines the boundary between parochial and cosmopolitan justice. To what extent should law recognize or support the political, historical, cultural, and economic differences among nations? Ten lawyers and philosophers from five continents consider whether certain states or persons deserve special treatment or exemptions or heightened duties under international law. Parochialism and cosmopolitanism are the two faces of international law, which recognizes our common humanity by protecting us in our differences"-- Provided by publisher.

Finding International Law, Part Ii: Our Fragmenting Legal Community, Harlan G. Cohen

Scholarly Works

Is there an “International Community?” This Article suggests that there is not, that the oft-discussed fragmentation of international law reveals that there are in fact multiple overlapping and competing international law communities, each with differing views on law and legitimacy.

This Article reaches this conclusion by taking a fresh look not only at the sources of fragmentation, but at the sources of international law itself. Building on earlier work rethinking international law’s sources and drawing insights from legal philosophy, compliance theory, and international relations, this Article takes a closer look at three areas that have challenged traditional interpretations of international …

Comparative Law And International Human Rights Law: Non-Retroactivity And Lex Certa In Criminal Law, Kenneth S. Gallant

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Theater Of International Justice, Jessie Allen

Articles

In this essay I defend international human rights tribunals against the charge that they are not “real” courts (with sovereign force behind them) by considering the proceedings in these courts as a kind of theatrical performance. Looking at human rights courts as theater might at first seem to validate the view that they produce only an illusory “show” of justice. To the contrary, I argue that self-consciously theatrical performances are what give these courts the potential to enact real justice. I do not mean only that human rights tribunals’ dramatic public hearings make injustice visible and bring together a community …

China’S ‘Attitude’ Toward Human Rights: Reading Hungdah Chiu In The Era Of The Iraq War, Dongsheng Zang

Articles

China observers in the United States generally share two observations on China today: that China has made impressive progress in economic development in the past three decades, and that China has maintained a poor human rights record since the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre. On the economic front, China overtook Japan and became the second largest economy in 2010. In a joint study with China's Development Research Center of the State Council, the World Bank recently predicted that even if the Chinese economy grows a third as slowly in the future, it will outstrip the United States in terms of overall GDP …