33 research outputs found
Calling the judiciary to account for the past : transitional justice and judicial accountability in Nigeria
No full textInstitutional and individual accountability is an important feature of societies in transition from conflict or authoritarian rule. The imperative of accountability has both normative and transformational underpinnings in the context of restoration of the rule of law and democracy. This article argues a case for extending the purview of truth-telling processes to the judiciary in postauthoritarian contexts. The driving force behind the inquiry is the proposition that the judiciary as the third arm of government at all times participates in governance. To contextualize the argument, I focus on judicial governance and accountability within the paradigm of Nigeria’s transition to democracy after decades of authoritarian military rule
Path Dependency and the Politics of Judicial Governance by the Higher Judicial Council in Cameroon
No full textThis chapter offers a critique of the institutional design of Cameroon’s judicial appointment body, the Higher Judicial Council (HJC). It critically interrogates the extent to which the HJC can enhance or protect judicial independence in Cameroon. It is contended that the institutional design of the HJC, which has largely remained unaltered since its establishment, obviates the potentials to secure the independence of the judiciary. The author adopts institutional theory to argue that lack of progressive change to the structure and functioning of the HJC can be attributed to a path dependent approach to institutional evolution which is intrinsically linked to a political culture of executive dominance. The persistence of this institutional design in its original configuration, is part of a self-reinforcing process necessary to achieve the coordination effect—to ensure that the other institutions within the political system complement each other in maintaining a system of executive dominance. To consider the prospects for reforming the HJC, the author offers some reflections on the potentials for institutional transformations in political systems where institutional interdependence is deeply entrenched and underpinned by an established political culture
The Right Ventricle in COVID-19 Lung Injury: Proposed Mechanisms, Management, and Research Gaps.
No full textOil on troubled waters : multinational corporations and realising human rights in the developing world with particular reference to Nigeria
No full textThis article examines the current state of tension in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. It locates the current unrest in the continued denial of economic, social and cultural rights to the oil-rich communities in the area. The author argues that this denial happened with the complicity and acquiescence of the international community. The Nigerian government as well as multinational corporations operating in the area have not been responsive to the development needs of the people. The article argues that, although the primary obligation for realising the economic, social and cultural rights of host communities rests on the government, multi-national corporations in developing countries, considering their awesome resources and influence on government policies, should be similarly obligated to respect, promote and protect those rights
Protecting the Injured Right Ventricle in COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Can Clinicians Personalize Interventions and Reduce Mortality?
No full textUSCID fourth international conference
No full textPresented at the Role of irrigation and drainage in a sustainable future: USCID fourth international conference on irrigation and drainage on October 3-6, 2007 in Sacramento, California.Ninety percent of the irrigators of Afghanistan own, operate and maintain canal systems. Traditionally, "Mirabs" manage water deliveries. They are chosen by water users, collect revenues and administer a limited O&M budget. The canal systems were in poor condition and delivered adequate water to approximately 1/3 of irrigated areas in 2003. Yet, international agencies, UN and IBRD, reported that agriculture provided 75 to 90 percent of GDP and employment. The 3-year "Rebuilding of Agricultural Markets Program" (RAMP) was designed by USAID and awarded to Chemonics International, July 2003. RAMP Infrastructure undertook the rebuilding of irrigation systems. Since government lacked financial resources, a program to incorporate Mirabs into a Self-Governing Water User Association (WUA), based on legal chartering, was designed by Chemonics International and executed by Development Alternatives Inc (DAI). Undertakings, to form a WUA for the 14,500-hectare Injil Canal Command of Herat Province, were: • Scoping and funding to achieve chartering of a WUA. • Convince an Afghan of stature to lead the program (Eng. Tawab Assifi). • Form capable Afghan Organizational Team (included noted jurist — Islamic and Civil law). • Review and possibly modify laws and regulations (chartering of WUAs was written into a New Water Law). • Map system and set up accurate voter (water user) registers. • Conduct elections for a General Assembly of water users. • Rebuild structures, Hari Rud/River (Head Works with silt ejector) to water intakes (200 each). Elections were held early during 2006, key personnel were trained, and equipment was transferred to the Injil WUA at mid year by RAMP/Chemonics
High Ni Levels in Soil Can Modify Growth Performance and Mineral Status of Wheat Cultivars
No full textNickel (Ni) contamination in soil is a widespread problem in this era of industrial development. Plant cultivars respond differentially to Ni contamination in soil. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of different Ni levels to the growth and mineral status of two wheat cultivars (Sehar-2006 and LU-26). Five different levels of Ni as NiSO(4)4H(2)O (0, 30, 45, 60, and 75mgkg(-1)) were applied to soil in the pots. LU-26 performed better compared to Sehar-2006 in terms of dry weight production and physiological parameters. LU-26 contained higher Ni in roots compared to Sehar-2006, but the Ni concentration in shoots of both the cultivars was similar. LU-26 translocated less Ni toward the shoot compared to Sehar-2006 indicating the exclusion of Ni from shoots and retaining it in roots by LU-26 as evident from bioconcentration and translocation factors. Contradictly, Sehar-2006 translocated more Ni from root to shoot indicating its tolerance to Ni. Ni increased manganese (Mn) in shoots of Sehar-2006 and LU-26 up to 60 and 30mgkg(-1), respectively. Ni decreased copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentration in shoots of both cultivars, however Zn concentration in roots increased at all levels of Ni. LU-26 excluded Ni from shoots and Sehar-2006 accumulated Ni in shoots. The present study helps in understanding the process of metal uptake and distribution during the early growth stages of the plant and can signify overall potential of a crop for its exploitation on contaminated soils.Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra MalaysiaThe authors are thankful to Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan for providing the lab and field facilities to carry out this work. The corresponding author is highly thankful to the Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia for financial support in the form of a postdoctoral fellowship
Transitional Justice’s Expanding Empire: Reasserting the Value of the Paradigmatic Transition?
No full textTransitional justice studies increasingly apply to processes of truth, restoration and accountability in contexts far removed from the paradigmatic transitions from authoritarianism or war to relatively liberal democracy on which the field wasinitially based. At a time when transitional justice is being evaluated with greater stringency, it is worrying that assessments of its worth might be unduly coloured by reliance on non-transitional circumstances of established democracies orongoing conflicts or authoritarianism. A systematic empirical understanding of the value of transitional justice is skewed when undue weight is given to mechanisms applied in favourable contexts. This may be where political or economiccircumstances are so advanced that the mechanisms have little causal significance to an ongoing process of political, civil and (possibly) economic reform, or in contexts too inimical to anything approaching a liberalising or peace-buildingconclusion (e.g. when it takes place while war is ongoing or within an authoritarian regime). The article accepts that transitional justice mechanisms can be used to improve conditions under authoritarianism or war and can augment the rule of law, development and human rights in states that are already committed to liberal democracy. However, its impact in these non-paradigmatic circumstances will be limited because of the weakness of the state’s commitment to improvingsocietal conditions in the former and the pre-existing strength of the commitment in the latter. It argues that there is a distinction between transitional justice and the use of transitional justice mechanisms
