Germany parliament passes controversial persons with disabilities rights act News
Germany parliament passes controversial persons with disabilities rights act

The German Parliament [official website] passed a controversial persons with disabilities rights act Thursday. The Federal Participation Law [draft text, in German], has been in the works since early 2016 and is proposed to enhance an inclusive society and increase the access of Germans with disabilities to assistance and partnerships [bill summary, in German]. The passage of the act was in part due to the 2008 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [official website], and Parliamentarians hope the passage of the law will increase the self-determination of persons with disabilities. Some activists have opposed the legislation [DW report], saying it does not go far enough.

The rights of persons with disabilities is a global issue. In November the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities issued a report finding that the UK has infringed upon the rights of disabled persons since their welfare reforms in 2012 [JURIST report]. In September UN rights experts called for the creation of inclusive education programming [JURIST report] to include those living with disabilities as a central and crucial step in order to create peaceful and inclusive societies. The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities released a statement in August that women with disabilities face discrimination and are often excluded from freely participating in society [JURIST report. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit against the state of Georgia in August alleging that the state discriminates against students [JURIST report] with behavior-related disabilities. Last year Human Rights Watch (HRW) sent Moroccan officials a letter claiming that a draft framework law before the country’s parliament was in conflict with obligations [JURIST report] under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.