Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. This thought-provoking introduction provides an incisive overview of dignity law, a field of law emerging in every region of the globe that touches all significant aspects of the human experience. Through an examination of the burgeoning case law in this area, James R. May and Erin Daly reveal a strong overlapping consensus surrounding the meaning of human dignity as a legal right and a fundamental value of nations large and small, and how this global jurisprudence is redefining the relationship between individuals and the state. Key features include: Analyses of cases from a range of jurisdictions all over the world A history of the shift of the concept of dignity from a philosophical idea to a legally enforceable right Discussion of dignity as a value and a right in different major legal contexts, and its roots in African, Asian, European and Islamic traditions. This Advanced Introduction will be invaluable to scholars and students of law, particularly those interested in human rights, looking to understand this emerging area of law. It will inform lawyers, judges, policymakers and other advocates interested in how dignity and the law can be used to protect everyone, including the most vulnerable among us.

This book investigates the law's approach to suicide in England and Wales. It explores the seismic shift in perceptions of the law's role in respect of suicide from imprisonment as a punishment for attempting suicide, to courts hearing arguments about whether there is not only a right to suicide but also a right to assistance in suicide. This development stands alongside a global recognition of suicide prevention as a public health priority. In this book, the dual priorities of respect for autonomy and the protection of human life are recognised as equally important and the legal issues surrounding suicide in a range of different contemporary contexts, including suicide in prison and juvenile suicide, are considered. The book also investigates what the relationship between mental health and suicide means for its legal regulation, and evaluates the enduring legal offence of assisted suicide, particularly in the context of the terminally ill. It is argued that a more refined approach to the topic of voluntary death should be recognised in the law; one that distinguishes more clearly between autonomous decision-making about the end of life, and incapacitated self-caused risks to life that require effective preventative interventions.

Global Legislation for Food Contact Materials, Second Edition, provides the latest regulatory updates, advances and developments on the main materials used for food contact in terms of the global legislation in place to ensure their safe and effective use. Food contact materials such as packaging, storage containers and processing surfaces can pose a substantial hazard to both food manufacturer and consumer due to the migration of chemicals or other substances from the material to the food, which can cause tainting of flavours and other sensory characteristics, or even illness. Offering a comprehensive introduction to global legislation for food contact materials, this book looks in detail at the legislation for specific food contact materials and their advantages, hazards and use in industry. It covers a broad area of global legislation, including plastic, coatings, regenerated cellulose, rubber, bioplastics, active and intelligent packaging materials, and recycled plastics in contact with food. It also includes expert analysis of future trends in global food packaging regulation. Global Legislation for Food Contact Materials, Second Edition, is a key reference text for R&D managers and safety assessment/quality control managers in food and beverage packaging, equipment manufacturers and food processors, as well as legal staff in food industry and academics with a research interest in this area.

This forward-thinking book examines numerous features in the European Union (EU) legal system that serve to reduce legal uncertainty in the preliminary reference procedure and the rulings of the Court of Justice. Drawing on theories from legal realist Karl Llewellyn, legal steadying factors such as legal doctrine and interpretative techniques are reviewed alongside the primary focus of this book, extra-legal steadying factors. As well as focusing on the contribution made by judges' legal backgrounds, John Cotter also investigates the role of the balance between institutional and personal independence and accountability. He further applies Karl Llewellyn's approach and re-models it into a European setting, identifying the EU legal system features that assist in promoting decisional steadiness in the preliminary reference procedure. Exploring also the significance of procedural rules and practices at the Court of Justice in steadying outcomes, this book will be an excellent resource for scholars of the EU legal system. Its analysis of the role of factors that steady the rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Union will also make this a useful read for legal theorists interested in examining the factors that influence judicial decision-making.

In a digitally connected world, the question of how to respect, protect and fulfil human rights has become unavoidable. Uniting research from scholars and practitioners, this contemporary Handbook offers new insights into well-established debates surrounding digital technologies by framing them in terms of human rights. An international group of expert contributors explore the issues posed by the management of key Internet resources, the governance of its architecture, the role of different stakeholders, the legitimacy of rule-making and rule-enforcement, and the exercise of international public authority over users. Highly interdisciplinary, the Handbook draws on law, political science, and international relations, as well as computer science and science and technology studies in order to engage with human rights aspects of the digitally connected world. The chapters examine in depth current topics relating to human rights and security, internet access, surveillance, automation, trade, and freedom of expression. This comprehensive and engaging Handbook will be vital reading for both researchers and students in law, human rights, international politics, international relations and technology studies. Policy-makers seeking an understanding of the state of human rights in technology will also find this book a highly useful resource. Contributors include: W. Benedek, D. Bigo, D. Brodowski, G. Contissa, P. de Hert, M. Dunn Cavelty, T. Engelhardt, B. Farrand, M I. Franklin, M.I. Ganesh, M. Graham, S. Horth, L. Jasmontaite, R.F. Jorgensen, C. Kavanagh, M.C. Kettemann, D. Korff, G. Lansdown, E. Light, S. Livingstone, A. Millikan, J.A. Obar, G. Sartor, G. Sobliye, A. Third, M. Tuszynski, K. Vieth, B. Wagner, T. Wetzling, M. Zalnieriute