Full Coverage: Law

30.04.2008 WASHINGTON, Apr 30 (OneWorld) - The mainstream League of Women Voters lashed out at the U.S. Supreme Court this week, calling its decision on voter identification "a disgraceful decision by a court that has no credibility on election issues."

24.04.2008 BANGKOK, Apr 23 (IPS) - A rising star within the ranks of Burma's military regime is reported to have unveiled a plan to ensure the junta gets its way at the May referendum for a new constitution, according to information revealed to IPS.

23.04.2008 Come May 10 and Burmese citizens will vote to endorse a constitution that took a decade and a half to be drafted. The military junta, however, seems to have its own plans to swing the tide in its favour.

22.04.2008 To counter human trafficking, Indian government with support from UN agency on drugs and crime has released a manual for Delhi Police. The manual guides policemen to deal strictly with the crime and also talks of bringing about an attitudinal change so as not to subject the victims to further indignities.

22.04.2008 Frail but fierce Irom Sharmila has been on hunger strike for the last eight years demanding a repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur. The Act empowering armed forces to shoot and kill insurgents continues to be grossly misused in the north-eastern Indian state.

15.04.2008 As a first legislative step towards getting rid of the remnants of Emergency, the new Pakistani government has tabled a bill in the national assembly seeking to revoke the draconian gag imposed on the countryÂ’s electronic media. A separate bill is also round the corner that will undo the restrictions on print media.

11.04.2008 In a landmark judgment, IndiaÂ’s Supreme Court has upheld the law that provides reservation in admissions in central government educational institutions to backward castes. With this the share of reserved seats will be close to 50%. However, the affluent sections from the disadvantaged groups will not be able to gain the preferential treatment.

11.04.2008 NEW YORK, Apr 10 (OneWorld) - From New York to Johannesburg to Manila, rights advocacy groups are making fresh calls for the Egyptian government to rein in its functionaries who mistreat people living with HIV/AIDS.

10.04.2008 Prominent citizens of India have written to the Prime Minister urging him to reconsider the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Bill, 2006. The proposed law gives authorities the arbitrary power to refuse or cancel registration of organisations, which may put NGOs critical of government policies at risk.

05.04.2008 SAN FRANCISCO, Apr 5 (OneWorld) - Amid new calls for the resignation of George W. Bush's top environment official, 12 states and 11 non-profit groups went to court this week accusing the Bush administration of refusing to comply with an environmental order handed down a year ago by the U.S. Supreme Court.

03.04.2008 Determined to improve its gender development index, Bangladesh government has devised a policy for all round development of its women. The policy envisions their empowerment in the political, social, administrative and economic spheres. Muslim clerics are but peeved that this might violate Sharia law.

01.04.2008 Today's move by the UK Government to bring in new counter-terrorism legislation is condemned by a group of 27 civil society organisations as "sinister", "an attack on free speech" and "a violation of the most fundamental principles of justice".
From Campaign Against Criminalising Communities
+ Consensus against 42 days pre-trial detention grows