The Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Bill 2012: Is post-sentence detention of sex offenders consistent with human rights?

The Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Bill 2012 was introduced by the National-led Government to address a perceived public safety problem relating to recidivist sex offenders. The Bill enables the detention of sex offenders beyond the expiration of their finite sentences, if they are seen as highly likely to reoffend. As such, the Bill raises a number of serious human rights issues. In response, the Attorney-General issued a statement contending the Bill was consistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. This article analyses the correctness of that statement, with a particular focus on whether the Bill is a form of civil committal and is, in substance, different to imprisonment. Drawing on case law from the United States and Australia, where similar post-sentence detention schemes operate, this paper suggests the Bill actively engages with human rights concerns. The conclusion reached is that the Bill appropriately balances the public safety interest and the basic human rights of sex offenders

Courting Controversy: The Problems Caused by Extrajudicial Speech and Writing

This article explores the problems for judicial impartiality that a judge's extrajudicial speaking or writing on legal matters may create. Examples from New Zealand and abroad demonstrate such extrajudicial commentary may lead to a finding of apparent bias or require that a judge recuse him or herself from hearing a case. The current regulation of extrajudicial speech, as ascertained from judicial conduct codes and case law, provides that judges can speak and write extrajudicially but must exercise caution in the tone and language they use. The article concludes that this is an appropriate approach and that the alternative of judicial silence is undesirable

Courting controversy: Judges and the problems caused by extrajudicial speech

This paper explores the problems for judicial impartiality that a judge’s extrajudicial speaking or writing on academic matters may create. Examples from New Zealand and abroad demonstrate such extrajudicial commentary may lead to a finding of apparent bias or require that a judge recuse himself from hearing a case. The current regulation of extrajudicial speech, as ascertained from judicial conduct codes and case law, provides that judges can speak and write extrajudicially on such matters but must exercise caution in the tone and language they use. The paper concludes that this is an appropriate approach and that a solution of judicial silence is undesirable. This conclusion is supported by empirical research conducted by the author which shows that the incidence of extrajudicial writing in New Zealand is low

Postpartum Haemorrhage and Eclampsia: Differences in Knowledge and Care-seeking Behaviour in Two Districts of Bangladesh

In high- and low-performing districts of Bangladesh, the study explored the demand-side of maternal healthcare by looking at differences in perceived knowledge and care-seeking behaviours of women in relation to postpartum haemorrhage or eclampsia. Haemorrhage and eclampsia are two major causes of maternal mortality in Bangladesh. The study was conducted during July 2006–December 2007. Both postpartum bleeding and eclampsia were recognized by women of different age-groups as severe and life-threatening obstetric complications. However, a gap existed between perception and actual care-seeking behaviours which could contribute to the high rate of maternal deaths associated with these conditions. There were differences in care-seeking practices among women in the two different areas of Bangladesh, which may reflect sociocultural differences, disparities in economic and educational opportunities, and a discrimination in the availability of care

Crocodilepox Virus Evolutionary Genomics Supports Observed Poxvirus Infection Dynamics on Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

Saltwater crocodilepox virus (SwCRV), belonging to the genus Crocodylidpoxvirus, are large DNA viruses posing an economic risk to Australian saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) farms by extending production times. Although poxvirus-like particles and sequences have been confirmed, their infection dynamics, inter-farm genetic variability and evolutionary relationships remain largely unknown. In this study, a poxvirus infection dynamics study was conducted on two C. porosus farms. One farm (Farm 2) showed twice the infection rate, and more concerningly, an increase in the number of early- to late-stage poxvirus lesions as crocodiles approached harvest size, reflecting the extended production periods observed on this farm. To determine if there was a genetic basis for this difference, 14 complete SwCRV genomes were isolated from lesions sourced from five Australian farms. They encompassed all the conserved genes when compared to the two previously reported SwCRV genomes and fell within three major clades. Farm 2′s SwCRV sequences were distributed across all three clades, highlighting the likely mode of inter-farm transmission. Twenty-four recombination events were detected, with one recombination event resulting in consistent fragmentation of the P4c gene in the majority of the Farm 2 SwCRV isolates. Further investigation into the evolution of poxvirus infection in farmed crocodiles may offer valuable insights in evolution of this viral family and afford the opportunity to obtain crucial information into natural viral selection processes in an in vivo setting

Aporte de la práctica de Especialización en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes de Educación Infantil

En el presente estudio, se realizó en el III año de la carrera de Pedagogía con Mención en Educación Infantil, ubicado en la ciudad de Estelí, durante el I semestre del año 2021. Abordándose el tema Prácticas de Especialización y su aporte en el proceso de aprendizaje, el objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las Prácticas de Especialización y su aporte en los procesos de aprendizaje en estudiantes. Este estudio pertenece al paradigma cualitativo, enfoque aplicado y carácter descriptivo de corte transversal, ya que se basa en el estudio de experiencias vividas con el estudiante. Entre los resultados obtenidos se describe que uno de los factores que intervienen en el proceso de aprendizaje es la motivación lo que significa que la motivación juega un papel muy importante en la realización de las prácticas. Otros factores encontrados fueron tiempo, carga laboral, debido a que los estudiantes trabajan y estudian al mismo tiempo. Las prácticas le permitieron al estudiante definir el área de especialización que más le interesa, ya que según el perfil profesional tiene la posibilidad de desempeñar en varias áreas en las que se puede ejercer, docentes, director de centro de educación inicial, asesores metodológicos y promotores. Por lo tanto, el estudiante de práctica está cumpliendo con lo establecido en la normativa, tendrá la oportunidad de relacionar la teoría con la práctica l

Listening to refugee and vulnerable migrant women of Somali origin about the bodily and psychosocial consequences of female genital mutilation in Germany

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that an expected 200 million women have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM) in Africa. The types of cutting vary depending on the individual’s society or location, with four different types presently being practised. The Horn of Africa comprises Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, Eritrea and Ethiopia, and WHO has listed the following four countries in order of prevalence of FGM practice, with Somalia at 98%, followed by Ethiopia at 92%, Djibouti at 93% and Eritrea at 89% of the female population. In addition to efforts being made to eradicate FGM by WHO, Non-governmental organisations, governments and women organisations, there is also a demand from those who have already undergone this procedure, whether they are in Africa or elsewhere in the world for help with the biopsychosocial consequences of FGM. Method This paper presents the findings of a mixed-method study on the views of a group of vulnerable migrant women with FGM, as well as healthcare practitioners, who consider that there is an unmet demand for better interculturally sensitive healthcare in their adopted country –Germany. The mixed-method study comprised the participation of 48 female volunteers over 18 years of age, recruited with the help of Somali social workers. Using the Metaplan and a quantitative questionnaire, five workshops were conducted in the German towns of Fulda (N=16), Rathenau (N=9), Kassel (N=13) and Berlin (N=10). Results The investigation in Germany was conducted as part of MyHealth, which was a larger European project aimed at improving the healthcare access of vulnerable migrants and refugees (women and unaccompanied minors) newly arrived in Europe, by developing and implementing models based on information gained from a European multidisciplinary Learning Alliance. The overall data gathered revealed a high demand for information and attention to the FGM issue by the participants and healthcare professionals. The interaction during data gathering also suggested a transfer of knowledge between the researchers and the participants. Participants felt they had been heard and were then able to engage with the German healthcare system. Discussion The study highlights the fact that the provision of healthcare in the host country can be improved by providing healthcare workers with intercultural communication skills, tools and cultural awareness training approaches. Moreover, these types of interventions could be adapted to help other vulnerable groups in different healthcare systems worldwide, particularly women’s issues such as postnatal depression, FGM and menopause

Nucleic Acid Preservation Card Surveillance Is Effective for Monitoring Arbovirus Transmission on Crocodile Farms and Provides a One Health Benefit to Northern Australia

The Kunjin strain of West Nile virus (WNVKUN) is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus that can infect farmed saltwater crocodiles in Australia and cause skin lesions that devalue the hides of harvested animals. We implemented a surveillance system using honey-baited nucleic acid preservation cards to monitor WNVKUN and another endemic flavivirus pathogen, Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV), on crocodile farms in northern Australia. The traps were set between February 2018 and July 2020 on three crocodile farms in Darwin (Northern Territory) and one in Cairns (North Queensland) at fortnightly intervals with reduced trapping during the winter months. WNVKUN RNA was detected on all three crocodile farms near Darwin, predominantly between March and May of each year. Two of the NT crocodile farms also yielded the detection of MVE viral RNA sporadically spread between April and November in 2018 and 2020. In contrast, no viral RNA was detected on crocodile farms in Cairns during the entire trapping period. The detection of WNVKUN and MVEV transmission by FTATM cards on farms in the Northern Territory generally correlated with the detection of their transmission to sentinel chicken flocks in nearby localities around Darwin as part of a separate public health surveillance program. While no isolates of WNVKUN or MVEV were obtained from mosquitoes collected on Darwin crocodile farms immediately following the FTATM card detections, we did isolate another flavivirus, Kokobera virus (KOKV), from Culex annulirostris mosquitoes. Our studies support the use of the FTATM card system as a sensitive and accurate method to monitor the transmission of WNVKUN and other arboviruses on crocodile farms to enable the timely implementation of mosquito control measures. Our detection of MVEV transmission and isolation of KOKV from mosquitoes also warrants further investigation of their potential role in causing diseases in crocodiles and highlights a “One Health” issue concerning arbovirus transmission to crocodile farm workers. In this context, the introduction of FTATM cards onto crocodile farms appears to provide an additional surveillance tool to detect arbovirus transmission in the Darwin region, allowing for a more timely intervention of vector control by relevant authorities

Recognition of and Response to neonatal intrapartum-related complications in home-birth settings in Bangladesh.

Intrapartum-related complications (previously called 'birth asphyxia') are a significant contributor to deaths of newborns in Bangladesh. This study describes some of the perceived signs, causes, and treatments for this condition as described by new mothers, female relatives, traditional birth attendants, and village doctors in three sites in Bangladesh. Informants were asked to name characteristics of a healthy newborn and a newborn with difficulty in breathing at birth and about the perceived causes, consequences, and treatments for breathing difficulties. Across all three sites 'no movement' and 'no cry' were identified as signs of breathing difficulties while 'prolonged labour' was the most commonly-mentioned cause. Informants described a variety of treatments for difficulty in breathing at birth, including biomedical and, less often, spiritual and traditional practices. This study identified the areas that need to be addressed through behaviour change interventions to improve recognition of and response to intrapartum-related complications in Bangladesh

Recognition of and Response to Neonatal Intrapartum-related Complications in Home-birth Settings in Bangladesh

Intrapartum-related complications (previously called \u2018birth asphyxia\u2019) are a significant contributor to deaths of newborns in Bangladesh. This study describes some of the perceived signs, causes, and treatments for this condition as described by new mothers, female relatives, traditional birth attendants, and village doctors in three sites in Bangladesh. Informants were asked to name characteristics of a healthy newborn and a newborn with difficulty in breathing at birth and about the perceived causes, consequences, and treatments for breathing difficulties. Across all three sites \u2018no movement\u2019 and \u2018no cry\u2019 were identified as signs of breathing difficulties while \u2018prolonged labour\u2019 was the most commonly-mentioned cause. Informants described a variety of treatments for difficulty in breathing at birth, including biomedical and, less often, spiritual and traditional practices. This study identified the areas that need to be addressed through behaviour change interventions to improve recognition of and response to intrapartum-related complications in Bangladesh