Title The legal status of the embryo from the perspective of European human rights protection Abstract The thesis addresses the question regarding the legal status of the human embryo in European law. The aim of the thesis is to evaluate whether the embryo stands in the position of a legal object or legal subject and whether the legal status of embryo is in compliance with natural law. For this purpose the thesis firstly defines the status in the field of natural law, i.e. the moral status of embryo. Afterwards, the thesis examines the legal position of embryo in human rights protection. The thesis answers the question whether the embryo is subject of human rights documents. The legal status of embryo is analyzed in relation to the subjectivity of human rights in general as well as in relation to specific rights. The interpretation of legal terms "human being" and "everyone" contribute to a better understanding of legal status of embryo in general. The analysis of the specific rights, namely the right to life, human dignity, personal integrity and non-discrimination, shows the complexity of the potential legal subjectivity of embryo in the area of human rights. The evaluation of the legal status of human embryo in the area of human rights protection is complemented by an assessment of legal status in other...

This thesis deals with the death penalty. At the beginning are mentioned the general theory of punishment and the function of punishment. The next chapter outlines the historical development of the death penalty to the present. The third chapter is devoted to past and present techniques for the death penalty. The important role enact individual international documents conditioning the right to life and the possibility of the death penalty. Also are mentioned the arguments for and against the dea

A dissertação trata do debate acerca do início da proteção do direito à vida e as consequências dessa proteção em relação às pesquisas com células-tronco embrionárias humanas, autorizadas no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro pelo artigo 5º, da Lei nº 11.105/2005, julgada constitucional pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal em sede de controle concentrado de constitucionalidade. A abordagem, que se concentrou no estudo da doutrina, legislação e jurisprudência, tem caráter preponderantemente dogmático jurídico, nas dimensões analítica, empírica e normativa. As principais conclusões são as seguintes: o direito à vida garantido pela Constituição Federal, estruturalmente, consiste em um princípio, com âmbito de proteção amplo, ensejando a necessidade de sopesamento com outros valores protegidos pelo ordenamento jurídico para sua aplicação; dentre as possíveis interpretações acerca do que consiste esse direito, ele pode ser considerado como um direito à própria existência, um direito à vida digna e um direito à proteção em face do desenvolvimento da biotecnologia; o início da proteção do direito à vida e as pesquisas e terapias com células-tronco embrionárias são disciplinados no direito brasileiro por dispositivos internacionais e nacionais, tais como a Convenção Americana de Direitos Humanos, a Constituição Federal e a Lei nº 11.105/2005; o fato de o Supremo Tribunal Federal ter considerado constitucional o artigo 5º, da Lei nº 11.105/2005, em sede de controle concentrado, não afastou a aplicação da Convenção Americana de Direitos Humanos (a qual contém norma que protege o direito à vida, em geral, desde a concepção) e nem impediu um controle estatal e internacional efetivo sobre as pesquisas e terapias com células-tronco embrionárias a fim de resguardar, dentre outros aspectos, o direito à vida em um enfoque transindividual. / The present work deals with the debate about the beginning of the protection of the right to life and the consequences of this protection related to human embryo-based stem cell research, authorized by the Brazilian legal legislation according to the Article 5 of Law no. 11.105/2005, considered constitutional by the Federal Supreme Court in the concentrated model of constitutional control. The approach, centralized in the study of the doctrine, legislation and jurisprudence, is based on a predominantly dogmatic legal nature, in the analytical, empirical and regulatory dimensions. Following are the main conclusions: the right to life grated by the Federal Constitution structurally consists of a principle, with a broad protection scope, that justifies the need of weighting with other values protected by the legal legislation for its application; among the possible interpretations of what this right is consistent of, it can be considered as a right to the existence itself, a right to a decent life and a right to protection facing the development of the biotechnology; the beginning of the protection of the right to human embryo-based stem cell research and therapies are set in the Brazilian Law by national and international precepts, such as the American Convention of Human Rights, the Federal Constitution and the Law nº 11.105/2005; the fact that the Federal Supreme Court considered the Article 5 of Law nº 11.105/2005, in the concentrated model of constitutional control, did not distract the application of the American Convention of Human Rights (which contains the regulations that protects the right to life, in general, from its conception) neither obstructed an actual state or international control on the human embryo-based stem cell research and therapies in order to protect, among other aspects, the right to life in a transindividual approach.

Au cours du dernier siècle, les circonstances de la mort ont changé. La plupart des décès surviennent maintenant à des âges élevés. Ils ont principalement lieu en institution et sont souvent précédés d’une longue maladie chronique accompagnée de souffrances et d’angoisses qui ne peuvent être soulagées. Ces mêmes sentiments se retrouvent aussi chez les personnes accidentées de la vie. C’est pourquoi, désormais, les patients privilégient la qualité de la mort à la prolongation de la vie dans la souffrance. Ainsi, de plus en plus fréquemment, le corps médical est confronté à des demandes d’euthanasie ou de suicide assisté de la part des souffrants. C’est dans ce contexte qu’il est intéressant de s’interroger sur la législation française en matière de fin de vie et sur la place donnée tant aux professionnels de santé, qu’aux patients. Si la loi Leonetti du 22 avril 2005 a constitué une avancée considérable en la matière, elle ne répond malheureusement pas à l’ensemble des situations existantes et demeure actuellement insuffisante face aux requêtes constantes des personnes souffrantes et de la majorité de la population française. En témoigne la récente affaire Vincent Lambert dans laquelle, l’équipe médicale confrontée à des avis discordants au sein de la famille proche du patient et à l’absence de volonté exprimée de celui-ci, a été amenée à prendre une décision collégiale sur la poursuite ou non du traitement délivré à ce patient tétraplégique en état de conscience minimale, qui semble-t-il ne voulait plus survivre. S’en sont suivies plusieurs mêlées judiciaires qui ont permis de relancer le débat sur l’évolution de la législation en matière de fin de vie / During the last century, the circumstances of the death changed. Most of the deaths arise now at high ages even very high. They mainly take place in institution and are often preceded by a long chronic disease accompanied with sufferings and with fears which cannot be relieved. The same feelings also find themselves at the more or less young people, damaged by the life.That is why, from now on, the patients favor the quality of the death to the extra time of the life in the suffering. So, more and more frequently, the medical profession is confronted with requests of euthanasia or suicide assisted on behalf of the suffering.It is in this context that it is interesting to wonder on the French legislation regarding the end of life and on the place given as long to the healthcare professionals, and the patients.If the Leonetti’s law of April 22nd, 2005 constituted a considerable advance on the subject, she does not unfortunately answer all the existing situations and currently not sufficient in front of constant requests of the suffering people and the majority of the French population. The recent affair Vincent Lambert shows it in which, the medical team confronted with clashing notices within the family close to the patient and in the absence of will expressed by this one, was brought to make a collective decision on the pursuit or not of the treatment delivered to this patient tetraplegic in state of minimal consciousness, who it seems did not want to survive any more. Followed itself several judicial scrums which allowed to boost the debate on the evolution of the legislation regarding the end of life

Despite the fact that albinism affects several South Africans, it is a condition that remains deeply misunderstood. Albinism is steeped in myth and false notions, and is perceived by many as a curse and contamination. For years, persons living with albinism have been treated with doubt and suspicion. Also in schools and in the wider community, children with albinism are subjected to violence and ridicule. In certain areas on the African continent, including Southern Africa, persons living with albinism are killed for the trade in body parts for use as sacramental medicines, or sexually assaulted as a result of the belief that raping them may offer a cure for HIV/AIDS. All of this highlights the extreme vulnerability of persons living with albinism, not to mention the many violations of their fundamental rights that follow from the manner in which they are treated. Within the social context that frames the experience of persons living with albinism, the primary purpose of this study is to highlight some of the pertinent challenges faced by persons living with albinism in South Africa which compromise the full enjoyment of their fundamental rights as enshrined in the South African Constitution. The thesis makes a number of practical recommendations that will assist in promoting the legal position of this vulnerable group, while also contributing to a better understanding of albinism in general which will ultimately change negative perceptions and debunk the myths surrounding the condition. / Jurisprudence / LL. D.

The dissertation critically examines and compares the decisions of the Constitutional Court and the High Courts in cases dealing with the right to life, as contained in section 11 of the Constitution of South Africa Act 108 of 1996. The dissertation analysis the issues of adjudication and the concept of justice in perspective. The main question is as follows: Are the Constitutional Court decisions objective, based on the interpretation of the constitutional text, or do they rather reflect the individual judge(s) personal perspective(s) or preference(s). The purpose of this dissertation is to undertake a comparative study and analysis of the Constitutional Court decisions on the right to life, same aspect from different perspective, and show that the right to life is not given proper effect to on account of the subjective approach to its interpretation undertaken by the judges. It examines and scrutinises the Constitutional Court’s adjudication process. It found that the law is indeterminable, because the court’s decisions are not based on the interpretation of the law, but on the individual judges’ background and personal preferences. This is so because the court uses the majority rule principle in its decisions: The perception of the majority of the judges becomes a decision of the court. It is argued that when taking a decision a judge does not apply the law but instead uses the law to justify his predetermined decision on the matter. The conclusion supports the critical legal scholars’ theory relating to the indeterminacy of the law. It tests the objectivity of the judges using their own previous decisions. / Criminal & Procedural Law / LLM

The objective of this thesis is to assess the impact and influence of South Africa's Constitutional Court in the first two years of our democracy. To achieve this objective, some of the definitive and controversial cases already decided by the Court have been selected and analysed in an attempt to glean some jurisprudential perspectives of the Court. It focuses on the work of the Court over the past two years. It deals with the evolution of South Africa into a democracy, and analyzes the South African legal system prior to the beginning of the process of transformation. It briefly surveys the evolution of our constitutional system, dating back from the pre-1910 colonial period and provides a broad outline of the legal system in the post-April 1994 period of transformation. It analyzes the Court from the point of view of, inter alia, its composition, jurisdiction and powers. The Court is also contrasted with courts in other jurisdictions which exercise full judicial review. The Court's emerging jurisprudence is examined. A review is made, inter alia, of the Court's understanding of, and approach to, the questions of the values underpinning the post-apartheid society and its constitutional system, and constitutional interpretation. The right against self-incrimination and South African company law and the two relevant Constitutional Court cases are discussed. The collection of evidence by the State and the constitutionality of provisions relating to search and seizure and the taking of fingerprints are looked into. The Court's approach to statutory presumptions and criminal prosecutions; some aspects of our appeals procedures; an accused's right to be assisted by a lawyer at state expense; the question of a fair trial and access to information; capital punishment; corporal punishment; committal to prison for debt; and the certification of constitutions is analyzed. Two of the cases in which the provinces clashed with the national government on the distribution of posers between provinces and the national government are discussed. The conclusion is that the Court has, overall, hitherto acquitted itself well in the handling of particularly the controversial quasi-political questions that arose in the cases it has decided. / Constitutional, International & Indigenous Law / L.L. D. (Law)

Les Québécois sont de plus en plus conscients de l’environnement qui les entoure et de l’importance d’en assurer la qualité et la pérennité. Certains phénomènes, tels les changements climatiques, l’accumulation de polluants organiques persistants et l’amincissement de la couche d’ozone, que nous qualifierons de phénomènes environnementaux diffus, sont engendrés par de multiples émetteurs de polluants et ont des effets globaux qui ne peuvent être liés à un événement précis et dont les impacts sont difficiles à identifier et à quantifier pour le moment. En l’absence de preuve quant aux effets qu’auront ces phénomènes diffus sur les citoyens et les difficultés liées à la preuve scientifique du lien causal entre ce dommage et un émetteur de polluant donné, les recours classiques en responsabilité civile et pour troubles de voisinage, prévus aux articles 1457 et 976 C.c.Q., apparaissent inopérants. Nous nous interrogeons donc sur l’existence d’un droit à l’environnement qui conférerait aux citoyens le droit de vivre dans un environnement sain et leur permettrait ainsi de réclamer que cesse toute atteinte environnementale engendrée par ces phénomènes, même si elle n’a pas d’effet directement sur eux. Considérant l’importance de l’efficacité des recours qui pourraient permettre une mise en œuvre de ce droit, nous procéderons à l’analyse de trois sources potentielles d’un droit à l’environnement sous cet angle. À cet effet, nous étudierons les recours constitutionnels et quasi-constitutionnels liés à la Charte canadienne des droits et libertés, à la Charte des droits et libertés de la personne et au recours institutionnel prévu dans la Loi sur la qualité de l’environnement. Considérant l’absence de reconnaissance suffisante d’un droit à l’environnement et de recours efficaces pour en assurer la mise en œuvre, nous proposerons ensuite des pistes de solution afin que puisse être développé un mécanisme permettant une réponse judiciaire aux phénomènes environnementaux diffus. / The quality of the environment has become a growing concern in the recent years for Quebec citizens. Phenomena such as climate change, persistent organic pollutants and the depletion of the ozone layer are caused by several sources, the effects of which cannot be distinguished one from the other and/or linked to a specific event. Furthermore, these phenomena have yet to create damage to Quebec residents in order to create the necessary standing for the introduction of legal proceedings. Also, the scientific uncertainty related to the source of potential damage and to the proof of said damage makes it impossible to legally attack the emitters of the pollutant contributing to this type of environmental phenomena under 1457 C.C.Q. or 976 C.C.Q. We have identified the 3 potential sources of a right to a clean environment which could entitle Quebec citizens to go before the courts in environmental matters, even in the absence of specific damages to their person or property. We have analysed the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and the Environmental Quality Act and looked at the potential right to a clean environment possibly contained therein and the legal actions that could be taken to ensure their respect. Considering the weakness of what our legal system had to propose, we have developed solutions that could be put forward in order to allow the war against climate change and other environmental phenomena of the same nature to become legally actionable.

Thesis: Abortion in the light of case law of European Court of Human Rights This thesis focuses on the legal regulation of abortion in selected European countries in order to find single European standard. It concentrates primarily on issues of assessing violations of particular articles of the Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by the European Court of Human Rights or former European Commission of Human Rights in relation to specific cases associated with abortion. Abortion means the deliberate termination of pregnancy by means of surgery or administration of drugs to induce abortion. Abortion is a major ethical issue that raises number of discussions and disputes. The complexity of the problem is due to the fact that on the one hand there is the mother's right to freely decide to terminate or continue the pregnancy and on the other hand, there is considerable right of the embryo/foetus to life. The whole text of the thesis is interwoven with finding a balance between these competing interests of women and the unborn child based on my own opinion or the opinion of the international judicial body. It analyzes two main approaches, which are pro-choice approach in favour of women's freedom of choice, and pro- life approach arguing that the foetus has right to life. Both approaches...

The dissertation critically examines and compares the decisions of the Constitutional Court and the High Courts in cases dealing with the right to life, as contained in section 11 of the Constitution of South Africa Act 108 of 1996. The dissertation analysis the issues of adjudication and the concept of justice in perspective. The main question is as follows: Are the Constitutional Court decisions objective, based on the interpretation of the constitutional text, or do they rather reflect the individual judge(s) personal perspective(s) or preference(s). The purpose of this dissertation is to undertake a comparative study and analysis of the Constitutional Court decisions on the right to life, same aspect from different perspective, and show that the right to life is not given proper effect to on account of the subjective approach to its interpretation undertaken by the judges. It examines and scrutinises the Constitutional Court’s adjudication process. It found that the law is indeterminable, because the court’s decisions are not based on the interpretation of the law, but on the individual judges’ background and personal preferences. This is so because the court uses the majority rule principle in its decisions: The perception of the majority of the judges becomes a decision of the court. It is argued that when taking a decision a judge does not apply the law but instead uses the law to justify his predetermined decision on the matter. The conclusion supports the critical legal scholars’ theory relating to the indeterminacy of the law. It tests the objectivity of the judges using their own previous decisions. / Criminal and Procedural Law / LL. M.