European Union Approaches to Human Rights Violations in Kosovo before and after Independence

This article examines European Union (EU) approaches to the question of human rights violations in Kosovo before and after its proclamation of independence, in February 2008. While the 1999 NATO-led humanitarian intervention in the region was often justified as necessary due to the continuous abuses of human rights, perpetrated by the Serbian forces against the ethic Kosovo Albanians, the post-interventionist period has witnessed a dramatic reversal of roles, with the rights of the remaining Serbian minority being regularly abused by the dominant Albanian population. However, in contrast to the former scenario, the Brussels administration has remained quite salient about the post-independence context – a grey zone of unviable political and social components, capable of generating new confrontations and human rights abuses within the borders of Kosovo. Aware of this dynamic and the existing EU official rhetoric, it is possible to conclude that the embedded human rights concerns in Kosovo are not likely to disappear, but even more importantly, their relevance has been significantly eroded

Training needs survey of midwives, health visitors and voluntary sector breastfeeding support staff in England

This study, which was part of a learning needs assessment of health professionals in England, reports a survey of the training needs of healthcare practitioners in breastfeeding support skills. Respondents rated their competence on 26 breastfeeding support skills, importance of update, actual and potential helpfulness of training, and accessibility in the next 2 years. Perception of organizational barriers to breastfeeding support and practitioners' knowledge of policies and guidance on breastfeeding were measured. Data are reported on 549 healthcare practitioners, mostly midwives and health visitors working for public health services, and some voluntary-sector practitioners, 58 had worked with women and their infants for more than 10 years, and 56 were currently spending at least 25 of their working time providing direct care to breastfeeding women. Those already competent were most likely to want more updating. Those with longer experience of breastfeeding support were more competent on three of the four competence subscales. Relationships between self-assessed competence and current intensity of breastfeeding experience were inconsistent. Respondents preferred training with a practical component. Respondents had poor knowledge of evidence-based policy, and only 51 had access to a breastfeeding policy. Organizational barriers to breastfeeding support were experienced by all, and especially by those with fewer years of experience (t = -2.32, d.f. = 547; P = 0.02) and those currently spending less time supporting breastfeeding women (t = -10.35, d.f. = 547; P < 0.0001). Core training is relevant to all practitioners, and practice-based training with access to evidence-based policies is required

The Role of Social Media Companies in the Regulation of Online Hate Speech

This article is about online hate speech propagated via platforms operated by social media companies (SMCs). It examines the options open to states in forcing SMCs to take responsibility for the hateful content that appears on their sites.  It examines the technological and legal context for imposing legal obligations on SMCs, and analyses initiatives in Germany, the UK, the EU and elsewhere.  It argues that whilst SMCs can play a role in controlling online hate speech, there are limitations to what they can achieve

‘It's those first few weeks’: Women's views about breastfeeding support in an Australian outer metropolitan region

To examine factors that influence the establishment and continuation of breastfeeding among women living in a southern region of Victoria