Has the firearms protocol helped reduced armed violence?

This paper focuses on the long-term objective of the Firearms Protocol supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to reduce certain kinds of armed violence associated with the misuse of firearms. More than 15 years after the Protocol has come into force, the authors ask how its possible impacts on armed violence might be assessed; indicate key challenges for such an enterprise, and suggest directions for future work in this area, towards the establishment of a measurement tool which could help inform the recently established Review Mechanism of the Protocol.

Fair Competition Review Applying in Tobacco Monopoly of China: on the Practice of Administrative Self-Regulation

Objectives: This article attempts to discuss the practice of China’s fair competition review mechanism applying in China’s tobacco monopoly administrative system as an administrative self-regulation act. Methods: by reviewing the literature, relevant website and applying the liberal interpretation in legal provisions of China, this paper reveals the important reasons behind the establishment of fair review system by the Chinese government —the existence of administrative monopoly and the problems caused by the deficiency of China's existing external regulation. Results: by combing the legal foundation of fair competition review mechanism, this paper responds to the rationality of China's adoption of self-regulation model. Furthermore, through the discussion of the applying of fair review in tobacco industry’s administration, it responds to the practice of tobacco monopoly’s self-regulation. Conclusion: the article concludes that China's fair review system can be partially applied to China's tobacco monopoly.

MALI: ECOWAS RESPONSES TO THE CONFLICT IN MALI (2012-2021)

"This paper highlights the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] mode of response to the Malian conflict between 2012 and 2021 and identifies various gaps therein. It seeks to explain why ECOWAS has found it difficult to resolve the Malian conflict in spite of its commitment and experience in conflict resolution in the subregion. Secondary data are used for the study and presented qualitatively. The study reveals that the towering interest of Algeria and other neighbors in the chaotic northern Mali, as well as French interest in its former colony hindered ECOWAS initiative and its effectiveness in resolving the conflict. The paper recommends ECOWAS’ involvement in negotiations at the next peace agreement, and the drawing up of a roadmap for implementing such agreement. Besides, ECOWAS needs to address governance deficits in Mali and elsewhere in the subregion through peer review mechanism and increase its capacity to respond to violent conflicts beyond microstates and Anglophone enclaves in the region. Keywords: ECOWAS, Malian conflict, military coup, Tuareg, Jihad."

Research on Examination of Construction Drawings of University Construction Projects

After completing the construction project approval, the universities will entrust a qualified design institute to carry out plan design, preliminary design and construction drawing design. Among them, the construction drawings are used to show the external shape, internal layout, detailed structure, and fixed facilities of the building, and its design depth meets the requirements for guiding construction. Construction drawings are an important basis for universities to compile bills of quantities, launch bidding, and organize construction. They are also a key factor for universities construction projects to achieve quality, investment, and schedule control goals. Therefore, the establishment of a complete construction drawing review mechanism to improve the quality of construction drawings is of great significance to the later project management.

The Need for a Robust Review System to Improve the Quality of Environmental Impact Statements: An Indian Case Study Analysis

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, the final output of the EIA process forms the basis for environmental impact statement (EIS) review and decision-making, implying the need for its good quality. This empirical study is based on the literature review, opinions of EIA consultants, and views of experts associated with the EIA system in India. It is inferred that the overall quality of the EIS is below par and there are several inadequacies in the EIA appraisal system. Given the strong correlation between a robust EIS review system and a good quality EIS, a two-tier structured, transparent, and criteria-based review mechanism based on good practices is suggested. Further, it is crucial to adopt a professional approach for appraisal and capacity building of the professionals engaged in conducting the EIA and reviewing the EIS.

Urgent Need for the Pre-IPO Review Mechanism of Chinese Companies Listing in the U.S.

In the past 20 years, it seems very common for many Chinese companies to apply for listing in the United States. Some of them are affected by objective factors and some of them have their own financing needs. However, according to the research, it is found that the actual situation of such Chinese enterprises listed in the United States is uneven, and there are many well-known enterprises that have been exposed to financial fraud or other scandals. Based on the analysis of the reasons and situation of Chinese companies going to the United States for listing, taking the tension which has risen between Washington and Beijing into consideration, the author puts forward the conclusion that China needs to establish a pre-examination mechanism for Chinese companies going to the United States for listing.

Conclusion

Custom poses challenges for its identification but at the same time it offers a potential for dynamism that may often be superior to that of treaty law. Recent developments, most importantly the near-universal ratification of major human rights treaties and the Universal Periodic Review mechanism of the Human Rights Council, greatly facilitate the identification of customary law. It is clear that most of the rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are unquestionably part of customary international law. Doubts may persist about a few rights, such as the right to property. Customary law also extends to ‘solidarity rights’ or ‘peoples’ rights’, whose reflection in treaty law is not so universal. Recognition of rights does not ensure that there are effective mechanisms for their enforcement and implementation.

Analisis terhadap Dualitas Peraturan Menteri dalam Sistem Peraturan Perundang-Undangan di Indonesia

This article examines the duality of ministerial regulations in Indonesian regulation system based on their making authority sources according to Law No. 12 Year 2011 concerning Regulation Making Rules (UU P3). The approach methods used in this research are conceptual approach and statute approach. This article concludes there are two ministerial regulations which recognized as regulations by UU P3 that should be distinguished. Ministerial regulation which was made by higher regulations order (delegated legislation) could be categorized as an implementing rule (verordnung). Whereas, ministerial regulation which was made based on ministery position authority (inherent aat het bestuur) could be categorized as a beleidsregel, standing as policy rules. Though, the two of them were recognized as regulations, however, they have different design, background and character, thus, their substance, binding power, hierarchy position and review mechanism, were not the same. Therefore, ministerial regulation which was beleidsregel could not be applied as the same as implementing regulation (verordnung).

Sustainable Development in the WTO Institutions and Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM)

This chapter begins with discussions on the state of sustainable development in the World Trade Organization (WTO), noting that progress on integrating social and environmental considerations into WTO law and policy remains poor. It then discusses the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM), and how its role has evolved from being a WTO review mechanism focused on economic policies alone, to providing a platform for discussions on trade and sustainable development. These discussions have revealed that WTO member States belong to one of three main schools of thought; First, some WTO members remain adamant that sustainable development is purely a domestic policy issue, or argue that all social and environmental considerations, including the potential impacts of trade, should remain only in the domestic law and policy arena; Second, several WTO members such as Canada and the US recognize openly that sustainable development is an objective of the WTO Agreements, and note that as such, it is relevant to the interpretation of the treaties; Third, further WTO members such as the European Commission also recognize that trade will not automatically deliver on a sustainable development objective, and link their commitment to the objective with the need for better integration of environmental and social considerations into trade and development policy.