Vol. 8 No. 03 (2026): Volume 08 Issue 03

Terrorism and insurgency in Northeast Nigeria persistently threaten national stability and human security, highlighting the limitations of traditional militarised counter-terrorism strategies. Community-based policing structures, exemplified by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have become essential collaborators in intelligence gathering, early warning systems, and fostering community trust. Despite their effectiveness, these initiatives encounter ongoing institutional, legal, and sustainability challenges that restrict their incorporation into Nigeria’s national counter-terrorism framework. This study analyses the effectiveness of community-based policing in combating terrorism in Northeast Nigeria, emphasising its operational efficiency, institutional and policy backing, legal challenges, and stakeholder views on sustainability. Guided by the Community-Oriented Policing (COP) Model, which highlights collaboration, problem resolution, and decentralisation, the study utilised a quantitative research method. Structured questionnaires were distributed to 67 respondents in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States. Data were collected through Google Forms and analysed using descriptive statistics, which are presented in bar charts. The findings indicate that community policing significantly enhances intelligence gathering, with over 90% agreement, improves early warning systems, and fosters collaboration between communities and law enforcement. Less than half of respondents indicated sufficient institutional support, legal clarity, or funding. The majority viewed community policing as both sustainable and vital to Nigeria's counter-terrorism strategy, despite existing constraints. The study concludes that the formal institutionalisation, funding, and policy integration of community policing are essential for enhancing counter-terrorism efforts in Nigeria's Northeast.

This article examines the key conceptual principles of the new edition of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the concepts of a sovereign state, a rule-of-law state, and a secular state, as well as their role within the constitutional framework. The study also explores new provisions and concepts introduced in the revised Constitution that were absent in the previous edition, highlighting their significance for the development of state governance, societal progress, and the protection of human rights.

This article examines the emerging Uzbek model of executive representation in the legislature through the institution of the Authorized Representative of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Oliy Majlis. The study argues that this institution reflects a broader transformation in executive–legislative relations: from a predominantly formal understanding of separation of powers toward structured procedural cooperation between the Government and Parliament. The article analyses the constitutional and statutory foundations of the institution, its legal nature, functional role in law-making, parliamentary oversight and government accountability, and its place within the broader evolution of Uzbekistan’s public law system. Particular attention is given to the distinction between parliamentary oversight actors and executive actors that facilitate the Government’s participation in oversight procedures. The article also places the Uzbek model in a comparative perspective by examining how different constitutional systems organise communication between the executive and the legislature. It concludes that the Authorized Representative is not a parliamentary body, not a member of the legislature, and not an independent subject of parliamentary oversight, but rather a special governmental official responsible for ensuring institutional liaison, procedural coordination and timely information exchange between the Cabinet of Ministers and the chambers of the Oliy Majlis. The article suggests that further development of this institution should focus on clearer statutory regulation, digital monitoring of inter-institutional procedures, analytical standards for governmental responses, and safeguards preserving parliamentary independence.

AI, a technology, has grown from a technological innovation into a political power tool that is central to governance, governance, and international influence. In the modern world, AI systems help us produce, distribute and perceive information that changes the relations between citizens, governments, and state. This paper discusses the complex role that AI plays in global politics from election manipulation and propaganda to cyber warfare, digital surveillance and transnational crime. The passage suggests that politics is heard in today’s interconnected world, as AI technologies have permeated nearly all aspects of human interaction, teetering on the cusp of political communication, control, and persuasion via algorithmic and data-driven interactions. The research combines theoretical analysis and real-world validation using approaches such as technopolitics, algorithmic governance, political communication theory to provide an explanation of the role of AI as politically active actor and technological tool of power. The paper draws on case studies and examples of AI using countries and political entities to gain strategic advantage. In Russia AI has played a role in disinformation campaigns, false media manipulation and social media manipulation that aims to influence foreign elections and undermine democratic power. In the US, AI-driven data analytics and sentiment modeling has revolutionized political campaigns that allow users to target hyper-personalized voters while simultaneously being concerned with privacy and manipulation. In Bangladesh, it was reports about the Awami League’s use of AI-assisted bot networks and synthetic content in digital media that unshowhe growing use of artificial intelligence in shaping domestic political discourse.

This article examines reproductive rights as one of the most important structural elements of somatic rights. It argues that the protection of the human body in law cannot be understood only through the categories of physical inviolability or medical consent in a narrow sense. Reproductive rights reveal a broader legal reality: the body is also a sphere of existential choice, moral agency, dignity, and identity. For that reason, reproduction should be analysed not merely as a medical or demographic matter, but as a central dimension of somatic self-determination. The article develops a theoretical account of the relationship between somatic rights and reproductive rights by drawing on bioethics, human rights law, and European jurisprudence. It engages the ideas of John A. Robertson, Rebecca J. Cook, Bernard M. Dickens, Catherine Mills, and other scholars who have shaped the modern understanding of reproductive autonomy. Particular attention is given to the concepts of bodily integrity, procreative liberty, informed consent, reproductive justice, and positive state obligations. The article concludes that reproductive rights constitute not a peripheral branch of personal rights, but one of the clearest legal expressions of somatic autonomy. At the same time, the article argues that a purely choice-based understanding of reproductive freedom is insufficient. A mature theory of somatic rights must integrate dignity, vulnerability, equality, and access to conditions that make meaningful reproductive decision-making possible.

This article is devoted to a theoretical and comparative legal analysis of the optional characteristics of the offender in criminal law. The study examines in detail the legal nature of the offender’s optional characteristics, their role in the qualification of crimes, and their significance in the process of sentencing. The author substantiates the distinctions between the optional characteristics of the offender and the characteristics of a special offender, revealing their informative function as well as their role in the individualization of criminal liability. Based on an analysis of the norms of national criminal legislation and the criminal laws of certain foreign states, as well as the views of leading foreign scholars, the article elucidates the theoretical foundations for taking into account the offender’s personal traits, behavior before and after the commission of a crime, and the factors that led to the commission of the offense when imposing punishment. As a result of the research, a number of theoretical and practical proposals aimed at improving the provisions of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan relating to sentencing are put forward.

This article analyzes the experience of Eastern and Western foreign countries in countering ideological threats targeting the consciousness of youth. The study examines the main forms and mechanisms of ideological threats, as well as state and societal measures aimed at their neutralization. Particular attention is given to a comparative analysis of approaches used by Eastern and Western countries, including legal, educational, cultural-educational, and informational mechanisms of counteraction. Based on the study of foreign experience, both common and distinctive features of the applied models, as well as their advantages and limitations, are identified. The article concludes with practical recommendations for adapting the most effective foreign practices, taking into account national and socio-cultural characteristics.

In contemporary legal systems, notarial work has a unique role as an institutional instrument designed to avoid problems rather than settle them after they arise. This article explores notarial practice as a kind of preventative justice, emphasizing its practical relevance, conceptual underpinnings, and current issues. The legal character of notarial actions, their evidential value, and their function in maintaining civil circulation stability, legal certainty, and the defense of rights and legitimate interests are all examined in this paper. The evolution of notarial functions in light of globalization, digitization, and the growing complexity of legal relationships is given special consideration. The study emphasizes how notaries can lessen the strain on the courts by resolving any disputes early on via legal advice, certification, and authentication. The article also highlights important issues, such as the need of integrating electronic notarial systems, harmonizing laws, and adjusting to cross-border legal contacts. The results show that notarial work is still crucial for upholding the rule of law and preserving confidence in legal transactions as a component of preventative justice.

Transnational crime has become a defining feature of insecurity in the Sahel, where porous borders, fragile institutions, and persistent insurgencies converge. Criminal activities such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism financing sustain extremist groups while eroding governance and stability. The problem lies in the crime–terror nexus, where illicit economies provide both financial lifelines and logistical infrastructure for insurgent movements, creating self-reinforcing cycles of violence and displacement. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between transnational crime and insecurity in the Sahel. Its objectives are to identify major forms of crime, analyze their impact on violence and governance, and assess regional variations and responses. The study is significant as it contributes to global security scholarship and offers policy-relevant insights for actors such as the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the United Nations. The scope covers Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, Senegal, and Northern Nigeria. Guided by the Crime–Terror Nexus Theory, the study employs a qualitative-descriptive methodology based on secondary data from UNODC, ISS Africa, OECD, and peer-reviewed sources. Findings reveal that crime hotspots overlap with insecurity zones, with illicit gold trade, drug trafficking, and migrant smuggling sustaining armed groups while weakening state institutions. Recommendations emphasize strengthening border governance, tackling corruption, disrupting extremist financing, providing socio- economic alternatives, enhancing regional cooperation, and promoting community engagement. The study concludes that dismantling the crime–terror nexus requires integrated strategies combining security, governance, and development to achieve sustainable peace and resilience in the Sahel.

This article investigates the evolution of legаl terminologу in internаtionаl lаw concerning the unаuthorized shаring of рrivаte intimаte imаges. It critiques the term "revenge рorn" аs insufficient, аrguing thаt it overlooks the diverse motivаtions behind such аcts аnd minimizes the рrofound  hаrm inflicted on victims. The studу eхаmines the trаnsition towаrd more аccurаte frаmeworks, including "imаge-bаsed аbuse" аnd "technologу-fаcilitаted seхuаl violence." Sрecific аttention is directed to emerging threаts рosed bу аrtificiаl intelligence, раrticulаrlу deeрfаkes, аnd the terminologicаl рrovisions оutlined in the UN Hаnoi convention. The рарer аdvocаtes for stаndаrdized terminologу аs essentiаl for strengthening legаl рrotections for victims.

This article explores the legal framework surrounding disputes related to state registration and the refusal to transfer data. It traces the historical development of court proceedings in this area, highlighting significant legal doctrines and principles that have shaped current practices. The author analyzes relevant case law, statutory provisions, and administrative regulations, providing a comprehensive overview of how courts interpret and adjudicate these disputes. Additionally, the article addresses the implications of evolving technology and data protection laws on the judicial process, offering insights into potential reforms and future directions for legal practice in this domain.

This paper examines the legal implications of artificial intelligence (AI) development within the framework of public international law. Employing a doctrinal and comparative legal methodology, it surveys the principal international and regional regulatory instruments currently governing AI — including the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act, the OECD Principles on Artificial Intelligence, and UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence — alongside national frameworks in Uzbekistan, the United States, and China. The paper further analyses the unresolved question of AI's legal personhood and liability, using the landmark Fraley v. Facebook (2015) biometric data case as illustrative jurisprudence. Findings indicate that no jurisdiction currently recognises AI as an independent legal subject; liability continues to rest with human developers, operators, and users. The paper concludes that a single binding multilateral instrument is necessary to address jurisdictional fragmentation, protect digital human rights, and anticipate future technological developments.

The establishment of an effective public administration system in the field of intellectual property constitutes one of the fundamental prerequisites for promoting innovation, ensuring legal certainty, attracting investment, and fostering sustainable economic development. Since gaining independence, the Republic of Uzbekistan has implemented comprehensive administrative and legal reforms aimed at creating an effective institutional framework for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. This article examines the evolution of Uzbekistan's public administration system in the field of intellectual property from both institutional and legal perspectives. The study analyzes the development of authorized state institutions, the impact of international intellectual property treaties on national legislation, and the consequences of successive administrative reforms implemented between 1991 and the present. Existing scholarly approaches to the periodization of public administration reforms are critically assessed, and an alternative three-stage model of institutional development is proposed. Particular attention is devoted to the relationship between legal protection, institutional capacity, law enforcement mechanisms, and inter-agency coordination in ensuring effective intellectual property governance. The article argues that the effectiveness of public administration cannot be evaluated solely through institutional restructuring but should also be measured by the practical implementation of intellectual property legislation, enforcement efficiency, and compliance with international standards. The findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of intellectual property governance and provide practical recommendations for further improving Uzbekistan's intellectual property administration system in accordance with contemporary international practices.

Judicial oversight of investigative measures is a core safeguard for the protection of human rights in contemporary criminal procedure. The expansion of investigative powers and the increasing reliance on digital evidence have made such oversight particularly important at the pre-trial stage. This article examines the legal nature of judicial oversight of investigative measures and analyzes comparative models of judicial supervision in criminal justice systems. Particular attention is paid to the development of judicial oversight in Uzbekistan and to the need to strengthen procedural safeguards in the digital age. The study combines doctrinal legal analysis, comparative legal methodology, and a review of international scholarship on criminal procedure. The findings suggest that effective mechanisms of judicial oversight enhance procedural fairness, reduce the risk of disproportionate interference with fundamental rights, and reinforce the rule of law.

This article comprehensively analyzes the scientific and practical significance of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in ensuring justice. The advantages and risks of applying artificial intelligence in the judicial sphere are considered using the example of world experience - the USA, the European Union, France, Singapore, and Estonia, which is the most successful example of digital statehood in the world. Based on the tasks set forth in the Address of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Oliy Majlis in December 2025, three scientifically based strategic proposals for the digitalization of judicial justice have been developed.

This article examines criminal liability for coercing a woman into marriage or continued marital cohabitation, as well as for obstructing her right to marry. It further offers a comparative analysis of the relevant legislative approaches in Bulgaria, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, San Marino, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Estonia. The study substantiates the need to differentiate criminal liability within the relevant provision of national legislation by distinguishing between two separate offenses: (1) coercion of a woman into marriage or continued marital cohabitation, or obstruction of her right to marry; and (2) abduction of a woman against her will for the purpose of marriage.

This study investigates how political and ethno-religious tensions undermine Nigeria’s national security beyond insurgency, using Human Security and Social Identity Theory as analytical frameworks. Adopting a qualitative approach, a total of twenty-three (23) respondents were purposively selected to ensure diversity across key stakeholder groups, including security personnel, community leaders, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and members of the public. In-depth interviews captured varied perspectives on the multidimensional nature of insecurity, and thematic analysis was conducted across four domains: physical safety, economic consequences, social cohesion, and the performance of security institutions. Findings reveal that political and ethno-religious tensions have severely eroded human security, with recurrent attacks, kidnappings, and killings causing mass displacement and widespread fear in conflict-prone regions. Economically, insecurity has disrupted businesses, destroyed infrastructure, and limited agricultural productivity, resulting in unemployment, poverty, and capital flight. Socially, rising mistrust and polarization along ethnic and religious lines, compounded by divisive political rhetoric and exclusionary governance, have deepened national fragmentation. Security agencies face operational constraints including corruption, resource inadequacy, poor coordination, and perceived bias which undermine public confidence and limit effectiveness. Emerging threats, such as Boko Haram and ISWAP recruitment, communal clashes, banditry, religious extremism, and politically motivated violence, illustrate the systemic and interconnected nature of Nigeria’s insecurity, rooted in governance failures, elite rivalry, and political exclusion. The study concludes that sustainable security requires holistic, human- centered strategies that combine inclusive governance, economic resilience, interfaith dialogue, and community-driven peacebuilding, addressing both structural inequalities and identity-based divisions to stabilize Nigeria and safeguard national unity.

This article analyzes the role and factors of Islam in the social life of modern Turkey. The research examines the influence of religion on social, political and cultural life, its role in the formation of values, customs and political decisions in society. The article shows that Islam has a significant influence not only as a personal belief, but also in areas such as social integration, gender relations, education and political activism. At the same time, the changing and flexible nature of Islam in the context of modern global processes, secularism and religious pluralism is analyzed. The article is written in the style of scientific analysis and serves to provide a deep understanding of the influence of religion on social structures in Turkish society.