CYIL vol. 15 (2024)

PREFACE

Dear Readers, I have the great pleasure to introduce already the fifteenth issue of the Czech Yearbook of Public & Private International Law (CYIL). Volume 15 appears, as usual, in the end of autumn, which is the typical time for the readers of this Yearbook who are interested in the developments in international law. The Czech Yearbook was established by the Czech Society of International Law in 2010. It was done thanks to the Board and the members of this association of Czech international lawyers, both academics and practitioners, who felt a lacuna of such a specialized journal or yearbook. Since 2014, the Czech Yearbook has been published by the international publishers, RW&W, Science & New Media, Passau-Berlin-Praha, which, in cooperation with Süd Ost Service, ensures its distribution in Germany and Western Europe. As you know, the CSIL publishes the Yearbook in both printed and electronic versions (www.cyil.eu). Since 2015, the Czech Yearbook has been included in the Czech index of scholarly peer-reviewed journals (RVVI) and in the SCOPUS international database. This growth of the Czech Yearbook ranks it among the larger publications of its kind in an international comparison. However, in spite of the significant rise of publishing costs, we are proud to announce that this publication is still available for free for members of the Czech Society of International Law (included in the membership fee) and on sale for a very reasonable price. We will try to improve it to allow for the full open access of the electronic version. As usual, Volume 15 (2024) presents a variety of studies and articles covering many issues of contemporary international and European law. This year, we commemorate 30 years from the entry into force of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) and 70 years of the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (1954). The Yearbook therefore begins with the studies that address issues related to the issues of the UNCLOS and stateless persons. Other studies relate to the influence of the OECD on EU legislation, restitution of cultural objects, or some decisions of international administrative tribunal (ILOAT). The readers will also find many other traditional sections here, including human rights law. This section includes, in addition to the study on the protection from violence of persons with disabilities, articles on human rights and the environment, unaccompanied minors in asylum law, as well as analyses of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights concerning lawyer’s confidentiality or the concept of “apology of terrorism”. A section of international criminal law presents articles focused on prosecuting “hate speech” before the Nuremberg Tribunal and the right of appeal in criminal matters. In the section on international law and European law, the readers will find articles concerning whistleblower protection in Europe, the new pro-sustainability consumer protection directive, and direct effect of international treaty provisions in the EU law. As in previous years, the CYIL also presents special sections on international nuclear law that includes four very topical contributions. According to its tradition, Volume 15 of the CYIL also covers some aspects of international trade law and private international law, such as the issues of force majeure ( vis maior ) in

XI