The Legal Research Society

On Friday 21 November 5-7pm, Taylor A17 the LRS will host a presentation delivered by Nasser Alghitta, under the title:- " Africa : from the human rights commission to the court – really a step forward or just a make-up?" Abstract The presentation theme is to examine the African system of the protection of human rights to establish what the weaknesses of the system are. It also assesses the system against the more advanced regional system which is the European system of the protection of human rights. Originally the African system entrusted a commission to oversee the implementation of the African charter of human and people's rights. However after years of operation it has become clearer that the commission is not ideally suited for the job. A proposal to establish a court had been put forward. On June 9, 1998, in Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso , the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) adopted a Protocol to ...

On Thursday 13th November from 6pm until 8pm in TAYLOR C11 (opposite the Taylor library entry) The LRS will screen a movie titled “ The Constant Gardener ”. Gripping and intelligent entertainment, this is a dramatic thriller of sex, lies and dirty politics in modern Africa . Based on a book by espionage novelist John le Carré and directed by Fernando Mereilles (City of God ) the film blends high tension with social conscience, giving a human face to the West's exploitation of the Third World . For more information about the movie click here . The screening will be followed by a brief discussion which will be moderated by Paula Herm and Ahmed Hassanein . You are very welcome to come along and enjoy the movie and the refreshments ( free of charge) !

On Tuesday 18 th March at 8pm (room C11 ) we will screen a movie that should be of interest to all of you who care for international economic law and financial institutions, human rights, globalisation and inequalities between the developed and the developing world, particularly Africa . BAMAKO directed by Abderrahmane Sissako Cast: Danny Glover, Helene Diarra, William Bourdon 115 minutes, France/Mali (2006) I n the courtyard of a house in Mali ’s capital Bamako a trial court has been set up. African civil society spokesmen have taken proceedings against the World Bank and the IMF whom they blame for Africa 's woes... Amidst the pleas and the testimonies, life goes on in the courtyard. Prizes won include: - BEST PRIZE of the 1st Human Rights Film Festival of Lomé ( Togo ) 2007 - Council of Europe Film Award (FACE) Istanbul International Film Festival - JURY'S PRIZE at Carthage Film Festival “…needs to be seen, argued ...

This week’s Economist has a very interesting article on what happens in Nigeria if your job description includes fighting corruption and you become a tad too good at it. The newspaper reports how Nuhu Ribadu, head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Nigeria, set up inter alia to fight corruption, was allegedly removed from his job because he started to show too much interest in close acquaintances of President Umaru Yar’Adua. Apparently Ribadu was investigating allegations of corruption against a former governor on whose political support President Yar’Adua depends in his own upcoming fight before an election tribunal where he faces accusation of vote rigging. The Economist reports how the EFCC is one of the most respected institutions in Nigeria and has helped installing international confidence in Nigeria. In a time when African countries in general lack international confidence and support, sacking the leader of one of the country’s most respected institution...

Conflictoflaws.net reports upon the following article written by Richard Oppong: “Private International Law in Africa: Past, Present and Future” (2007) 55 AJCL 677-719. The abstract can be found here . I had the pleasure to listen to a presentation by Mr Oppong at the Journal of Private International Law Conference held in Birmingham in June. I must say that the development of Private International Law in Africa, and the necessity of a private international law revival for economic development, is a truly fascinating subject. Mr Oppong's article is published at a time when the Hague Conference on Private International Law is doing sterling work to promote the development of the legal discipline in Africa. Amongst several other initiatives, the Hague Conference recently organised a seminar for francophone African Judges, reported here . I hope to find the time to comment upon the importance of these developments more in future. Till then, I would strongly recommend Mr Oppong's...

Following to what Derek wrote on Central African Republic in his last post, the Prosecutor of International Criminal Court just today announced the decision to open an investigation concerning crimes committed in the Central African Republic. This is what he had to say earlier today: “My Office has carefully reviewed information from a range of sources. We believe that grave crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the Court were committed in the Central African Republic . We will conduct our own independent investigation, gather evidence, and prosecute the individuals who are most responsible.” The opening of investigation is primarily based on alleged crimes against humanity committed against women, which occurred in the context of an armed conflict between the government and rebel forces in the Central African Republic. According to the ICC Prosecutor, the alleged sexual crimes against civilians first timed far outnumber alleged killings of civilians. »The Office has an...

Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno-Ocampo has today released the ICC's first two indictments arising out of its investigation of war crimes in the Darfur region of Sudan. That evidence is showing that Ahmad Muhammad Harun, former Minister of State for the Interior of the Government of the Sudan, and Ali Kushayb, a leader of the Militia/Janjaweed, jointly committed crimes against the civilian population in Darfur. Indictments allege that Harun and Kushayb bear criminal responsibility in relation to 51 counts of alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes and it also suggests shows they acted together, and with others, with the common purpose of carrying out attacks against the civilian population. You may read press release here .