The European Court of Human Rights and Internal Relocation: An Unduly Harsh Standard?

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The UNCAC and judicial corruption: Requirements and avenues for reform

An independent and impartial justice system underpins the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Where it does not exist, pliant prosecutors, judges, and court staff may ignore criminal acts of corruption or have them improperly dismissed. Biased appointments, promotions, and disciplinary processes mean that justice sector staff may be ill-equipped to handle complex cases, including those involving corruption. The UNCAC’s unique provisions for international cooperation on a wide range of law enforcement matters especially rely on clean, effective judiciaries in the respective states. Given the centrality of the judiciary for a range of anti-corruption measures required by the UNCAC, ensuring that the judiciary is up to the task should be a primary concern of State Parties to the Convention – as well as their donor partners. The UNCAC itself, in Article 11, includes the requirement to ‘take measures to strengthen integrity and prevent corruption in the judiciary’. This Brief outlines the key requirements of, and considerations for, implementing Article 11

Non-Religious Employee\u27s Perceptions of Microaggressions and Their Relationship with Job Satisfaction as Moderated by Calling

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between microaggressions, person-organization fit (P-O fit), job satisfaction, and calling in non-religious individuals. Established research demonstrates that job satisfaction is predicted by P-O fit (Dawis, 2005). Research with minority groups has found that microaggressions are negatively related to P-O fit and job satisfaction (Lyons, Velez, Mehta, & Neil, 2014). However, research has yet to examine these interactions with a non-religious population. Previous investigations have found that calling is positively correlated with both P-O fit and job satisfaction (Duffy & Dik, 2013; Duffy, Allan, & Dik, 2011; Hirschi, 2012), suggesting the presence of a calling may mitigate the negative effects of microaggressions on these variables. It was predicted that P-O fit would mediate the relationship between microaggressions and job satisfaction and calling would moderate the relationship between microaggressions and P-O fit. To examine these relationships, participants were solicited through online communities for non-religious individuals. Results revealed that microaggressions predicted job satisfaction while calling predicted P-O fit and job satisfaction. Contrary to previous findings, microaggressions were not significantly related to P-O fit. Thus, P-O fit did not mediate the relationship between microaggressions and job satisfaction. Additionally, calling did not moderate the relationship between microaggressions and P-O fit. Post-hoc analyses revealed that calling was a significant moderator between microaggressions and job satisfaction. Findings expand research on the growing minority of non-religious individuals and contribute to the body of research in calling and offer additional guidance to vocational counselors working with non-religious individuals

The internal protection alternative and its relation to refugee status

One of the characteristics of today’s practice of refugee law is the flourishing of policies and practices designed to deflect claimants towards alternative places of protection. This chapter addresses one dimension of the ‘protection elsewhere’ dynamic: the application of the ‘internal protection alternative’ (IPA) to deny refugee status to persons whose risk of persecution is present in only part of a country. The IPA permits removal of refugee claimants to their home state even if they cannot safely return to their former residence. Despite widespread acceptance among state parties to the Refugee Convention of an IPA limit, debate persists regarding the treaty basis for IPA practice and, as a consequence, its operational parameters. The focus of UNHCR guidance, and most academic commentary, has been on establishing safeguards rather than contesting the legality of IPA practice itself. This chapter, in contrast, critically considers how the IPA relates to the requirements for refugee status contained in the 1951 Refugee Convention (Convention) and its 1967 Protocol.submittedVersio

The temporary turn in Norwegian asylum law and practice

In Norway during the 1990s, a concept of temporary protection developed both as a principle of asylum for all refugees and as a tool for facilitating and coordinating asylum in situations of rapid and large-scale arrivals. Underpinning both applications was a presumption that protection needs for most refugees would resolve in the foreseeable future. During the subsequent two decades, however, policies making refugee protection less secure have intensified together with the fact that displacement worldwide is an increasingly protracted phenomenon. This study provides a systematic overview of temporary protection practices in Norway, from the collective temporary protection granted to refugees from the Balkans conflict and the war in Ukraine to more indirect measures that reduce the security previously associated with refugee status recognized on an individual basis. It shows how temporariness results from 1) the proliferation of protection categories and differentiation of rights within them; 2) scrutiny of a refugee’s right to remain; 3) obstacles to accessing permanent residence and citizenship; and 4) barriers to family unity

The United Nations Convention against Corruption. A Primer for Development Practitioners

The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), adopted in Merida, Mexico in 2003, represents a remarkable achievement for international anti-corruption efforts. With endorsements from more than 140 state signatories representing every region of the world, the UNCAC offers a comprehensive, global framework for combating corruption

Preliminary Results on HAT-P-4, TrES-3, XO-2, and GJ 436 from the NASA EPOXI Mission

EPOXI (EPOCh + DIXI) is a NASA Discovery Program Mission of Opportunity using the Deep Impact flyby spacecraft. The EPOCh (Extrasolar Planet Observation and Characterization) Science Investigation will gather photometric time series of known transiting exoplanet systems from January through August 2008. Here we describe the steps in the photometric extraction of the time series and present preliminary results of the first four EPOCh targets.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of the 253rd IAU Symposium: "Transiting Planets", May 2008, Cambridge, M

The Effect of Reading and Social Studies Integration on Content Knowledge and Vocabulary

The purpose of this study was to determine if the integration of reading in the content area would improve students\u27 vocabulary and content knowledge test scores. The belief of content area literacy is that students learn with text, not from them. An interaction with text provides opportunities for students to enhance their own mental models of the material. This research report reveals the positive effects of teaching reading skills in all curricular areas, and it emphasizes the benefits of immersing students with literature in science, social studies and math, as well as language arts. The researcher compared two fifth grade classes in the areas of vocabulary and content knowledge, after one class had five weeks of social studies content integrated with language arts. Following the five weeks, both classes took the New York State Document Based Questions test in social studies. Although the scores did not show improvement on this particular test, the depth of understanding on the topic was enhanced. The research report concludes with implications for further research, and ideas for practical use of content area reading in the classroom