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 Wednesday, June 19, 2013
UN Security Council condemned sexual violence as war tactic
Kyle Webster
On June 19, 2008, the UN Security Council condemned the use of sexual violence against civilians as a war tactic through a unanimously adopted resolution. The vote came as the result of an ongoing UN conversation on women, peace and security around the world. Since the adoption of the resolution, sexual violence continues to be a problem in conflicts around the world. In March 2013, during an annual session of the UN women's commission, members urged nations to adopt legislation banning gendered and sexual violence. Additionally, sexual violence has been identified as a topic of concern around the world, in nations as diverse as Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Syria, among others.
Flag of the UN
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Tuesday, June 18, 2013
President Adams signed first of the Alien and Sedition Acts into law
Zachariah Rivenbark
On June 18, 1798, US President John Adams signed the Naturalization Act of 1798, the first of four pieces of legislation collectively referred to as the Alien and Sedition Acts, into law. The act repealed in part the Naturalization Act of 1795 by increasing the period of time required for immigrants to reside in the US from five years to 14 years. The 1798 act maintained the requirement that immigrants had to be white to receive citizenship and could not be citizens of a nation at war with the US. In 1802, Congress repealed the Naturalization Act of 1798 due to public backlash against the Alien and Sedition Acts.
US President John Adams
Learn more about citizenship from the JURIST news archive.
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Monday, June 17, 2013
Congress passed Reclamation Act
Zachariah Rivenbark
On June 17, 1902, the US Congress passed [PDF] the Reclamation Act of 1902. Prior to the passage of the act, people in the western US had difficulty obtaining sufficient water supplies due to arid conditions and the overconsumption of limited resources. The Reclamation Act addressed this issue by requiring that money obtained through the sale of public lands in the western US be used to fund irrigation projects and reclaim arid lands. Congress delegated the authority to examine, survey and construct irrigation projects to the Secretary of the Interior, and created the Bureau of Reclamation to manage the projects. To date, the bureau has been responsible for the construction of over 600 dams and reservoirs in the western US.
Learn more about legal issues surrounding environment from the JURIST news archive.
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Sunday, June 16, 2013
Sri Lanka government ceased investigations into possible human rights abuses
Adiah Oreyomi
On June 16, 2009, the Sri Lankan government ceased investigations into possible human rights abuses that allegedly occurred during the 25 year civil war between the government and a separatist militant organization, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The investigations began in 2007, and with less than half of its cases resolved, the mandate expired with no renewal granted, leading commentators to suspect the resurgance of the LTTE. Since June 2009, the Sri Lankan government has been urged by various groups to look into potential human rights abuses that occurred during the war, and the government has itself launched independent probes into the matter.
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Saturday, June 15, 2013
Japan courts dismissed compensation claims of 'war orphans'
Adiah Oreyomi
On June 15, 2007, Japanese district courts dismissed the claims of Japanese plaintiffs abandoned as children in China during World War II. The courts ruled that the current government was not required to compensate the plaintiffs because it was not obligated to aid in the war orphans' reestablishment and assimilation back in Japan. Because of their relocation, most of the plaintiffs relied on government aid. On July 9, 2007, in exchange for abandoning all compensation claims, the plaintiffs accepted an aid proposal from the Japanese government. On December 5, 2007, Japanese Prime Minster Yasuo Fukuda apologized to the war orphans for the government's failure to support them.
Flag of Japan
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Friday, June 14, 2013
US mayors passed resolution opposing Arizona immigration law
Kyle Webster
On June 14, 2010, the US Conference of Mayors passed a resolution opposing SB 1070, the controversial Arizona immigration law, and supporting federal immigration reform. The organization, which represents thousands of cities larger than 30,000 people, passed the resolution at the annual meeting of the organization in Oklahoma City with a voice vote of at least two-thirds of the over 200 mayors in attendance. The resolution called the Arizona law unconstitutional and was submitted by four mayors, including the mayor of Phoenix. The Arizona law was challenged by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and partially overturned by the US Supreme Court in Arizona v. US.
Read an overview of US Immigration Law in Features.
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Thursday, June 13, 2013
Rhode Island Senate passed 'homeless bill of rights'
Kyle Webster
On June 13, 2012, the Rhode Island Senate passed legislation aimed at protecting the rights of homeless persons. This "homeless bill of rights" included the rights to vote and to move freely in public spaces and on public transportation, among others. Governor Lincoln Chaffee signed the bill, which was the first bill of its kind to pass at the state level in the US, into law on June 27, 2012. In May 2013, California and Illinois considered similar bills, and legislators in other states have also considered homeless bills of rights.
Learn more about legal issues surrounding homelessness from the JURIST news archive.
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