The international Venice Commission, a branch of the Council of Europe , began an investigation Monday into Poland’s recent changes to its Constitutional Court . The review was requested by Polish officials after the change in law in December resulted in street protests and international criticism . Although the Council of Europe, and the Venice [...]
The Algerian Parliament on Sunday approved a package of constitutional reforms by a vote of 499-2, with 16 abstentions. The reforms include a two-term limit for the office of the president and recognition of the Amazigh language as an official language in Algeria. Amazigh is spoken by the nation’s indigenous Berber population. While Amazigh was [...]
Amnesty International (AI) warned Monday that the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) is insufficiently equipped to handle dangers of instability and deadly violence to civilians in Central African Republic (CAR). AI’s investigative report describes how major gaps in personnel and equipment led to the UN peacekeepers’ failure to prevent [...]
A Kenyan member of parliament (MP) on Friday evening called for all judges of the Kenyan Supreme Court to resign after it was recommended that a tribunal investigate Justice Philip Tunoi for allegedly accepting a Sh200 million bribe. MP Olago Aluoch of Kisumu West said the recommendations by the Judicial Service Special Committee had “confirmed [...]
Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court on Friday refused to reinstate Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s law license while investigations persist into her alleged leak of grand jury materials. Kane requested that the court reinstate her law license while she fights the charges. In support of reinstatement, Kane argued that Justice Michael Eakin should have been prevented from taking [...]
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday called on North Korea’s government to stop violating international obligations after a missile launch conducted by the country. The launch, which the statement calls “deplorable,” violates “relevant Security Council resolutions” according to Ban. He further reiterated his call on the country to “halt its provocative actions and return to [...]
Turkey must ensure that fewer refugees enter Greece by the time EU leaders meet later this month, European Commissioner Johannes Hahn said Saturday. Hahn stated that a reduction was expected when Turkey agreed to an action plan two months ago and that Turkey has a duty to patrol its western coast and cooperate with Greece. [...]
JURIST Guest Columnist Nicholas M. Wooldridge of LV Criminal Defense discusses the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 and its problematic aftereffects on offenders, society and the criminal justice system… The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 has not yet even been scheduled for a vote in the full Senate, but it is [...]
The UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Aristide Nononsi, on Friday called for an end to conflict in Darfur between the Sudanese government and the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid which may have led to human rights abuses and violations of international law. Tens of thousands of civilians have reportedly [...]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday sent a letter to Guinea Prime Minister Mamady Youla, urging him to ensure that any government oversight on telecommunications respects individual privacy. On January 6, 2016, the Autorité de Régulation des Postes et Télécommunications (APRT) , Guinea’s telecommunications regulator, sent a letter to the nation’s four major mobile phone [...]
