The Watercourses Convention,Hydro-hegemony and Transboundary Water Issues

The 2014 entry into force of the UN Watercourses Convention of 1997 could institutionalise water law globally, thereby countering hydro-hegemonic approaches. However, since the Convention is out of date; has been ratified by only 36, mostly downstream countries; does not require amendments of pre-existing treaties; and has no Conference of the Parties to ensure that it becomes a living treaty, its actual influence in addressing the evolving problems in transboundary river basins remains minimal. Nevertheless, it is not unimaginable that with an appropriate follow-up to this Convention, it could be converted into a living and relevant framework convention in the future.     

试析对区域性国际组织运用武力的法律控制

区域组织运用武力问题在科索沃战争后更为引人关注。在联合国宪章体系下 ,区域组织运用武力有三种类型。其中 ,集体自卫和授权型运用武力对及时有效地反对地区霸权主义、维护国际和平与安全具有重要意义。但从国际关系实践来看 ,区域组织运用武力尤其是授权型运用武力存在着较多问题 ,只有对其实行有效控制 ,才能发挥区域组织在维护国际和平与安全方面的作用     

论《联合国反腐败公约》对我国《引渡法》的借鉴价值

腐败犯罪的国际化促使国家间反腐国际合作不断深入,《联合国反腐败公约》的出台填补了国际法在相关领域的空白。相比较而言,我国《引渡法》在某些方面与《反腐公约》存在一定的差异,公约的各项原则和规则还需要通过国内立法加以落实。因此,建议比照《反腐公约》的规定,借鉴国际上引渡立法的先进经验,利于完善我国的引渡法律体系。     

The inadequate legislative response to e-signatures

This article examines the two most influential international initiatives on electronic signatures (UNCITRAL’s 1996 Model Law on Electronic Commerce and the 1999 EU Electronic Signature Directive). It considers whether the legislative approaches in Australia and the United Kingdom based on these initiatives are helpful in deciding whether lower level signature methods such as simple email messages are likely to satisfy a legal requirement for a signature. The conclusion reached is that they are unhelpful. The article goes on to consider whether legislative amendments based on UNCITRAL’s 2001 Model Law on Electronic Signatures or the 2005 UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts would improve the identified weaknesses. It concludes that such an update would clarify some issues, but that overall it will not solve the difficulties. The article ends with a brief speculation on the likely attributes of a more helpful approach.     

对国际货物运输法统一化努力的思考

《联合国全程或者部分海上国际货物运输合同公约》是国际社会为推进国际货物运输法的统一而作的又一次努力。结合这一统一化运动,分析国际货物运输法统一化的动因、悖论、成果的局限性以及中国在这一过程中所起的作用,并对国际货物运输法统一化给予客观的评价。     

Sponsorship behaviour of the BRICS in the United Nations General Assembly

The formation of informal groupings of states is a manifestation of the global shift in economic power. One such a grouping is the BRICS, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which stands out for its importance due to its economic weight, its coverage across continents and the numerous internal differences. The BRICS have collectively flexed their muscle and expressed their intentions to extend their cooperation at the United Nations (UN). Proposals in the United Nations General Assembly (UN GA) take the form of resolutions, which can be written and co-written by the UN member states. This so-called sponsoring of resolutions is a way to push agenda items forward. Using a large-N network analysis, we examine the patterns of co-sponsorship of the BRICS of resolutions adopted in the UN GA plenary sessions. We find that the BRICS cooperate on fields such as economic issues, however, they do not form a coherent bloc when it comes to resolution sponsorship. These results raise the question in what way the BRICS actually cooperate at the UN level.     

Presence on the Ground: Expectations,Resources and Tactical Moves in the Negotiation of a UN Peacekeeping Operation in the Central African Republic

ABSTRACT

How do local situations matter? It is tempting to explain the creation of a new peacekeeping operation (PKO) by the willingness to solve a local security problem. However, main contributor countries to UN and EU PKO in the Central African Republic in 2014, have sent hundreds of troops without a genuine interest in the local situation. Thus, how, why and when links to the ground are made? Having presence on the ground gave some actors levers in the negotiations. The contact with the ground impact the construction of expectations. It is a resource for pressuring on hesitating countries.     

私营军事公司参与联合国维和之利弊分析

因私营军事公司具有军事能力强、反应快、成本低的特点，西方某些国家、学者与非政府组织主张参与到联合国维和行动及强制行动中来，以克服联合国维和体制中的弊病。目前，国际法与国内法对私营军事公司的监督与监管处于弱态，加之其具有雇佣军掠夺性本质，私营军事公司参与甚至主导联合国维和行动有违联合国宗旨与集体安全制度，且有可能成为西方国家的干涉工具，从而破坏国际和平与安全。     

联合国发展机制评析

联合国有一套庞大的发展系统和用于发展的经费预算,来实施宪章中关于发展的宗旨.该套机制的建构、发展、运行及发展业务的操作代表了联合国发展职能的履行和业绩.但联合国作为全球发展的协调中心,在机制上存在着明显缺陷,有待进行关键性的改革.