In its judgment of 25 November 2021, the Belgian Constitutional Court has upheld the obligation to call on recognised dock workers for the activity consisting of preparing trailers on a dock for shipment with a vehicle specifically intended for that purpose (known as a ‘tugmaster tractor’). The obligation to rely solely on recognised dock workers for the performance of port work is justified, among other things, by the need to improve safety in port areas and to prevent accidents at work. The identical treatment of, on the one hand, the loading and unloading of ships in the strict sense and, on the other hand, the activity of preparing trailers on a dock for shipment with a tugmaster tractor, does not breach the principle of equality and non-discrimination. Therefore, equal treatment of both types of port labour, with regard to the obligation to call on recognised dock workers, is reasonably justified. |
Search result: 248 articles
Case Reports |
2022/8 Port Labour Act not in conflict with the Belgian Constitution (BE) |
Journal | European Employment Law Cases, Issue 1 2022 |
Keywords | Free Movement, Work and Residence Permit |
Authors | Heleen Franco and Julien Hick |
AbstractAuthor's information |
Article |
Is a whole-school approach necessary? The potential for alternative models of restorative justice in education |
Journal | The International Journal of Restorative Justice, Issue 1 2022 |
Keywords | restorative justice, procedural justice, student voice |
Authors | Heather Norris |
AbstractAuthor's information |
Evaluations of restorative justice frequently report that only a minority of schools succeed in adopting a whole-school approach. More common are a consortium of practices necessitating the evaluation of schools not implementing the whole-school model but still achieving positive results. Previous research established that unconventional models have successful outcomes, yet little is known about the contextual factors and the causal mechanisms of different practices. This study finds that models of restorative justice facilitating student voice and consequently procedural justice have promising outcomes. Importantly, alternative models may be less resource-intensive, making them more feasible to fully implement. |
Article |
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Journal | Corporate Mediation Journal, Issue 2 2021 |
Keywords | international commercial mediation, Belt and Road Initiative, Singapore Convention, China, international dispute resolution |
Authors | Henneke Brink |
AbstractAuthor's information |
With unfaltering determination, China continues to expand its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This article focuses on the preference that is given to mediation for the resolution of BRI-related disputes. China, Hong Kong and Singapore proclaim that this approach better fits with ‘Asian’ cultural values than adversarial processes like arbitration and litigation. The BRI can be seen as an innovative field lab where mechanisms for international commercial conflict management and resolution are being developed and put to action - and where legitimacy is tested. |
Article |
Opposition in Times of COVID-19 – To Support or Not to Support? |
Journal | Politics of the Low Countries, Issue 2 2021 |
Keywords | minority government, rally-around-the-flag, COVID-19, mainstream parties, challenger parties, opposition, party goals |
Authors | Britt Vande Walle, Wouter Wolfs and Steven Van Hecke |
AbstractAuthor's information |
COVID-19 has hit many countries all over the world, and its impact on (party) politics has been undeniable. This crisis situation functions as an opportunity structure incentivising opposition forces to support the government. Not much is known about what drives opposition parties to (not) support the government in crisis situations. This article integrates the literature on rally-around-the-flag, political opportunity structures, party types and party goals. More specifically, we focus on the behaviour of opposition parties towards the government’s crisis response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyse whether and how the party type influences the position of the party vis-à-vis the governmental coalition, focusing on the case of Belgium. We categorise the seven opposition parties in Belgium as challenger or mainstream parties and explain their behaviour on the basis of policy-, office- or vote-seeking motives. Our analysis is based on party voting behaviour, elite interviews and an analysis of the main plenary debates. |
Response |
An ode to volunteers: reflections on community response through restorative practices before and after COVID-19 |
Journal | The International Journal of Restorative Justice, Issue 2 2021 |
Authors | Jessica Goldberg and Dana Henderson |
Author's information |
Article |
Compensation for Victims of DisastersA Comparative Law and Economic Perspective |
Journal | European Journal of Law Reform, Issue 2 2021 |
Keywords | victim compensation, disaster risk reduction, government relief, insurance, moral hazard, public private partnership |
Authors | Qihao He and Michael Faure |
AbstractAuthor's information |
This article provides a critical analysis of the compensation awarded for victims of disasters. First, general guiding principles of compensation are discussed. Next, various ways of government provided victim compensation, both during the disaster and ex post are critically reviewed. Then the article focuses on ex ante insurance mechanisms for victim compensation, arguing that insurance can play a role in disaster risk reduction. Finally, the article explains how the government can cooperate with insurers in a public-private partnership for victim compensation, thus facilitating the availability of disaster insurance. |
Article |
Interest Representation in BelgiumMapping the Size and Diversity of an Interest Group Population in a Multi-layered Neo-corporatist Polity |
Journal | Politics of the Low Countries, Issue 1 2021 |
Keywords | interest groups, advocacy, access, advisory councils, media attention |
Authors | Evelien Willems, Jan Beyers and Frederik Heylen |
AbstractAuthor's information |
This article assesses the size and diversity of Belgium’s interest group population by triangulating four data sources. Combining various sources allows us to describe which societal interests get mobilised, which interest organisations become politically active and who gains access to the policy process and obtains news media attention. Unique about the project is the systematic data collection, enabling us to compare interest representation at the national, Flemish and Francophone-Walloon government levels. We find that: (1) the national government level remains an important venue for interest groups, despite the continuous transfer of competences to the subnational and European levels, (2) neo-corporatist mobilisation patterns are a persistent feature of interest representation, despite substantial interest group diversity and (3) interest mobilisation substantially varies across government levels and political-administrative arenas. |
Article |
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Journal | Netherlands Journal of Legal Philosophy, Issue 1 2021 |
Keywords | rechtsstaat, toegang tot het recht, sociale dimensie, Nicholas Barber, Pierre Bourdieu |
Authors | Nathalie Franziska Hendrika Schnabl |
AbstractAuthor's information |
This paper considers access to the rule of law as a requirement for the well-functioning of the rule of law in society. In most rule of law debates, access to the rule of law is not a topic of discussion because these scholars focus themselves solely on the legalistic dimension of the rule of law. Barber was the first to mention the social dimension explicitly but without a theoretical framework. Based on the three capitals of Bourdieu, this paper offers a framework to determine the elements of the social dimension. With these capitals, barriers to the access to the rule of law for individuals can be identified, and solutions can be offered. |
Article |
Space Force: The Harbinger of Cold War 2? |
Journal | International Institute of Space Law, Issue 7 2020 |
Authors | Sri Aditya Kumar, Omkar Hemanth and Jeevan Justin |
AbstractAuthor's information |
The US Space Force, established recently, is the sixth arm of the US Military. While the Force has not yet engaged in military activities in Outer Space, its parent act, the National Defence Authorisation Act, 2020, does not preclude the possibility of placing weapons, deploying trained personnel or even constructing bases in Outer Space. Further, it is pertinent to note that the legislation does not provide for undertaking dedicated risk assessments, which are required in order to anticipate and prevent harm to the space environment. These possibilities pose a serious threat to the peaceful use of outer space. Even though self-defence is often considered to be an inherent right of a State, the authors believe that the act of establishing commands and training individuals for warfighting missions in space is currently unnecessary, since such a practice has not been adopted by other space-faring nations. The institution of such a military force by the United States would lead to the creation of similar forces by other States, leading to a new arms race in Outer Space, which would further result in a circumstance where weapons in Outer Space would be inevitable and irreversible. Therefore, in order to keep Outer Space as a conflict-free zone, this paper aims to analyse the existing legal framework in light of recent developments, looks for solutions in general international law, and seeks to apply the same to the realm of outer space. |
Article |
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Journal | Erasmus Law Review, Issue 3 2020 |
Keywords | Human rights, positive state obligations, islamophobia, international supervisory mechanisms |
Authors | Kristin Henrard |
AbstractAuthor's information |
Islamophobia, like xenophobia, points to deep-seated, ingrained discrimination against a particular group, whose effective enjoyment of fundamental rights is impaired. This in turn triggers the human rights obligations of liberal democratic states, more particularly states’ positive obligations (informed by reasonability considerations) to ensure that fundamental rights are effectively enjoyed, and thus also respected in interpersonal relationships. This article identifies and compares the fault lines in the practice of three international human rights supervisory mechanisms in relation to Islamophobia, namely the Human Rights Committee (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), the European Court of Human Rights (European Convention on Human Rights) and the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The supervisory practice is analysed in two steps: The analysis of each international supervisory mechanism’s jurisprudence, in itself, is followed by the comparison of the fault lines. The latter comparison is structured around the two main strands of strategies that states could adopt in order to counter intolerance: On the one hand, the active promotion of tolerance, inter alia through education, awareness-raising campaigns and the stimulation of intercultural dialogue; on the other, countering acts informed by intolerance, in terms of the prohibition of discrimination (and/or the effective enjoyment of substantive fundamental rights). Having regard to the respective strengths and weaknesses of the supervisory practice of these three international supervisory mechanisms, the article concludes with some overarching recommendations. |
Editorial |
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Journal | Erasmus Law Review, Issue 3 2020 |
Authors | Kristin Henrard |
Author's information |
Article |
Relating to ‘The Other’The ILC Draft Convention on Crimes Against Humanity and the Mutual Legal Assistance Initiative |
Journal | African Journal of International Criminal Justice, Issue 2 2020 |
Keywords | International Law Commission (ILC), Draft Convention on Crimes Against Humanity, Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) initiative, crimes against humanity, international criminal law |
Authors | Larissa van den Herik |
AbstractAuthor's information |
The International Law Commission (ILC) Draft Convention on Crimes Against Humanity and the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Initiative have largely run in tandem throughout their development. Both projects are motivated by similar gap-filling desires and both projects aim to expand the international criminal justice toolkit; however, these similarities have led to questions if both projects are necessary. This article addresses that question, looking at how different actors have answered this question during the respective processes of maturation of both projects and where both projects stand today. It argues that, while there is significant overlap between the projects, both instruments have merits which the other is lacking, and the optimal solution would be to bring both projects to fruition. |
Article |
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Journal | Netherlands Journal of Legal Philosophy, Issue 2 2020 |
Keywords | Urgenda, Miller v. Secretary of State, Norm of judicial apoliticality, Ronald Dworkin, Judicial restraint |
Authors | Maurits Helmich |
AbstractAuthor's information |
Few legal theorists today would argue that the domain of law exists in isolation from other normative spheres governing society, notably from the domain of ‘politics’. Nevertheless, the implicit norm that judges should not act ‘politically’ remains influential and widespread in the debates surrounding controversial court cases. This article aims to square these two observations. Taking the Miller v. Secretary of State and Urgenda cases as illustrative case studies, the article demonstrates that what it means for judges to adjudicate cases ‘apolitically’ is itself a matter of controversy. In reflecting on their own constitutional role, courts are forced to take a stance on substantive questions of political philosophy. Nevertheless, that does not mean that the ‘norm of judicial apoliticality’ should therefore be rejected. The norm’s coherence lies in its intersocial function: its role in declaring certain modes of judicial interpretation and intervention legitimate (‘legal’/‘judicial’) or illegitimate (‘political’). |
Article |
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Journal | Netherlands Journal of Legal Philosophy, Issue 1 2020 |
Keywords | organ donation, ethics of organ donation, symbolic nature of the human body, ethics and ritual, symbolic legislation theory |
Authors | Herman De Dijn |
AbstractAuthor's information |
In countries like Belgium and The Netherlands, there seems to be overwhelming public acceptance of transplantation and organ donation. Yet, paradoxically, part of the public refuses post-mortal donation of their own organs or of those of family members. It is customary within the transplantation context to accept the refusal of organ donation by family members “in order to accommodate their feelings”. I argue that this attitude does not take seriously what is really behind the refusal of donation by (at least some) family members. My hypothesis is that even in very secularized societies, this refusal is determined by cultural-symbolic attitudes vis-à-vis the (dead) human body (and some of its parts). The blind spot for this reality, both in the practice of and discussions around organ donation, prevents understanding of what is producing the paradox mentioned. |
Article |
Crime, shame and reintegrationfrom theory to empirical evidence |
Journal | The International Journal of Restorative Justice, Issue 1 2020 |
Authors | Heather Strang |
Author's information |
Article |
ODR Best Practices for Court-Connected Programmes from Our Experiences with Court-Based ODR Design Processes |
Journal | International Journal of Online Dispute Resolution, Issue 2 2019 |
Keywords | ODR best practices, court-connected programs, court-based ODR design processes |
Authors | Michelle Acosta, Heather Kulp, Stacey Marz e.a. |
AbstractAuthor's information |
As a judicial officer and court administrators tasked with creating and implementing online dispute resolution (ODR), we have found it both challenging and rewarding to operate at the nascent stage of this brave new world for courts. There is no standard set of best practices clearly tailored for this unique task. Instead, we draw on the wisdom of similarly situated programmes and standards to guide us. Specifically, we have consulted the National Standards for Court-Connected Mediation Programs, Resolution Systems Institute’s Guide to Program Success and the National Center for State Courts’ many articles on ODR. From these resources, and our own experiences, we recommend that court administrators charged with designing ODR systems consider several questions. |
Introduction |
Local Elections in the Low Countries: Evolutions and Reforms |
Journal | Politics of the Low Countries, Issue 3 2019 |
Authors | Sofie Hennau and Johan Ackaert |
Author's information |
Article |
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Journal | Erasmus Law Review, Issue 1 2019 |
Keywords | Justizinitiative Frankfurt, Law Made in Germany, International Commercial Disputes, Forum Selling, English Language Proceedings |
Authors | Burkhard Hess and Timon Boerner |
AbstractAuthor's information |
The prospect of attracting foreign commercial litigants to German courts in the wake of Brexit has led to a renaissance of English-language commercial litigation in Germany. Leading the way is the Frankfurt District Court, where – as part of the ‘Justizinitiative Frankfurt’ – a new specialised Chamber for International Commercial Disputes has been established. Frankfurt’s prominent position in the financial sector and its internationally oriented bar support this decision. Borrowing best practices from patent litigation and arbitration, the Chamber offers streamlined and litigant-focused proceedings, with English-language oral hearings, within the current legal framework of the German Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO).1xZivilprozessordnung (ZPO). Noten
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Book Review |
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Journal | Netherlands Journal of Legal Philosophy, Issue 1 2019 |
Authors | Laura M Henderson |