Illinois civil unions law goes into effect – Legal News

Illinois civl lawThe same sex couples in Illinois are given the right to enter into civil unions and enjoy all the protections and privileges same as that of the married couples, from Wednesday. Illinois joined five other states in legalizing civil union in January. The Gov. Pat Quinn signed the law in front of the crowd of cheering residents during a ceremony that was conducted in the Chicago auditorium and declared that purpose behind the same is to show the whole world that the people of Illinois believe in equality before law.

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Internet restrictions violate human rights- United Nations

United-Nations logoUnited Nations in a report published by it on Friday warned that restrictions imposed by governments upon right to freedom of opinion and expression on internet are the violation of human rights. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights lays down the types of restrictions that would be considered as the obligations upon the party states to guarantee the right to freedom of expression. In the report Frank Larue, UN special designate appointed to submit the report on freedom of expression provides examples of governments restricting, controlling, manipulating and censoring Internet content without any legal basis for imposing such restrictions.

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International commission recommends legalizing marijuana

marijuanaThe global commission on Drug policy released a new report in its official website which recommends internationally legalizing cannabis, marijuana and other drugs. The panel in its report also recommends for expanding various treatments available to the drug users and for also making them more available than now, and investing in programs to discourage children from using drugs, rather than enforcing harsh punishments against drug users. The report also asks each country to develop its own unique, human rights-based approaches for regulation of drugs and violations of drug law. The report fired up controversy by mentioning that UN single convention on narcotic drugs 1961 and US war on drugs campaign had failed to achieve its objectives. Panel includes elite members like former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Colombian President Cesar Gaviria, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, Richard Branson and former US Secretary of State George Shultz.

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Australia to send unaccompanied children to Malaysia through an asylum deal

Australian Immigration Minister said that as part of a policy to deter people smuggler plans to selling passage to asylum seekers had announced that Australia would send unaccompanied children seeking asylum to Malaysia. This statement came after a deal with malaysia  which consisted of a controversial swap under which Malaysian asylum seekers can settle in Australia. The Minister said this move was made to break the business model of the people smugglers. This move has come under serious fear and outrage about the  safety of children specially the girls. Amnesty International and leaders from the opposition have strongly condemned the government’s plan stating that asylum centers in malaysia are unsafe and dangerous for the children deported.

UN Libya commission says government forces have committed war crimes

Three person commission appointed by UN Human Rights Council to investigate violence in Libya published its 92 page report yesterday. The report says that government forces in Libya have committed crimes against Humanity and war crimes under the orders of the Libyan leader Mummar Gaddafi and other high profile leaders of the Libyan Government. The report accuses Libyan Government of committing crimes against humanity such as acts constituting murder, imprisonment, and other severe deprivations of physical liberties, torture, forced disappearances, and rape being part of a widespread attack against civilian population with knowledge of the attack. Commission also says in the report that there is strong evidence of War Crimes committed in violation of the Rome statute. Report published by the commission also lays down that continuous pattern of violations identified in Libya gives way for formulating an inference that these violations were carried out as a result of policy decisions taken by the Gaddafi led government. Estimates in the report show that 10,000–15,000 have been killed since civilian protests against the government in Libya began in February.

Iran parliament votes to send Ahmadinejad to court

Over the law makers say in violation of constitution the Iran parliament has voted to refer president mahmoud Ahamadinejad to the judiciary. Its unclear whether there will be a lawsuit against Ahmadinejad, Wednesday’s vote in parliament shows the majority of Iranian lawmakers are siding with the Guardian Council – the country’s constitutional watchdog body – in an ongoing controversy with the president. The legislators voted 165-1 in favor of legal action against Ahmadinejad over his move last month to declare himself caretaker oil minister after he sacked Masoud Mirkazemi under a Cabinet reshuffle plan.A parliament report says Ahmadinejad’s action was in “obvious violation of the constitution.” Remaining lawmakers in the 290-member assembly were either absent or abstained.

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