Human Trafficking by United Nations Peacekeepers: Mapping the Legal Terrain

If a United Nations peacekeeper allegedly is involved in human trafficking, they become part of the problem, rather than the solution. This research finds that human trafficking and UN peacekeeping frameworks are not sufficiently linked to hold peacekeepers accountable for alleged human trafficking crimes. International human trafficking legislation does not aptly apply to troop-contributing countries, whose domestic legislation could be inefficient in combatting human trafficking. Moreover, UN peacekeeping legislation largely omits human trafficking. Lastly, there are practical obstacles to ensuring accountability due to the UN’s weak regulatory system and the reliance of TCCs’ ability and willingness to cooperate

From union of tyrants to power to the people? The significance of the Pan-African Parliament for the African Union

'Der Artikel untersucht die Bedeutung des vor kurzem errichteten 'Panafrikanischen Parlaments'. Das Parlament ist eine der wenigen wirklichen Neuerungen der 'Afrikanischen Union/ African Union' (AU) - ihrerseits eine Nachfolge-Organisation der 'Organisation afrikanischer Einheit/ Organisation of African Unity' (OAU) und als solche könnte es den institutionellen Veränderungen, welche sich in der Kontinentalpolitik vollzogen haben, eine entschiedenere Bedeutung verleihen. Der Artikel skizziert die Vorgeschichte von Ansätzen zu parlamentarischer Vertretung im Rahmen der (O)AU, stellt dann den Gründungsverlauf der Afrikanischen Union/African Union dar und setzt diesen in Bezug zu der Vorstellung einer parlamentarischen Versammlung. Es folgt eine eingehende Erläuterung des parlamentarischen Protokolls und der Organe und Befugnisse, mit denen das Parlament ausgestattet ist sowie seiner amtlichen Beziehungen zu anderen Körperschaften der Union. Die amtliche Eröffnung des Parlaments im März 2004 wird dargestellt, gefolgt von einer Prognose seiner Auswirkungen auf die Einrichtungen der AU; auf die politische Willensbildung innerhalb der AU; als auch auf die Mitgliedstaaten der AU. Anschließend wird erörtert, welche Rolle das Parlament eventuell in den Überprüfungsverfahren von CSSDCA und NEPAD spielen könnte. Der Artikel kommt zu dem Schluss, dass das Parlament bis auf weiteres von eher untergeordneter Bedeutung sein wird.' (Autorenreferat)'This article analyses the significance of the newly established 'Pan-African Parliament'. As one of the few genuinely new institutions of the 'African Union' (AU) - itself the successor of the 'Organisation of African Unity' (OAU) -, the Parliament's birth could provide the institutional transformations that have taken place in continental politics with more concrete meaning. After sketching the historical background to the idea of parliamentary representation in the (0)AU, the article outlines the African Union's formation and how this interconnected with the notion of a parliamentary gathering. It analyses in detail the Parliament's Protocol, the structures and powers with which it was provided, and its formal relations with the other organs of the Union. The article describes how the Parliament was formally launched in March 2004 and then gives an assessment of its possible impacts on the institutions of the AU; on AU policy-making; and on the Un-ion's member states. Its potential role in the review mechanisms of the CSSDCA and NEPAD is also discussed. The article concludes that the Parliament's influence will remain marginal for the foreseeable future.' (author's abstract)

Modelling survival and connectivity of Mnemiopsis leidyi in the south-western North Sea and Scheldt estuaries

Three different models were applied to study the reproduction, survival and dispersal of Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Scheldt estuaries and the southern North Sea: a high-resolution particle tracking model with passive particles, a low-resolution particle tracking model with a reproduction model coupled to a biogeochemical model, and a dynamic energy budget (DEB) model. The results of the models, each with its strengths and weaknesses, suggest the following conceptual situation: (i) the estuaries possess enough retention capability to keep an overwintering population, and enough exchange with coastal waters of the North Sea to seed offshore populations; (ii) M. leidyi can survive in the North Sea, and be transported over considerable distances, thus facilitating connectivity between coastal embayments; (iii) under current climatic conditions, M. leidyi may not be able to reproduce in large numbers in coastal and offshore waters of the North Sea, but this may change with global warming; however, this result is subject to substantial uncertainty. Further quantitative observational work is needed on the effects of temperature, salinity and food availability on reproduction and on mortality at different life stages to improve models such as used here

Behaviour of sandy soil subjected to dynamic loading

This thesis presents the kinematics occurring during lab-based dynamic compaction tests using high speed photography and image correlation techniques. High speed photography and X-ray microtomography have been used to analyse the behaviour of sandy soil subjected to dynamic impact. In particular, the densification mechanism of granular soils due to dynamic compaction is the main theme of the thesis. High speed photography and digital image correlation (DIC) techniques have enabled the deformation patterns, soil strains and strain localisations to be observed. Image correlation and X-ray scans revealed the formation, rate and growth of narrow tabular bands of intense deformation and significant volumetric change and provided answers towards a better understanding of the densification mechanism in dry granular soils due to dynamic compaction. As a quantitative tool, high speed photography has allowed the propagation of localised deformation and strain fields to be identified and has suggested that compaction shock bands control the kinematics of dynamic compaction. The displacement and strain results from high speed photography showed that soil deformation in the dynamic tests was dominated by a general bearing capacity mechanism similar to that widely stated in classic soil mechanics texts. Comparative static loading tests have been conducted to enable the dynamic effects to be clearly distinguished. This has enabled the densification process taking place below the soil surface to be investigated and identified. Simulations of the physical models were carried out using LS-DYNA finite element formulations for comparison and verification purposes. The FE simulations verified the general characteristics from the photography findings. However, simulation results were unable to predict the exact details of the strain localisation due to surface impacts during physical model tests

From union of tyrants to power to the people? The significance of the Pan-African Parliament for the African Union

This article analyses the significance of the newly established Pan-African Parliament. As one of the few genuinely new institutions of the African Union (AU) - itself the successor of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) -, the Parliament's birth could provide the institutional transformations that have taken place in continental politics with more concrete meaning. After sketching the historical background to the idea of parliamentary representation in the (O)AU, the article outlines the African Union's formation and how this interconnected with the notion of a parliamentary gathering. It analyses in detail the Parliament's Protocol, the structures and powers with which it was provided, and its formal relations with the other organs of the Union. The article describes how the Parliament was formally launched in March 2004 and then gives an assessment of its possible impacts on the institutions of the AU; on AU policymaking; and on the Union's member States. Its potential role in the review mechanisms of the CSSDCA (Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa) and NEPAD is also discussed. The article concludes that the Parliament's influence will remain marginal for the foreseeable future. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English, German and French. [Journal abstract]ASC – Publicaties niet-programma gebonde

Inter-govermental organizations and preventing conflicts: political practice since the end of the Cold War

This volume is the result of an international symposium on early warning and conflict prevention, held in The Hague in 1996. Two chapters deal with Africa. They investigate the role regional organizations - whether intergovernmental, State or non-State - can play in the prevention of conflicts in the post-Cold War era. Gilbert M. Khadiagala discusses some of Africa's leading regional organizations, ECOWAS, SADC, the East African Cooperation (EAC), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), from the perspective of transparency and leadership. Timothy M. Shaw, Sandra J. MacLean and Katie Orr emphasize the importance of a sustainable division of labour among African and non-African organizations in relation to the advancement of conflict prevention and resolution in the next millennium.ASC – Publicaties niet-programma gebonde

Flexible filter feeders:The gelatinous zooplankton community in the Netherlands after the invasion of the ctenophore <i>Mnemiopsis leidyi</i>

Of kwallen wereldwijd steeds meer voorkomen is een onderwerp van discussie, maar ze zorgen steeds vaker voor problemen zoals verstopte visnetten, verstopte koelwaterinlaten of wegblijvende toeristen. In Nederlandse kustwateren zorgde de vondst van de invasieve Amerikaanse ribkwal Mnemiopsis leidyi voor hernieuwde interesse in deze diverse diergroep. In 2010 startte Lodewijk van Walraven een onderzoek aan kwalachtigen in Nederlandse wateren, in een samenwerkingsverband tussen NIOZ Koninklijk Instituut voor Zeeonderzoek en Deltares, waarop hij 18 november promoveert.Vijftig jaar kwallenvangsten in een visfuik op Texel laten zien dat schijfkwallen na warmere winters vroeger in het jaar verschijnen. Het aantal gevangen kwallen was afgenomen. Ook naar poliepen (bodemstadia van kwallen) is er gezocht op veel plekken in de Nederlandse kustwateren: op de bodem, op wrakken en in havens. Helaas zijn alleen poliepen van de oorkwal gevonden. Kennis van het voorkomen van de poliepen kan zorgen voor een betere voorspelling van kwallenproblemen in de toekomst. De Amerikaanse ribkwal is nu de algemeenste kwalachtige in Nederlandse. Experimenten toonden aan dat deze soort zich ook in zeer brak water kan voortplanten. Computermodellen van verspreiding, overleving, voortplanting en groei van de ribkwallen bij verschillende temperaturen en voedselbeschikbaarheid voorspellen dat de Amerikaanse ribkwal zich vanuit Nederlandse wateren naar andere Europese wateren kan verspreiden. Als de Nederlandse kustwateren warmer worden zou de ribkwal zich meer en eerder kunnen voortplanten en veel dierlijk plankton weg kunnen eten, met gevolgen voor voedselbeschikbaarheid voor andere kwalachtigen en vissen als haring, sprot en ansjovis.Whether jellyfish numbers are increasing worldwide is an ongoing debate, but it is a fact that jellyfish-related problems such as clogged fishing gear and cooling water intakes, and tourists avoiding beaches, are increasing. In Dutch coastal waters the introduction of the invasive comb jellyfish Mnemiopsis leidyi triggered a renewed interest in this diverse group of anumals. In 2010 Lodewijk van Walraven started a study on gelatinous zooplankton in Dutch coastal waters, in a collaboration between the NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Deltares, which he will defend on November 18.Fifty years of jellyfish catches in a fish fyke on Texel show that jellyfish are appearing earlier in the year following warmer winters. The number of jellyfish caught had decreased. Polyps (bottom-living stages of jellyfish) were also studied and searched for on the bottom, on wrecks and in harbours and ports. Only polyps of the moon jellyfish were found. Knowledge of the distribution of polyps can lead tob etter forecasting of jellyfish problems in the future.The American comb jellyfish is now the most common gelatinous species in Dutch waters. Experiments showed that the species can survive in very brackish waters. Computer models of distribution, survival, reproduction and growth of the species predict that Dutch waters act as a source of comb jellies for other European waters. When coastal waters get warmer, spawning of the invasive species could increase and shift to earlier months. This can have consequences for food availability of other gelatinous species and fish such as anchovy, sprat and herring

Conclusions

This volume is the result of an international symposium on early warning and conflict prevention, held in The Hague in 1996. Two chapters deal with Africa. They investigate the role regional organizations - whether intergovernmental, State or non-State - can play in the prevention of conflicts in the post-Cold War era. Gilbert M. Khadiagala discusses some of Africa's leading regional organizations, ECOWAS, SADC, the East African Cooperation (EAC), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), from the perspective of transparency and leadership. Timothy M. Shaw, Sandra J. MacLean and Katie Orr emphasize the importance of a sustainable division of labour among African and non-African organizations in relation to the advancement of conflict prevention and resolution in the next millenniumASC – Publicaties niet-programma gebonde