This dissertation explores the impact of international cultural heritage law on individuals and local communities, particularly through the lens of cultural heritage law's use of universalising... Show moreThis dissertation explores the impact of international cultural heritage law on individuals and local communities, particularly through the lens of cultural heritage law's use of universalising language such as the ‘cultural heritage of mankind’. It argues that this rhetoric empowers states to prioritise purportedly common interests over local ones, potentially erasing living heritage value in the process. The dissertation places cultural heritage law in the context of broader international legal trends, in particular the tension between the pursuit of common interests through international law and the enduring influence of state sovereignty as a structuring principle of that law. It argues that contemporary cultural heritage law often fails to effectively limit state powers or protect the interests of individuals and local communities. It thus calls for stronger guarantees of participation within cultural heritage law, drawing upon legal standards developed within environmental law and human rights law. The dissertation suggests a rethinking the concept of ‘universal interest’ in heritage law to qualify the operation of state sovereignty and to better accommodate the interests of individuals and local communities, emphasizing their role as central actors and the need to bridge the gap between local and global interests in cultural heritage protection. Show less
In the Netherlands, the title of Minister of State is granted to a select set of senior politicians and administrators, generally towards the end of their career. They are appointed by the monarch,... Show moreIn the Netherlands, the title of Minister of State is granted to a select set of senior politicians and administrators, generally towards the end of their career. They are appointed by the monarch, acting on a proposal by the cabinet. In this capacity, they are then asked to perform certain activities or to carry out specific tasks. Both the content of the Minister of State role itself and the appointment process are quite vague. Nevertheless, this exclusive ministerial title has considerable social status. The aim of this research study is to provide insight into the title of Minister of State. The problem description is as follows: What development has taken place in the role of Minister of State; what has the legal and political significance of the Minister of State been; and what can be said about the present-day role of Minister of State, in the Netherlands and in various other countries? Chapter 2 investigates the development of the Minister of State from a historical perspective. In Chapter 3 the various appointments as Minister of State are studied for each monarch. Chapter 4 examines the present-day role of Minister of State. In Chapter 5 a comparative legal study is made of whether other countries also have a Minister of State and what parallels and differences can be seen in relation to this title in the Netherlands.Chapter 6 brings together the findings of the research study and presents the conclusions that were drawn. Show less
The Paris Olympics and Paralympics are scheduled to take place between 26 July and 8 September 2024, whereby electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft are anticipated to take to the skies to... Show moreThe Paris Olympics and Paralympics are scheduled to take place between 26 July and 8 September 2024, whereby electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft are anticipated to take to the skies to offer a new mobility solution to spectators of the Games. This will allow paying members of the public to move between different points within the Paris region akin to an on-demand taxi service, but through the air; passenger air taxi services (PATS). These passengers, as consumers, will have certain rights and duties under European Union law. To determine the level of protection afforded to these air passengers, a full assessment of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 is required. As the revision of the Regulation is currently on the European Commission’s agenda, it is also important to consider its revision in light of PATS, whereby new technology, emerging business practices, changing customer behaviour and societal expectations for the level of legal protection of PATS users must be considered. This article will, therefore, assess the current version of the Regulation, in light of the interpretation from the European Court, to see whether it applies to PATS and, if so, whether it is suitable or if specific amendments need to be added to the planned revised Regulation. Show less
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is an emerging air traffic system designed for passengers and cargo in and around urban environments. Both the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States and the... Show moreUrban Air Mobility (UAM) is an emerging air traffic system designed for passengers and cargo in and around urban environments. Both the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency endorse a phased development approach for UAM, commencing with manned aviation and subsequently transitioning to remotely piloted and autonomous operations. This article focuses on legal considerations related to aviation safety, with a specific focus on pilot licensing and crew fatigue management. An analysis of existing aviation law provisions suggests that the International Civil Aviation Organization can work with local authorities to create regulations governing both on-board and remote pilots involved in UAM operations. Safety standards in air law can apply mutatis mutandis to on-board pilots until specific regulations are developed. In the longer term, there shall be domestic laws on both on-board and remote UAM pilots. Show less
Hoe serieus moeten we het internationaal recht nemen? Over de relatie tussen artikel 90, 93 en 94 GrondwetDeze kwestie lijkt mij actueel en dringend in Nederland, waar rechtstreeks werkend... Show moreHoe serieus moeten we het internationaal recht nemen? Over de relatie tussen artikel 90, 93 en 94 GrondwetDeze kwestie lijkt mij actueel en dringend in Nederland, waar rechtstreeks werkend internationaal recht fungeert als een kader van “hoger recht”. De concrete vraag die ik in deze bijdrage wil stellen luidt: is er een plicht voor de regering, om zich coherent tot dit “hoger recht” te verhouden? Mijn conclusie is dat artikel 90 Grondwet deze plicht onvermijdelijk maakt.Hier schets ik eerst een beeld van hoe grondwetten doorgaans de rol van hoger recht vervullen (en waarom dit belangrijk is). Vervolgens kijk ik naar Nederland en de rol van het internationaal recht. Ten slotte maak ik duidelijk waarom het belangrijk is om internationaal recht serieus te nemen – de oplettende lezer herkent hierin ongetwijfeld de invloed van Ronald Dworkin, van wie ik ook het idee van coherentie geleend heb. Show less
Naar deze uitspraak werd door vele gemeenteambtenaren reikhalzend uitgekeken. De Afdeling bestuursrechtspraak van de Raad van State (hierna: ‘de Afdeling’) oordeelt in deze uitspraak dat het aantal... Show moreNaar deze uitspraak werd door vele gemeenteambtenaren reikhalzend uitgekeken. De Afdeling bestuursrechtspraak van de Raad van State (hierna: ‘de Afdeling’) oordeelt in deze uitspraak dat het aantal te verlenen exploitatievergunningen voor coffeeshops mag worden gemaximeerd en dat deze vergunningen voor een beperkte duur mogen worden verleend. Deze uitspraak kan daarmee aanzienlijkegevolgen hebben voor zowel exploitanten van coffeeshops als voor de gemeenten. Dit naschrift is als volgt opgebouwd. Eerst wordt stilgestaan bij de feiten van de zaak (par. 2) en de verhouding tussen een gedoogverklaring en een exploitatievergunning (par. 3 en 4). Vervolgens gaan wij in op de beperking van het aantal exploitatievergunningen en de geldigheidsduur daarvan (par. 5). Ten slotte wordt ingegaanop de vraag of mededingingsruimte moet worden geboden voordat een exploitatievergunning kan worden verleend (par. 6). Show less
This article provides an overview of the so-called “Digitally Derived Evidence” (DDE) project of the Kalshoven-Gieskes Forum for International Humanitarian Law (KGF) at Leiden University, which... Show moreThis article provides an overview of the so-called “Digitally Derived Evidence” (DDE) project of the Kalshoven-Gieskes Forum for International Humanitarian Law (KGF) at Leiden University, which examines the different legal standards of evidence used before different national as well as international criminal courts apply to the assessment of international crimes. The project was launched in 2019 by KGF Director Dr. Robert Heinsch and his colleague, Dr. Emma Irving. They initiated and offered students at the Leiden International Humanitarian Law Clinic the opportunity to contribute to the research.The DDE project resulted in the online accessible Leiden DDE database, which offers the Leiden guidelines for the use of digitally obtained evidence in international criminal courts and tribunals as well as a wide range of online resources. These resources aim to make it easier for judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys to work with digital evidence. Furthermore, this online database aims to support international accountability mechanisms through the in-depth examination of evidentiary issues relating to digitally derived evidence. Show less
It is difficult to imagine contemporary heritage protection without the numerous international heritage conventions that have proliferated over the course of the twentieth century. Although these... Show moreIt is difficult to imagine contemporary heritage protection without the numerous international heritage conventions that have proliferated over the course of the twentieth century. Although these instruments are governed by the rules of international law, they are reliant upon the actions of individual states in order to ensure their implementation at the domestic level. It is precisely this process of translation to the domestic legal sphere which remains invisible within many discussions surrounding international heritage law. Yet these modes of translation can facilitate – or, conversely, silence – opportunities for actors other than the state to shape cultural heritage law. As such, they can play a critical role in many of the current debates surrounding heritage governance. It is thus important that those working and living in, with or around heritage are aware of the legal techniques through which international heritage standards find their expression in domestic law. In order to elucidate these techniques, this chapter will touch upon a range of core legal concepts related to the implementation of international law in domestic legal settings, such as the distinctions between common and civil law and monist and dualist legal systems. While the focus of the chapter is on the international treaties adopted within the scope of UNESCO, it will also discuss how so-called ‘soft law’ heritage standards can play a role in domestic legal settings despite their formally non-binding nature. This chapter argues that the apparent universality of rules relating to the protection of cultural heritage at an international level belies the diversity of methods through which they are implemented at the national level, the actors involved in this process, and the interaction of international standards with existing domestic legal traditions aimed at the protection of cultural heritage. Moreover, given that many of the norms established by international heritage conventions do not have a ‘self-executing’ character, they remain beyond the reach of domestic legal actors. In many cases it is thus more illuminating to interrogate precisely which elements of cultural heritage law are commonly not translated into domestic law and why. Show less
