Topic 1

Introduction

Unlike in the United States, in the United Kingdom the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) for targeted killings has generally been “under the radar” due to the British government’s longstanding refusal to admit that any such policy exists.

On July 17, 2014, the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC) voted to move the topic of a new treaty on crimes against humanity to its active agenda and appoint Professor Sean Murphy as Special Rapporteur.[1] Over the past two years, the Rapporteur has made significant progress, and the Commission has now approved ten draft articles—four in summer 2015[2] and six additional articles in August 2016.[3] T

Introduction

“Legal professional privilege,” or “attorney-client privilege,” as it is often called in domestic legal systems, includes the right of noninterference in communications between clients and their legal advisers, as well as the right of confidentiality of such communications. They are essential conditions for the legal profession and well-protected principles in national, regional, and international legal orders, which only allow for exceptional restrictions.

On April 17, 2015, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) rendered its resolution in the monitoring of Chile’s implementation of the reparations ordered in García Lucero v. Chile.[1] The IACtHR had ordered Chile to grant Leopoldo Guillermo García Lucero reparations on August 28, 2013.[2] The Court had found Chile responsible for not investigating the torture of García Lucero.

Introduction

More than ever, the United Nations relies on armed peacekeeping to promote peace and security. Currently, more than 120 member states contribute about 90,000 troops (peacekeepers) on a voluntary basis to fourteen peacekeeping operations around the globe.[1] Unfortunately, some of these troop contributing countries (TCCs) continue to violate their international obligation to hold their peacekeepers accountable whenever they commit crimes against the local population, whom they are supposed to protect.

Introduction