Protection of Human Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Protection of Human Rights - Essay Example This was a landmark happening in the arena of Human Rights as to a very large extent, it ended the immunity of a ruler against violation of Human Rights. Recent hanging of Saddam Hussein perhaps would have had the same effect, but for the flawed law procedures and blatant desire to hang him, irrespective of trial outcome. "Since Human Rights violations are usually committed by state officials, agents or persons otherwise acting "under color" of State authority, State (or sovereign) thus imposes a significant constraint on the use of U.S. courts in civil suits concerning human rights violations committed abroad," http://www.jstor.org/view/00029300/di007418/00p0336n/0 Human Rights violation could be anything from discrimination to genocide, apartheid, holocaust torture, police encounter killings, or illegal executions of political opponents. In United States, The Homeland Security Enhancement Act of 2003 (HSEA) was opposed by Human Rights Watch, a non-governmental organisation committed to upholding human rights because "The CLEAR Act and HSEA require state and local jurisdictions to pass laws or otherwise authorize state and local police forces to investigate, apprehend, detain, or remove non-citizens for civil violations of U.S. immigration law" and if the State refuses to do so, it could be denied federal immigration funds and this was thought to be an extremely highhanded statement. This could lead to arbitrary and erroneous arrests, deportations, and disproportionate fines, unjust and arbitrary deprivations and could increase vulnerability of immigrant women and children to violence, blackmail and abuse. http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/04/2 1/usdom8473.htm According to Amnesty International, Turkey is going through human rights violation, as the government officials are routinely carrying out torture and execution not only of political opponents, but also of writers, artists, journalists, who have not adhered to the strict authoritarian rule. This has led to many deaths of suspects who were rounded up without any evidence or proof. "Many allegations of extrajudicial execution have been made against members of Special Operations Teams. These are technically police officers under the authority of the Interior Ministry, heavily armed for close combat with the PKK. Special Operations Team members frequently accompany members of the paramilitary village guard force and gendarmes in security raids on villages. Regular army and air forces also participate in large operations in the southeast" http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/turkey/turkint.htm Chile, apart from what happened during the dictatorship, has acknowledged the continuous legacy of torture by state officials as it remained a state policy, to some extent, even to this day. An unfortunate legacy to have; but the Presidential Commission confronted the Government with all evidences and proofs and everything was beyond even a modicum of doubt. "The chief of the army, Gen. Juan Emilio Cheyre, anticipated the commission's report in a November 5 article in which he acknowledged for the first time the army's institutional responsibility for human rights violations. He pointed out that the context of ideological conflict and the Cold War might explain but could never justify human rights violations" http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/11/29/chile9742.htm. Despite this, Police and other armed forces have not been so forthright and

Barclays Bank PLC Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Barclays Bank PLC - Case Study Example Barclays' four centuries of growth and provision of services in retail banking such as current accounts, savings and investments, mortgages and other loans, credit cards and online banking were surprisingly responsive to the instability present within international financial investment and services corporations across the board (Hoovers 2010). The company also holds majority apportionment of Absa Group insurance (i.e. 59% stockholder). Representation of the Barclaycard in the Spring 2010: Investors Presentation Post Q1 IMS indicated that despite the retraction of revenues from revolving credit within this sector, Barclays saw 'strong income growth largely offset by increased impairment' and 'international diversification of business' with over 50% of the card's customers outside the UK (Barclays 2010). Credit market exposures reduced by 22BN, with protium loans at 7.9BN as of December 31, 2009. Dating to the 17th century, Barclays Bank is the flagship subsidiary of Barclays PLC financial services group, with retail and commercial operations in 50 countries throughout Africa, Europe and the Middle East. In 2010, Barclays acquired the Italian credit card business of Citibank International Bank; a deal that absorbed 197,000 credit card accounts and approximately 234 million ($320 million) worth of assets globally. Integration of the Citibank acquisition, and including business assets and employees, will be incorporated into the existing Barclays Western Europe division, with conversion of the credit card accounts to Barclaycards (Hoovers 2010). In 2008, the bank had made a more limited purchase of Goldfish, the UK credit card unit of Discover Financial Services for a sum of 46 million ($70 million). Emerging market expansion has also defied the climate of default within the international financial services sector, and the company has moved forward with strategic agreements made in Asia and Russia between 2007 and 2009. The agreements also include mergers that combine liability through sale of assets with retention of administration, as in the 2007 Barclays sale of its trust administration and custody business in Japan to Sumitomo Trust and Bank for some 21 million ($32 million). In 2008 the Bank acquired Russia's Expobank at 690 million ($750 million), and began negotiations to confirm agreement on 19.5% of New China Trust - just under the maximum 20% investment cap allowed to foreign companies. Finally, in 2009 the group moved to acquire a 99% stake in Bank Akita, Indonesia at 65 million ($100 million). The acquisition includes a rebranding of the company as 'Barclays Bank of Indonesia' which will further the corporation's interests in the region through integration with its gl obal retail and commercial banking services administered by its emerging markets business division. While many people blame the 2008/09 'credit crunch' on a lack of risk management and unreliable financial reporting by banks, Barclays has shown significant leverage in planning and in critical change management decision making. Although much fiscal risk management looks to the audit process toward implementing strategic measures of mitigation, Barclays strategic model incorporates restructuring of the internal organizational