Posts

International Women’s Day: International Criminal Court appoints Focal Point for Gender Equality

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Today, 8 March 2021, the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or the "Court") joins the international community in marking International Women's Day and seizes the occasion to announce the appointment of a Focal Point for Gender Equality at the Court. "I am pleased to announce that the ICC has finalised the recruitment of the Court's Focal Point for Gender Equality who will start her work today. This is a crucial milestone towards effectively improving gender-related issues in our institution," said ICC President, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji. The Focal Point will assist the Court's Leadership in their efforts to strengthen gender related policies across the Court and to address issues related to employment conditions of women in the institution, including gender balance at all levels of employment. The Focal Point's key functions will include monitoring the Court's progress in strengthening gender equality; advocating on issues impacting

Women in Law : What Are The Challenges Around The World?

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Women in Law : What Are The Challenges Around The World? Event by  Interlegal International Network As part of International Women's Day, the Interlegal International network presents a panel discussion on the challenges that face women in law around the world and how to empower women around us. Meet five women with inspiring professional backgrounds from 3 different continents. Our facilitator and the four panelists stand out in the field of law in their respective countries. They will discuss the evolution of the profession for women, the challenges to come for the new generation of lawyers, the barriers they have encountered as an entrepreneurs, the place of women in their country... -Gabriele Brand-Ogris, partner at BRAND RECHTSANWÄLTE GMBH in Austria and Vice-President at Interlegal -Maude Fréchette, cofondatrice de YULEX, attorneys and strategist in Canada -Özlem Kurt, Partner at Kurt and Partners in Turkey -Tone Bjørn, Partner at Consilium Advokatfirma in Norway -Tani

The international exchange of personal data in law enforcement and criminal justice

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On 2 February 2021, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPB) adopted Recommendations on the adequacy referential under the Law Enforcement Directive (LED). The aim of this document is to provide a list of elements to take into account when assessing the adequacy of the protection of personal data in non-EU countries in the field of law enforcement and criminal justice. A similar  adequacy referential under the GDPR  was already adopted by the EDPB in 2018. Building on the legal provisions of the LED and the case law of the Court of Justice of the EU, the document lays down the EU data protection standards for transfers in police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters. The adoption of the LED adequacy referential is timely, as it will provide practical guidance for the Commission when assessing the adequacy of the UK.   The EDPS played an active role in the preparation and adoption of the document, especially because the Commission’s adequacy decisions under

Experienced Legal Counsel at the European Stability Mechanism (“ESM”)

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At the beginning of this year, the European Stability Mechanism (“ESM”) Members signed the agreement amending the ESM Treaty, which provides the legal basis for a set of new and broadened tasks for the ESM following the ratification of the revised treaty. In this context, ESM is looking for an experienced Legal Counsel to join the Legal department to strengthen the current legal capabilities, and to assist the ESM in preparing for these new and increased responsibilities. The selected candidate will be responsible for the institutional and corporate affairs of the ESM, now and in future, thereby working closely together with the other legal counsel within the Legal department. S/he will report directly to the Head of Legal and Procurement. This position involves leading, supporting, and participating in the implementation of the ESM reforms from a legal point of view, as well as supervising the relevant legal frameworks of both the ESM and the EFSF. It includes advising on a broad

Implementing ECHR judgments: New thematic factsheet on children’s rights

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The Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has published a  new factsheet  focusing on cases related to children. The factsheet summarises measures reported by 29 member states to safeguard and protect children’s rights in response to 62 different judgments from the Strasbourg court. It includes sections on protecting children from ill-treatment, detention, access to a court, children’s rights in family law matters and their protection from discrimination. This is the sixth in a series of thematic factsheets on changes which have been brought about through the implementation of ECHR judgments. Previous factsheets cover constitutional matters, effective investigations, freedom of religion, the environment and the independence and impartiality of judicial systems. Factsheets are already available in several different languages and further translations are planned. (coe.int) The recent factsheet is available here

New President and Vice-President of the International Court of Justice

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On 8.2.2021, Judge Joan E. Donoghue (United States of America) was elected President of the International Court of Justice by her peers, and Judge Kirill Gevorgian (Russian Federation) was elected Vice-President, each for a term of three years. Biographies of President Donoghue and Vice-President Gevorgian, who have been Members of the Court since 9 September 2010 and 6 February 2015, respectively, can be found on the Court’s website, under the heading “Members of the Court”/“CurrentMembers”. Following the elections held on 12 November 2020 by the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council to fill the five seats which were due to fall vacant on 6 February 2021 (see press release No. 2020/33), the composition of the Court is now as follows: President : Joan E. Donoghue (United States of America) Vice-President:   Kirill Gevorgian (Russian Federation) Judges: Peter Tomka (Slovakia), Ronny Abraham (France), Mohamed Bennouna (Morocco), Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade (

UNICEF is seeking to recruit a Legal Affairs Specialist

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UNICEF is seeking to recruit a Legal Affairs Specialist (Administrative Law Specialist), P-4, Administrative Law Unit, Office of the Executive Director, Budapest The post is located in the Administrative Law Unit (ALU) within the Office of the Executive Director. ALU is principally responsible for advising the Deputy Executive Director, Management, on all administrative-law related matters, including on requests for management evaluation of administrative decisions brought by staff members under the UN Staff Rules and on all matters relating to possible misconduct and the disciplinary process. ALU represents the Secretary-General in proceedings before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) in all cases involving UNICEF staff members. As part of its functions, ALU assists in the development and updating of relevant administrative policies, such as UNICEF's disciplinary and prohibited conduct policies. It also advises on matters relating to the internal justice system in genera

Attacks on abortion rights and breaches of the rule of law in Poland

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On Wednesday 24.2.2021 (13.45 – 15.15), Members of the European Parliament will discuss women’s rights and the rule of law in Poland with Commissioner Dalli and civil society representatives. The  hearing  is jointly organised by the  Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs  and the  Women’s Rights and Gender Equality  committees. It will focus on the impact of measures and attacks on women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights in Poland, such as the right to access healthcare, the right to privacy, and the right to education. The hearing will also examine how various communities still face discrimination, in conjunction with the deteriorating situation of the rule of law. In the first session, MEPs will exchange views with  Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli . The second part will feature: Wojciech HERMELIŃSKI, attorney, former Judge of the Constitutional Tribunal, Chair of the National Electoral Commission from 2014 to 2019, Marta LEMPART, Leader of the Polish Women

Dominic Ongwen declared guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Uganda (ICC)

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On 4 February 2021, Trial Chamber IX of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court") found Dominic Ongwen guilty for a total of 61 comprising crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in Northern Uganda between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2005. The verdict may be appealed by either party to the proceedings within 30 days after the notification of the Judgment. ICC Trial Chamber IX, composed of Judge Bertram Schmitt, Presiding Judge, Judge Péter Kovács and Judge Raul Cano Pangalangan, analysed the evidence submitted and discussed before it at trial and found, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Mr Ongwen is guilty of the following crimes: attacks against the civilian population as such, murder, attempted murder, torture, enslavement, outrages upon personal dignity, pillaging, destruction of property and persecution; committed in the context of the four specified attacks on the Internally Displaced Persons camps ("IDP camps") Pajule (10 Octo

Low-Level Offences and Procedural Rights in Europe (online event)

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Online Event: "Low-Level Offences and Procedural Rights in Europe" on Thursday, 4 Mar 2021 17:00 - 18:30 CET. During the COVID-19 pandemic, police and prosecution pursued punishment of violations of COVID-related measures. These prosecutions fell heavily on people of colour, people experiencing homelessness or poverty, or other groups that are often targeted by policing. Prosecutions for such "minor offences" do not always have "minor" consequences: they have very serious consequences for people, including incarceration. Yet under domestic and European law people charged with low-level offences are not granted the same procedural protections as people charged with more serious offences—often because the law assumes that these offences do not carry serious consequences. In this session, we will learn about how low-level offences are punished in Europe, the procedural deficiencies and/or lack of protections available to people being tried of low-level case

Editorial

Editorial
George Kazoleas, Lawyer