Europe

Swiss Institute of Comparative Law

The Swiss Institute of Comparative Law (Institut suisse de droit comparé, or ISDC) was established in Lausanne in 1982. Its primary task is to prepare legal opinions in respect of foreign law for the Federal authorities, courts, lawyers and other individuals. It also produces studies in comparative law, holds colloquia and carries out research projects. The Institute has an extensive law library, whose catalogue is available via the website. A set of legal links for countries from Afghanistan to Zambia is available on the Law Online page, annotated in English.

Permanent Court of Arbitration

Official website of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which hears disputes between States, between States and private parties and between international organisations. PCA awards and other case documentation are available on the site, together with details of pending cases. UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) cases arbitrated under the auspices of the PCA are also provided. The Documents and Resources section includes the basic PCA conventions, model clauses and procedural rules, together with a collection of conventions and other instruments referring to the PCA.

Council of European Municipalities and Regions

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions was established in 1951. It is a federation of national local government associations within Europe who believe that local authorities have a major role to play in European integration. Its official website contains information on the purpose and current activities of the group. This includes a diary of forthcoming events, details of the impact of European integration on local government, publications and information on recent and forthcoming local elections in Europe.

One Europe or Several? The Dynamics of Change Across Europe

This is the website of an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) programme which studied several areas of change and development within contemporary Europe. It ended in 2003. The programme aimed to examine " ... contemporary processes of political, security, economic, social and cultural change across the European continent, notably in relation to influences on convergence and divergence within and between European countries and prospects for integration and fragmentation." One Europe or Several?

Historical Archives of the European Union

Website of the Historical Archives of the European Union, which is based at the European University Institute in Italy. It consists substantially of bibliographic references to official documents produced by the major EU/EC institutions, including: the European Economic Community, the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Atomic Energy Community, the Council of Ministers, the European Commission and the European Parliament. Despite its name, however, it also covers archives relating to non-EU/EC bodies and archives acquired from individuals.

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe is an institution of the Council of Europe. Its website provides details on its functions and recent programmes. It also contains a collection of documents, including the Congress's statutory texts, charters and conventions, minutes of plenary sessions, timetables of forthcoming meetings and the Congress's yearbook. The site is in English or French.

United Nations Security Council

The United Nations Security Council has responsibility under the UN Charter for maintaining international security and peace by taking military actions against aggressors and applying sanctions. Its website provides information on the functions of the Security Council, including its rules of procedure, and role within the UN as a whole. It also includes a list of current members and the full-text of a large number of its documents.

Council of Europe (ETS No.126) - European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

The full-text of the Convention that "provides for the setting up of an international committee empowered to visit all places where persons are deprived of their liberty by a public authority. The committee, composed of independent experts, may make recommendations and suggest improvements in order to strengthen, if necessary, the protection of persons visited from torture and from inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

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