National Law Enforcement Research Articles

Law Enforcement Agency Practices and Policies for the Investigation of Child Sex Trafficking: Are Agencies Using Victim-Centered Approaches?

AbstractOver the past decade, efforts have been made to reform the way in which law enforcement responds to child sex trafficking (CST). Law enforcement agencies are being urged or required to use victim-centered approaches that provide exploited youth with support and services. However, researchers have yet to empirically examine law enforcement’s recognition of CST at the agency-level, their arrest practices, or the services that are being offered to CST victims. We have little information about the utilization and effectiveness of various law enforcement agency policies, practices and training programs related to CST. The National Law Enforcement Agency Child Sex Trafficking (LEA-CST) Study aimed to address these gaps through a national survey of law enforcement agencies around the U.S. The current study reports on mail survey data collected from a sample of 1,306 agencies that provided feedback on the use of up to nine victim-centered approaches to CST at their agency. Data were analyzed along with information about whether their agency investigated at least one case of CST in the year 2021. Almost all agencies (97.5%) said they used or had access to at least one victim-centered approach to CST investigations, with larger agencies reporting a greater number of approaches. Two policies were significantly related to a greater likelihood of investigating at least one case of CST in 2021: Access to a CST-specific task force and access to a CST-specific victim service agency. Findings document a growing orientation to these cases by law enforcement that recognizes youth victimization, with innovative approaches to identification and support. Community collaboration appears to be critical to helping to identify, support and provide justice to CST victims.Research Summary This study examined law enforcement’s recognition of CST at the agency-level, their arrest practices, and the services that are being offered to CST victims. Among 1,306 agencies across the United States, almost all (97.5%) said they used or had access to at least one victim-centered approach to CST investigations, with larger agencies reporting a greater number of approaches. Two policies were significantly related to a greater likelihood of investigating at least one CST case in 2021: Access to a CST-specific task force and access to a CST-specific victim service agency.Policy Implications Findings from the current study underscore the importance of victim-centered approaches to CST that feature connections and collaborations across communities. These collaborations champion the wellness of youth who have experienced this unique and egregious form of sexual victimization while simultaneously allowing for criminal investigations to proceed, ideally with minimal re-traumatization of the victim.

Enhancing Maritime Security: Challenges and Strategies in Indonesia's Natuna Sea

The Natuna Sea, a strategic region within Indonesia's exclusive economic zone, faces multifaceted maritime security challenges that threaten national sovereignty, economic interests, and regional stability. This abstract explores the key issues and strategic responses to enhance maritime security in this vital area. Indonesia's maritime security challenges in the Natuna Sea are driven by illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, territorial disputes, and transnational crimes such as smuggling and human trafficking. The encroachment of foreign fishing vessels, particularly from neighboring countries, exacerbates the IUU fishing problem, undermining local economies and depleting fish stocks. Additionally, overlapping territorial claims, particularly with China, complicate Indonesia's efforts to assert its sovereignty and maintain peace in the region. To address these challenges, Indonesia has developed a comprehensive maritime security strategy that includes diplomatic, legal, and operational measures. Diplomatic efforts focus on strengthening regional cooperation through ASEAN and other multilateral forums to foster dialogue and build consensus on maritime security issues. Legal measures involve the enforcement of national and international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to uphold Indonesia's territorial rights and combat IUU fishing. Operationally, Indonesia has enhanced its maritime patrols, surveillance capabilities, and naval presence in the Natuna Sea. The establishment of the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) and the deployment of advanced technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellite monitoring, have improved the detection and interdiction of illegal activities. Despite these efforts, challenges persist due to resource constraints, coordination issues among agencies, and the complex geopolitical landscape. This abstract underscores the importance of a holistic and adaptive approach to maritime security, integrating diplomatic, legal, and operational strategies.

Language policy and linguistic landscapes in the internationalization of a non-Anglophone university

PurposeInternationalization strategies that have been issued for a decade affect non-Anglophone higher education institutions (HEIs) in the clash of importance in preserving national language or using international languages. One of the observable objects of this dilemma is the inconsistent language display of universities’ public signages as a linguistic landscape (LL). To address these issues, the presence of language policy is urgent unless the preservation of the national language is no longer the responsibility of HEIs. However, rigorous discussion about language policy in non-Anglophone HEIs remains limited. This study aims to address the gap by providing a critical analysis of the existing language policy documents in an Indonesian higher education institution that has a multilingual environment and its effect on the LL.Design/methodology/approachThis case study used document analysis and LL analysis. The setting was an Islamic university in Indonesia that represents the trial importance of building religious identity, preserving the national language and engaging with international demands. The data were collected from National Law Enforcement websites, which provided various national policy documents and the institutional documents that were retrieved from the university website by using the document analysis method by Bowen (2009). The secondary data were 216 visual images of public signage in an Islamic university in Indonesia as the representation of multilingual phenomena. The additional data were gathered from a pilot interview with a lecturer and a student.FindingsThis study found that both the national government and institutional administration in Indonesia do not have a language policy that regulates LLs or language preferences in public places for HEIs. The university tends to solely refer to international accreditation policy by using either bilingual English-Indonesian or monolingual English in the public signage. However, the limited use of the Arabic language in specific venues such as mosques and musallas shows that Arabic serves neither as symbolic identity nor communicative functions.Research limitations/implicationsThis study sets a single case study in an Islamic university, and the policy documents were limited to the Indonesian Government and institutions as the representation of non-Anglophone countries. Further studies are expected to have a bigger and larger size of data and settings.Practical implicationsThis study implies that non-Anglophone countries’ governments should start to design and enforce a language policy that preserves national language and facilitates major national and international language communities, such as Thai, Arabic, Javanese and Malay, without being absent in international competitive labeling. A practical implication for religion-based and cultural-based universities is that the function of their Holy Book or local languages can be used as communicative functions to strengthen the religious and local identity.Social implicationsThis study implies that non-Anglophone countries’ governments should start to design and enforce a language policy that preserves their national language without being absent in international competitive labeling.Originality/valueGiven the fact that there is limited awareness to bring the discussion about LL patterns into language policy issues in non-Anglophone countries, this study was originally conducted as a case study to pilot the discussion about the absence of language policy as represented through LLs in Indonesia. This case study was brought up as a pilot discussion to urge non-Anglophone countries lawmakers to issue language policy at the university level. This message is meant to respond to internationalization programs that can potentially jeopardize the existence of the linguistic and cultural diversity of non-Anglophone countries.

The system of international legal norms and principles – the basis of legal regulation of the activities of national law enforcement bodies

It is indicated that the introduction of advanced international and European norms regarding the functioning of law enforcement agencies into Ukrainian legislation is a key indicator that the country not only declares a sustainable course for the democratization of all aspects of public life, but also takes concrete measures for its implementation. Ukraine has made significant progress in this direction, but there are still a number of challenges, the legal analysis of which will contribute to the further approximation of the domestic system of law enforcement agencies to global and European standards. In this context, one of the priority areas of scientific research is the justification of the need to update and improve the ethical codes of conduct of law enforcement officers based on international standards. This task becomes particularly relevant in view of the need for constant improvement of professional ethics and standards of behavior in the law enforcement sphere. This approach will not only improve the efficiency of law enforcement agencies, but also strengthen public trust in them, which is crucial for building the rule of law and civil society. In addition, it will allow Ukraine to demonstrate its commitment to the principles of the rule of law and the protection of human rights in the international arena. The article examines the system of international legal norms and principles that form the basis of legal regulation of the activities of national law enforcement agencies. Two groups of international standards are distinguished. The first group includes international legal acts that declare human rights and freedoms, primarily those that may be violated by the unethical behavior of law enforcement officers as representatives of state bodies. The second group represents international legal standards of professional and ethical behavior of employees of a specific law enforcement agency, the norms of which directly indicate the proper behavior of law enforcement officers in a specific area of law enforcement activity (judicial, prosecutorial, police, investigative, etc.). The main emphasis is on the need to cover the rules of professional ethical behavior of employees of all law enforcement agencies without exception, including those legally endowed with special rights and competence.

Formation and development of the militia: historical and legal analysis

The historical aspects of the formation and development of militia in Ukraine are studied, with special attention paid to its role during the revolutionary events and the civil war. The state of law and order in the Ukrainian lands in the late 19th – early 20th centuries, key legal aspects of the formation and initial stage of the militia functioning are analysed, and a scientific assessment of its activities in the context of complex revolutionary challenges is provided. The creation and development of the Soviet militia was a complex and ambiguous process, so the challenges faced by the newly formed militia during the revolutionary period are analysed. The historical factors that contributed to the creation and development of the militia, its transformation over time, and the formation of the modern police are studied. Historical experience shows that the establishment of the Soviet militia depended on many factors, namely: the gradual formation of tasks, powers and functions of the militia, the definition of the regulatory framework for its activities, the organisation of the system of administrative apparatus, coordination of efforts at the local and central levels, the resolution of personnel issues, etc. The necessity of studying the historical processes of formation of the modern police, its institutional origins in the context of the State development is emphasised, and the crucial role of the police in maintaining the rule of law, public order and security of citizens of modern Ukraine is noted. The study of historical factual material contributes to a better understanding of the evolution, nature and role of state institutions designed to protect Ukraine's sovereignty and solve other tasks in the field of national security and law enforcement in response to the needs of society, offering ideas for future effective strategies based on historical experience and current challenges.

Workplace bullying and job outcomes: intersectional effects of gender and culture

PurposeThis study explores the under-researched phenomenon of workplace bullying against women in male-dominated Pakistani society, highlighting its severe impacts and bridging the research gap on intersectional effects of gender and cultural dynamics in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachUsing a mixed-method research approach, we conducted two-wave surveys with 308 female workers in Pakistan's educational and health sectors. Data analysis examined relationships between workplace bullying and job outcomes like productivity and satisfaction, complemented by insights from in-depth interviews with 18 female workers.FindingsThe study reveals that workplace bullying significantly undermines job productivity, increases emotional exhaustion mediated by job anxiety and decreases job satisfaction among female workers. Bullying persists due to weak institutions and inadequate law enforcement, with perceived social support found to be an insignificant moderator.Practical implicationsThe study findings underscore the economic implications of workplace bullying, as it drives female workforce attrition, hindering economic development. The study recommends conflict resolution strategies, effective HR policies, national law enforcement and supportive social networks to combat bullying and create a conducive work environment.Social implicationsThis study aligns with the UN's SDG goals #5 (gender equality) and #8 (decent work and economic growth), addressing pertinent issues related to workplace bullying in pursuit of these global objectives.Originality/valueThis study represents a unique attempt to address the intersectional dynamics of gender and culture concerning workplace bullying in Pakistan.

Law Awareness and Abidance and Radicalism Prevention Among Hong Kong Youth

Social influence through awareness of law abidance and enforcement is uncertain in preventing youth radicalism. Accordingly, the effects of the social norm for law abidance and deterrence on radicalism are unclear or debatable. To clarify these effects, this study randomly surveyed 883 Chinese youth in Hong Kong, where the national security law has recently launched to tackle radicalism. Results show the significant inverse effects of awareness of national security law enforcement, awareness of support for law abidance, and agreement on law abidance on radicalism. Nevertheless, the effect of awareness of the enforcement slightly weakened with education, the agreement, or awareness of the support. This weakening suggests situational deterrence. These results imply the preventability of youth radicalism by law, including its awareness, abidance, and enforcement.

Formation of legal regulation of criminal proceedings in Ukraine under martial law

This article explores the preconditions and stages of the development of legal regulations for conducting criminal proceedings in Ukraine during a state of war. It emphasizes that the peculiarities of legal regulation in the early stages of the antiterrorist operation and before the onset of full-scale war are linked to the objective impossibility of fulfilling certain requirements guaranteeing individual rights and freedoms during procedural actions due to ongoing combat operations in specific territories. Simultaneously, the need to ensure the inevitability of punishment for guilty parties led to the introduction of special criminal proceedings regimes with limitations on certain rights and freedoms of participants. The article identifies an increase in the proportion of investigations conducted through special criminal proceedings procedures as a distinctive feature of investigating crimes committed during a state of war. This approach allows the national law enforcement and judicial systems to accomplish the task of ensuring the inevitability of criminal responsibility for individuals hiding from pre-trial investigation or court proceedings on the territory of Russia or temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In addressing representatives of the occupying state committing war crimes against Ukraine, the article proposes additional guarantees, especially for foreign citizens, regarding proper notification of such suspects/ accused about the date and time of procedural actions or court hearings. This aims to minimize grounds for appeals to the European Court of Human Rights due to Ukraine’s alleged violation of Article 6 of the Convention. In summary, with the introduction of a legal regime of martial law in Ukraine, the procedure for conducting criminal proceedings is designed to respond to challenges associated with armed conflict and the inability of the state to fully or partially perform law enforcement, legal protection, and judicial functions in specific territories of Ukraine. The implemented mechanism for conducting special criminal proceedings during a state of war requires further refinement to maximally guarantee the rights and freedoms of participants in criminal proceedings.

Exploring South Africa’s Cybersecurity Legal Framework regulating Information Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability

The discussion critically evaluates the effectiveness of laws dealing with cyber threats within the context of the South African cybersecurity landscape. It deals with the legal response to non-state cyber operations to national security and law enforcement by means of the domestic law and not with state or state-sponsored cyber operations which falls within the remit of the international law. Globally the digital ecosystems of all countries face a common denominator, namely the threat of cyber operations and how to deal with it effectively. There are various cyber operations, but the discussion mainly deals with cyber operations that target the confidentiality, availability and integrity of information and the effectiveness of the South African cybersecurity legislation in protecting information. The effectiveness of the following legislation will be deliberated: • The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) 4 of 2013. POPIA does not define a data breach, nor does it indicate the time in which the breach must be reported to the Information Regulator (IR). In 2021 the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (Department) suffered a ransomware attack. The breach was reported to the IR. In July 2023 the Department became the first institution to be fined for failure to comply with an enforcement notice. • The Cybercrimes Act 119 of 2021. The ransomware attack suffered by the Department in 2021 constitutes a cybercrime, but how effective is the Cybercrimes Act to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of the threat actor(s) who orchestrated the attack? Should there not be guidelines in respect of a ransomware attack prescribing a compulsory reporting obligation or discouraging payment of ransom. The first line of defense to offensive non-state cyber operations is a robust and resilient cybersecurity legal framework. Although a government cannot eliminate all possible threats, it can mitigate the risks, and this can be achieved by means of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. A country should have a cybersecurity strategy and it will be determined if for example the 2023 United States of America cybersecurity strategy could serve as guidance to South Africa. Why is your paper of interest to the conference participants? Use this space to persuade the reviewers why they should select this abstract for the conference : In today’s digital world, one cannot ignore the importance of cybersecurity. One single security breach may result in the exposure of the personal information of millions of people. Cybersecurity legislation is therefore essential to ensure the protection of government departments, institutions, businesses and individuals against malicious cyber operations.

Systematic Review to Propose a Blockchain-based Digital Forensic Ready Internet Voting System

The ballot paper-based voting system has a high risk of data manipulation and vote tampering due to a lack of immutability, transparency and privacy. This systematic review is conducted with the intention of proposing a digital forensic-ready internet voting process to mitigate issues of vote rigging and vote fraud. The review focused on current and up-to-date literature. Publications that are out of this date range were ignored and considered stale or irrelevant. We extracted and reviewed publications with either or all the following keywords: “digital forensic”, “internet voting”, “e-voting” and “blockchain”. A total of thirteen databases were consulted. These include ACM, IEEE, Web of Science, Science Direct, Academic Search Complete, Access Science, ProQuest, Oxford Academy, Ingenta, Cambridge Core and Clarivate. From the inclusion list of one hundred and five (105) studies that were looked at in detail, twenty of them (i.e.,19%) covered blockchain technology. Two percent (2%) of them were focused on digital forensics in internet voting. The results herein were synthesised and presented in a qualitative methodology. The review shows that a secure and reliable digital forensic system could effectively mitigate vote rigging and fraud. Therefore, we proposed a blockchain-based digital forensic-ready internet voting system. The proposed system is beneficial to the electorate, election observers, electoral candidates, electoral administration bodies as well as the national law enforcement agencies.

Impact of the war in Ukraine on the law enforcement system in general and the National police of Ukraine in particular

The article is devoted to defining the essence and peculiarities of the law enforcement system of Ukraine and the National Police of Ukraine, as well as the impact of the war on the development of the activities of these bodies. Attention was drawn to the mechanism of law enforcement agencies, namely the ways and methods of ensuring their activities. The principles on which the activity of the National Police of Ukraine is based are also analyzed, taking into account all the changes that were introduced due to the war. Studying changes in the National Police of Ukraine in the context of the full-scale Russian invasion is crucial for several reasons.
 Firstly, it provides insights into the adaptability and resilience of law enforcement agencies in the face of unprecedented challenges. Understanding how the police force responds to such a crisis can offer valuable lessons for other nations dealing with similar threats.
 Secondly, research in this area sheds light on the effectiveness of reforms and training programs implemented to enhance the capabilities of the National Police. Analyzing the changes in strategies, tactics, and overall performance can help identify areas of improvement and refine future initiatives.
 Furthermore, studying the National Police's response to the Russian invasion contributes to a broader understanding of the role of law enforcement in conflict zones. It allows for an evaluation of the challenges faced by the police force, such as maintaining public order, ensuring civilian safety, and combating organized crime in a volatile environment. In a geopolitical context, this research becomes a part of the global conversation on security and stability. It highlights the importance of international support and cooperation in strengthening the capacities of national law enforcement agencies during times of conflict.
 Ultimately, examining the shifts in the National Police of Ukraine amid the Russian invasion not only provides valuable insights for the country itself but also contributes to the global discourse on security, resilience, and the role of law enforcement in times of crisis.

Tracing the Continued Existence of Ulayat Land: Granting Management Rights in the Context of Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

AbstractThe issue of granting management rights over ulayat land to third parties is still being debated. Management rights originating from communal land are contrary to the concept of the management right itself. Management rights, which are part of the authority of State control rights, are contradicted by management rights that can originate from ulayat land because indigenous peoples have ulayat rights on the ulayat land. For ulayat land that still has the status of ulayat rights of indigenous peoples, if given management rights, the ulayat rights must be released by the indigenous peoples. Thus, the communal land becomes free state land. The granting of management rights on ulayat land is becoming increasingly relevant and complex. Several changes related regulations have raised significant questions regarding the existence of ulayat land and its impact on the sustainability of the lives of indigenous peoples. To accelerate the economy, the government needs to pay attention to the ulayat rights of indigenous peoples over their ulayat land and ensure that these rights are protected and respected. The government also needs to ensure that effective national law enforcement mechanisms are in place to resolve ulayat land disputes. As a result of the granting of HPL on ulayat land, legal uncertainty arises. The existence of ulayat land for indigenous peoples is very important in maintaining the identity, culture, and sustainability of indigenous peoples. Ulayat rights protect the rights of ownership and management of communal land by indigenous peoples so that they can continue cultural practices, traditions, and customs that have existed since the time of their ancestors.Keywords: Management Rights; Ulayat Land; Indigenous People.

Riding the Wave of Change: Unmasking Transformative Shifts in Digital Activism for Social Justice in Indonesia

This research delves into the transformative shifts in social media use in Indonesia, exploring how it has become more than a personal necessity, evolving into a powerful tool for civic engagement and justice advocacy. Focusing on the "No Viral, No Justice" movement, we dissect its impact on the nation's digital landscape and law enforcement dynamics. The analysis reveals a complex interplay of positive change and potential pitfalls, including the risk of echo chambers. The study emphasizes the significance of digital activism, transcending its role as a mere trend, and underscores its importance in holding authorities accountable. The narrative navigates through real-life examples, such as the case of sexual harassment at the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission, illustrating how social media acts as a catalyst for justice. The reflection section addresses the looming threats associated with this evolving trend and proposes strategies for mitigation. This research contributes to understanding the nuanced role of social media in Indonesian society, shedding light on both its transformative potential and the imperative need for responsible digital activism.

Реформирование системы силовых органов в СССР при Н.С. Хрущеве и его отражение советской интеллигенцией в киноискусстве

This article is devoted to the analysis of the results of reforming the system of law enforcement agencies of the USSR under N. S. Khrushchev, as well as to the understanding of their image by the Soviet intelligentsia in film art. The study expands our knowledge of how the key institutions of the Stalinist socio-political regime (security and law enforcement agencies, judicial and penitentiary systems, as well as the Armed Forces) were disman-tled and modernized in 1953–1964. and what kind of their image was constructed by the Soviet creative intelli-gentsia in cinema, which had a broad impact on the mass consciousness of Soviet people. The study is meth-odologically based on the provisions of institutional theory, the theory of bureaucracy, the theory of civil-military relations and the theory of the new class. The analysis carried out in the work allows us to conclude that the preservation of the system of party leadership of law enforcement agencies, mechanisms for the nomenklatura placement of management personnel and the command-administrative model of management determined the incomplete nature of the modernization of the system of ensuring national security and law enforcement under N. S. Khrushchev. The contradictory nature of Soviet security institutions, in which patriotism and decency coexisted with betrayal and lawlessness, is reflected in cinema.

The Synergy of Customary Criminal Law and National Criminal Law: Orientation Towards Criminal Law Pluralism

<em>The synergy between customary criminal law and national criminal law is an important orientation in criminal law reform. This can be seen from the substance of the New Criminal Code which emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the existence of customary criminal law so that aspects of legal pluralism are implemented. This study aims to analyze aspects of the notion of pluralism of criminal law in Indonesia as well as to describe the new orientation of Indonesian criminal law which emphasizes the synergy between customary criminal law and national criminal law. This research is a juridical-normative legal research using a conceptual and statutory approach. The results of the study confirm that the development of the idea of legal pluralism in Indonesia has implicitly been going on for a long time and has even been discussed in a limited way at the BPUPK-PPKI session. After the ratification of the New Criminal Code, the idea of criminal law pluralism has increasingly come to the fore by providing recognition of customary criminal law which emphasizes that after the passage of the New Criminal Code there has been a change in the orientation of legal pluralism which leads to aspects of public law, namely criminal law pluralism. orientation and synergy between national criminal law and customary criminal law based on legal pluralism also requires synergy and precise division of tasks between national law enforcement officials and customary law enforcement officials</em>

Data free flow with trust: current landscape, challenges and opportunities

ABSTRACT This article explores the efforts to achieve ‘data free flow with trust', highlighting concerns around foreign government access to personal data for national security and law enforcement. Governments increasingly seek data held by private firms, raising significant data protection challenges and leading to mistrust among jurisdictions and the implementation of data localization mandates. The article analyzes three key legal initiatives: First, the EU adequacy model, which permits data transfers to countries with adequate data protection. While important and influential in setting global standards, its effectiveness is limited outside the EU, especially when countries with extensive surveillance laws adopt it without meeting European standards. The model's reliance on unilateral decisions can also create legal uncertainties. Second, multilateral initiatives like the G7's DFFT and OECD's Declaration aim to build trust, though their impact is weakened by their non-binding nature. Lastly, binding agreements, such as the projected EU-U.S. e-evidence/cloud Act agreement, seek to balance lawful data access with human rights but remain few and focused on law enforcement access. The article concludes that rebuilding trust among democracies is essential and calls for enhanced multilateral cooperation, transparency, bilateral agreements, and a balance between security and privacy to support global data flows vital to the digital economy.

Experimentalist Competition Law Enforcement as a Complementary Data Sharing Toolkit: Learning from AGCM v. Google – Ostacoli alla Portabilità dei Dati

Analysing the Italian case AGCM v. Google – Ostacoli alla portabilità dei dati, this paper scrutinises the “experimentalist architecture” of public competition law enforcement in dealing with data sharing disputes. In AGCM v. Google, the experimentalist competition law enforcement aimed at ensuring and designing the right to data portability provided by Article 20 GDPR. The paper investigates the extent to which the conditions and distinctive features of the experimentalist architecture play a role in AGCM v. Google, which include: strategic uncertainty, polyarchic distribution of powers, high degree of discretion of local agents, dynamic accountability, and the participation of all stakeholders in the design, review and updating of cross-sectoral data sharing solutions. In conducting the analysis, the internal administrative dialogue between local actors within the national competition law enforcement process is examined. In addition, the paper explores the potential for an external administrative dialogue between national competition law enforcement, implementation mechanisms, and regulatory revisions of the data sharing framework, involving local and EU actors.

Legal Strategies for Protecting Journalists in Conflict Zones

The safety of journalists in conflict zones remains a critical concern, with myriad risks stemming from both physical and digital threats. This study aims to explore the legal strategies that can effectively protect journalists in these environments, focusing on understanding the existing legal frameworks, the challenges journalists face, and the protective strategies they employ. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with 25 journalists from diverse global regions to gather in-depth insights into the challenges and strategies related to their legal protection. Theoretical saturation was achieved, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the topic. Data was analyzed using NVivo software to facilitate thematic analysis, allowing for the systematic identification of themes and concepts within the data. Three main themes were identified: Legal Frameworks, Risks and Challenges, and Protective Strategies. Legal Frameworks revealed gaps in the enforcement of international and national laws. Risks and Challenges highlighted the physical, digital, legal, psychological, and informational threats journalists encounter. Protective Strategies emphasized the importance of safety training, legal safeguards, support networks, and advanced technology to mitigate risks. The study concludes that while various legal frameworks and protective measures exist, significant gaps in enforcement and practical application continue to leave journalists vulnerable in conflict zones. Enhanced legal provisions, combined with comprehensive safety training and technological support, are essential to ensure the safety and freedom of journalists reporting from high-risk areas.

The Impact of Telecommunication Privacy Laws on National Security and Law Enforcement

The Impact of Telecommunication Privacy Laws on National Security and Law Enforcement

Administrative Procedure under the Legislation of Ukraine and Certain Foreign Countries (Comparative Legal Study)

The relevance of the research topic is due to the need to analyse the experience of regulatory definition of administrative procedures in foreign countries. It characterizes models of systematizing procedural legislation in certain developed countries worldwide and in Ukraine. Emphasis is placed on Ukraine adopting a model of systematizing administrative procedural legislation that involves the adoption of a general act on administrative procedure with the preservation of the priority of special legislation. This approach aligns with the recommendations of the institutions of the Council of Europe and the European Union, particularly Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)7 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe of June 20, 2007, to member states on good administration, and the European Parliament Resolution of January 15, 2013, with recommendations from the Commission on Administrative Procedure Law in the European Union. The latter document envisages that the general act on administrative procedure should contain a universal set of principles and outline a procedure applicable as de minimis provisions when there is no lex specialis. The purpose of the article is to reveal the peculiarities of legal regulation of administrative procedures under the laws of foreign countries. It is argued that updated legislation should include referral norms that clearly address the legal practitioner (other subjects endowed with administrative-procedural legal status) to a specific procedure defined by sectoral legislation. This is particularly relevant to cases handled by administrative authorities on their own initiative. The study uses the comparative legal method to establish the common and distinctive features of legal regulation of administrative and procedural legislation of foreign countries. The author examines the peculiarities of legal regulation of administrative procedures in certain European countries. It is noted that the implementation of legislation on administrative procedure in Ukraine should be carried out using the existing experience of countries where the relevant changes have already been implemented. It is emphasized that in the future, attention should be focused on the formation of a homogeneous national law enforcement practice, which is determined by a unified approach to the interpretation of procedural law. Based on the study, the author formulates the following conclusions and makes recommendations: at the initial stage, it is worthwhile to establish communication between representatives (officials) of administrative bodies and judges of administrative courts with a view to taking a number of measures to ensure effective implementation of domestic administrative procedure legislation; to ensure data exchange within the administration and to identify practical problems which may arise in the process of harmonization of the entire array of legal acts around the basic Law of Ukraine "On Administrative Procedure".