(Dec. 5, 2017) On November 30, 2017, the New Zealand Parliament voted to pass legislation that will see the current paid parental leave entitlement of 18 weeks extended in two stages: to 22 weeks from July 1, 2018, and then to 26 weeks from July 1, 2020. (Parental Leave and Employment Protection Amendment Bill, PARLIAMENT […]
Topic: Child health, Children, Family, Workers safety and health
(June 13, 2017) On May 19, 2017, the Italian Parliament approved the Decree-Law Containing Urgent Measures on the Compulsory Vaccination of Children, which makes vaccinations mandatory for children as a condition of school registration. (Italy Makes Childhood Vaccinations Compulsory, FRANCE24 (May 19, 2007); Decree-Law No. 73 of June 7, 2017, Urgent Provisions on Vaccine Prevention, GAZZETTA UFFICIALE (June 7, 2017), […]
Topic: Child health, Children's rights, Health, Health care funding, Health promotion and preventive care, Infectious and parasitic diseases
(Apr. 24, 2017) On April 12, 2017, three laws related to the treatment of women during childbirth and its aftermath were adopted in Brazil. Law No. 13.434 amends article 292 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to prohibit the use of handcuffs on pregnant women inmates during medical and hospital preparatory procedures for delivery and […]
Topic: Child health, Prisoners' rights, Women's rights
(Dec. 9, 2015) On December 4, 2015, the German Bundestag (parliament) debated a draft act that would prohibit the sale to and consumption of electronic cigarettes and electronic shishas by children and adolescents under 18 years of age. (Entwurf eines Gesetzes zum Schutz von Kindern und Jugendlichen vor den Gefahren des Konsums von elektronischen Zigaretten […]
(Nov. 24, 2015) On November 23, 2015, the Australian federal Parliament passed the Social Services Legislation Amendment (No Jab, No Pay) Bill 2015. (Parliament of Australia website (last visited Nov. 23, 2015).) The effect of the bill is that, from January 1, 2016, parents will no longer be able to claim a conscientious objection in […]
Topic: Child health, Child welfare, Children, Family, Health, Public health, Right to refuse medical treatment, Social welfare
(June 23, 2015) On March 20, 2015, the Conseil constitutionnel (Constitutional Council) found that the French legal requirement for parents to have their children vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and poliomyelitis was constitutionally valid. (Conseil Constitutionnel (Constitutional Council), Decision No. 2015-458 QPC, Epoux L. (Mar. 20, 2015), Conseil Constitutionnel website.) The Conseil constitutionnel is the French […]
Topic: Child health, Health promotion and preventive care, Public health
(May 7, 2015) The National Council for Medically Assisted Procreation (Conselho Nacional de Procriação Medicamente Assistida) of Portugal for the first time authorized a couple whose five-year-old daughter suffers from leukemia to have a baby, selected from laboratory-generated embryos, who would be able to be a bone marrow donor compatible with his or her older […]
(Mar. 9, 2015) The Danish Parliament is now considering a proposal to tighten regulations on the purchase of electronic cigarettes and vape pens. Under the legislation being considered, Denmark would outlaw the sale of these products to children under the age of 18. According to Nick Haekkerup, the Minister of Health, such devices act as […]
(Nov. 13, 2014) On July 28, 2014, the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) passed the Food Quality and Proper Nutrition in Educational Institutions Inspection Law, 5774-2014 (Food Quality Law). (SEFER HAHUKIM [Book of Laws, SH] 5774 No. 2470 p. 762, Knesset website (Aug. 7, 2014).) The Law requires the Minister of Education, in consultation with the Minister […]
Topic: Administrative law and regulatory procedures, Child health, Education, Food safety, Health
(July 16, 2014) On April 11, 2014, the District Administrative Court in Linköping, Sweden, granted a petition by the Socialnämnd (Social Welfare Committee) to take a 14 year-old youth into protective care based on his excessive gaming. (14-åring tvångsvårdas för datorspelande – “socialt nedbrytande situation,” DAGENS JURIDIK (Apr. 16, 2014).) The child had not attended […]
