Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006: the implications for employers in educational settings

Vetting those who work with children and vulnerable adults is an emotive topic and one which can prove a challenging area for employers. The legitimate interest that parents, carers and employers have in screening those charged with the care of others can be in direct conflict with the most fundamental principles of economic freedom and employees’ human rights. The desire to balance these conflicting objectives is at the heart of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, which introduces what is being heralded as the most inclusive and comprehensive vetting and barring system to date. The changes dramatically widen the scope of workers who are subject to vetting and barring processes, covering employees, volunteers and contractors in the education, care and health industries, and affecting some 11.3 million people in the UK. This new scheme is of particular relevance and importance to schools and other educational institutions, who will be directly affected by the changes. This article will examine the practical employment implications of the new regime and the new obligations that the Vetting and Barring Scheme creates for both employers and employees.     

浅议英国1986年公司董事资格取消法案在公司治理方面的积极作用

后金融危机时代,公司治理成为热点,而规范公司董事行为是公司治理的重要内容。我国对于失职公司董事的从业禁止条款仅规定在公司法中。在英国,公司董事资格取消法案作为保护公益和商业道德的半惩罚性质的措施,发挥了重要的作用。     

《律师法》修订对检察机关的影响和对策

《律师法》修订对检察工作特别是职务侦查和公诉工作产生重大影响。检察机关应当通过积极转变执法理念、转变侦查模式、提高查案能力、加强证据收集等途径来应对变化，提升法律监督能力。     

Understanding Sexual Harassment a Little Better Reed and Bull Information Systems Ltd v. Stedman

This case note reviews the guidelines issued by Morison J. in the Employment Appeal Tribunal at the end of the decision in Reed and Bull Information Systems Ltd v. Stedman [1999] I.R.L.R.299. The author argues that while the judge’s decision is to be welcomed in adopting an approach more sympathetic to victims of sexual harassment, it also raises a number of problems by placing a burden on the victim to place the harasser on notice that she does not welcome his conduct. The guidelines are likely to be usefully applied in any jurisdiction that has rules forbidding sexual harassment. The author considers the guidelines from both a practical and a doctrinal angle and indicates that the right to be free from sexual harassment is one that the courts are reluctant to protect like other civil rights. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Does the Statutory Regulation of Advance Decision-Making Provide Adequate Respect for Patient Autonomy?

This paper considers advance decision-making in the context of healthcare. The common law recognition of advance decisions is contrasted with new statutory provision. This paper will examine the Mental Capacity Act 2005 framework for advance decisions and lasting powers of attorney. The ‚best interests’ test and substituted judgment as criteria for proxy decision-making are compared by application to a case example. The paper examines the statutory safeguards in respect of refusals of ‚life-sustaining treatment’ and postulates that these safeguards may render respect for autonomous advance decision-making difficult to achieve in practice.     

发展中国家对外直接投资新论

对外直接投资作为企业参与国际经营活动的重要方式之一,对企业垄断优势的形成具有重要的影响,而西方传统的以及修正了的对外直接投资理论则忽略了这一点。与发达国家相比,发展中国家开展对外直接投资时,本身并不具有什么垄断优势。但是,对发展中国家而言,企业的优势只是对外直接投资的重要而非充分条件,即不具有比较优势或垄断优势的发展中国家仍可以进行对外直接投资。对外直接投资的过程是企业挖掘和培育优势的过程。对外直接投资和企业优势的培育是正向促进的关系。这就是"优势培育论"。以中国为例,积极发挥投资主体的能动性,培育其优势,需要建立互补式国际战略联盟、组建跨国企业集团以及努力培养一大批学有所长、勇于开拓和精通国际企业经营管理业务的人才。     

国际民事诉讼中的国家行为原则——以美国法为例

国家行为原则在国际民事诉讼中越来越多的被引用,对其展开研究对我国立法和司法实践有重要意义。文章以美国法为例,从该原则的概念、特点、历史等基本点入手,分析了国家行为原则产生的法理基础;从该原则适用例外的角度分析了其适用范围;依据不同案件类型,初步总结了国家行为原则的适用方法。     

试论内部行政处分行为的可诉性

我国现行《行政诉讼法》的受案范围一直是学术界争议颇多的问题,内部行政处分行为是否可诉即是其中之一。从行政法治主义、司法最终原则等理论基础出发,并参考国外的相关理论与实践,对我国行政诉讼制度中内部行政处分司法救济的欠缺、国家公务员合法、正当权利受到损害无法得到司法救济的现状进行探讨。应当给予内部行政处分行为的相对人,即国家公务员,以司法救济的途径。     

证人拒绝出庭作证不应犯罪化

在解决证人出庭率低下的种种改革方案中,将证人拒绝出庭作证行为犯罪化的立法思路极其有害。这不但不能有效促使证人出庭,而且还会导致理论和实践上的种种恶果。应提倡一种以“激励”而非“强迫”为指导思想的促使证人出庭作证的整体思路。     

试论民航法的基本价值结构

法律价值是法学研究的核心问题.在漫长的法学发展进程中,形成了一套完整的法律价值体系.对于各部门法律,由于调整对象的性质不同,法律价值结构各异.民航法在我国法律体系中是较特殊的法律门类,应该有其独特的价值结构.但是长久以来,我国学界缺乏关于民航法的价值结构的研究.面临我国修改民航法的情势,强化民航法价值的研究是必要的,应当确立以"领空主权原则、安全、正义、效益"为内容的民航法基本价值结构,以此作为修改民航法的指导思想.