Full Coverage: Law

29.12.2005 Amendments to a controversial bill on NGOs have not significantly changed its likely negative impact on Russian human rights groups and may still result in the closure of affiliate offices of foreign rights organisations, a leading rights agency warns.

23.12.2005 The Humanitarian Law Centre (HLC) warns of the increasing pressure on the Council of the Special Department of the Belgrade District Court that hears the Djindjic assassination trial. Most pressure is put on presiding Judge Marko Kljajevic, which coincides with the announced completion of the presentation of evidence.

22.12.2005 UNITED NATIONS, Dec 22 (OneWorld) - While senior United Nations officials and diplomats from other countries would like to see the International Criminal Court (ICC) playing an important role in the world community's efforts to deter attacks against innocent civilians during armed conflicts, the United States says no way.

22.12.2005 ActionAid's Ethiopia policy head, Daniel Bekele, and close partner, Netsanet Demessie of the Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia, have been charged with crimes against the state.

22.12.2005 The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia dismissed the initiative for ruling on constitutionality of the provision of the Law on Customer Protection which bans the retailers from charging a price for shopping bags carrying logos and brand names, since such bags shall be considered advertising material. The initiative was submitted by Kaufland Croatia chain of retail stores.

19.12.2005 Contempt of court proceedings have been started against Shell Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for failing to comply with a court order to stop flaring gas immediately in an area of Delta state. The court had ruled that flaring was a "gross violation" of the rights to life and dignity.

16.12.2005 The OSCE Mission in Kosovo today published a new report reviewing the implementation of Kosovo Assembly Laws by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG).

15.12.2005 A new report shows that the human rights situation in Burma deteriorated during 2005, with the Burmese authorities increasingly using the justice system as a tool to stifle peaceful dissent.
*Burma Campaign UK

13.12.2005 Stanley "Tookie" Williams, the founder of one of the most deadly street gangs in history, spent more than a decade in prison attempting to atone for some of his wrongs. He issued apologies, counseled at-risk youth against gang life, wrote stories for children and youth and even penned an autobiography, the film of which is credited with launching a gang peace treaty last year. He was executed Tuesday.

13.12.2005 Baby milk campaigners have reported the company to the UK Advertising Standards Authority for a ‘misleading and dishonest’ advert about its Fairtrade Partners’ Blend coffee.

13.12.2005 Liberty is calling for a formal investigation into CIA flights through the UK following the Foreign SecretaryÂ’s comments that there is no evidence that U.S. rendition flights passed through the UK.
*'No UK record of rendition flights'

12.12.2005 The War Crimes Council of the District Court in Belgrade pronounced the sentences for 14 of the 16 accused for war crimes at Ovcara, near Vukovar. Two persons were released from the charges of execution of prisoners of war in November 1991.

12.12.2005 NGOs says that a proposed law in Russia would effectively place foreign and local civil society groups under close control by the authorities.

09.12.2005 "End Torture Now!" It's the theme of this year's Human Rights Day, celebrated Saturday on the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 1948 and has become the standard for promoting and protecting human rights around the world.

08.12.2005 Carla Del Ponte, the Chief Prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal (ICTY), said today in Belgrade that her report to the UN Security Council on the cooperation of Serbia and Montenegro with the ICTY will be negative.

08.12.2005 In a unanimous ruling today, the Law Lords determined that evidence obtained through torture will not be admissible in British courts.
* Law Lords confirm that torture 'evidence' is unacceptable
* Decision Affirms Global Ban on Torture

08.12.2005 The Youth Education Forum (MOF) promoted its latest publication, the Little (Cool) Tour of the Judiciary, dedicated to the youth that wish to learn more about their rights; recognize that their right have been violated; to know which institution they should address for legal assistance or to report a violation or other wrongdoing.

07.12.2005 France's High Court has overturned a decision by the Transport Ministry to ban a French Sikh from wearing a Turban in his drivers license photo. The ruling prevents an attempt "by over-zealous administrators" to extend the French Turban ban in schools into other areas, says a Sikh group promoting tolerance and development.

07.12.2005 The Transnational Foundation takes a look back at the life and work of Tookie Williams; from gang member and death row convict to peace activist, author, and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Williams has become an inspiring practitioner of nonviolence and a symbol of personal reform. Find out what you can do to prevent his execution scheduled for December 13.

07.12.2005 Under the patronage of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Regional Environmental Centre for CEE organized a national workshop on the harmonization of Croatian legislation with the EU Directive on Environmental Liability with regard to the Prevention and Remedying of Environmental Damage.