The absolute prohibition of torture is an unconditional and immeasurably important idea of modern constitutionalism and international human rights law. It is not merely a norm enshrined in Article 3 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, but also the philosophical foundation of the functioning of the modern state: a…
Category: European Union
Major Raid Targets Human Trafficking and Tax Evasion Network in Germany
On November 13, 2025, German authorities conducted a major coordinated raid targeting a suspected human trafficking and tax evasion network, deploying between 600 and 700 law enforcement personnel across multiple locations in Baden-Württemberg and Berlin. The operation, which has now concluded, involved customs officers, federal police, and tax investigators working in concert, according to the…
Europol: 54 Individuals Arrested in Action Against Labour Exploitation
Over the last weeks, law enforcement, border guards and labour and tax authorities across Europe joined forces to identify and tackle labour exploitation. This recent edition of the EMPACT Joint Action Days targeted trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation purposes, with a special emphasis on the agricultural sector, gastronomy, and temporary work agencies. In…
Europol: Bosnians Among Mercenaries Wanted for Ukraine War Crimes
Bosnian citizens are among 654 alleged members of Russian mercenary companies Wagner and Redut suspected of committing war crimes in Ukraine, said the European police agency Europol. On October 31, 2025, the European police agency Europol said that an unnamed number of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who allegedly fought with Russian ‘private military companies’…
Sweden Plans to Establish Prisons for Young People Aged 13 and Above
In Sweden, offenders as young as 13 will be placed in youth prisons starting next summer. Some time ago, the government commissioned the National Prison and Probation Service to create sections in prisons for 15- to 17-year-olds who have committed serious crimes. This task is now being expanded to include 13- and 14-year-olds, according to…
France: Two Men Arrested Over Theft of Jewels at Louvre Museum
Two suspects have been arrested over the theft of precious crown jewels from Paris’s Louvre museum.The Paris prosecutor’s office said one of the men had been taken into custody as he was preparing to take a flight from Charles de Gaulle Airport. Items worth €88m (£76m; $102m) were taken from the world’s most-visited museum last…
Germany to Allow Police to Shoot Down Drones
Police in Germany will soon be allowed to shoot down drones that are violating German airspace. The cabinet agreed the law after disruptions to airports across Europe — including Germany — by rogue drones. The legislation still requires parliamentary approval. Germany is facing a growing threat from unauthorized drones, after sightings near Munich Airport stranded…
Rita Haverkamp, Frederik Kohler: Who Accepts What During the Crisis? Results From an Online Survey on the Acceptance of COVID-19 Protective Measures (in German)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, government emergency measures restricted fundamental rights to an unprecedented extent. Containing coronavirus infections depended entirely on the willingness of the population to comply with these rules. The acceptance of emergency measures among the population fluctuated. This raises the question of who accepts and complies with such emergency rules and under what…
Report Finds That Gardaí Violated Garda Policies and Human Rights Obligations When Policing Protest
The Irish Network of Legal Observers has today published its first report on a recent protest which took place in the vicinity of Dublin’s port tunnel on Saturday 4 October 2025. The new Network, which is co-convened by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the University…
Finnish Government: AI Helps in Proactive Policing
The FERMI project has developed an AI-based tool that can help police identify threats early and plan preventive actions. Disinformation has served as a testbed for the project. Social media and online environments have changed how information is communicated and enabled the rapid spread of fake news and disinformation. Misinformation spread online can, for example,…