scholarly journals Supporting accused persons with cognitive disabilities to participate in criminal proceedings in Australia: Avoiding the pitfalls of unfitness to stand trial laws

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-84
Author(s):  
Piers Gooding ◽  
Anna Arstein-Kerslake ◽  
Sarah Mercer ◽  
Bernadette Mc Sherry

In the 10 years since Australia has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the issue of the indefinite detention of persons with cognitive disabilities found unfit to stand trial has received considerable attention. Concerns have been raised by national media, law reform bodies and United Nations human rights agencies. Yet there remain few examples of formal change to unfitness to stand trial laws in Australia. This article focuses on the role of procedural accommodations in meeting CRPD requirements, and other accessibility measures to ensure accused persons with cognitive disabilities are able to take part in criminal proceedings on an equal basis with others. It examines support measures that appear in existing statute and case law within Australia and considers the need to develop new forms of support.

This treatise is a detailed article-by-article examination of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Each article of the CRPD contains a methodical analysis of the preparatory works, followed by an exhaustive examination of the contents of each article based on case law and concluding observations from the CRPD Committee, judgments from national and international courts and tribunals, pertinent UN and other reports, and literature on the topic in question. Although primarily addressed to lawyers, the volume features commentary from a broad range of scholars across a variety of disciplines in order to provide a comprehensive study of the legal, psychological, education, sociological, and other aspects of the CPRD. This encyclopaedic commentary on the CRPD effectively covers all the issues arising from international disability law and practice.


Author(s):  
Lawson Anna

This chapter examines Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which articulates rights to accessibility. The chapter is divided into three main sections in addition to the introduction. The first of these focuses on the Ad Hoc Committee debates that shaped Article 9. This will be organized thematically under four distinct headings so as to facilitate analysis of key recurring issues. The second and third sections deal with the current text of Article 9 (paragraphs 9(1) and 9(2) respectively), its implications, and the way in which it has been understood and applied, particularly by the CRPD Committee. Cross-cutting themes will be highlighted throughout as will any relevant domestic case law.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-120
Author(s):  
Filipe Venade de Sousa

The incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into the legal order of the European Union acquires a centrality relevant to the interpretation of the fundamental rules within the framework of the catalog of rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union constantly reminds us that the Convention is an integral part of the legal order of the European Union and prevails over European Union law.


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Jowett ◽  
Belinda Carpenter ◽  
Gordon Tait

This article examines the role of coroners in making legal determinations of suicide in Australia. Research indicates that the requirement to make findings of intent and capacity in unexpected, violent deaths can be difficult for coroners and recent government inquiries have suggested that the law contributes to the problem. A review of laws and commentary that guide coroners in Australian states and territories reveals not only that coroners are the only persons tasked with making routine legal determinations of suicide, but that such legal guidance lacks clarity. This article concludes that law reform would aid coroners by clarifying definitional issues, removing inconsistency between state jurisdictions and increasing the transparency of case law. Along with requirements for a determination of intent, which is a practical matter previously raised by the Victorian Coronial Council, such changes would go some way to ensuring that Australian suicide statistics are more reliably created.


2021 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 463-486

463Human rights — Women’s rights — Elimination of discrimination against women — Sexual orientation — Exhaustion of domestic remedies — Due diligence obligations — Obligation to investigate — Requirement of prompt and impartial investigation — Protection of lesbian women from violence — Gender stereotypes — Committee case law and general recommendations — Remedies — Whether Russian Federation violating Articles 1, 2 and 5 of United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979International tribunals — Jurisdiction and admissibility — United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women — Local remedies rule — Application in light of time bar under national law


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 3-25
Author(s):  
Andreas Schloenhardt

Abstract This article examines the international cooperation provisions under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and their practical application in reported cases. It explores the circumstances in which States Parties have used or attempted to use the Convention as a legal basis for extradition, mutual legal assistance, transfer of sentenced persons, transfer of criminal proceedings, joint investigations, or other forms of international cooperation. The article seeks to provide a better understanding of the opportunities offered by the international cooperation provisions, and the challenges and obstacles faced by States Parties requesting cooperation or being requested to provide cooperation under the Convention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 531-680

531Human rights — Rights of women in Northern Ireland — Pregnant women and girls — Autonomy and bodily integrity — Right to respect for private and family life — Rights of persons with disabilities — Right not to be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment — Abortion law in Northern Ireland — Prohibition on abortion in cases of serious malformation of foetus, rape and incest — Balancing of rights — Whether moral and political issues relevant — Role of courts and Parliament — Whether abortion law incompatible with Articles 3 and 8 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Whether declaration of incompatibility should be madeHuman rights — Right to respect for private and family life — Qualified right — Abortion law in Northern Ireland — Prohibition on abortion in cases of serious malformation of foetus, rape and incest — Interference with right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Whether interference justified — Whether interference prescribed by law — Whether having legitimate aim — Whether necessary in democratic society — Whether proportionate — In case of fatal foetal abnormality — In case of rape — In case of incest — In case of serious foetal abnormality — Balancing of rights — European Court of Human Rights — Margin of appreciation accorded to United Kingdom represented by Northern Ireland Assembly — Whether legislative situation in Northern Ireland tenable — Role of legislature and courts — Whether Northern Ireland abortion law incompatible with Article 8 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Whether declaration of incompatibility should be madeHuman rights — Rights of persons with disabilities — Treaties — United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006 — Northern Ireland abortion law prohibiting abortion in cases of serious malformation of the foetus — Foetus having potential to develop into child with disability in cases of serious foetal abnormality — Value of life with and without disability — Whether life having equal worth — United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recommending States amend abortion laws so as to value equally the life of a person with disabilities — Whether Northern Ireland abortion law disproportionate in cases of serious foetal abnormality — Whether abortion law in Northern Ireland incompatible with Article 8 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Whether declaration of incompatibility should be made532Human rights — Right not to be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment — Article 3 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Rights of girls and women in Northern Ireland pregnant with foetuses with fatal abnormality or due to rape or incest — Article 3 absolute right — Effect on victim — Whether mothers continuing against their will with fatal foetal abnormality pregnancies or pregnancies due to rape or incest, or having to travel to England for an abortion, likely to suffer inhuman and degrading treatment — Whether any ill-treatment under Article 3 reaching minimum level of severity — Obligations owed by the State under Article 3 of European Convention — Vulnerability of women — Personal autonomy — Whether abortion law in Northern Ireland incompatible with Article 3 of European Convention — Whether declaration of incompatibility should be madeRelationship of international law and municipal law — Treaties — Implementation — Interpretation — Effect in domestic law — International treaties to which United Kingdom a party — European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Human Rights Act 1998 — United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979 — United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006 — Whether moral and political issues relevant — Balancing of rights — Northern Ireland abortion law interfering with right under Article 8 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Whether interference justified — Whether prescribed by law — Whether having legitimate aim — Whether necessary in democratic society — Whether proportionate — Relevance of moral and political views — Role of courts and Parliament in abortion debate — Whether pregnant women and girls subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment — Whether reaching minimum level of severity for breach of Article 3 of European Convention — Whether Northern Ireland abortion law incompatible with Articles 3 and 8 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 Convention — Whether declaration of incompatibility should be madeRelationship of international law and municipal law — Treaties — European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Effect in domestic law — Abortion law in Northern Ireland — Sections 58 and 59 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 — Section 25(1) of the Criminal Justice Act (NI) 1945 — Right to respect for private and family life — Right not to be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment — Whether abortion law in 533Northern Ireland incompatible with Article 8 of European Convention — Balancing of rights — Whether abortion law justified — Whether moral and political values relevant — Margin of appreciation accorded to States by European Court of Human Rights — Whether abortion law in Northern Ireland incompatible with Articles 3 and 8 of European Convention — Whether declaration of incompatibility should be madeTreaties — Interpretation — Implementation — Application — Effect in domestic law — European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Interpreting European Convention in light of other international treaties to which United Kingdom a party — United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979 — United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006 — Relevance of unincorporated international treaties when applying European Convention via Human Rights Act 1998 — The law of the United Kingdom


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