Balancing national security and human rights: Assessing the legal response of common law nations to the threat of terrorism

2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Golder ◽  
George Williams
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
National Security ◽  
Common Law ◽  
Legal Response

Reconciling Rights and Obligations

2003 ◽  
Vol 20 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 140-172
Author(s):  
Pernille Ironside
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Due Process ◽  
Common Law ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Freedom Of Religion ◽  
Northern Nigeria ◽  
Law System ◽  
Constitutional Legality ◽  
Human Rights Norms ◽  
Criminal Matters

This article examines the debate concerning the recent reinstatement of Shari`ah law with respect to criminal matters in Northern Nigeria. The discussion explores the inherent challenges in reconciling the equally entrenched and passionate views of pro-Shari`ah supporters on their right to freedom of religion with those that question its application in terms of human rights norms and obligations, and its constitutional legality. The analysis concludes that Shari`ah laws can coexist with Nigeria’s common law system and remain relevant in the context of Islam, provided that its principles are adapted and modernized to comport with international standards for due process and are interpreted and applied consistently.

Contemporary Developments Relating to the Inviolability of Mission Premises

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan E Falconi Puig
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Urban Planning ◽  
National Security ◽  
Direct Consequence ◽  
Access To Justice ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Domestic Legislation

This chapter addresses some of the controversial issues relating to the inviolability of mission premises. The Yvonne Fletcher incident of 1984 led to debates about the need to upgrade or reform the VCDR in that regard; and the United Kingdom, as a direct consequence of the incident, adopted the ‘Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987’ to be able to adopt unilateral measures to remove premises immunity where threats to national security, to public integrity and/or the need of urban planning exist. Domestic legislation of this kind, however, also provides ground for conflicts with the VCDR. This chapter explores conflicts between property immunity and issues such as access to justice, human rights, and terrorism and examines ways of overcoming such difficulties through mechanisms which safeguard diplomatic privileges and immunity to allow the pursuit of diplomatic functions.

Municipal Courts and the International Interpretive Principle: Al-Kateb v Godwin

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kirby
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Common Law ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Human Rights Law ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Global Problems ◽  
The Common ◽  
International Human ◽  
Human Rights Norms ◽  
Constitutional Adjudication

This article examines the decision in Al-Kateb v Godwin (2004) 219 CLR 562. It revisits the suggested ‘heresy‘ that international human rights law may influence the interpretation of the Australian Constitution and other legal texts. Accessing universal human rights law, including in constitutional adjudication, was endorsed in the Bangalore Principles on the Domestic Application of International Human Rights Norms 1988. The author suggests that interpreting statutory language in this way is not dissimilar to the common-law principle of interpreting statutes so as to uphold basic rights. But should an analogous approach be permissible in deciding the meaning of constitutional language? Although arguably invoked by the majority of the High Court in Mabo v Queensland [No 2] (1992) 175 CLR 1, in the context of declaring the common-law, so far this approach has not been accepted for constitutional elaboration in Australia. But should this be so in the age of global problems and internationalism?

Prosecutors and National Security

2021 ◽  
pp. 538-558
Author(s):  
Kent Roach
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
National Security ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Criminal Cases ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
The Third ◽  
Relative Rarity ◽  
The Many ◽  
Operational Aspects

This chapter examines the distinct operational and ethical challenges that prosecutors face in national security and especially terrorism cases. The second part of this chapter focuses on the operational challenges that prosecutors face. These include demands for specialization that may be difficult to fulfill given the relative rarity of national security prosecutions; the availability of special investigative powers not normally available in other criminal cases; exceptionally broad and complex offenses; and the demands of federalism and international cooperation. The third part examines ethical and normative challenges that run throughout the many operational aspects of the prosecutorial role in national security cases. These include the challenges of ensuring that often exceptional national security laws are enforced in a manner consistent with the rule of law and human rights. There are also challenges of maintaining an appropriate balance between legitimate claims of secrecy and legitimate demands for disclosure and between maintaining prosecutorial independence and discretion while recognizing the whole of government and whole of society effects of the many difficult decisions that prosecutors must make in national security cases.

PROBLEM ASPECTS OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR RAPE IN THE CONTEXT OF CHANGES TO ART. 152 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE OF UKRAINE

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stepan Burda ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
National Security ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Criminal Liability ◽  
Criminal Code ◽  
Direct Impact ◽  
Sexual Freedom ◽  
Normal Life ◽  
Basic Law ◽  
Criminal Offenses

The article describes the criminal liability for rape in the context of amendments to Art. 152 of the Criminal code of Ukraine. It is noted that sexual freedom and sexual integrity are among the most important personal human rights. It is regulated by the Basic Law of our state and no wonder the legislator placed this object of encroachment in the first sections of the Criminal Code of Ukraine after such as the basics of national security, life and health, will, honor and dignity of the person. Violation of these rights is reflected in the mental state of the victim, has a direct impact on the health, normal life of the person. It is established that the separation of Section IV "Criminal offenses against sexual freedom and sexual integrity of a person" in the Special Part of the Criminal Code of Ukraine means increasing the state's attention to the state of sexual relations in Ukraine. Sexual freedom and inviolability are among the most important personal human rights. It is regulated by the Basic Law of our state and not without reason the legislator placed this object of encroachment in the first sections of the Criminal Code of Ukraine after such as the basics of national security, life and health, will, honor and dignity of the person. Violation of these rights is reflected in the mental state of the victim, has a direct impact on the health, normal life of the person. It should be noted that criminal offenses against the life and health of a person, criminal offenses against the honor of freedom and dignity of a person, criminal offenses against sexual freedom and sexual integrity of a person are the most serious and terrible of all existing in the modern Criminal Code of Ukraine. these crimes, in addition to severe physical trauma, leave in the minds of the victim, his relatives and friends great and horrible memories that last a lifetime, traumatize the psyche and often lead to suicide of victims who can not be rehabilitated. The opinion is expressed that in the disposition of Article 152 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine there is a certain uncertainty in the question of which

Is there a Duty to Prevent Harm in Tort? A Common Law Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-145
Author(s):  
Paula Giliker
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Common Law ◽  
Tort Law ◽  
Public Authority ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Statutory Duty ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Legal Position ◽  
The Common

Abstract In this paper, I will examine the extent to which the common law of tort in England and Wales imposes a duty to prevent harm on public authorities and private individuals. As will be seen, the starting point for the common law is that such liability should, in both cases, be regarded as exceptional. This must, however, be weighed against duties to prevent harm that arise under the torts of negligence and breach of statutory duty. Public authorities may also face claims that their failure to prevent harm is in breach of ECHR arts 2 or 3. While the law is complex, this paper identifies three key arguments that explain the current legal position at common law, namely that: (i) tort law should treat private and public parties alike: (ii) human rights claims should be treated as distinct from private law claims and (iii) libertarian concerns signify that a duty to prevent harm should be exceptional and needs to be justified. While these arguments provide both an explanation of and a justification for the current law, this article questions to what extent the treatment of public authority liability may be regarded as unduly harsh on vulnerable claimants.

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