Circumcision remains a controversial throughout the world. In October California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that will prevent local governments from banning [JURIST report] male circumcision. The law was written in response to a ballot measure proposed in San Francisco that would have made male circumcision illegal if the recipient was under the age of 18, with perpetrators penalized by a fine of $1,000 or imprisonment.

Prior to his death, Magnitsky was held in prison for 358 days with little to no access to legal representation, his family or medical professionals. In a controversial move last August, Russian investigators reopened the case [JURIST report] against Magnitsky on the basis of a new ruling permitting criminal cases against the dead. Critics of this action, such as JURIST Contributing Editor David Crane, argue that the ongoing posthumous prosecution of Magnitsky is a violation of the rule of law [JURIST op-ed] and an embarrassment for the Russian judicial system. Last year, US lawmakers introduced the bill [JURIST report] to sanction individuals who are connected to Magnitsky's death.

Libya is still attempting to recover from the effects of its months-long conflict [JURIST backgrounder] and the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime. The country is still facing criticism for numerous human rights violations. In addition, international focus was recently drawn to the country through the recent detention of four staff members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website]. Last week a spokesperson for the Libyan government told reporters that the government has begun interrogations [JURIST report] of the ICC staff members who have been accused of having broken the country's law. The Libyan government has ignored the demand [JURIST report] made by the UN Security Council [official website] for the immediate release of the staff members. The council has noted that the country has a legal obligation under Resolution 1970 (2011) [text, PDF] to "cooperate fully with and provide any necessary assistance to the Court and the Prosecutor." The presidents of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [official websites] have joined [JURIST report] the calls for the release of the staff members.

In April Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] criticized Bahrain [JURIST report] for continued human rights violations, noting that Bahrain's reform efforts following the BICI report had failed to alleviate human rights abuses in the country. In November Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa ordered a special commission [JURIST report] to investigate the BICI report which concluded that Bahraini authorities used excessive force and to make recommendations. The Bahrain government admitted the use of excessive force [JURIST report] in the protests. This admission, which was made in anticipation of the independent BICI report, was a reversal of the government's previous defense of its actions [CNN report] during the protests. In June, Khalifa announced that an independent commission would investigate human rights violations [JURIST report] related to the pro-democracy protests.

Last week, the European Commission [official website] announced that it plans to end human trafficking in Europe [JURIST report]. The commission identified poverty, gender inequality and social unrest as key factors leading to risk of human trafficking. The 40-point plan is going to be implemented during the next five years by the member states with the purpose of achieving the five main goals of 1) identifying, protecting and assisting victims of trafficking; 2) stepping up the prevention of trafficking in human beings; 3) increased prosecution of traffickers; 4) enhanced coordination and cooperation among key actors and policy coherence and 5) increased knowledge of and effective response to emerging concerns related to all forms of trafficking in human beings. In April, the UN urged [JURIST report] the international community to increase its effort to stop human trafficking. It was estimated that at least 2.4 million individuals could be victims of human trafficking at any given moment. Last August, Thailand was called to improve its measures to combat human trafficking including sexual and labor exploitation especially of children.

The EPA has been granted [JURIST report] authority under the Clean Air Act (CAA) [official website; EPA backgrounder] to regulate the emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, by automobiles. In Massachusetts v. EPA [Duke Law case backgrounder; JURIST report], 12 states and several environmental groups sued the EPA arguing that the agency had "abdicated its responsibility under the Clean Air Act" to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The court held that greenhouse gas was within the CAA's definition of "air pollutant" and thus, the EPA had statutory authority to take control the emission of such gases from new motor vehicles.

Earlier this month the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR) [advocacy website] urged [JURIST report] the government of Oman to release all human rights defenders who have been detained solely because of their legitimate human rights work, drop all charges against them, ensure security of the protesters in detention and take measures to protect human rights defenders when pursuing legitimate human rights activities from any harassment. Last year Oman's Misdemeanour Court of First Instance in Muscat sentenced [JURIST report] 13 protesters with to five years in prison for shutting down a government organization, blocking roads and assaulting government employees.

We know the eyes of the world will be upon us. We know critics will be watching and waiting, hoping for another opportunity to continue their legal assault against our State. But I have faith in our law enforcement. Our brave men and women in uniform have been trained so that they are able to enforce this law efficiently, effectively and in harmony with the Constitution.

In upholding section 2(B), the Supreme Court found that the section can be construed as a constitutional exercise of state authority, and that "it would be inappropriate to assume 2(B) will be construed in a way that creates a conflict with federal law." The court noted, however, that this decision does not bar other actions against 2(B) and other parts of the law based on different constitutional issues. The court heard final oral arguments [JURIST report] for the case in late April. The key issue was whether certain provisions of the Arizona law intruded in areas reserved by the Constitution for federal regulation. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in December after Arizona asked the high court to weigh in [JURIST reports] on the issue. The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld an injunction last April before the law ever took effect, and the US Department of Justice [official website] urged the Supreme Court not to hear the appeal [JURIST report].

The International Criminal Tribune for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [official website] has been working with Serbia to convict and sentence those responsible for the crimes committed during the 1991-95 war in Croatia. Completion of the ICTY is considered the final step before Serbia's accession to the European Union (EU) [official website]. Earlier this month, the ICTY closed its third contempt trial against former Serb nationalist politician and war crimes suspect Vojislav Seselj [official website, in Serbian; JURIST news archive] who has been accused of contempt of court and divulging data in a book he authored [website, in Serbian] disclosing names, occupations and residences of 11 protected witnesses. He was sentenced in October to 18 months in prison and in July 2009 to 15 months [JURIST reports]. A week earlier, the prosecution for the ICTY reported [JURIST report] the court's Completion Strategy to the UN Security Council [official website] addressing among others Serbia's failure to investigate and prosecute those who aided the fugitives. In July 2011, Serbian authorities arrested [JURIST report] Goran Hadzic [ICTY backgrounder], the last fugitive of the original 161 sought for war crimes by the ICTY.

Relatives of the victims filed the complaint [JURIST report] with the Dutch prosecutor's office in July 2010 alleging that three Dutch soldiers, operating as UN peacekeepers, were complicit in the commission of war crimes and genocide during the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. The complaint argued that the soldiers knew the victims would be killed if they were handed over to Serbian troops. Relatives of the victims of the Srebrenica massacre had previously sought justice for the actions of Dutch peacekeeping forces, which they say led to the massacre. In March, The Hague Appeals Court upheld [JURIST report] the UN's immunity from prosecution by rejecting claims [JURIST report] brought by relatives of victims of the massacre. The relatives, known as the Mothers of Srebrenica, alleged that the Netherlands should be liable for the deaths because Dutch soldiers operating under the UN flag negligently failed to protect civilians by forcing the victims out of "safe area" and turning them over to Bosnian Serbs. Ratko Mladic was arrested [JURIST report] in May and is currently on trial in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [official website] for charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. He was thrown out of his latest court appearance [JURIST report] earlier this week for causing a disruption and refusing to issue a plea.

While the causes of inter-communal violence in Jonglei State are complex, ranging from arms proliferation and insecurity to marginalisation and lack of development, it is imperative that the newly-independent State demonstrates its commitment to preventing further intercommunal attacks and protecting civilians from violence and abuse, regardless of their ethnic origin. Its success in creating a new state and national identity will greatly depend on its ability to overcome ethnically-driven conflict, and to safeguard the human rights of all its people and communities, including access to food, education and healthcare.

In February Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] had called on [JURIST report] South Sudan to investigate the ethnic conflict sparked by the attacks made on Murle villages and to prosecute those responsible for the violence. In December around 6,000 to 8,000 armed Lou Nuer youths calling themselves "White Army" invaded the Murle villages for 12 days, robbing and burning houses and killing thousands of people. In response, the Murles groups initiated retaliatory attacks on Lou Nuer and Bor Dinka areas which lasted until February 4. South Sudan is not only facing tension within its boundaries. In April the Sudanese government declared a state of emergency [JURIST report] on the South Sudan border after the arrest of four people whom the Sudanese claim were arrested for aggression against the north in the contested Heglig oil fields. During the same month, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay [official profile] called on [JURIST report] both Sudan [BBC backgrounder; JURIST news archive] and South Sudan to stop the violence that has caused fatalities on both sides. South Sudan was recognized as an independent state [JURIST report] in July 2011, making it the world's 193rd nation.

Egypt announced on Sunday that Muslim Brotherhood (MB) [party website] candidate Mohammed Mursi had won the presidential elections [NYT report]. Despite the success of a peaceful presidential election, Egypt has faced continued political turmoil since the overthrow of former president Hosni Mubarak last year. Last week, a former candidate in Egypt's presidential election and several non-government organizations filed a lawsuit challenging Egypt's interim constitution [JURIST report], alleging it gives the Egyptian military unlimited power. Earlier this month, the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt dissolved the country's Parliament [JURIST report] after finding that one-third of its members were elected illegally. Days earlier, the now-dissolved Egyptian parliament elected a new constitutional council after lawmakers finally reached an agreement [JURIST reports] on the political composition of the council. Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court in April effectively suspended [JURIST report] the work of the 100-member council responsible for drafting the country's new constitution after ruling in favor of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the formation of the panel.

Last year a Zambian court ruled [JURIST report] that then-president Rupiah Banda could run for re-election after the PF alleged that the presidential candidate's father was born in Malawi, a factor that would have effectively banned him from running for president. The country's constitution prohibits a candidate from running for president if either one of the candidate's parents is not a Zambian citizen by birth.

Cuba-US relations have improved in recent years. Last year US President Barack Obama [official profile] ordered [JURIST report] the Departments of State, Treasury and Homeland Security [official websites] to take steps to ease restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba. The new regulations were expected to allow greater travel from the US to Cuba for religious and educational purposes, the transfer of up to $2000 per year to non-family members in Cuba so long as they are not senior government or Communist Party leaders, and all US international airports to service charter flights between the two countries. In 2009, Obama ordered the lifting of travel restrictions and restrictions on money transfers [JURIST report] between Cuban-Americans and their families in Cuba in 2009. Obama also ordered that US telecommunications companies be allowed to work within Cuba to facilitate communication between families split between the two countries. The plan was put forward as not only necessary for the interests of the families, but also as way to bolster a democratic movement within Cuba

We also note the obligation of States not only to prevent torture but to provide all torture victims with effective and prompt redress, compensation and appropriate social, psychological, medical and other forms of rehabilitation. Both the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council have now strongly urged States to establish and support rehabilitation centres or facilities. The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture supports hundreds of organizations and entities that provide assistance to victims of torture and their family members in all regions of the world. However, the Fund has seen a significant decrease in contributions over the past two years. I strongly encourage States to reverse this trend, despite current global financial uncertainty. By concretely supporting victims of torture, the international community will prove its unequivocal determination and commitment to fight torture and impunity.

Torture and ill-treatment of individuals remain problems throughout the international community. Last week, the new Senegalese government was urged to adopt fresh measures [JURIST report] to protect and promote human rights by addressing the impunity that undermines the judicial system and rule of law in the country. Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] found that the government was using torture and other similar methods to stop protesters and civilians as well as journalists and political opponents. Syria has also been subject to criticism by the UN experts [JURIST report] and human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] for its use of torture against civilians. It was reported [JURIST report] that Syria was even sexually abusing detainees regardless of gender and age. Even Canada was condemned [JURIST report] earlier this month for being complicit in rights violations against three Canadians who were held prisoner in Syria. The Canadian government dismissed [JURIST report] the criticism six days later. Exactly two years ago, Pillay pledged justice for torture victims [JURIST report], noted that democracies with a rule of law in place still maintain amnesties that prevent torturers from being brought to justice and promised that the international criminal tribunals and the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] will continue to prosecute those responsible for torture.

Escalating conflict in Myanmar has led to international concerns. Earlier this month, HRW urged Bangladesh [JURIST report] to open its borders to Myanmar refugees. Also this month, HRW urged Myanmar to ensure the safety of communities [JURIST report] in the Arakan State. President Thein Sein [official website, in Burmese] issued a state of emergency in the area on Sunday, turning over police power to the Burmese Army, but HRW warned that without international overview, such intervention could make matters worse. Despite calls and demands by international communities to end the violence in Myanmar, the government has thus far failed to control the violence and protect civilians. In March, HRW reported that violence and rights abuses continue [JURIST report] in Myanmar's northern state of Kachin due to the conflict between Myanmar's armed forces and the KIA. During the same month, Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar urged the country to ensure the protection of human rights [JURIST report]. In November, Human rights group Partners Relief and Development issued a report which alleged that the army may be committing war crimes [JURIST report] including torture and forced labor against ethnic communities in Kachin state.

Earlier this month, Lind denied a motion [JURIST report] to dismiss eight of the 22 charges against Manning after his defense had argued they were unconstitutionally vague. Last month UN Special Rapporteur on torture Juan Mendez accused the US government of cruel and inhuman treatment [JURIST report] of Manning. The US military court referred Manning's case for court-martial in February after a US Army panel of experts declared Manning competent to stand trial [JURIST reports] last April. Manning's prosecution has sparked heated debate between defenders and critics. Those who support Manning's actions refer to him as courageous for acting as a whistleblower [advocacy petition] against government crime and corruption, comparing him to famous US whistleblowers such as Frank Serpico and Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked information regarding corruption in the New York Police Department and the Pentagon, respectively.

Tymoshenko is currently facing additional charges of tax evasion. On Monday, a Ukrainian court postponed a hearing [JURIST report] in that trial and ordered Tymoshenko to be seen by a court-appointed doctor after she again failed to appear in court due to health concerns. Tymoshenko is reportedly suffering from a spinal condition which causes her debilitating pain. Earlier this month, the ECHR ended an investigation [JURIST report] into the health care conditions of Tymoshenko, finding that the Ukrainian government provided her with adequate care. She previously alleged that prison guards were beating her [press release, in Ukrainian], and refused to be treated [JURIST report] by prison doctors for back problems, believing they were under the direction of political rival President Viktor Yanukovych. Tymoshenko has already been sentenced to seven years [JURIST report] in prison on corruption charges. Ukrainian prosecutors have also indicated that she will face charges [JURIST report] in a 1996 contract killing.

The ICTB has continued to arrest and indict individuals accused of war crimes in connection to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. On Thursday, the ICTB indicted Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed [JURIST report], secretary general of the JI, on seven counts of crimes against humanity. Earlier in the week, Bangladesh police arrested [JURIST report] Mir Kashem Ali for allegedly being an auxiliary to the Pakistani armed forces and running a torture facility at the Dalim Hotel during the war. The ICTB issued an arrest warrant earlier that day against the chairman of Diganta Media Corporation [Facebook page] and senior leader of the JI. He was the eighth high-profile leader who has been indicted for the crimes committed during the war. A week earlier, the ICTB indicted [JURIST report] former Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Abdul Alim on 17 counts of crimes against humanity, Bangladesh's national news agency reported.

I am proud to announce that we have recovered over $400 million for the investors and charities that were harmed by history's largest Ponzi scheme. This agreement is a victory for justice and accountability.Many New Yorkers entrusted their investments to Mr. Merkin, who then steered the money to Madoff while receiving millions of dollars in management and incentive fees. By holding Mr. Merkin accountable, this settlement will help bring justice for the people and institutions that lost millions of dollars.

Courts have recently been cracking down on rogue financiers and their Ponzi schemes. Earlier this month federal prosecutors urged a judge [JURIST report] to give Allen Stanford the maximum sentence of 230 years in prison for his involvement in a $47 million Ponzi scheme. His would be the maximum sentence under federal sentencing guidelines and 90 more years than Madoff received in 2009. In March, Madoff trustee Irving Picard and the owners of the New York Mets reached a $162 million settlement [JURIST report] for victims of the Madoff Ponzi scheme, avoiding a trial in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Madoff was sentenced [JURIST report] in June 2009 to 150 years in prison for securities fraud stemming from his Ponzi scheme. He pleaded guilty [JURIST report] to 11 counts of securities fraud in March 2009.