Engaging with the legal profession and the provision of legal aid/assistance

The state of defamation laws within the Commonwealth poses a significant threat to the right to freedom of speech, expression and information. Within the United Kingdom there is a growing movement for the reform of the procedural aspects of libel law following several high profile cases that have brought the public’s attention to a number of problems within existing libel law. ^{1 1} Significant concern surrounded the judgment in this case and the question of costs MGN Limited v the United Kingdom – 39401/04 [2011] ECHR 66 (18 January 2011). In Jamaica, criminal defamation laws are facing reform and the recommendations for change are continuing to make their way through the legislative process. The pernicious effects of libel actions are amplified within small jurisdictions and there is a serious danger that the crippling penalties on defendants as a result of such actions ‘chill’ free speech and stifle dissent. ^{2 2}Guardian editorial, ‘Press freedom: The Singapore grip’ The Guardian (17 November 2010) <http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/17/press-freedom-singapore-grip> The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) an independent NGO working for Human Rights in the Commonwealth, presented a paper to the 2010 Meeting of Law Ministers and Attorneys General of Small Commonwealth Jurisdictions (LMSCJ) on the human rights case for libel law reform in small jurisdictions. ^{3 3}Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, ‘Overview of Media Freedom and Defamation: The Human Rights case for Libel Law Reforms in the Commonwealth’ (LMSCJ Paper, Commonwealth, Secretariat, Marlborough House, London). This paper was produced at the London officer of CHRI – written by Frederick Cowell with research assistance from Catherine Fischl, Alix Langrounat and Sirintiya Robberts. This is a summary of the research and the paper presented at the LMSCJ meeting. The basic findings were that the presence of criminal defamation laws on the statute books and procedural aspects of civil defamations laws posed a threat to the realisation of freedom of speech and CHRI put a series of recommendations to the delegates calling for reform in these areas.     

法律法規

中華人民共和國全國人民代表大會常務委員會頒佈的法律《全國人民代表大會常務委員會關於修改〈中華人民共和國商標法〉的決定》（2013年8月30日中華人民共和國第十二屆全國人民代表大會常務委員會第四次會議通過2013年8月30日中華人民共和國主席令第六號公佈自2014年5月1日起施行）《關於授權國務院在中國（上海）自由貿易試驗區暫時調整有關法律規定的行政審批的決定》.     

中英海上保险法中的保证制度

保证源于英国的海上保险实践 ,是海上保险法中特有的法律制度 ,各国规范海上保险的法规中都有与此相关的内容。本文分别对中国海商法和英国 190 6年海上保险法中有关保证制度的规定进行了介绍 ,并且分析了大陆法系特别是比利时法对有关保证的一些实践做法 ,对中国海商法的修改提出了一些建议。     

论创先争优与提高领导艺术

创先争优活动从更高境界赋予"领导艺术"以新意义、新内涵,并为领导艺术上台阶开辟了广阔路径。领导干部应以创先争优活动为载体,在严格按要求创造性地开展活动中,与时俱进地提高领导艺术。