Legal Dialogue

The Hungarian government has proposed a draft law that would prevent citizens from legally changing their gender. EU lawmakers and the Council of Europe criticise the bill and warn that it will cause greater discrimination towards transgender people.

Source: Euractiv

Moscow residents can now register with City Hall to receive digital passes required to drive or ride anywhere in the capital or its surrounding region. The new digital passes will be required, beginning on Wednesday, April 15. They are necessary only for vehicular travel.

Source: Meduza

French authorities have released inmates from overcrowded prisons as part of efforts to deal with the coronavirus outbreak but others have seen their detentions extended as trial dates are suspended. The International Prison Observatory alleges that prisoners' rights are being curtailed as authorities implement new emergency rules to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: France24

The UK home secretary Priti Patel has refused pleas to accept more unaccompanied children from the refugee camps on the Greek islands. Holding facilities on all five Aegean isles are currently six times over capacity, coronavirus outbreak in the camps, where social distancing is impossible for many, could prompt a public health emergency.

Source: The Guardian

The Russian Investigative Committee said it will open a criminal case into the recent removal of a controversial statue of a Soviet World War II marshal in the Czech capital, Prague. The committee would investigate the alleged "defiling of symbols of Russia's military glory”, although it has no legal jurisdiction in the Czech Republic.

Source: RFE/RL

Northern Ireland authorities confirmed that abortions can now be carried out in the province’s hospitals, following threatened legal action by pro-choice groups. Health officials signaled that terminations could go ahead after allegations that local anti-choice politicians were stalling implementation of a ruling that provided for services to be introduced by the end of March.

Source: The Guardian

During the pandemic, lawyers and advocates around the world are taking action to protect incarcerated individuals and those facing trial through the courts—and some of their legal strategies are saving lives.

Source: Bloomberg Law

Under a draft law, immigrants living in Germany under a false name would later find it extremely difficult to become citizens. The government's changes could also hamper children's chances of citizenship.

Source: DW

Law and Justice party has proposed changing the constitution to extend President Andrzej Duda’s term by two years because of threats related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: Reuters