The Norwegian Barents Sea Management Plan and the EC Marine Strategy Directive: Some Political and Legal Challenges with an Ecosystem-Based Approach to the Protection of the European Marine Environment

This article addresses some of the implications of the EU's proposed Marine Strategy Directive for ongoing work in the regional seas conventions and for national work on regional marine strategies. The starting point is the proposed directive's focus on the ecosystem approach to the protection of the marine environment. Key elements within this approach are analysed, such as integration of environmental considerations into other policy areas; introduction of ecological quality objectives; and establishment of holistic monitoring and assessment programmes. Is it possible to transform these concepts into legally binding obligations? What will the implications of the proposed directive be for the rights and obligations of EU Member States under international law? A Management Plan for the Norwegian Part of the Barents Sea ('Barents Plan') was adopted by the Norwegian Government in March 2006 and approved by the Norwegian Storting (Parliament) in June 2006. It provides an example of a concrete application of the concepts in the proposed directive. Based on an analysis of the proposed Marine Strategy Directive and the Barents Plan, some key political and legal challenges are discussed in this article.     

The New Hague Child Protection Convention

At the conclusion of the Eighteenth Session of the Hague Conferenceon Private International Law on 19 October 1996, the delegatesadopted a Draft Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law,Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect of ParentalResponsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children.This article examines in detail the clauses of the Conventionand compares the Convention with other conventions in this area,including the Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abductionof 1980.     

A Proposal for a Framework Convention on Global Health

This article searches for solutions to the most perplexing problemsin global health—problems so important that they affectthe fate of millions of people, with economic, political, andsecurity ramifications for the world's population. No State,acting alone, can insulate itself from major health hazards.It is for this reason that safeguarding the world's populationrequires cooperation and global governance. What is truly needed,and what richer countries instinctively do for their own citizens,is to meet what I call ‘basic survival needs.’ Byfocusing on the major determinants of health, the internationalcommunity could dramatically improve prospects for good health.A vehicle such as a Framework Convention on Global Health (FCGH)could powerfully improve global health governance. Such a FrameworkConvention would commit States to a set of targets, both economicand logistic, and dismantle barriers to constructive engagementby the private and charitable sectors. It would stimulate creativepublic/private partnerships and actively engage civil societystakeholders. A FCGH could set achievable goals for global healthspending; define areas of cost effective investment to meetbasic survival needs; build sustainable health systems; andcreate incentives for scientific innovation for affordable vaccinesand essential medicines.     

海上救助公约的重大发展及其影响

传统的无效果无报酬原则已被各国普遍采用并成为国际海上救助法的基本原则。而1989年国际救助公约确立的无效果无报酬例外原则却引起了海运界和贸易界的极大关注,并对许多国家的海商法产生影响。本文试图就海上救助公约的重大发展、海上救助公约对中英海上救助法、共同海损制度等的重要影响分别予以分析论述,以便我们充分理解和正确适用国际救助公约和我国海上救助法。     

论世界贸易组织规则中的环境保护条款

世界贸易组织在许多协定、协议中都规定了环境保护的条款。但是这些规定不具体,没有统一的环境标准,缺乏可操作性,存在对发展中国家不公平,违背世界贸易组织的基本原则等问题。完善世界贸易组织的环境立法,要在世界贸易组织的框架下达成多边环境协议,重新考虑对相同产品的非歧视待遇原则,规定环境法律实施的透明度原则及其具体要求。     

基于TRIPS框架下保护传统知识的正当性

对于在TRIPS框架内处理传统知识保护的问题,目前国际社会存在着严重的分歧,但是,反对方的观点并不能构成否定TRIPS框架下保护传统知识的正当性的充分理由,因为恰恰是TRIPS本身提供了在其框架内保护传统知识的根据。首先,TRIPS语境下的“私权”并非是个人化的权利,传统知识的群体持有并不构成在TRIPS框架下保护传统知识的理论障碍;其次,TRIPS确立的平衡各种利益的知识产权保护目标,体现了法律的公平原则,是传统知识寻求TRIPS保护的合法依据;第三,TRIPS将知识产权保护与贸易联系起来的实施机制,使之成为当今保护传统知识的最有效的形式。传统知识保护的国际协调,不是将TRIPS的现行规则推倒重来,而是在TRIPS框架下创造一种适应于传统知识特点的保护机制。     

The Implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in a Non-Party State: Taiwan

This article introduces the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change in a non-Party state: Taiwan. It examines the reasons why Taiwan as a non-Party decided to voluntarily comply with the FCCC. The institutional and legal settings for an effective implementation, as well as the implementation strategies put forward by the Taiwanese academics and manifested by the government will be discussed. Critique of the implementation strategies pursued by the government, and external and domestic obstacles for an effective implementation will be investigated as well.     

论平时海上军事行动中《联合国海洋法公约》的运用

《联合国海洋法公约》是海上武装力量平时海上军事行动的主要依据,赋予了军舰在海上的豁免权、无害通过权、过境通行权、航行自由权、管辖权等权利以及相应的义务。当前,我国一些海域划界未完成,主权归属不明;各国对《公约》的解释也不统一,法律主张冲突等状况,为平时海上军事行动带来了较大挑战。以《公约》为依据,加强海上军事互信和安全合作,建立完善平时海上军事行动相关制度等,是解决海洋争端、维护海洋权益较为可行的途径。     

论劳动者隐私权的法律保护:一个分析框架

以民法为中心的隐私权立法不足以保护劳动者,应构建契合劳动法理念的隐私权保护制度。劳动关系的从属性限制了劳动者隐私权受保护的范围和程度,同时也对雇主提出保护劳动者隐私权的要求。保护劳动者隐私权必须对各种社会利益及其相对重要性进行分析,核心在于实现雇主利益与劳动者隐私权的平衡,其一般标准可以区分为四项原则:职业区分原则;利益衡量原则;最少损害原则;合法限制与合意限制原则。     

欧洲人权法院——超国家的人权保护法律机构

欧洲国家对公民基本权利的保护不仅体现在国内立法、执法、司法等环节,而且,还通过创设国家间的法律文件和机构来促进和监督各国人权保护状况。欧洲人权法院就是致力于保护人权的一个超国家的法律机构。本文从欧洲人权法院设立的历史背景、运行机制、对成员国的影响等方面,对欧洲人权法院作一概要介绍,以飨读者。一、历史背景欧洲人权法院与欧洲司法法院是两个完全不同的机构。后者位于卢森堡,是欧洲联盟的一个法律机构。前者位于法国斯特拉斯堡市,是欧洲理事会的一个专门法律机构。欧洲人权法院设立于1959年,设立根据是《保护人权及基本自…     

30 years on - The review of the Council of Europe Data Protection Convention 108

The Council of Europe is engaging in a process of revising its Data Protection Convention (Convention 108) to meet and overcome these challenges. The Council of Europe celebrates this year the 30th Anniversary of its Data Protection Convention (usually referred to as Convention 108) which has served as the backbone of international law in over 40 European countries and has influenced policy and legislation far beyond Europe’s shores. With new data protection challenges arising every day, the Convention is revising its Data Protection Convention. Computer Law and Security Review (CLSR) together with the Intl. Association of IT Lawyers (IAITL) and ILAWS have submitted comments in response to the Expert Committee’s public consultation on this document. CLSR aims to position itself at the forefront of policy discussion drawing upon the high quality scholarly contributions from leading experts around the world.