scholarly journals The “Falun Gong Problem”: Politics and the Struggle for the Rule of Law in China

2003 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 623-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald C. Keith ◽  
Zhiqiu Lin

This article examines the CCP's “falun gong problem” with reference to PRC law and policy on “heretical cults,” paying particular attention to the implications of this problem for the ongoing struggle to establish human rights under the rule of law. Official PRC commentary contends that the falun gong not only committed criminal acts but also wilfully sought to undermine the rule of law itself. Human rights critics and agencies, such as the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, have, on the other hand, attacked the PRC for a “repressive legal framework” that threatens human rights. The “falun gong problem” is an important chapter in the struggle for the rule of law in China, and it appears that the law has not been able to transcend the conceptual bias of past criminal law on counter-revolution. The related politicization of the law through a revived principle of “flexibility” challenges the internal process of criminal justice reform and the recent reform focus on the balance of human rights protection and public order.

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 141-121
Author(s):  
Ibnu Artadi

In line with the identity of "rechstaat" and "the rule of law", the law must recognize and guarantee human rights in order to establish a just order, because justice goes hand in hand with the structure of human rights. The realization of the Criminal Procedure Code which functions to protect human rights comprehensively, in line with the demands of the Convention Against Torture, is a basic requirement towards the era of rule of law. So, the purpose of this article is to analyze the quality of the implementation of law enforcement that is not in accordance with the principles of law regarding the behavior of good law enforcement officials. The method used is qualitative with a sociolegal approach. The conclusion of this article is that one of the authority of legislation is its success in adapting to international conventions recognized by the affected people. The Criminal Procedure Code as an integral part of the national law of the Indonesian state law must be in line with Law No. 5 of 1998 concerning the Ratification of the Convention Against Torture. For this reason, looking at the weaknesses of the Criminal Procedure Code, both substantively and in practice, renovating the Criminal Procedure Code is urgent. The lack of perfection of the legal substance of the Criminal Procedure Code in providing human rights protection in a country that acts as a state of law is disastrous. In accordance with the rule of law, the law must recognize and guarantee human rights in order to establish a just order, because justice goes hand in hand with the structure of human rights.


Author(s):  
Egidijus Küris

Western legal tradition gave the birth to the concept of the rule of law. Legal theory and constitutional justice significantly contributed to the crystallisation of its standards and to moving into the direction of the common concept of the rule of law. The European Court of Human Rights uses this concept as an interpretative tool, the extension of which is the quality of the law doctrine, which encompasses concrete requirements for the law under examination in this Court, such as prospectivity of law, its foreseeability, clarity etc. The author of the article, former judge of the Lithuanian Constitutional Court and currently the judge of the European Court of Human Rights, examines how the latter court has gradually intensified (not always consistently) its reliance on the rule of law as a general principle, inherent in all the Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, to the extent that in some of its judgments it concentrates not anymore on the factual situation of an individual applicant, but, first and foremost, on the examination of the quality of the law. The trend is that, having found the quality of the applicable law to be insufficient, the Court considers that the mere existence of contested legislation amounts to an unjustifiable interference into a respective right and finds a violation of respective provisions of the Convention. This is an indication of the Court’s progressing self-approximation to constitutional courts, which are called to exercise abstract norm-control.La tradición occidental alumbró la noción del Estado de Derecho. La teoría del Derecho y la Justicia Constitucional han contribuido decisivamente a la cristalización de sus estándares, ayudando a conformar un acervo común en torno al mismo. El Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos emplea la noción de Estado de Derecho como una herramienta interpretativa, fundamentalmente centrada en la doctrina de la calidad de la ley, que implica requisitos concretos que exige el Tribunal tales como la claridad, la previsibilidad, y la certeza en la redacción y aplicación de la norma. El autor, en la actualidad Juez del Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos y anterior Magistrado del Tribunal Constitucional de Lituania, examina cómo el primero ha intensificado gradualmente (no siempre de forma igual de consistente) su confianza en el Estado de Derecho como principio general, inherente a todos los preceptos que forman el Convenio Europeo de Derechos Humanos, hasta el punto de que en algunas de sus resoluciones se concentra no tanto en la situación de hecho del demandante individual sino, sobre todo y ante todo, en el examen de esa calidad de la ley. La tendencia del Tribunal es a considerar que, si observa que la ley no goza de calidad suficiente, la mera existencia de la legislación discutida supone una interferencia injustificable dentro del derecho en cuestión y declara la violación del precepto correspondiente del Convenio. Esto implica el acercamiento progresivo del Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos a los Tribunales Constitucionales, quienes tienen encargado el control en abstracto de la norma legal.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (29) ◽  
pp. 273-281
Author(s):  
Oleksandr Batanov ◽  
Natalia Verlos ◽  
Olga Lotiuk ◽  
Olena Sinkevych

In the search for optimal ways of improving the normative foundations and organizational-legal forms of human rights protection, the problem of institutional support of relevant processes is actualized. The protection of human rights is inherently linked to all public-power structures of the mechanism of state power and is possible only in the context of optimal implementation of the principles of the rule of law, separation of powers, democratic, social, rule of law. In Ukraine, in the context of constitutional modernization, the problem of improving the organizational-legal mechanism of human rights protection remains urgent. For this purpose, the Institute of the Ombudsman operates in Ukraine. Its implementation fully meets the tendencies existing in the modern democratic world and is a reaction to those conflicts and contradictions that exist in the field of human rights protection. Nevertheless, the social insecurity of certain sections of the population (children, pensioners, persons with disabilities, servicemen, migrants, internally displaced persons, ethnic minorities, persons belonging to the LGBTI community, entrepreneurs, patients and other categories of citizens) is an indicator of the relevance of the problem and the functioning of national human rights protection mechanisms, including the strengthening of the relevant oversight functions of the Ombudsman. The subject of the research is the problems of reception in the constitutional law of the basic models of organization of the Ombudsman Institute in the mechanism of functioning of the rule of law. The object of the study is the public relations that delve into the human rights protection process and the ombudsman's exclusivity in the relevant processes. The methodological basis of the study are general scientific methods, such as dialectical, comparative-legal, formal-legal, historical, and logical methods of cognition, as well as special and private-law methods. The history of development, the causes, the processes of institutionalization and constitution of the ombudsman services in the modern world, the permanent transformation of their functions and the differentiation of their specialization are evidence of the improvement of the classical system of separation of powers and the constitutional mechanism of its organization. It is argued that the functional isolation, independence, and organizational diversity of the control bodies, first of all, the Ombudsmen, is a testament to the formation of control power, the conceptual idea of which is the existence of a system of measures to ensure control over public authority.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-153
Author(s):  
Gamze Ovacik

The term, de facto detention, refers to instances in which foreigners are held or deprived of their liberty usually with a view to preventing their entry into a country or expelling them from a country, but without implementing a legally prescribed detention regime that satisfies the criteria of the rule of law. The first type of de facto detention occurs when provisions regulating detention are absent or deficient in the legal framework. The second type takes place when domestic law sufficiently regulates detention regimes; however, the law is not duly implemented in practice. This article examines judicial practices in Turkey in both categories of de facto detention, analysing 37 Turkish court decisions with supporting case law from the European Court of Human Rights. Focusing on case law makes it possible both to track deficiencies in administrative practices and to analyse judicial response as a tool for rectifying unlawful administrative practices.


2021 ◽  
pp. 45-53
Author(s):  
А. Т. Комзюк ◽  
Salmanova O. Yu.

The article defines the relationship between the principles of the rule of law and legality and their importance in the activities of the National Police of Ukraine. Indicated, that the principle of the rule of law is enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine, and in relation to the National Police – also in the Law on it. Attention is drawn to the fact that the definition of the rule of law in the Constitution and the Law of Ukraine «On the National Police» is interpreted differently. Therefore, in a generalized form, the principle of the rule of law is proposed to be interpreted as the idea of the rule of law, which is embodied in the creation of appropriate laws, their proper implementation, prohibition of arbitrariness, human rights, non-discrimination and equality before the law. It was emphasized that it was expedient to define this principle as a general idea in the Law “On the National Police”, as its other components cannot always be fulfilled in the activity of the police. In particular, the authorities and police officers cannot question the compliance of the law with the ideas of social justice, freedom, equality, etc. Nor can they, in the performance of their tasks and functions, be guided by norms of morality, traditions, customs, etc., and not by formally defined norms of law (ie laws). It is in the light of such reservations that it is proposed to define this principle. The police must implement it through certain requirements – legality, prohibition of arbitrariness, respect for human rights, non-discrimination and equality before the law. Therefore, legality is of paramount importance in the activity of the police – the police act exclusively on the basis, within the powers and in the manner determined by the Constitution and laws of Ukraine. In this regard, the proposals to improve the legal regulation of the rule of law and legality as principles of the National Police of Ukraine are substantiated.


Author(s):  
Gopala Anjinappa

The world as a whole has developed in the global dimension and has flourished with prosperity. But still one can see the hurdles in the development process. One of such impediments is poverty and the other is the environmental problems. Poverty results in violation of human rights. The rule of law is crucial and is one of the means to strengthen these hurdles. One of such escalation is on the environmental development wherein it strives for achieving sustainable development and eradication of poverty. The rule of law plays a vital role in reducing extreme poverty with emphasizing on human rights. It is the very essence and the core of Good Governance. Without the principles of the rule of law, it will not be enough to achieve sustainable development and eradication of poverty. The rule of law strengthens to provide intense legal framework. It works as an effective mechanism for the enforcement of law. Innovative methods are undertaken to aim in the enforcement of sustainable development and eradication of poverty. The paper implies on effectiveness of the rule of law in providing sustainable development policies. It analyses the legal framework in India that contributes in maintaining economic imbalances. The paper explores the role of Indian Judiciary and the classic Judgments of Supreme Court of India. Keeping in view the importance of sustainable development and eradication of poverty, the paper contributes to explore the significance of the rule of law in achieving the objective of the nation. “Development is one of the primary means of improving the environment for living, or providing food, water, sanitation and shelter, of making the deserts green and the mountains habitable” (Indira Gandhi, 1972).


Author(s):  
Nataliia Shuklina

The article examines the role of the National School of Judges of Ukraine in strengthening the mechanisms preventing corruption through the professional training of the judiciary. In particular, relevant training activities for candidates for the judge's post, effective judges of all jurisdictions and judges of the High Anti - Corruption Court are reviewed in the article. The program of special training of candidates for the post of judge (to fill vacant posts of judges in the courts of first instance) in 2018-2019 comprised trainings on anti-corruption legislation, including European standards and national legislation; corruption related criminal offences and criminal offenses in the field of in-service and professional activity tied to the provision of public services; administrative offenses related to corruption. Trainings on anti-corruption legislation and practice of its application are a part of the periodic training programs of effective judges of local general, commercial and administrative courts, as well as courts of appeal. Anti - corruption issues were one of the key topics in the training of newly appointed Supreme Court judges. It is stated that National School of Judges of Ukraine also made a contribution into the process of selection of judges of the High Anti - Corruption Court by developing of test questions and practical tasks (model court cases). The School, with the support of its international partners, conducted an Orientation Course for judges of the High Anti - Corruption Court, which included trainings on the rule of law, standards of human rights protection in accordance with the practice of the European Court of Human Rights, return of assets and instruments of cooperation with international organizations, international anti-corruption standards, practical aspects of dealing with corruption cases (witness and victim protection, money laundering, asset seizure, special confiscation). The next scheduled training of judges of the High Anti - Corruption Court was related to adjudication of corruptionists and confiscation of their property in Ukraine. The main training topics for the court staff are the application of anti-corruption legislation concerning civil servants, main issues of financial control, features of the electronic declaration system, settlement of conflicts of interest, responsibility for violation of anti-corruption legislation. The conclusion is made that all these activities influence the change of the professional consciousness of judges, the affirmation of the values of the rule of law and fair trial. Keywords: corruption prevention, confiscation of assets, special training of candidates for the post of judge, periodic training of judges.


2001 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-488 ◽  
Author(s):  

AbstractBy analyzing specific legislative and institutional aspects of UNMIK's administration of Kosovo, this article attempts to highlight the discrepancy between the nature of an international security presence and civilian administration (under Security Council peacekeeping mandate), and effective human rights remedies, as well as principles of democratic governance such as accountability, lawfulness and constitutionality. The `constitutional' aspects of the current system of governance in Kosovo are described and difficulties of creating an international administration, which seeks to gain a certain level of acceptance by the subjected population, are pointed out. The article explains how UNMIK went about establishing a Joint Interim Administrative Structure while dismantling parallel, illegitimate power structures. It further addresses the Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Governance and evaluates briefly its human rights-related aspects. Legislative issues and questions concerning the rule of law are discussed in another section, which deals with UNMIK's formal commitments to adhere to the highest level of internationally recognized human rights standards. Several important Regulations issued by the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) are analyzed. Consequently, the most significant structures and mechanisms for the protection, promotion and monitoring of human rights are shortly presented and put in context. The article raises several crucial questions concerning the access to effective remedy and the effectiveness of human rights institutions in an environment of legal uncertainty, the absence of the rule of law and the supremacy of international authority, which is beyond the reach of judicial control or review. It concludes that if effective human rights protection shall be the outcome of structures dedicated to human rights, these structures have to be constructed to offer real remedies, proper judicial procedures and legal clarity. The present nature of international peace missions (military and civilian) is not compatible with the requirements of a law-based administration according to the Rechtsstaat-model, which is arguably a prerequisite for effective human rights protection.


Author(s):  
Md. Awal Hossain Mollah

The aim of this paper is to examine the state of violation of human rights by crossfire through law enforcing agencies in Bangladesh. Though the law enforcing agencies are primarily responsible for maintaining the law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens and prevention and detection of crime to establish rule of law in a society, however, the violation of human rights by the law enforcing agencies in Bangladesh has increased severely for the last few years. This paper critically examines the existing legal framework of governing the law enforcing agency, causes of violation of human rights and finally pinpoint some recommendations for the eradication of the pitfalls of security forces.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 197
Author(s):  
Galina S. Belyaeva ◽  
Boris V. Makogon ◽  
Sergej N. Bezugly ◽  
Marina L. Prokhorova ◽  
Dariusz Szpoper

The article deals with some issues of the state power restriction, and the necessity of this is justified. The evolution of state power restriction certain criteria and forms are analyzed in accordance with the emergence of relevant ideas and scientific concepts and their chronology: the restriction of power by another power, self-restraint of state power; the restriction of state power by the law and human rights in connection with the contemporary problems of state power restrictions in a state governed by the rule of law.


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