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Copyright of Artl@s Bulletin is the property of Purdue University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Artificial intelligence's threats to human rights can offset its significant benefits for human welfare. This makes it essential to analyse the current status and existing practices in developing the regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI). This paper aims to conduct a comparative legal analysis of the role of AI in ensuring human rights in Europe (in the example of the European Union) and the Middle East (in the example of Israel). The article uses comparative legal, formal legal and descriptive methods. The analysis shows that AI may harm the enjoyment of several human rights. Existing legislative initiatives (in particular, The EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), the Council of Europe's AI Convention) do not fully protect human rights from the impact of artificial intelligence due to existing gaps in the regulation of the private sector and national security, as well as the effect on the transparency of decisions in criminal law. The main problem is the inadequate regulation of the development and use of AI in national security and the private sector. This creates loopholes through which AI can cause significant harm to human rights and lead to violations. Further research can determine how the shortcomings identified in this paper may affect human rights and what safeguards can be put in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents and critically interrogates a comprehensive 7Ps framework for analysing and addressing gender-based violence. It takes the UN and the Council of Europe's models as points of departure and develops the framework beyond the current state of the art, explains its different components, and offers reflections on its use in the practice of gender-based violence research. The UN 3P model, encompassing prevention, protection, and prosecution, later developed by the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention into a 4P model, comprising prevention, protection, prosecution, and integrated policies, has since been revisited, elaborated upon, and expanded in work focusing on gender-based violence in particular domains, such as female genital mutilation or gender-based violence in sport. To study gender-based violence in academia, the comprehensive 7Ps analytical framework has been deployed to interrogate the policies in place at national and institutional levels, including sexual harassment. Based on empirical data and conceptual analysis in the EU project UniSAFE: Gender-based violence and institutional responses: Building a knowledge base and operational tools to make universities and research organisations safe (2021–2024), the paper argues that the refined 7Ps model, comprising Prevalence, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution of offenders (and disciplinary measures), Provision of services, Partnerships between actors, and Policies specifically addressing the issue, allows for a more encompassing approach, in turn allowing a more fine-grained understanding of variations and explanations for success (or lack thereof) in terms of outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of CEPS Journal is the property of University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2024 9(1), 287-309 | Article | (Table of Contents) I. Introduction. – II. A Brief (Constitutional) History of Kosovo. – III. Human Rights in Kosovo’s Legal Order. – III.1 Constitutional Integration. - III.2 Judicial Application. – IV. Standard-Setting, Monitoring and Cooperation Mechanisms. – IV.1 The Horizontal Facility. – IV.2 Other Programmes and Projects. – IV.3 From Projects to Change. – V. Conclusion and Outlook. | (Abstract) Areas of contested statehood present challenges to human rights on both a normative and a practical level. As areas of contested statehood face difficulties in acceding to human rights treaties and international organizations, more creative solutions have had to be found to ensure the protection of human rights in line with international standards. In recent years, Kosovo has been one of the most prominent examples of an area of contested statehood in Europe. This Article focuses on the role of one key international actor – the Council of Europe (CoE) – regarding the promotion of human rights in Kosovo. Combining doctrinal and empirical analysis, the Article discusses two key aspects of the relationship between the CoE and Kosovo: (1) the constitutionalisation and judicial application of the CoE’s human rights standards in Kosovo’s constitutional legal order; and (2) Kosovo’s interaction with the CoE’s human rights standard-setting, monitoring, and advisory mechanisms. This Article argues that these two aspects of the CoE’s and Kosovo’s relationship have been relatively impactful in embedding the CoE’s human rights standards in Kosovo. This has occurred to such an extent that Kosovo’s human rights system has now become inextricably tied to the Council of Europe’s human rights standards, despite not (yet) being a member of the CoE.

Given the gap in the literature regarding the integration of the CEFR in the Early Language Learning (ELL) classroom, this paper aims at presenting the philosophy and characteristics of the new CEFR Pre-A1 level descriptors included in the new Companion Volume (Council of Europe, 2018/2020),1 discussing their theoretical underpinnings and examining the extent to which they reflect any teaching methodologies. To this end, this paper (a) analyses and evaluates the new Pre-A1 descriptors, (b) discusses the scales in which they appear and why--as not all scales include the Pre-A1 level, and (c) explores ways that these descriptors can be translated into practice. The paper ends by concluding that the new Pre-A1 level can-do statements can be employed for the creation of language programmes, curricula, syllabi and materials for early language learning. However, more concrete instructions accompanied by linguistic descriptions are needed so as to help practitioners and material developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Opole Studies in Administration & Law (OSAO) / Opolskie Studia Administracyjno-Prawne (OSAP) is the property of University of Opole / Uniwersytet Opolski and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Genital tract infections of various etiologies and anemia remain common in pregnant women. At present, there is a paucity of data on the impact of reproductive tract infections on the development of anemia in pregnant women, with particular emphasis on the contribution of eryptosis. The aim of the current study was to assess the ability of bacterial, viral and fungal reproductive tract infections to trigger eryptosis of circulating erythrocytes in pregnant women. Methods. The study included 47 pregnant women. According to the pathology of the infection, the patients were divided into three groups: 14 women with bacterial, 12 women with viral, 11 women with fungal infections of the reproductive tract and 10 pregnant women without extragenital and obstetric pathology (control subjects). The following methods were used to determine infection: bacteriologic, microscopic, polymerase chain reaction, immunoenzymatic, etc. Flow cytometry-based detection of eryptosis parameters (cell morphology, membrane phospholipid scrambling, and oxidative stress) was performed in pregnant women with reproductive tract infections of bacterial, viral, or fungal origin and in healthy individuals. Annexin V-FITC staining and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) staining were used to quantify phosphatidylserine exposure and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, respectively. Fluorescence was acquired using a BD FACSCanto™ II flow cytometer. ANOVA test was used to compare numerical data of eryptosis assays. Post-hoc Bonferroni test was applied afterwards. Data were processed by Graph Pad Prism 5.0 software (USA). The difference was considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. The research was conducted in accordance with the fundamental principles of Good Clinical Practice (GCP, 1996), the Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (April 4, 1997), the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association on Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects (1964-2008), as well as the Ministry of Health of Ukraine Order No. 690 dated September 23, 2009 (amended by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine Order No. 523 dated July 12, 2012). The research design was discussed and approved at the meeting of the Medical and Ethical Committee of the Kharkiv National Medical University (Protocol No. 19 dated May 19, 2024). The paper is an excerpt from the scientific research project of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 2 at Kharkiv National Medical University, entitled «Optimisation of diagnostics, treatment of diseases of the reproductive system and pregnancy complications in women with extragenital pathology» (state registration number 0121U110923).) Results. Erythropoiesis parameters were evaluated in pregnant women with bacterial, viral and fungal reproductive tract infections. Pregnancy-associated bacterial reproductive tract infections were associated with increased phosphatidylserine externalization in circulating erythrocytes, without ROS accumulation or cell shrinkage. Erythrocytes from patients with genital tract infections of viral or fungal origin show no signs of eryptosis, such as cell membrane scrambling, oxidative stress, or changes in cell morphology. Conclusions. Reproductive tract infections of bacterial origin in pregnant women are associated with accelerated eryptosis, which may contribute to anemia in these women. Exclusively bacterial genital tract infection was shown to induce lipid membrane scrambling and hence eryptosis in erythrocytes from pregnant women. Phosphatidylserine externalization did not differ significantly between women with viral or fungal infections and healthy controls. Eryptosis induced by bacterial genital tract infection was not associated with cell shrinkage or ROS overproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Critique of Law: Independent Legal Studies / Krytyka Prawa: Niezalezne Studia nad Prawem is the property of Akademia Leona Kozminskiego and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper explores the right to an interpreter as part of the right to a fair trial under the United Nations and Council of Europe systems of human rights. The right to an interpreter is guaranteed as part of both Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Under both instruments, accused persons are entitled to a number of minimum rights to ensure a fair trial. Both instruments hold that an accused person has the right to "have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court". This paper explores what this right means in reality for accused persons who seek to avail themselves of an interpreter. Only those who cannot understand or speak the language of the court are entitled to an interpreter. However, it is not always clear what is meant when we say a person 'speaks' or 'understands' a language. One may well understand day-to-day interactions in a second language but be completely out of their depth in a formal courtroom setting. Through comparison with the same right under the Statute of Rome, as well analysis of jurisprudence from the Human Rights Committee and the European Court of Human Rights this paper explores the scope of language rights under the right to a fair trial and the implications for access to justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Aula (0214-3402) is the property of Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Stanovništvo is the property of Demographic Research Center of Institute of Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The intersections of security, safety, and wider human rights concerns have long accompanied the hosting of global sport mega-events. This was highlighted in clear unmistakeable terms following the chaotic scenes which came to characterise the Champions League Football Final in Paris, 2022. Against this wider context, this intervention paper argues for greater legal and regulatory alignment between the Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Union(EU) through sport, which we suggest can be achieved by greater adherence by the latter organisation to the CoE's Saint-Denis Convention. Underpinning this suggestion is the two-fold contention that in view of sport representing a shared priority for both organisations, in addition to Europe being a site of key global sport mega-events, more cohesion and consistency between both organisations in terms of their approach to sports law and policy would contribute to greater European-wide legal unity and certainty from a sporting perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the law of the Council of Europe (CoE) regarding protection of the human rights of elderly in crisis situations using the examples of the armed conflict in Ukraine and COVID-19. Given this, the paper is divided into two main parts. The first part analyses the response of the Council of Europe bodies to the measures influencing the rights of elderly introduced by the governments of the CoE member states in relation to COVID-19. The second part is devoted to the specifics of the legal regulation of the human rights of the elderly during armed conflicts, applying the example of the war in Ukraine. The Conclusions focus on the comparison of the protection of older people in the two mentioned crisis situations, i.e. with regard to the war in Ukraine and in connection with COVID-19. The author is of opinion that the rights of older persons received more attention in times of the health crisis than during the armed conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few data regarding the levels of TNF-α, INF-γ and IL-10 in the cervical mucus of pregnant women with the past medical history of chronic endometritis have been found. The abovementioned cytokines have the impact on the course of pregnancy as well as the processes of trophoblast invasion into the spiral arteries of the uterus. Deviations in their levels at the early stages of pregnancy may be associated with the development of preeclampsia at later stages. Purpose: to assess the levels of TNF, INF-γ and cytokine IL-10 in the cervical mucus of pregnant women with a past medical history of chronic endometritis. Additionally, the study aims to determine their role in the development of preeclampsia and evaluate the effectiveness of comprehensive preconception treatment in preventing cytokine imbalance and the occurrence of gestational complications. Method and Materials. 135 pregnant women with the past medical history of chronic endometritis have been supervised during their pregnancy and received preconception treatment (Group I), as well as 168 women, whose pregnancy occurred in the presence of untreated chronic endometritis (Group II). The control group (CG) involved 20 healthy women. Preconception treatment included the administration of azithromycin, hormonal therapy with Femoston-Comb 2/10, and L-arginine aspartate in combination with folate prophylaxis. During the study, the principles of patient-centered care were followed in accordance with the requirements of the Tokyo Declaration of the World Medical Association, the International Recommendations of the Helsinki Declaration on Human Rights, the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine of the Council of Europe, the Laws of Ukraine, the Orders of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the requirements of the Ethical Code of the Ukrainian physician. The cytokine (TNF-α, INFγ, IL-10) analysis in the cervical mucus was performed at 5-, 17-18 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method with corresponding standard commercial reagent kits from the «Vector BEST» company. The obtained data were processed using mathematical statistical methods, calculating the mean sample values (M), variance (σ) and standard errors of the means (m). Student's t-test was used for assessment and the likelihood ratio was calculated using the «STATISTICA» software (StatSoft Inc., USA). The paper is an excerpt from the initiative scientific research project of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 2 at Poltava State Medical University, entitled «Optimization of approaches to the management of pregnancy in women at high risk of obstetric and perinatal pathology» (State registration number 0122U201228, duration:10.2022-09.2027). Results. In pregnant women with a past medical history of chronic endometritis an increase in the levels of INF-γ in cervical mucus by 2.1 times at 5-6 weeks (p<0.001), by 2.4 times at 17-18 weeks (p<0.001) and by 1.7 times at 32 weeks of pregnancy (p<0.001) compared to corresponding levels of this cytokine in healthy pregnant women, has been detected. Similarly, TNF-α was by 4.3 times greater at 5-6 weeks of pregnancy compared to the values in the control group (p<0.001), by 3.3 times greater at 17-18 weeks of pregnancy (p<0.001) and by 4.4 times at 32 weeks of pregnancy (p<0.001). All pregnant women with a past medical history of chronic endometritis who had levels of INF-γ in the cervical mucus greater than 66.4 pg/ml and/or levels of TNF-α greater than 90.9 pg/ml at 5-6 weeks of pregnancy subsequently manifested preeclampsia (OR 2.01; 95 % CI [1.1-7.12]; p<0.05 and OR 1.8; 95 % CI [1.2-6.29]; p<0.05 respectively). The level of IL-10 in their cervical mucus was by 4 times higher than the control values at 5-6 weeks of pregnancy (p<0.0001); by 3.1 times higher at 17-18 weeks of pregnancy (p<0.0001) and by 3 times higher at 32 weeks of pregnancy (p<0.0001). This compensates for the increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, allowing the TNF-α/IL-10 ratio to remain at a level characteristic of healthy women throughout pregnancy. In treated women, the concentration of INF-γ is by 1.8 times lower than in untreated patients at 5-6 weeks of pregnancy (p<0.0001), by 2.1 times at 17-18 weeks of pregnancy (p<0.0001), and by 1.4 times at 32 weeks of pregnancy (p<0.0001). Similarly, TNF-α in cervical mucus was found to be lower by 3.6 times (p<0.01), 2.6 times (p<0.0001), and 4 times (p<0.001) respectively, in the specified terms. This helps to avoid excessive production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Conclusions. In women who got pregnant with untreated chronic endometritis, an increased production of cytokines INF-γ and TNF-α at the early stages of pregnancy has been established. Comprehensive pregravidar treatment of chronic endometritis allows for the normalization of levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines INF-γ and TNF-α at the beginning of gestation, which creates conditions for preventing the development of preeclampsia. This leads to a 1.9 times reduction in the frequency of this complication (OR 2.3; 95 % CI [1.25-4.31]; p<0.05), a 1.8 times decrease in the frequency of severe forms of preeclampsia (OR 4.64; 95 % CI [1.23-17.48]; p<0.05) and a delay in the average onset of its manifestations by 4.9 weeks (p<0.0001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article is to demonstrate that the ECSR remains one of the important organizational factors of the formally regulated cooperation of the Council of Europe and the European Union in the sphere of social fundamental rights. The analysis is dominated by the dogmatic-legal method. The paper includes an analysis of the formal basis of cooperation between the CoE and the EU, the specificity of their cooperation in the field of social rights, the analysis of the ECSR as a body of the ESC and its activity in cooperation with EU structures. The analyses carried out show that the framework of cooperation between the two organizations is formalised and the ECSR finds its place within it. At the same time, it has been shown that the Committee's role in cooperation with the EU and in promoting ESC standards - in view of the autonomy of the two organizations' legal systems - remains important, particularly at the level of organizational cooperation with EU institutions and bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The policies implemented by the Member States of the Council of Europe have as their main purpose to protect and realise the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitate economic and social development (Statute, 1949). The Council of Europe considers cultural itineraries, including pilgrimage routes, which make a significant contribution to the cultural tourism sector, and a key role in territorial development policies, in economic, social, and cultural terms. The Way of St James (Camino de Santiago), one of the main pilgrimage routes in the world, was the first Cultural Route certified by the Council of Europe in October 1987. Nowadays, the importance and impact of the routes are widely acknowledged, since there are thousands of people, travelling every day towards Santiago, departing from various points of Europe and motivated by different reasons. The present paper aims at highlighting the economic and social impacts of the Way of St James crossing the Alto Minho Region (Camino Central and Camino da Costa), in Portugal. Employment opportunities and the overall economic growth of local communities are perceived by local businesses as examples of direct and indirect benefits, and the routes as an integral part of the territorial tourist development. Data were collected through the collation of secondary data, fieldwork, and questionnaires. Comparisons and analyses of differences and similarities between the different approaches are discussed. Results support the existence of opportunities for small business creation and strengthening; Despite the pandemic situation, and the inherent reduction of pilgrims, particularly during lockdowns, the Way recovered faster than other tourism products, and are perceived as contributing to the development of tourism businesses and related services at a regional level. The increases in jobs and economic gains contribute to the wealth and well-being of local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius was established in 2021 as a certified route within the program of Cultural Routes managed by the Council of Europe. The idea was to connect places with the Cyrillo-Methodian and Great Moravian traditions. The development of this cultural route is managed by the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius with a Permanent Secretariat in Zlín in the Czech Republic. The association currently has 23 members from 8 countries (CZ, SK, GR, SI, HU, BG, HR and IT). The Cultural Routes Program of the Council of Europe, which has been in development since 1987, is an expression of the basic principles of the Council of Europe: human rights, cultural democracy, cultural diversity and identity, mutual dialogue, mutual exchange and enrichment across borders and centuries. Certified cultural works are expected to initiate innovative projects in the field of cultural tourism and sustainability of cultural development. The aim of this paper is to point out how the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius can contribute to the development of cultural tourism – at international, national, regional and local level. These co-patrons of Europe are closely linked to Slovakia, specifically to the city of Nitra where the Bishopric of Nitra was established in 880 by Pope John VIII. From a methodological perspective, this work is based on qualitative approach (excerpts from print and electronic information sources of varying provenance; comparative analysis; authors’ own experiences with creation of strategic documents). The critical approach to information was supported by fieldwork and communication with stakeholders. The results of our research show that Saints Cyril and Methodius are part of everyday life in Slovakia in various forms – spiritual, landscape, cultural and economic. Religious tourism, which is also associated with their cult, significantly contributes to the visibility of several municipalities and cities and supports their development, especially in connection with the construction of infrastructure. The European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius has great potential to connect not only some of the most important European locations / points with a strong legacy of Saints Cyril and Methodius and their disciples spreading their ideas, emphasising the authenticity and uniqueness of this legacy in each of the countries involved, but also, and above all, human generations throughout the centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2022 7(3), 1489-1494 | Article | (Abstract) Since it was opened for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe (CoE) on 18 October 1961, the European Social Charter (ESC) has developed into an advanced regional system of economic and social human rights protection, although on different modalities than the European Convention of Human Rights’ system. The ESC’s effectiveness has increased with the quasi-judicial, optional procedure of collective complaints, but further improvement of the ESC control mechanisms has been sought. Moreover, the multiple crises which have affected Europe over the past two decades have highlighted the relevance of ESC guaranteed rights, in the State parties’ legal orders, in relation to EU law, and in the CoE framework. These developments have shown room for potential use as well as a need for wider knowledge of this treaty instrument. After presenting the main features of the ESC system, this Article aims to frame further study on its impact in the multi-sourced and multi-level framework of human rights protection in Europe.

In almost all Council of Europe Member States, judges do not work alone but are supported in their adjudicative duties by a growing number of judicial assistants. At first glance, these judicial assistants are as different as the legal systems in which they are employed. On a second glance, however, common features can be identified to analyse and compare judicial assistant schemes across courts and legal systems. First, the paper identifies three types of judicial assistants: potentially permanent "scribes" as in the Netherlands and Switzerland, "interns" fresh from legal education as in the UK, and "seconded judges" as in Germany, who spend a limited time at a higher court to gain experience for promotion. Second, the paper looks at the organisation of judicial assistants. They can be assigned to a specific judge (cabinet system) or organised in a pool for the whole court (pool system) or for a division or chamber (panel system). Third, the paper classifies the duties of judicial assistants in different systems on a scale according to the degree of involvement in the judicial process from mere research as in the UK to the complete drafting of decisions as in Switzerland and the Netherlands to (almost) independent work on small cases as in Slovenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stressing a balanced and constrained interplay between the individual and the collective and tending towards transdisciplinarity as a consequence, a socio-cognitive perspective prevails in second language acquisition research (Larsen-Freeman 2018). Advancing several theories, including the task-based approach, the ecological approach as well as sociocultural and socio-constructivist theories, the latest version of the CEFR (Council of Europe 2020) has adopted a transdisciplinary perspective. However, the nature of the transdisciplinary approach declared by the Framework (Council of Europe 2020) remains an empirical question. Thus, the present paper explores the extent to which the CEFR (Council of Europe 2020) abides by the principles of a motivated socio-cognitive perspective. The structure of the paper is the following. First, it outlines a transdisciplinary approach to second language development basing on cognitive linguistics, intercultural pragmatics and elements of the teaching learning process. Then, this socio-cognitive approach is sought in the CEFR (Council of Europe 2020). The analysis of the document demonstrates that the social and the individual perspective are symmetrical but not fully integrated, i.e. there is no common denominator linking the two approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalisation of courts plays an increasingly important role in dispute resolution. It has the ability to improve access to justice by facilitating faster and less costly access to courts, thereby making dispute resolution more effective and efficient. However, wide use of digital courts also has the potential to restrict access to justice. Attention needs to be given to issues of authentication and identification of the parties, digital divide, cybersecurity and personal data protection. This paper concerns recent guidelines of the Council of Europe that aim to fully address these issues and assist member States in ensuring that implemented digital techniques in the courts do not undermine human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms. The author answers and critically evaluates the specific questions and doubts relating to the content of the guidelines. The author’s recommendations can be taken into consideration by the Council of Europe in future updates of the guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Genero is the property of Genero and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Established in 2008, the Council of Europe's Intercultural Cities Network "supports cities in reviewing their policies -- and developing comprehensive intercultural strategies to help them manage diversity positively and realize the diversity advantage" (ICC, 2018). According to their website, the ICC approach "helps build trust between members of the community through policies which encourage mixing, interaction and participation" (ibid). More than a hundred cities are now members of the ICC network, but their discourse -- based on dialogue and trust -- is challenged by another apparently contradictory discourse. According to Asa and Yaari (2014), two Israeli military experts, the era of wars between nationstates has passed, but has not brought about a kind of 'world peace' as expected. What has emerged are the 'new wars' -- which are conducted within a civilian environment, between the authorities and enemies who are citizens of the state or its residents. Unlike the 'enemy of the past', who could be identified by means of his uniform, language, appearance or simply being a foreigner, the new enemies are hard to recognize, as, in the age of globalization, the cosmopolitan city is full of aliens -- most of whom, of-course, are not enemies at all. (Asa and Yaari, 2014). According to Arjun Appadurai (2006) the globalization process makes it very difficult to define who 'we' are and who 'they' are, thus creating feelings of constant uncertainty. This is the discourse of mistrust and suspicion, which challenges the ICC's discourse of trust and dialogue. The current paper is part of a PhD research done in the years 2015-2018 for the Haifa University Anthropology Department, supervised by Prof. Amalia Sa'ar. It was based on about 20 interviews with integration officers in European cities which are members of the ICC network, as well as observations in different conferences and trainings held by the organization. The paper examines the complex and fascinating ways these two discourses challenge each other, contradict, react or get entangled with one another in trying to deal with the reality of these years of terror. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence reduction is a United Nations (UN) sustainable development goal (SDG) and is key to both public health and criminology. The collaboration between these fields has the potential to create and improve prevention strategies but has been hampered by the usage of different definitions and measurements. This paper explores the definitions and measurements of violence by the World Health Organization, UN, and Council of Europe to arrive at a harmonized framework aligned with the SDGs. Violence and abuse are defined by these organizations as intentional actions that (are likely to) lead to harm, irrespective of physicality or legality. When recording violence and abuse, health- and justice-based administrative systems use different codes which cannot directly be translated without resorting to broad overarching categories. Additionally, the identification of the number of victims, perpetrators, and events is challenging in these systems due to repeat victimization/offending, multiple victims/perpetrators, and multiple engagements with services associated with a single event. Furthermore, additional information on the victims (e.g., ethnicity) and events needs to be registered to evaluate progress toward the SDGs. We propose a framework to record violence that includes individual and event identifiers, forms of violence and abuse (including physical, sexual, and psychological), harm, and individual and event characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the experiences of the authors teaching action research workshops as professional development for language teachers in Europe during the Covid-19 pandemic. It describes work carried out for Action Research Communities for Language Teachers, which is funded under the Training and Consultancies programme of the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe as part of its aim to promote quality language education in Europe. The paper focuses on the necessary pivot from face-to-face to online action research workshops and project development in a difficult global context for a group of teachers in Lithuania. It outlines the challenges experienced by the authors and teacher participants, the lessons learned in online teaching of action research, and the positive outcomes for language teachers in setting out on their action research journeys. The paper contributes to the literature on action research in language education and professional development during Covid-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports findings of a research project aimed at developing insight into student participation in the governance of higher education institutions. The project was carried out in two institutions in Portugal, analyzing numbers and forms of participation, identifying facilitators and constraints to participation, and analyzing the students' perceptions of their own participation. The study was carried out in the context of the European purpose of creating a cohesive European Higher Education Area (EHEA), and in light of theoretical perspectives of the sociology of public action. The concept of participation put forward by the Council of Europe in 2003 was mobilized in the sense that true participation involves making a difference in decision-making. The research objectives required both quantitative and qualitative data collection; therefore, a mixed-methods approach was adopted, including document analysis, interviews, and a questionnaire. The cross-analysis of the data collected enabled the researchers to characterize the participation of students in formal governing bodies and in other institutional contexts, identify facilitators and constraints to participation resulting either from the legal framework, the institutional culture, or personal contexts, and simultaneously capture individual perceptions of participation on the part of the students. The results enabled the authors to make a set of recommendations for political action both at national and institutional levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International Obligations of the Czech Republic to Introduce Criminal Liability of Legal Persons This paper deals with the Czech Republic's commitments connected with the requirement to establish the criminal liability of legal persons, arising from international agreements and legislation of European Union. The author analyzes various international and European documents, and also evaluates the fulfillment of its obligations under these documents before and after the moment, when the Czech Republic adopted the law on criminal liability of legal persons and proceedings against them. Finally, chapter gives the summary of international documents and legal acts of the European Union, in which the requirement to establish the criminal liability of legal persons for signatory states or Member States is enshrined. The paper also reflects recent changes in Czech counter terrorism legislation and its concordance with the international obligations of the Czech Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Jurídica (0103-3506) is the property of Revista Juridica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article addresses the migration crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border. The authors believe that the actions of the Polish authorities violated the requirements set by human rights standards, including the obligations arising from Poland's membership of the EU and the Council of Europe. This is confirmed not only by legal doctrine and the reports of non-governmental organisations, present on the ground despite all the restrictions, but also by interim-measure orders issued by the ECtHR against the Polish government. In the first part of the text, the authors summarise the situation, recalling the most important events that took place on the Polish-Belarusian border. The second part discusses the most important obligations of the EU arising both from the treaties creating it and also from the secondary legislation adopted on their basis. The juxtaposition of the EU's actual response and the obligations written on paper may lead to the conclusion that the EU's actions are insufficient under EU law. Relying on the texts of legal acts and other available information, the authors argue that the EU's actions, in a certain amount of compromise with political interests, even detract from its credibility as an organisation that also aims to protect human rights externally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper theorizes the affective and moral grounding of "best practice" policymaking, particularly how best practice operates as an affective regime that encourages certain affective norms. To illustrate this, the author takes up the example of best practices promoted by the CoE's Digital Citizenship Education Handbook for the acquisition of digital citizenship competences. It is shown that the distribution of best practices creates a set of affective conditions—especially through cultivating certain affective skills/competences and ethics/morals—that govern the ways in/though which best practices ought to be appropriately materialized. The paper discusses two implications of this analysis for education policymaking and policymakers. The first implication suggests that there needs to be work informing policymakers how affect works to create regimes of best practice; the second implication emphasizes the importance of working with policymakers to explore how they could challenge affective regimes of best practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper illustrates the approach of co-creating education where co-creation was an important aspect of the curriculum design. It makes a case for prison-university partnerships through two pedagogical case studies - one within a prison setting with a focus on soft skills acquisition and another in a Higher Education setting focusing on international criminal justice. Originating from the observations and reflections of an educator which led to a participatory action research opportunity, it asserts that actively teaching and learning together increases effective learning through better understanding and motivation, as well as giving access to the right to education regardless of 'space and place'. Using Iversen and Stavnskær Pedersen's (2017, p.24) five stages to the design progression of co-creative teaching, the article discusses the process, progress, and evaluation of the practical approaches to teaching and learning and how they could form a beneficial and successful partnership when considered in tandem. It is recognised that by bringing higher education into the closed prison context, the universal right to education is realised, since people behind bars are given the same opportunities as students in the community. Furthermore, it further enhances aspects of civic responsibility and understanding through a lived-experience approach with the students in the community. Finally, the article illustrates how such partnerships show a significant adherence to the Council of Europe's (1990) Recommendations for Prison Education, giving prison educators a tangible 'what works' way forward in teaching and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Modern Science is the property of Alcide De Gasperi University of Euroregional Economy and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Gender equality is of paramount importance for a functioning democracy and for economic growth. It is a central tenet of human rights law and has seen significant developments on the legislative, judicial, and policy levels of the Council of Europe. Through a mélange of theory, legislation, and jurisprudential analysis, this paper will assess developments in the European Court of Human Rights' approach to the issue of gender equality. This will be achieved through a survey of case law involving domestic violence, child-bearing, and the wearing of religious dress by women. The paper will demonstrate that, despite the existence of significant milestones in the ambit of promoting gender equality, and, notwithstanding effective advancements made by this body, particularly vis-àvis domestic violence case law, improvements to its approach remain necessary. More specifically, on one level, the Court denounces and works against gender inequality and discrimination but, on another, consciously or unconsciously, its approach and findings are marred by its own stereotypes, patriarchal influences, misconceptions, and preconceptions about what gender equality actually is and how it should be pursued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Toruńskie Studia Polsko-Włoskie / Studi Polacco-Italiani di Toruń is the property of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Faculty of Law & Administration and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Language & Law / Revista de Llengua i Dret is the property of Revista de Llengua i Dret and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper stems from some questions regarding the 'digital boom' that involved Culture since the COVID-19 pandemic. What scenarios will open up for cultural institutions once the pandemic crisis is over? While on the one hand now days the ancient art now better know the importance of storytelling, on the other hand it is increasingly crucial to involve users in the co-creation of the digital cultural heritage. Among the strategies of public engagement, I experimented a participatory storytelling process at the "Museo etnografico della vita popolare di Tricase", which contributes to enlivening the reality of the Ethnographic Museum of Popular Life in a peripheral area of Southern Italy, Tricase. The aim is to implement the guidelines of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Property and the Council of Europe's Faro Convention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Spanish Journal of Comparative Education / Revista Española de Educación Comparada is the property of Editorial UNED and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of the Institute of Art History is the property of Radovi Instituta za Povijest Umjetnosti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Linguistica Asiatica is the property of Acta Linguistica Asiatica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Stanovništvo is the property of Demographic Research Center of Institute of Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As migration increases worldwide and European economies are increasingly dependent on migrant workers, the issue of language skills development in the language(s) of the host country (L2) is of growing importance. Migrants need work-related L2 skills to find suitable employment, participate in work and society, and progress. Employers need L2-competent employees to offer quality products and services for the benefit of the whole society. Work-related L2 development is a democratic, social and economic imperative: it is an issue of social justice and peace as well as economic development for individuals, economies and whole societies. This paper seeks to give evidence why L2 for work matters: it highlights the interdependency of work, technology and communication and the central role of communication and language, understood as social practice, in today's workplaces. It illustrates the language requirements and needs for migrant workers. It offers examples of how to support work-related L2 learning in formal, non-formal and informal learning environments. The paper draws on research and practices across Europe collected and further developed by the Language for Work (LfW) project. LfW refers to two European projects and an international network sponsored by the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML), an agency of the Council of Europe. It concludes with an invitation for researchers to investigate how digitisation will impact communication at work and for work and how people react to it, in order to develop a proper offer for formal, nonformal and informal L2 learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Law / Teise is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)