Amnesty International joins calls for justice for Franco victims News
Amnesty International joins calls for justice for Franco victims

[JURIST] Amnesty International [advocacy website] on Monday called for Spain to formally confront its past and provide justice for victims of former fascist Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco [Wikipedia profile]. In February, prominent Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon [BBC profile] had urged the creation of a "truth commission" [JURIST report] to investigate past abuses, but dealing with the Franco era is still a contentious matter [JURIST report] in Spanish society and government. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.