Search: crossing lines
04 Aug Symposium on Ljubljana – The Hague Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance: Critical Reflections – Wanted: ‘Widest Adoption Possible’ of the Ljubljana-The Hague Mutual Legal Assistance Convention
...language from ‘shall’ to ‘may’ was necessary—in fact, it could be a deal breaker. The change would permit States that do not recognize the customary nature of universal jurisdiction for crimes under the Convention to nevertheless join (see debates in the UN General Assembly Sixth (Legal) Committee here, here, and here). Ultimately, ‘shall’ was retained—and therefore so too was the substantive obligation. Reading Between the (Red) Lines Ostensibly, these are two examples of compromise with the same goal—seeking the greatest number of State Parties possible. However, the context in which...03 Nov Zivotofsky and the Disaggregated State
...the other side there was some characterization of the law as imposing “compelled speech” on the Government. Justice Kennedy took care of that with prospective disclaimers that the executive branch could issue, even on the passport itself. Along those lines, there was this interesting response from Justice Alito to SG Verrelli’s assertion that the statute poses a “very serious risk” of harming US credibility on the sensitive issue of Jerusalem’s status: Justice Alito: Why would that be so? No matter how this Court decides, everyone will know what the position...
04 Aug Symposium on Ljubljana – The Hague Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance: Critical Reflections – Lessons Learned: Civil Society Engagement in Treaty Negotiations
...majority of states, many from the Global South, which found their voices and were more vocal in pushing back as the negotiations continued. Building alliances – among these states, as well as between these states and CSOs – became crucial as the discussions continued. What is necessary is building these coalitions beforehand, and in a strategic manner (realizing naturally, that there may be distinct agendas and being mindful of any fault lines). In the ultimate analysis, there is a need to keep an eye on the ball – monitor, engage...
31 Oct Fourth Annual Symposium on Pop Culture and International Law: “Equivalent Exchange” – Reparations for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law in Fullmetal Alchemist
...the beginning of uprisings and riots as one of them, disguised as an Amestrian soldier, deliberately killed an Ishavalan child, leading to an all-out war between the Amestrian Military and the Ishvalan rebels. This conflict lasted for seven years, until President King Bradley (one of the Homunculi himself) issued Executive Order 3066 which sent the so-called State Alchemists (alchemists who obtain a specific certification and become members of the Military) on the front lines as human weapons with the order to kill every Ishvalan left. This marked the beginning of...
22 Mar SCSL Symposium: The Important Contributions of the Special Court for Sierra Leone on Amnesties and Immunities–Reinforcing Foundational Principles of International Criminal Law, Part I
...lines of the ICTY or the ICTR) nor an entirely domestic court. Instead, it was established sui generis, via a bilateral agreement between the United Nations and Sierra Leone. The agreement establishing the Court was signed on January 16, 2002, and entered into force on April 12, 2002, with the Statute of the Court annexed thereto. The manner of the Court’s creation became important in the Taylor case when the question of Charles Taylor’s possible immunity as a Head of State was raised as a bar to his prosecution. The...05 Apr The Syria Attacks: Haven’t We Had These Debates Already?
Reports of another horrific use of chemical weapons against civilians in Syria seems to have affected President Trump. In comments today, President Trump said the chemical attacks against civilians “crossed a lot of lines for me” and changed the way he views Syria and leader Bashar al-Assad. Although it is always hard to interpret the President’s comments, he did cite his “flexibility” to change his policies. One might interpret this to mean that the U.S. my change course and directly use military force against the Assad government in Syria. As...27 Mar New Documents Reveal Kissinger’s Support of 1976 Coup in Argentina
...and the disappeared.” The documents also reveal that the U.S. had advance knowledge of the impending coup: More than a week before the coup, Ambassador Robert Hill sent Assistant Secretary Rogers a secret cable reporting that the commander of the Navy, Admiral Emilio Massera, had requested that the U.S. embassy “indicate to him one or two reputable public relations firms in the U.S. which might handle the problem for a future military government.” Massera, according to the cable, promised that the Argentine military would “not follow the lines of the...
02 Dec For the Biden Presidency, Promoting Human Rights in Asia Aligns Well with US Strategic Interests
...policy would be problematic. Nowhere is this more evidently true than in the strategic hub of Asia. The far-flung continent was a priority of President Barack Obama, whose famous “pivot to Asia” included “six key lines of action”: strengthening bilateral security alliances; deepening our working relationships with emerging powers, including with China; engaging with regional multilateral institutions; expanding trade and investment; forging a broad-based military presence; and advancing democracy and human rights. Clearly, promoting human rights was considered integral to a broader, and interconnected, nucleus of US strategic interests in...02 May A Hallmark Day on the Calendar of History
The best lines in President Obama’s speech last night were at the beginning: It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory — hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction....09 Nov I Wasn’t Paying Attention When the Wall Came Down
...away again. It was very hard for me to believe that this was actually real and tangible, and not something so fragile that a little puff could bring the house of cards down. (I’m not sure if Philip Alston remembers, but we had a conversation on almost exactly those lines, at a human rights conference organized by Philip and Henry Steiner, with me as administrative assistant, on Crete earlier that summer, sitting out on the beach of a Cretan monastery and positively slathered with sunblock.) So I wish I had...