THE GOODS AND SERVICES DIRECTIVE: LIMITATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

The Goods and Services Directive adopted in December 2004 is the very first European Community instrument to implement the principle of gender equality outside the workplace. As such it has the potential to close an important gap in European Union law. This note, however, contends that the limited scope of application of the Directive, together with doubts surrounding its legal base and position within the overall gender equality framework of the Union, have significantly undermined its potential. Nevertheless, it is suggested that for the future, should these criticisms be adequately addressed, then the Directive may provide an important platform for the wider diffusion of the gender equality principle beyond the sphere of European employment law. Council Directive 2004/113/EC of 13 December 2004 implementing the principle of equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services OJ L373 (2004) 37     

Parental alienation (syndrome) in child custody cases: survivors’ experiences and the logic of psychosocial and legal services in Italy

ABSTRACT

Parental alienation (syndrome) is a controversial issue, criticized by experts in different fields. However, this concept is often used by professionals and is frequently cited in courtrooms. This qualitative study focuses on parental alienation and explores women’s experiences as well as legal and social services’ practices in child custody cases. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with separated mothers who were victims of intimate partner violence, and with social workers and psychologists/psychiatrists designated by courts to evaluate parenting skills. Expert reports, psychological assessments and legal documents were also analysed. Results show that professionals endorsed parental alienation and considered it a ‘feminine problem’. Women were often blamed and labeled as ‘engaging in parental alienation’ when they were trying to ensure their children’s safety. Children’s accounts were interpreted as being a result of their mothers’ manipulation. In contrast, fathers were treated as victims of vindictive women who want to keep children to themselves. Men’s violent behaviours were not considered, and their role as fathers was seen as ‘inviolable’. These practices seem to reflect the ‘good-enough father’ approach, according to which the presence of the father is essential for children’s development, regardless of his violent behaviours.     

It Takes a Village: Using a Community-Defined Practice Approach to Develop a Tribal In-Home Services Model for Alaska Native Families

The current evidence base for in-home services in child welfare is limited, with insufficient research on the use of in-home services among ethnically diverse populations. This article describes a case study examining the use of a community-defined practice and evidence approach to develop tribally based in-home service models with Alaska Native communities. The models were co-created by tribal elders, community members, and service providers, with technical assistance provided by the Western and Pacific Child Welfare Implementation Center (WPIC). Research findings suggest that this is an effective approach to developing culturally appropriate child welfare practices while also building local support and ownership.     

Higher Education and the Referendum on Scottish Independence

During the course of the referendum campaign, the Scottish government argued that free tuition for Scottish and EU students symbolised Scotland's preference for universal services and was intrinsically fairer than the ‘marketised’ systems operating in the rest of the UK. Invoking principles of both social justice and pragmatism, three distinct critiques of the Scottish government's higher education policy were mounted and adopted by different policy actors for different political purposes. Following a discussion of these arguments, this article concludes that a more nuanced discussion of higher education policy in Scotland is required, focusing not just on the absence of tuition fees but also on the distribution of debt and allocation of funds across the entire education system. We also note that the focus on tuition fees policy suggests that higher education systems across the UK are set on a process of divergence, whereas there are strong pressures towards policy convergence in areas such as research policy and internationalisation.     

Public–private partnerships (PPPs) in local services: risk-sharing and private delivery of water services in Spain

Local governments are increasingly utilising the public–private partnership (PPP) model as a means of organising service delivery in the public–private domain. This article examines the experiences with construction and operation of 131 PPP wastewater treatment plants in the region of Aragon, Spain. The study highlights how an inadequate management of construction risk and unsuitable transfer of demand and revenue risk resulted in significant time delays in execution of the PPP projects. The research also shows how the involvement of public bodies at local, regional and national level further added to the complexity of implementing the projects. The findings contribute to the literature on local service delivery and provide insights regarding risk transfer in long-term PPP contracts for the delivery of local services in general and water services in particular.     

推进数字政府建设 优化政府行政生态

在中国特色社会主义进入新时代的关键时期,网络强国、数字中国、智慧社会战略需要以数字政府建设为重要着力点落实落细,从而使得数字政府成为新时代以人民为中心的思想理论价值与实践的统一,也是深化“放管服”改革、重塑政府和市场关系的内在要求。在数据驱动和以大数据、云计算、移动互联网为代表的先进生产力的技术推动下,着力推进数字政府建设,从行政理念、组织结构、健全体制机制等多方面优化政府行政生态,推动政府职能转变,在资源共享、协调合作、公开透明、精准决策的目标指引下建设人民满意的服务型政府,从而达到百姓、企业、政府的共赢局面,促进政府治理能力和治理水平的全面提升。     

政府购买养老服务研究现状、热点与前瞻--基于CNKI期刊的共词分析

对我国政府购买养老服务的研究成果进行梳理,从总体上定位其研究的热点主题、概括其研究特点,可以为该领域今后的研究提供理论前瞻。本文以CNKI作为数据来源,采用共词分析法,通过聚类分析、多维尺度分析、社会网络分析绘制出政府购买养老服务研究知识图谱。研究发现,政府购买养老服务的研究热点包括养老服务需求、养老模式、体制机制、养老服务事业发展、问题与对策等;呈现出以政策为导向、以实践为导向、以定性分析为主的研究特点。研究内容将呈现多样化趋势,研究方法采用定量与定性相结合,研究热点将聚焦在社会治理、制度创新等方面。     

公共事业管理主体的界定及特征

公共事业管理的主体是指不以盈利为目的 ,依照法律规定专门从事对社会公共产品的生产、公共服务的提供和公共秩序及安全的维护等进行有效管理的行政性组织和社会性组织的总称。它具有服务性、社会性、公益性、职能性、法制性等特征。根据是否依仗行政权力来推动管理活动 ,可以把公共事业管理主体分为行政性公共事业管理组织和社会性公共事业管理组织 ,它们之间有着完全不同的活动方式和特点。     

工会应努力为职工提供有效服务

当前工会组织在角色定位、服务领域、服务本领等方面存在缺失.要提高服务的有效性,需要更新观念、苦练内功、实化措施.     

论消费信用卡透支风险的法律监管制度建设

消费信用卡给发卡行带来新的利润增长点的同时 ,也对其造成一定的风险。风险背后的深层原因是制度的缺陷。我国信用卡业务的制度缺陷主要体现在银行对持卡人拖欠透支款缺乏有效催款措施、健全的个人信用制度、信用卡担保保证制度以及完善、统一的消费信贷法规。要改变这一现状 ,促进信用卡的健康发展 ,我国应在上述几个方面加强建设步伐 ,逐步建立一个有法可依的消费信贷法律制度体系。