The exploitation and extermination of people in the context of internal conflict in the former Yugoslavia is a grave injustice and the result of a systematic policy of war by an unconventional state. Internal conflict requires investigation by international relations scholars because it is evidence of the changing nature of war. Given that both the methods of violence (ethnic cleansing, systematic/genocidal rape, and sexual torture) and (ethno)nationalism are gendered, a 'new' approach to war is needed. Traditional international relations theoretical approaches to the state, anarchy, and war/peace prove unable to analyze: one, the unconventional state (structure); two, the dichotomous separation of the public/international/external/formal/masculine/autonomous from the private/domestic/internal/informal/feminine/vulnerable; three, unconventional war policy; and four, the 'new' actors, the external and internal 'Others,' the 'Invisibles,' the noncombatants/ civilians, the 'women' (women and men; people with identities). Thinking that will lead to solutions for the dilemma of war, inclusively defined, will be - to employ Joy Kogawa's word - merciful; it will not exclude people and, while critical, it will be hopeful that the protection of both human dignity and community is in the 'national interest,' in 'our and their interest' as political/social/economic/etc. beings. Because it analyzes dichotomies and deals with the role of identity in the various aspects of (changing) war, a feminist or gendered/identity-deconstructivist approach is advanced as a means to more effectively examine internal/international conflicts, such as the former Yugoslav wars - i.e., unconventional wars whose character challenges the rigid traditionalist international relations definition of war. / Arts, Faculty of / Political Science, Department of / Graduate

Thesis (doctoral)--Vrije Universiteit te Amsterdam, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [168]-174).

This study aims at testing the applicability of the universal standard for protection of children, ―the best interests of the child principle‖, to children caught up in armed conflict situations. The study introduces the effects of armed conflict on children by discussing two case studies of conflicts situations, namely Somalia‘s situation under the Al Shabaab and the LRA as it formerly operated in Northern Uganda. Heart-breaking narrations of child victims are given prominence to show the invalidity of ―best interests‖ principle in conflict situations. It acknowledges that the ―best interests‖ principle is a good tool for enforcement of children rights. It analyses the theory of rights in general so as to explain the origin and importance of rights. Since children‘s rights are part and parcel of human rights, the study also looks at the international human rights and the regional and international enforcement mechanisms, though not in details. This study looks at the various theories justifying the existence of children‘s rights, and the dichotomy between rights and interests. It also addresses the protection of children rights and the various discourses advocating for or negating children‘s rights. It explores the age question with regard to enforcement of children‘s rights based on the fact that childhood is a dynamic period. It also critically analyses the ―best interests‖ principle and the various alternative standards that have been advanced. It concludes that despite the various criticisms, the ―best interests‖ principle still obtains the better standard for protection of children‘s rights in peace times subject to being complemented by other rules. The study also focuses on protection of children under the International Humanitarian Law with specific focus on civilian protection during armed conflict. It also focuses on the progress made in international efforts to protect children from the effects of armed conflict. Finally, reasons are advanced as to why the Best Interests Principle is not applicable in armed conflict situations, and an alternative standard proposed. / Public, Constitutional, & International Law / LL.D.

This study aims at testing the applicability of the universal standard for protection of children, ―the best interests of the child principle‖, to children caught up in armed conflict situations. The study introduces the effects of armed conflict on children by discussing two case studies of conflicts situations, namely Somalia‘s situation under the Al Shabaab and the LRA as it formerly operated in Northern Uganda. Heart-breaking narrations of child victims are given prominence to show the invalidity of ―best interests‖ principle in conflict situations. It acknowledges that the ―best interests‖ principle is a good tool for enforcement of children rights. It analyses the theory of rights in general so as to explain the origin and importance of rights. Since children‘s rights are part and parcel of human rights, the study also looks at the international human rights and the regional and international enforcement mechanisms, though not in details. This study looks at the various theories justifying the existence of children‘s rights, and the dichotomy between rights and interests. It also addresses the protection of children rights and the various discourses advocating for or negating children‘s rights. It explores the age question with regard to enforcement of children‘s rights based on the fact that childhood is a dynamic period. It also critically analyses the ―best interests‖ principle and the various alternative standards that have been advanced. It concludes that despite the various criticisms, the ―best interests‖ principle still obtains the better standard for protection of children‘s rights in peace times subject to being complemented by other rules. The study also focuses on protection of children under the International Humanitarian Law with specific focus on civilian protection during armed conflict. It also focuses on the progress made in international efforts to protect children from the effects of armed conflict. Finally, reasons are advanced as to why the Best Interests Principle is not applicable in armed conflict situations, and an alternative standard proposed. / Public, Constitutional, and International Law / LL.D.

L’Afrique est, depuis quelques décennies, « la zone stratégique la plus déstabilisée de la planète ». La question des conflits armés constitue un véritable « casse-tête africain » aussi bien pour les acteurs locaux qu’internationaux qui s’y intéressent en ce que son caractère interne contraste avec les conséquences transnationales qui en résultent.Comment sortir de cette insécurité chronique et de la guerre civile qui guette en permanence derrière le rideau et parvenir à une stabilité et un développement durables afin de limiter au mieux les nombreuses violations des droits de l’homme occasionnées à cet effet?Des approches de solution n’ont pas manqué, allant de la solution militaire, peu respectueuse des vies humaines, à la solution négociée qui appelle au génie créatif de l’homme et de son intelligence, soucieuse de préserver le genre humain en « imaginant » ou en « inventant » des compromis inscrits dans des accords, essentiellement, politiques. C’est donc, à juste titre, que l’objet de notre étude porte sur cette question africaine traduite par un intitulé très actuel : « Les accords politiques dans la résolution des conflits armés internes en Afrique ». L’analyse envisagée dans la présente étude expose la conclusion des accords politiques en insistant distinctement sur l’environnement politique de leur formation ainsi que le cadre juridique qui les caractérise, d’une part. D’autre part, il paraît indiqué d’examiner l’application de ces accords en décortiquant la feuille de route dans laquelle ils évoluent en vue d’en dresser un bilan scientifiquement objectif afin de mesurer l’effectivité de leur mise en œuvre et leur efficacité en matière de protection des droits de l’homme. / Since some decades, Africa is «the most destabilized strategic area of the plane. » the issue of armed conflicts represent a real «African puzzle» as well for local actors as international ones who are involve in, with its internal characteristic contrast with the transnational consequences which result from.How to get out of this chronically in security and the civil war which permanently watch out behind curtain in order to reach sustainable development and stability in order to better limit numerous violations of human rights done in that fact?Some approaches of solution are numerous, going from military solution less respecting human lives, to the negociated solutions which call for the human genius and his intelligent, anxious to preserve human gender by «imaging» or by « inventing» Compromises signed in agreements, essentially political. Its then, precisely that African issue translated by an updated heading: agreements in the resolution of internal armed conflits in Africa. »The analysis considered in the present study will expose the conclusion of political agreements by insisting distinctly on political environment, their formation as well on the legal framework which characterizes them, on one hand. On the other hand, it seems important to examine the application of those agreements by analyzing in details the agenda in which they evoluate in order to draw up scientifically the balance sheet of the objective in order to assess the affectivity of their implementation and their effectiveness in domain of human rights protection.

De l’aire Romaine au moyen âge et jusqu’à notre époque, ceux qui ont servi la France sous les armes se voient attribuer des avantages en nature et en argent. C’est la loi du 31 mars 1919 qui initie cette reconnaissance et forme le droit à réparation contemporain. Qu’elles soient victimes civile de la guerre ou militaires, victimes d’actes de terrorisme, leurs droit est contenu aujourd’hui dans le code des pensions militaires d’invalidité et des victimes de la guerre. Corpus de règles complexe dans sa mise en œuvre, c’est le Ministère de la Défense et des Anciens Combattants qui répare, témoigne la reconnaissance de la nation et assure une solidarité et la conservation de la mémoire à travers l’Office National des Anciens Combattants (ONAC). Pensions militaires d’invalidité, cartes et titres, décorations, emplois réservés et autres avantages de nature fiscale par exemple composent le panel des avantages accordés aux ressortissants du code des pensions. Les associations d’Anciens Combattants participent au conseil d’administration de cet établissement public tant au niveau national que départemental. Les décisions de concession ou de rejet de pension d’invalidité servies au titre du code des pensions tout comme les décisions concernant les soins médicaux gratuits et l’appareillage, sont susceptibles de recours devant le tribunal des pensions militaires en fonction du lieu de résidence du requérant. Ce Tribunal particulier, désormais régional, siège au Tribunal de Grande Instance (TGI). Les arrêts de la Cour régionale des pensions peuvent être déférés devant le Conseil d’Etat. / From the Roman area to the Middle Ages and up to our time, those who served France under the weapons are granted benefits in kind and in money. The law of 31 March 1919 initiates this recognition and forms the right to contemporary reparation. Whether they are victims civilian war or military, victims of acts of terrorism, their right is contained today in the code of military invalidity pensions and victims of war. Corpus complex rules in its implementation, it is the Ministry of Armies which repairs, testifies the recognition of the nation and ensures solidarity and the preservation of memory through the National Office of Veterans and War Victims (ONACVG). Pensions disabilities, cards and titles, decorations, reserved employment and other benefits of a for example, make up the panel of advantages accorded to nationals of the pensions. Veterans Associations participate on the board of directors of this public institution at both national and departmental level. Concession decisions or disability pension benefits under the Pension Code, as well as decisions free medical treatment and equipment, are subject to appeal before the Court of military pensions court according to the place of residence of the applicant. This Tribunal which is now regional, is hosted by the Tribunal de Grande Instance (TGI). The judgments of the Regional Court of Pensions may be referred to the Conseil d'Etat. While describing the various advantages accorded to nationals of the Pension Code, we shall raise the litigation arising from the application of this evolutive right to reparation while a summary comparison of the arrangements put in place by some of our European neighbors

The master thesis covers the topic of memorials of the victims of the Great War in the district of Kutná Hora. History of the memorials since their unveiling to the present day will also be taken into account. The differences in the memorials (e.g. in iconography) men in k.u.k. army and in the legions, will be researched. As one of the district's cities, Čáslav, was also the resident city of the 12th landwehr and the 21st infantry regiment of the k. u. k. army, the thesis has the ambition to find out, whether there was any sign of it in the memorials around the city.

No description available.

This study investigates the situation of Rwandan youth ex-combatants in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Specifically, the study examines how and why young people become involved in conflicts as fighters, how the conflict impacts upon them, and how the Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programs set up by international aid agencies attempted to address the youth's special needs as they relate to reintegration in their home communities. By employing qualitative semi-structured interviews and group discussions with demobilized ex-combatant youth and other stakeholders in northern Rwanda, the study examines how the Western model and assumption of childhood and child soldiering has so far dictated the approaches of international aid agencies in response to the needs of young people in armed conflicts. The study challenges some of the assumptions and argues for a more representative and focussed approach that emphasizes on the socio-cultural context of the ex-combatants. The research shows how and why some youth voluntarily join armed groups. It also highlights the resilience of the youth in the midst of conflict and their ability to rebuild their lives. The findings of the research have some implications for the way the international aid agencies conceptualize and provide assistance to the young people affected by armed conflicts. It challenges the assumption held by the aid agencies regarding the exclusive emphases on victimization and trauma counselling, and refocuses on the need to rebuild the youth's resilience and coping strategies. / Sociology / MA (Sociology)

This study investigates the situation of Rwandan youth ex-combatants in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Specifically, the study examines how and why young people become involved in conflicts as fighters, how the conflict impacts upon them, and how the Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programs set up by international aid agencies attempted to address the youth's special needs as they relate to reintegration in their home communities. By employing qualitative semi-structured interviews and group discussions with demobilized ex-combatant youth and other stakeholders in northern Rwanda, the study examines how the Western model and assumption of childhood and child soldiering has so far dictated the approaches of international aid agencies in response to the needs of young people in armed conflicts. The study challenges some of the assumptions and argues for a more representative and focussed approach that emphasizes on the socio-cultural context of the ex-combatants. The research shows how and why some youth voluntarily join armed groups. It also highlights the resilience of the youth in the midst of conflict and their ability to rebuild their lives. The findings of the research have some implications for the way the international aid agencies conceptualize and provide assistance to the young people affected by armed conflicts. It challenges the assumption held by the aid agencies regarding the exclusive emphases on victimization and trauma counselling, and refocuses on the need to rebuild the youth's resilience and coping strategies. / Sociology / MA (Sociology)