Latest news with #Lawon
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
BRIEFING NOTES: (1) USA; (2) (EN/SP) Venezuela; (3) (EN/AR) Egypt
Spokespeople for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Liz Throssell and Thameen Al-Kheetan Location: Geneva Date: 13 May 2025 Subject: USA (Liz Throssell) Venezuela (Liz Throssell) Egypt (Thameen Al-Kheetan) (1) USA The deportation over recent months of large numbers of non-nationals from the United States of America, especially to countries other than those of their origin, raises a number of human rights concerns, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said on Tuesday. According to official US data, between 20 January and 29 April, 142,000 individuals have been deported from the US. In particular, the fate and whereabouts of at least 245 Venezuelans and some 30 Salvadorans removed to El Salvador remain unclear. Many of them were deported under the Alien Enemies Act as alleged members of specific criminal groups. They have reportedly been detained in the maximum-security 'Centre for Terrorism Confinement' (CECOT) in El Salvador, a facility where detainees are treated particularly harshly, without access to legal counsel or their relatives, or other contact with the outside world. (2) Venezuela The detention and enforced disappearance of critics of the Venezuelan Government is continuing, fuelling a climate of fear. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, calls on the authorities to release immediately all those arbitrarily detained, and to ensure due process and fair trial standards are met. Since last year's election, human rights defenders, journalists and others perceived as dissident voices have been subjected to intimidation and persecution, limiting the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Among the most recent cases of concern is that of Eduardo Torres, a lawyer with the Venezuelan Education-Action Program on Human Rights, who according to credible information, was arrested on his way home in Caracas on 9 May. His relatives report being unable to contact him and remain unaware of his whereabouts. Our Office continues to be concerned by conditions of detention, in particular lack of access to adequate food and health care. Our Office has verified the deaths of at least three Government critics held in custody since July 2024. These cases must be fully and independently investigated. The High Commissioner urges authorities to provide promptly details on the fate and whereabouts of the missing and detained to their loved ones, and to ensure they are granted access to lawyers of their own choosing. Amid the widening restrictions on civic space, we recall that the Law on the Control, Regulation, Performance, and Financing of Non-Governmental and Related Organizations is vague and undermines the rights to freedom of expression and association. This law must be repealed. (3) Egypt We have closely followed the passage of Egypt's new Code of Criminal Procedure, which was recently approved by the House of Representatives and is now pending presidential approval. We have raised concerns over provisions of the law that will grant public prosecutors broad discretionary powers related to pre-trial detention, interception of communications, and travel bans. The law would also provide for other measures adversely impacting the right to effective legal representation, and on accountability for the conduct of public officials, including law enforcement personnel. Last-minute amendments were reportedly made to the draft law before it was sent to the President for his approval. However, these changes have not been made public, raising concerns about lack of legislative transparency. We call on the President of Egypt to consider carefully the proposed Criminal Procedure Code in light of these concerns prior to granting any assent, in order to ensure that it fully complies with Egypt's international human rights obligations.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kyiv's EU accession bid moving faster than any in history, Ukraine's PM says
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has announced that, thanks to the legal efforts of the government and parliament, Ukraine is progressing towards European Union membership at the fastest pace ever recorded among candidate countries. Source: Shmyhal during an hour of questions to the government in the Ukrainian parliament, as reported by European Pravda, citing the Ukrinform news agency Details: Shmyhal was answering a question from an MP about the legal compatibility of the posts of minister of justice and deputy prime minister. "There is a large layer of legal work in the area of European and Euro-Atlantic integration. This decision [to combine the positions – ed.] is 100% justified. We, supported by the parliament, are moving forward with all the necessary bills; then the government is implementing all the necessary regulations. We are doing a lot of legal work with the European Commission," he said. "We've got a fairly high pace in all of this. We have great ambitions to become an EU member as soon as possible. And our pace is the fastest of all the candidate countries that have ever aspired to become an EU member. Therefore, such an integration [of those posts] is justified," the prime minister said. Shmyhal added that merging the positions of deputy prime minister and justice minister serves as a political demonstration of Ukraine's priorities. However, he clarified that this decision is consistent with current legislation, the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Law on the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Background: In February, Hungary blocked the opening of the first negotiation cluster with Ukraine and promised to block the opening of clusters until it holds "consultations" with the population on Ukraine's accession. On 5 March, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced a poll on support for Ukraine's EU membership. Meanwhile, the Hungarian government insists that Ukraine's accession to the EU would be dangerous for Hungary, including from an agricultural and economic point of view. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Jordan Times
05-03-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Senate approves 3 draft laws, refers two back for further review
The Senate approves three draft laws in its Tuesday session, all referred from the Lower House without amendments (Petra photo) AMMAN — The Senate approved three draft laws in its Tuesday session, all referred from the Lower House without amendments. Two bills, the general statistics law and the agricultural risk mitigation fund law, were sent back to their respective committees for further review and study, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The Senate also approved the amended Jordanian National Building Law, as proposed by the Lower House. The amendments include a recommendation to add a representative from the Public Security Directorate to the Technical Committee for the National Building Code. The amendment aims to enhance the effectiveness of the National Building Council and its Technical Committee, ensuring safer and more efficient building practices. The Senate also passed amendments to the Law on the Regulation of the Surveying Profession and Real Estate Agencies. The amended law sets clear guidelines for surveying practices, real estate valuation, and office regulations. It also outlines classification criteria, licensing fees, and penalties for violations. Individuals found practising without a license face fines ranging from JD1,000 to JD1,500, while those in violation of other provisions could be fined between JD500 and JD1,500. Repeat offenders risk double fines. The Senate approved amendments to the Law on Residence and Foreigners, introducing stricter penalties for foreigners who overstay their residence permits. The revised law imposes a fine of JD45 per month (JD3 per day) for individuals who fail to obtain a temporary residence permit, overstay their permitted stay, or neglect to renew their permits within one month of expiration.
