UN rights expert calls for urgent reform of justice system in Haiti

4 September 2009 – Demand for justice outpaces the much-needed reform of the justice system in Haiti, the independent United Nations expert on the situation of human rights in the small Caribbean nation has underscored.

“When Haiti’s population sees the reform of the Haitian National Police proceeding at a fast pace, but the justice system is still marked by deprivation and limited resources, they are legitimately entitled to ask for the reasons behind this disparity,” Michel Forst told reporters in the capital, Port-au-Prince, before wrapping up his visit.

Although there were high hopes for the laws designed to reform the judiciary, progress appears to have been halted with their passage, he said. “There is still a long way to go before the country has a penal system that adheres to the rule of law.”

Mr. Forst pointed to progress in reforming the police, who are wearing new uniforms, driving new cars and include many more women in their ranks, but noted that the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti, known as MINUSTAH, still reports that law enforcement officials are behind violence and corruption.

Overcrowded conditions in prisons constitute cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, he said, welcoming the construction of new detention centres and the influx of funding from international partners.

In a new report on Haiti released yesterday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wrote that while there is substantial reason to believe Haiti is moving away from its past of conflict towards a brighter future of peaceful development, there is still a need to strengthen State institutions and constitutional reform, among the current challenges.

“Further efforts to curb corruption and impunity are also critical,” stressed Mr. Ban, adding that an effective response “to violent incidents during the elections of 19 April would help to shore up public confidence in the democratic process.”

His report underscored the critical contribution MINUSTAH and the UN Country Team can make to stability in Haiti, especially as the emergent Haitian police force is still strengthening.

Airlines take precautions to protect fliers from swine flu

Airlines say they're preparing for the return of swine flu this fall but stop short of declaring they'll bar passengers with symptoms from planes or give refunds for trips canceled because of the illness."We're going to proceed with our normal policies, and if the situation were to change drastically then we'd have to examine that," says Christopher White, spokesman for AirTran Airways.

Some also say they'll continue precautions — such as offering passengers anti-bacterial wipes and keeping blankets and pillows off planes — they began in the spring when the flu strain emerged.

The virus, which broke out in the U.S. and Mexico, hurt an already struggling airline industry. Airlines cut flights in and out of Mexico by nearly half, says the Air Transport Association, which represents major U.S. carriers. Airlines say concerns about the virus cut into revenue. Delta, for instance, says the flu cost it $125 million to $150 million in the second quarter.

The damage could be greater in coming weeks. A report from a White House advisory panel last week projected as many as half the people in the USA could become infected with the virus and as many as 30,000 to 90,000 deaths could result.

Law

Its an explanation of rules, usually enforced through a set of institutions. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a primary social mediator in relations between people. There are numerous forms of law that is applied in everything, ranging from what you already get when you are pro-created until the point where you die.

Legal systems elaborate rights and responsibilities in a variety of ways. A general distinction can be made between civil law jurisdictions, which codify their laws, and common law systems, where judge made law is not consolidated. In some countries, religion still informs the law. Law provides a rich source of scholarly inquiry,into legal history, philosophy, economic analysis or sociology. Law also raises important and complex issues concerning equality, fairness and justice. "In its majestic equality", said the author Anatole France in 1894, "the law forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread."


Next time we will be going into what the International Laws imply.

Welcome!

In this blog you may find news from around the world that includes various aspects of how law is applied. It may vary in many things but its a simple matter of actually doing what you are told in your class and maybe using the help of a dictionary. We are going to be translating news that seem important and a few of the homework we are left at school so we can be practicing law in english as well as spanish.

We hope you enjoy the various aspects of this blog as it was made for your convinience.
Have fun!