DUBLIN REGULATION

Couple of weeks a go, I saw this extremely disturbing documentary about European Union's border patrol. Now, when I say disturbing, I really mean a video footage that you honestly can't view with out thinking or at least saying couple hundred of times these three words: " Oh. My. God" and at the same time trying to gasp for air. 

You'll come to learn that the way these asylum seekers are treated in the borders is the most disgusting and  inhuman way possible that one can be treated like without anyone finding out. But that just it. Somebody did find out, and they even made a documentary about it. Vice News has done very good job with this documentary, and I honestly couldn't agree with them more when they show that Europe hasn't done really good job with handling this sort of crisis.

 I don't in any way indicate that I know better, or I know where the EU budget should be put to use, but what happens in Europe really concerns us as a society. We learn from our leaders, from our governments and being naive and thinking that European Union has this "master plan" to handle this  crisis in couple of years time is completely ludicrous. This is only going to get worse. This is two-sided situation that not only effects our laws and up coming regulations, but also our economic balance.

(This is the documentary.)

Now, what really is the topic of this post is the Dublin Regulation that will be the main issue (in legal mind of course) of the documentary. I still haven't studied European Union law that thoroughly in the University to even know understand this regulation in the whole picture, but I did try to find out what it really means and I sort of did. 

The definition of Dublin Regulation is,

The objective of this Regulation is to identify as quickly as possible the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application, and to prevent abuse of asylum procedures.

ACT

Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 of 18 February 2003 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national.

This Regulation establishes the principle that only one Member State is responsible for examining an asylum application. The objective is to avoid asylum seekers from being sent from one country to another, and also to prevent abuse of the system by the submission of several applications for asylum by one person.

The objective and hierarchical criteria are therefore defined in order to identify the Member State responsible for each asylum application.

Meaning that the Member State, as the European country that is member of the EU, has a right to make sure the asylum seeker, when given the asylum place in that country, cannot abuse the welfare laws of the country or any other EU country. This, in a way, is a good thing, right? But, will that not cost more to the EU? These people that come to EU are people in need of the medical attention, a place to live in, work, education and lot more.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm all about human rights and making sure everyone has equal rights to live the life they were given. But there is the humanitarian clause in Dublin Regulation that according to this documentary is not adding up. And I don't want anyone that comes fro outside of EU think that this is a paradise for them. Things here are lot better, I know that. But living the life that is shown in the documentary is not worth it when you have people that depends on you. But then again, who am I to determine what is better life, when I haven't even walked a single mile in their shoes.

Here is couple links you should check if this issue interest you: 

http://europeanlawblog.eu/?p=1271

http://unyouknow.org/2014/07/13/the-european-asylum-policy-failure-of-the-dublin-iii-regulation/

- Narcissa

what matters the most

For a period of time I've been thinking  of doing this. What exactly? Well, I'm going to fully upgrade my blog. Especially about I will be writing about soon; What matters the most. -- Our society. 

I'm going to turn this blog into a real law students view of what really matters. For those who've been following me from the start, you probably know that I write what I feel that roubles me at the moment. Usually, it's related to something that I've experienced. But I want to change that now, the  whole blog into more solemn, sensible and rational ground where I can freely write about the events of the world. Things and ideas that concerns human rights, international law and criminal justice. 

I'll be sort of journalist/legal columnist writing thoroughly from, and I emphasise,  a law students point of view.

I've gained a lot readers from all around world, and I'm very, honestly, very grateful for that. Because now I know that write about have somehow had helped others. Or you, as reader have enjoyed it to stay with me on this journey, if I can call it that. 

Now that I have more time, I'll be seriously putting more effort (almost nonstop) in writing about all the things that I find interesting in legal mind.

Thank you. 

xoxo Narcissa 

Just Another Day.

A lot goes on, until suddenly we realise that it doesn't mean that much as we thought at first. I always thought that our strength comes not only from within but from our surroundings as well, to be quite honest I still believe that. But lately my faith in specific feelings has shaken. I've lost the the hold of who I am. I don't mean it as all the time, just when I'm around certain people. 

How can a total stranger make you feel these amazing feelings, yet you don't seem to be that important to them as they are to you. Not because they're there but because these feelings came when they were there. Around you, inspiring you, showing their worlds. How amazing is that. A blessing, truly. I see lives changing everyday, sometimes to worse but always to better. Every step I go, I walk further from being 'the one who knew' to 'the one who once knew'... 

I still have so much to learn, so much to see, I even a have a booklist that I know I'm not able to finish and it grows everyday. Same as the stories of all those seven billion people, and counting, who are all equally important in this pattern that we call 'life'. 

When will I truly be able to change lives. The answer for that is that I already have, and keep changing them. 

Because I'm more than more words, more than my actions. I'm human being. 

Today I wish to end this post with no quote, or pictures. Because sometimes this is enough to spread the message. As simple as it is. It's enough.

Have a blessed week!

xoxo Narcissa 

Mistakes are all worth it, trust me.

During our lifetime, we tend to make mistakes rather more than we expect ourselves to make. Today as I feared that my career my took another turn, I now have come to realise that it doesn't have to be that frightening as we make it sound. Yes, I might have missed couple great opportunities, but hey I'm still young and bold. I get other chances to rise again. Don't we all get? 

It doesn't matter how many times you get punched on the ground, it truly doesn't, because only thing that really matters is how many times you get up on your own everytime you're down. It matters, to me at least. Because that is how your own strenght is measured. I'm not claming by any means that getting help is not seen as important as helping yourself. I'm here to define how I, myself, see the measure of our own strenght.

I'm still learning, and I'll keep learning everyday till the last day of my life. I am proud to admit that even I make mistakes all the time. I might not be perfect, and I don't want to be. And I'm not yet where I want to be in mylife, but I'm getting there. Slowly, step by step I'm actually getting there. Now I realise that I've just taken another route. The whole road is really bumpy. But I feel so blessed. 

 

Happy Easter Friday everyone!

xoxo Narcissa

All equal under the law?

I know... My studies have taken most of my time and for a reason. I'm trying to build my future here. My solid empire from a scratch, so to speak. But then again writing comes naturally to me and it's easy for me to just write, so blogging should be easy?

Anyways back to the point. Couple days a go I had a chance to participate in our class's very own moot court. It was one of those moments where you realise that this is it. This is my calling. I genuinely felt that. 

I was appointed to represent the government and to argue whether freedom of expression can be limited. Along with my colleague, we argued that yes, in certain cases it can be. That is simply logic answer. But is it still humane enough to argue that when we have so called universal human rights? 

Now don't get me wrong, I intent to study human rights law in the near future and possibly do a career in that field. But the whole case wasn't about basic human rights even though the other side tried to argue that regardless of the truth.

The case was about yellow journalism, and the journalis had an intention of destroying city officials and their reputation. When we argued that in certain cases freedom of expression can be restricted, we ment exactly moments like this, where someone accuses other person for allegedly doing something that never took a place. This was case,where person of media bullies whole the bunch of people just because they're not doing their job good enough in their opinion, shouldn't be allowed. 

But that is naiive of me to say isn't it? Anyway it just made me think that sometimes even though facts are on your side, people aren't. We ended up losing the case, because in Finland human rights are very, very important and they're not taken for granted. 

Here is a great video I found online explained what human rights really are. 

To all my readers, hope you're Monday started greatly.

It's finally spring here in Finland! 

xoxo Narcissa

The craziest spring yet...

So obviously, you as a reader, have witnessed me being gone for a while. Don't worry I'm okay, I think? Seriously, I'm okay, it's just this spring I'm going to be constantly on the move and have a loads of school stuff to do, and I've never been this busy, which is awesome!

I love being busy. Doing constantly something. It's just in my nature. If you put me on a pedestal and leave me to be there for while, you'll find that pedestal to be broken in a short time. 

A lot of things regarding the school has happened. But I've also grown along the way, which makes me wonder am I going too fast? I want to enjoy every moment but as a law student sometimes that possibility is not an option. So you end up looking back and remembering the great times you had. 

 Have a great week everyone, and don't forget to shoot for the stars.

Chao!
 Narcissa xoxo