Terrorism, Conflicts and Legal Interventions

Climate change impacts various social systems and has been linked to conflicts, especially resource conflicts in dry and semi-dry lands of West Africa. Climate change exacerbates conflicts by influencing the migration of pastoralists towards southern West Africa. Thus, resolving farmer–herder conflicts can be placed in the context of addressing climate change impacts. The political imbroglio in negotiating the climate change regime has impacted communities exposed to climate change. The difficulty of reaching a global binding regime that addresses climate change ethically because of power struggles among states defines climate change geopolitics. Climate change geopolitics thus remains a challenge to addressing farmer–herder conflicts and sustainable development goals 15 and 16 concerning sustainable use of land and promoting peace, respectively. This article argues that the geopolitical ecology framework can help analyse the link between climate change geopolitics and farmer–herder conflicts that address the limitation of the eco-violence thesis. Building on the emerging literature on conservation geopolitics dubbed ‘geopolitical ecology’, it demonstrates how integrating the critical geopolitics perspective that has received little attention in the farmer–herder conflicts literature with the blossoming ‘access to resource’ framework of political ecology helps to achieve this.

From independence through 2004, the sixteen West African states have experienced forty-four successful military-led coups, forty-three often-bloody failed coups, at least eighty-two coup plots, seven civil wars, and many other forms of political conflict. Part I of this article used a political-economy approach to provide theoretical explanations of this record. Part II presents a unique data set describing all coup-related events in West Africa since 1955. Military interventions are widespread, occurring repeatedly in fourteen states. These data permit examination of coup behavior over the past fifty years. No evidence of declining coup activity is found. The major instances of war and conflict are reported, and it is shown that coups and conflict are reciprocally related. Changes that might reduce coups and conflict and permit these countries and their 238 million citizens to have better lives are discussed in the conclusion.

A detailed examination of the role of two critical non-state groups in the Liberian Civil War peace process - the diaspora and the religious - that provides key insights for policymakers and NGOs into the roles that civil societyactors can play in conflict resolution and peacemaking. Throws light on the role of several key agents in bringing to an end one of the darkest episodes in post-independence African history.' Ebenezer Obadare, University of Kansas Until the 1990s, conflict resolution and peacemaking fell to states, the UN and other intergovernmental organizations. In recent times it is non-armed, non-state actors who have had a pivotal role in seeking to resolve civil wars in Africa. This book examines, for the first time, through an examination of the Liberian Civil War in particular, how non-state actors have impacted upon peace processes. The Liberian Civil War was the first post-Cold War intra-state conflict in West Africa and exemplified the "new wars" breaking out on the continent. The peace process that followed showed how future peacemaking processes might evolve, being not only the first in which a regional economic grouping had a role - in this case ECOWAS - but also involving non-state religious and diaspora actors. Religious actors, initiators of the Liberian peace process, were mediators, dialogue facilitators, watchdogs and trustees of the entire peace process. Although their efforts were mainly influenced by the desire to fulfil the divine mandate to "tend to the flock", they were also able to regain some of the societal influence that organized religion, especially Christianity, enjoyed during the 158 years of minority Americo-Liberian rule. Diaspora actors' roles ranged from being founders and sponsors of warring factions to providing succour to Liberians back home through remittances and engaging in the peace process. Babatunde T. Afolabi is a Senior Programme Manager at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD). He had previously worked at the ECOWAS Commission where he was involved in peace processes across West Africa.

This issue’s multimedia contribution is from an event organized by the Cambridge Peace Commission (Cambridge, MA) and the West African Research Association’s West African Peace Initiative held on September 27, 2012, at the Cambridge Main Library (Cambridge, MA). The event, “Peace and Conflict in West Africa,” offered presentations by Professor Wendy Wilson Fall of Lafayette College, Professor Abu Bah of Northern Illinois University, and journalist Janet Johnson who was featured prominently in the documentary “Pray the Devil Back to Hell.” The presentations were followed by a roundtable involving more than 20 questions from audience members. The resulting discussion covers the causes of the Mano River conflicts, the role of ethnicity in African conflict, forms of indigenous conflict resolution, the legacy of historical events such as the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism, and the situation in Mali. The video is available in the online version of this edition of ACPR. Subscribers to the electronic and print/electronic editions of ACPR can find the video on our website at:

Journal Article The positive management of conflicts in West Africa Get access Enda Graf Sahel, Enda Graf Sahel Enda Graf Sahel is the Forum of Action-Research GroupsContact address: BP 13069 Grand Yoff, Dakar, Senegal Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar RENAPOP RENAPOP Enda Graf Sahel is the Forum of Action-Research GroupsContact address: BP 13069 Grand Yoff, Dakar, Senegal Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Community Development Journal, Volume 33, Issue 2, April 1998, Pages 150–156, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/33.2.150 Published: 01 April 1998

Demography, Environment and Conflict in West Africa

Conflict in West Africa: Dealing with Exclusion and Separation Get access William O'Neill William O'Neill Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar International Journal of Refugee Law, Volume 12, Issue suppl_1, 12 July 2000, Pages 171–194, https://doi.org/10.1093/ijrl/12.suppl_1.171 Published: 12 July 2000

Although still illegal at the federal level, marijuana has been legalized for medical and/or recreational use in 29 states, causing a dynamically changing legal and social landscape. While the legalization of marijuana at the state level provides criminal protection for use by adults, there remain civil legal implications for families brought about by mandated reporting laws. Mandated reporting requirements have not been updated to account for the movement toward legalization, risking overload of community child protection resources. There is little evidence to inform development of guidelines and protocols for screening, educating, testing of mothers and newborns, and reporting. There are perinatal issues in this evolving environment as well. Discriminatory testing, length of time the drug remains in the system, potential for compromised provider-patient relationships, inconsistent education and referrals, breastfeeding during marijuana use, punitive or legal interventions that may have a negative psychosocial impact on a new family, and the risk for development of community standards of care based on opinion rather than science are just a few of the issues realized after marijuana legalization. These legal and perinatal issues are discussed in detail, along with considerations for practice and policy in caring for cannabis-exposed pregnant women and newborns.

Purpose: This study aims to explore the increasing vulnerability of young individuals to radicalization and terrorist recruitment, mainly through social media. The study focuses on the lack of awareness among local communities and village officials regarding radicalism and examines preventive measures through legal counseling and digital literacy programs. The research was conducted in Pucak Village, Tompobulu District, and Maros Regency, where concerns about radical influences remain significant. Research Design and Methodology: A qualitative descriptive approach is employed to analyze the patterns of radical recruitment, the role of terrorist networks, and the effectiveness of government surveillance and legal intervention. Data collection includes direct observations, interviews with community members and officials, and documentation of legal awareness initiatives. The study also evaluates digital education strategies aimed at preventing online radicalization. Findings and Discussion: The findings indicate that village officials and the local community have limited knowledge of radicalism, making them vulnerable to indirect involvement in radical activities. Additionally, inadequate digital literacy and ineffective government oversight contribute to the spread of radical ideologies. Collaborative strategies involving law enforcement, cybersecurity agencies, and community engagement are necessary for preventing radical influence. Implications: The study suggests that preemptive and preventive legal counseling combined with enhanced digital literacy can significantly reduce radical influence. Strengthening community awareness programs and law enforcement coordination is crucial in mitigating radicalism in local villages.

Terrorism: Law and Policy provides a comprehensive socio-legal analysis of issues related to terrorist activity. Aimed at both undergraduate and postgraduate students, the book takes a comparative approach to the law related to terrorism in a number of states, mainly those in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Beginning with an examination of the background to various currently active terrorist groups, the book focuses on those groups which are currently active and which pose a threat to security, especially at the international level. The chapters take the reader through the legal definitions of terrorism contained in various states’ statutory provisions and examine how the courts have interpreted terrorism in those states’ jurisdictions. The main aim of any terrorist investigation is prevention and so the book examines the various statutory preventative measures that states have introduced and explores the legal issues surrounding surveillance, terrorism intelligence exchange, radicalisation, use of social media, quasi-criminal provisions, asset-freezing and the nexus between terrorist activity and organised crime. Bringing together a number of themes related to terrorism and security from a uniquely legal perspective, this book builds a comparative picture of the legal counter-terrorism interventions states are adopting to increase co-operation and adopt a more united approach in the face of the international terrorism threat.

It is widely recognized that growth of sessile intertidal organisms is largely driven by tidal exposure. However, data supporting exact manifestation of this effect on Crassostrea tulipa is lacking, limiting management of the species to enhance nutrition and livelihood opportunities for coastal communities in West Africa. We investigated the growth of the species at 3 tidal heights [13 – 22 cm, 23 – 32 cm and 33 – 41 cm] above neap tide mean low water (MLW)] focusing on 3 parameters, i.e. shell height, condition index (CI) and gonadal development. Three hundred and thirty-three individual oysters from 10 colonies randomly selected from 2 stations, 500 and 600 m from the sea, around an open lagoon were investigated. CI was determined as the ratio between dry meat weight and inner shell volume; gonadal development was determined via histological analysis of gonad tissues. Shell height and CI of the oyster increased with tidal elevation irrespective of whether they were closer to or further from the sea. These findings agree with reports on other bivalves, suggesting that short tidal inundation promotes growth of C. tulipa. In terms of gonads, five stages of development were identified; all occurred among oysters located at lowest tidal levels (13 – 22 cm above MLW), possibly due to continuous breeding as a result of increased food supply by long inundation. The proportion of ripe gonads increased with tidal height; ≈67% of gonads found at the highest tidal levels were ripe suggesting discontinuous breeding in the higher-level oysters.

Preface. 1. Executive summary. 2. Report of the working-group meeting, Christos Louis and Bart G.J. Knols.- Lessons learnt and anticipated benefits: 3. Review of previous applications of genetics to vector control, Chris F. Curtis. 4. Genomics and expected benefits for vector entomology, Christos Louis.- Current state and future needs of laboratory and field science: 5. Genetic approaches for malaria control, Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena. 6. Current thoughts about the integration of field and laboratory sciences in genetic control of disease vectors, Thomas W. Scott. 7. Genetic approaches in Aedes aegypti for control of dengue: an overview, Kenneth Olsen et al. Regional situation reports: malaria and dengue: 8. Malaria and dengue vector biology and control in West and Central Africa, Didier Fontenille and Pierre Carnevale. 9. Malaria and dengue vector biology and control in Southern and Eastern Africa, Maureen Coetzee. 10. Malaria and dengue vector biology and control in Southeast Asia, Pattamaporn Kittayapong. 11. Malaria and dengue vector biology and control in Latin America, Mario H. Rodriguez.- Integration: 12. Transition from the laboratory to the field and effective interplay, Christos Louis. 13. Evaluation of drive mechanisms (including transgenes and drivers) in different environmental conditions and genetic backgrounds, Anthony A. James et al. 14. Tools for monitoring the genetic structure and stability of mosquito populations, Gregory C. Lanzaro et al. 15. What are relevant assays for refractoriness? George K. Christophides et al.- 16. Fitness studies: developing a consensus methodology, Thomas W. Scott et al.- 17. Mosquito mating behaviour: 18. Pathogen evolution issues in genetically modified mosquito vector strategies, Mario H. Rodriguez. 19. Models to investigate some issues regarding the feasibility of driving refractoriness genes into mosquito vector populations, Chris F. Curtis. 20. Identification and characterization of field sitesfor genetic control of disease vectors, Bart G.J. Knols. 21. Application of genetically modified mosquitoes in national vector control programmes: thoughts on integrated control, Abraham Mnzava et al. 22. Entomological correlates of epidemiological impacts: how do we know it is working? Andrew Githeko. 23. Ethical, legal and social issues in the use of genetically modified vectors for disease control, Yeya T. Toure and Lucien Manga.- List of participants.

Certain health-related risk factors require legal interventions. Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) are collaborations between clinics and lawyers that address these health-harming legal needs (HHLNs) and have been shown to improve health and reduce utilization. The objective of this study is to explore the impact, barriers, and facilitators of MLP implementation in primary care clinics. A qualitative design using a semistructured interview assessed the perceived impact, barriers, and facilitators of an MLP, among clinicians, clinic and MLP staff, and clinic patients. Open AI software (otter.ai) was used to transcribe interviews, and NVivo was used to code the data. Braun & Clarke's framework was used to identify themes and subthemes. Sixteen (n = 16) participants were included in this study. Most respondents were women (81%) and white (56%). Four respondents were clinic staff, and 4 were MLP staff while 8 were clinic patients. Several primary themes emerged including: Patients experienced legal issues that were pernicious, pervasive, and complex; through trusting relationships, the MLP was able to improve health and resolve legal issues, for some; mistrust, communication gaps, and inconsistent staffing limited the impact of the MLP; and, the MLP identified coordination and communication strategies to enhance trust and amplify its impact. HHLNs can have a significant, negative impact on the physical and mental health of patients. Respondents perceived that MLPs improved health and resolved these needs, for some. Despite perceived successes, integration between the clinical and legal organizations was elusive.

ABSTRACTRecent literature has recast the history of the British empire as a vast project of intervention in and reordering of colonial legal administrations. Closer inspection of local moments of legal reform, however, reveals substantial complications and contradictions in that project. This article re-considers Governor Richard Bourke's Punishment and Summary Jurisdiction Act 1832, the most celebrated legal intervention in the history of the ‘convict colony’ of New South Wales by a governor whose liberalism and humanitarianism epitomized the spirit of imperial reform agendas. The nature and objectives of Bourke's so-called Fifty Lashes Act are widely misunderstood. This article shows that while Bourke positioned his Act as a matter of legal urgency, its core aim was to render convict punishment more useful and economical. Moreover, Bourke's reforms were less innovative than is commonly assumed, being mostly required to re-assert and refine existing law that was being disregarded. Nevertheless, Bourke's reforms did address long-contested legal issues surrounding the summary jurisdiction of colonial magistrates and the local application of English transportation law. The backstory to the Act reveals the remarkably complicated and truly disordered state of the law in New South Wales, but this article also shows how the implementation of legal reform was seasoned with confusion and caution.

Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) address social determinants of health by integrating legal services into health care settings. This study examines associations between health-harming legal needs (HHLNs) and mental health quality among family medicine clinic patients screened for MLP referral. A retrospective cohort of 475 patients completed an HHLN screening instrument, including a measure of mentally unhealthy days (MUDs). Zero-inflated negative binomial models assessed associations between HHLNs and MUDs, adjusting for demographics. Patients with any HHLN had 65% lower odds of reporting zero MUDs. Worrying about housing instability was the strongest independent predictor of increased MUDs, associated with a 56% increase. Black race was associated with greater odds of reporting zero MUDs. Housing concerns are a key driver of mental health quality, highlighting the need for targeted legal interventions. Integrating MLP screening into primary care may help identify and address legal issues impacting patient mental health.