Thesis (M.S.C.E.)--University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2009. / Open access. Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-86).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, May, 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Köln, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Does a relationship exist between leadership decapitation and the abuse of civilians during a civil war? This project creates a new data set in combination with existing data on leadership change and civil war termination to determine whether leadership decapitation in rebel groups that use terrorist strategies affects the likelihood of civilian abuse. A study is done on 44 cases of decapitation where the leader of a rebel group was arrested, killed, or replaced during the course of their respective nation’s civil war. This project also conducted a case study on the behavior of a rebel group in the country of Algeria during their civil war. The results show that most groups utilize the same strategies before and after the decapitation of their leader and also attack the same targets. Looking at the short term after the date of decapitation, groups are more likely to utilize the same attack method and attack the same targets. The results also indicate that leadership decapitation does not alter the tactic utilized by a group during a civil war after the date of decapitation. Leadership decapitation also does not increase the likelihood of civilian abuse within one, two, or three months after the date of decapitation. If a group was abusing civilians before the death, arrest, or replacement of their leader, then they will continue to abuse civilians after the date of decapitation. Ultimately, understanding the causes behind the violent methods used by terrorist and rebel groups will help promote conflict resolution and prevent the use of violent means against civilians.

The Mass Evacuation (MASSVAC) model was originally developed for analysis and evaluation of evacuation plan in a specific area facing natural disasters. It was later applied to deal with the problems of evacuation around nuclear power stations (MASSVAC 3.0). The purpose of this model is to simulate the network clearance time and evacuation routes. In the process, it employs the Dial's or the all-or-nothing method to assign the traffic on to the network. The major effort in this research is to include the user equilibrium assignment method to reduce the evacuation times and to improve highway network performance. Evacuation routes, number of links used, and evacuation times etc. are found to be influenced by the user equilibrium assignment method. Transportation System Management (TSM) strategies have also been incorporated in this enhanced model (MASSVAC 4.0) to improve the network performance during evacuation. The trip distribution process and the shortest path algorithm has been modified appropriately to suit the user equilibrium assignment. / Master of Science

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed July 21, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 90-93).

No description available.

Magister Legum - LLM / This thesis examines the sexual rights violation in Eastern DRC, which has been described as the worst in the world. The sexual violence against women and children in this country is systematic and widespread and perpetrated by armed groups, and increasingly also by civilians. The prosecution of sexual offences should contribute to the reduction of these offences, but the Congolese state prosecutes very few cases. The resulting impunity became an obstacle to the state to stop sexual violence, which become unable to overcome the obstacles to prosecutorial action. The successful prosecution of sexual offenders in Eastern DRC faces many obstacles and requires an exceptional jurisdiction which must provide a minimum of better freely conditions to the prosecutors and better unrestrained justice access to the victims. The enforcement of the international instruments of justice will be possible only by this jurisdiction. The victims of sexual violence need more confidence in the jurisdiction which is really working for them to attain justice.

Magister Legum - LLM / This thesis examines the sexual rights violation in Eastern DRC, which has been described as the worst in the world. The sexual violence against women and children in this country is systematic and widespread and perpetrated by armed groups, and increasingly also by civilians. The prosecution of sexual offences should contribute to the reduction of these offences, but the Congolese state prosecutes very few cases. The resulting impunity became an obstacle to the state to stop sexual violence, which become unable to overcome the obstacles to prosecutorial action. The successful prosecution of sexual offenders in Eastern DRC faces many obstacles and requires an exceptional jurisdiction which must provide a minimum of better freely conditions to the prosecutors and better unrestrained justice access to the victims. The enforcement of the international instruments of justice will be possible only by this jurisdiction. The victims of sexual violence need more confidence in the jurisdiction which is really working for them to attain justice.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2009. / "Graduate Program in Geography." Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-124).