2014.11 國際法相關時事彙整
本期編輯人員：
張倍銓、曾茗妮、劉和鑫、黃郁喬、蕭翊廷、張家齊、王奕雅
Human Rights
2014.11.05
Pakistani Christian couple killed by mob
A young Christian couple have been beaten and then burned to death by a mob in a small Pakistani village in Punjab province, after being accused of desecrating the Muslim holy book, police and rights activists have told Al Jazeera.
2014.11.06
Dominican Republican leaves Inter-American Court of human right
The Dominican Republic’s Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday to withdraw from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) , raising concerns about the welfare of the country’s migrant population.
2014.11.21
Gambia: Life Sentence for ‘Aggravated Homosexuality’
Gambia’s recent passage of a homophobiclaw puts the already persecuted lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community at even greater risk of abuse, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said today. The new crime of “aggravated homosexuality,” which carries punishments of up to life in prison, is part of a criminal code President Yahya Jammeh approved on October 9, 2014, documents uncovered in mid-November show.
http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/11/21/gambia-life-sentence-aggravated-homosexuality
2014.11.27
Myanmar armed group signs commitment on human rights in conflict
Representatives from Myanmar’s Pa-Oh National Liberation Organization and its armed wing the Pa-Oh National Liberation Army have signed a “Deed of Commitment” on human rights, according to Geneva Call, a Swiss based non-governmental organisation that encourages armed groups to respect international humanitarian norms.
2014.11.29
Slavery levels in UK ‘higher than thought’
There could be between 10,000 and 13,000 victims of slavery in the UK, higher than previous figures, analysis for the Home Office suggests.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-30255084
2014.11.29
Venezuela jail drug overdose kills 35 inmates in Uribana.
Thirty-five prisoners in north-west Venezuela have died after overdosing on the contents of a jail infirmary they stormed, a congressman says.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-30253935
2014.11.30
中國作家徐曉「因涉危害國家安全」被抓
來自北京的消息稱，中國女作家、財新傳媒刊物《新世紀》首席文化編輯徐曉因涉嫌危害國家安全，被北京警方帶走。徐曉曾於1970年代文化大革命時期被控以「反革命」罪而坐牢，其後從事記者等工作，併發表多篇散文和短篇小說，也有創作新詩。徐曉被帶走的消息傳出後，章詒和、崔衛平等中國文化界人士與微博知名人物紛紛表示不解。
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/trad/china/2014/11/141130_china_writer_detained
Humanitarian
2014.11.21
What does US immigration overhaul mean?
US President Barack Obama has announced the biggest overhaul of the country’s immigration system in years.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30136250
2014.11.26
British brothers jailed for training at Syria terror camp
Two brothers have become the first Britons to be jailed for terrorism training in Syria.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-30213771
2014.11.27
Andrew Lansley ‘nominated’ for top UN humanitarian role
David Cameron has nominated ex-health secretary Andrew Lansley as the UK’s candidate for one of the UN’s most influential roles, reports claim.
Channel 4 News said that Mr Lansley, who left the Cabinet in July, was the prime minister’s choice for the job as the UN’s Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-30220178
2014.11.27
ICRC: Response to needs of armed conflict victims less effective now
The ability of humanitarian organisations to respond to the overwhelming needs of victims of armed conflicts is more constrained and less effective than before, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1238975
2014.11.29
World still learning from Ethiopia famine
Today the world is seeing one humanitarian crisis alongside another – in Syria, Central African Republic, South Sudan and the countries affected by the Ebola virus. Together they place huge, competing demands on humanitarian organisations.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30211448
Armed Conflict
2014.11.02
Armed conflict in the East of Ukraine under the scope of compliance with human rights
According to the information of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, there were at least 3, 707 people killed, and 9, 075 wounded in the East of Ukraine from the middle of April to 15 October. At the same time, office of the UN HCHR and the World Health Organization suppose that the real number of dead people is considerably higher.
http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1414923123
2014.11.19
Gunman kill Somali journalist in Puntland region
A Somali journalist has been killed by gunmen in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, becoming the third reporter to die in the war-torn country this year.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/11/19/386649/gunmen-kill-journalist-in-somalia/
2014.11.20
Israel begins demolishing homes over attacks
Contentious punitive tactic resumed with razing of building housing family of Palestinian man blamed for October attack.
International Commercial Law (WTO)
2014.11.05
Pakistan files dispute against EU over imports of polyethylene terephthalate
Pakistan has notified the WTO Secretariat of a request for consultations with the European Union regarding the imposition of countervailing measures by the EU on imports of certain polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from Pakistan and regarding certain aspects of the investigation underlying those measures.
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news14_e/dsrfc_05nov14_e.htm
2014.11.06
WTO report says restrictive trade measures continue to rise in G-20 economies
Restrictive trade measures introduced by G-20 economies since 2008 continue to rise, according to the latest WTO report on recent trade developments issued on 6 November 2014. Given the continuing uncertainties in the global economy, the report stresses the need for countries to show restraint in imposing new measures and to eliminate more of the existing measures.
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news14_e/trdev_05nov14_e.htm
2014.11.13
“Optimistic” members examine agricultural support policies in India, Canada, US, others
The WTO Agriculture Committee examined at some length the latest information on members’ domestic support and other farm trade policies on 13 November 2014, as news broke of a deal struck by the US and India allowing work to resume on decisions reached at the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference.
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news14_e/agcom_13nov14_e.htm
2014.11.29
17 November 2014
WTO issues panel report on US anti-dumping measures on shrimp from Viet Nam
On 17 November 2014, the WTO issued the panel report in the case brought by Viet Nam concerning anti-dumping measures applied by the United States to Vietnamese shrimp (DS429).
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news14_e/429r_e.htm
2014.11.18
WTO launches discussion forum on 2014 World Trade Report
The WTO launched on 18 November 2014 a discussion forum on trade and development, the topic of the 2014 World Trade Report. The forum is intended to encourage an open discussion of what could be contained within a new generation of trade reforms for facilitating development.
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news14_e/wtr_18nov14_e.htm
2014.11.24-28
2014 health workshop broadens agenda from intellectual property to trade
Thirty government officials from 28 developing and two developed country members and observers in the WTO took part in a 24–28 November 2014 workshop on trade and public health, the latest in a series that until 2013 focused on intellectual property and health.
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news14_e/heal_28nov14_e.htm
International Maritime Law
2014.11.10
China ‘Maritime Silk Road’ plan skips Philippines
BEIJING–The Philippines has paid a high price for launching a legal challenge to China over its sweeping claims to the South China Sea: Two-way trade, travel and investment are all languishing.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/china-maritime-silk-road-plan-skips-philippines-2014-11-10
2014.11.18
Growing Coral to Keep a Sea Claim Above Water
TOKYO — Amid warnings that rising sea levels caused by global warming could lead to the disappearance of some entire island states, two tiny uninhabited islets in the Pacific are at the forefront of Japanese research into the preservation and regeneration of coral reefs.
2014.11.20
Canada is test case of UN law on oil drilling in the sea
As energy companies reach further out into the seas and oceans to extract precious oil, drilling firms have been warned that they may incur millions in additional costs under a UN rule.
http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/148851/canada-is-test-case-of-un-law-on-oil-drilling-in-the-sea
2014.11.24
Chinese Fishermen Avoid Prison Sentence in Poaching Case
A Philippine court convicted nine Chinese fishermen of poaching in disputed South China Sea waters, fining rather than jailing them, in a move that could help thaw relations between Beijing and Manila.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/chinese-fishermen-avoid-prison-sentence-in-poaching-case-1416830618
2014.11.27
Sharp increase in North Korean fishing boats in Japan’s EEZ
The number of North Korean squid fishing boats entering Japan’s exclusive economic zone has tripled this year, another apparent sign of the desperate economic conditions in the isolated nation.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/asia/korean_peninsula/AJ201411270053
International Environmental Law
2014.11.05
UN conference adopt ambitious 10-year action plan for world’s
landlocked developing countries
A United Nations conference under way in Vienna, Austria adopted a 10
year action-plan aimed at accelerating sustainable development in the world’s 32
landlocked developing countries (LLDCs).
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49263#.VJFEn3-hOK8
2014.11.10
Governments Commit to Step up Action for Migratory Animals at UN Wildlife Conference
The Eleventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) concluded today after six days of intense negotiations aiming to establish conservation actions for the benefit of the world’s migratory species for the coming years.
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2812&ArticleID=11066&l=en
2014.11.14
UNEP and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil Sign New Agreement
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that aims to raise the global awareness of sustainable palm oil and generate market demand for an important commodity that has the potential to play a key role in preserving the Earth’s biodiversity.
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2812&ArticleID=11071&l=en
2014.11.19
UNEP and the Organization of American States Renew Joint-Efforts to Enhance Environmental Rule of law
The UN South-South Cooperation Expo on enhancing cooperation for sustainable development served as the stage for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNEP and the Organization of American States (OAS) designed to foster increased cooperation between the two organizations on the development and implementation of environmental rule of law for the promotion of sustainable development.
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2812&ArticleID=11083&l=en
International Intellectual Property Law
2014.11.18
ITU Looks Into Issues Of Counterfeit, Substandard ICT Products
This week, the International Telecommunication Union is holding an event highlighting the UN agency’s entry into what it describes as the growing problem of counterfeit and fake information and communication technology (ICT) products. Officials from the neighbouring World Intellectual Property Organization and World Trade Organization remarked during the meeting that counterfeit relates to an intellectual property right infringement, which is a different issue from substandard products.
http://www.ip-watch.org/2014/11/18/itu-looks-into-issues-of-counterfeit-substandard-ict-products/
2014.11.20
UK High Court Orders ISPs To Block Trademark-Infringing Websites
In what may be a test case for trademark owners battling counterfeiters, the UK High Court has ordered five internet service providers (ISPs) to block websites that were advertising and selling bogus goods. The ruling could have implications beyond Britain, the court said. ISPs, meanwhile, said the best way to handle infringing websites is to remove them at source rather than blocking.
http://www.ip-watch.org/2014/11/20/uk-high-court-orders-isps-to-block-trademark-infringing-websites/
2014.11.27
Another Setback For Design Law Treaty At WIPO; GIs In Contention
The fate of a potential treaty meant to harmonise international industrial design registration formalities took another turn this week, as African countries asked that the treaty include a safeguard against misuse and misappropriation of their traditional designs, which was seen by developed countries as a manoeuvre to delay the process.
http://www.ip-watch.org/2014/11/27/another-setback-for-design-law-treaty-at-wipo-gis-in-contention/