Society & Culture
Obama Administration Tries to "Fix" United Nations
January 25, 2012
In a recent speech to the Council on Foreign Relations, Ambassador Joseph Torsella, the Obama administration's point man for UN management reform, explained what the United States is doing to fix the UN, which President Obama believes is both "flawed" and "indispensable."UNESCO Promotes Economic Rights Litigation Agenda
January 25, 2012
A new UNESCO manual, "Empowering the Poor: through Human Rights Litigation," is a guidebook for NGOs on how to bring lawsuits to realize a broad range of vague economic, social and cultural rights, including the rights to education, adequate food and housing, safe drinking water, and the enjoyment of the benefits of scientific progress.EC Starts "Accelerated" Infringement Proceedings Against Hungary
January 25, 2012
The European Commission has started legal action against Hungary over legislation that came into force at the beginning of the year under Hungary's new constitution.To Fight Inequality, Oxfam Promotes Global Welfare State
January 25, 2012
In a recent report, Oxfam recommends that, in order to tackle global "inequality," G20 governments should pursue redistributive transfers; investments in universal access to health and education; and progressive taxation.Human Rights Watch Pounds EU Over Alleged Human Rights Abuses
January 25, 2012
In its World Report 2012, HRW states that, during 2011, the European Union and member governments proved unwilling to tackle human rights abuses.European Commission Selects Business and Human Rights Consultants
January 23, 2012
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry has announced that the Institute for Human Rights and Business and Shift, an independent non-profit firm, will develop sector-specific guidance on the corporate responsibility to respect human rights.Officials Draft Outcome Document for Sustainable Development Conference
January 18, 2012
A draft outcome document, which will be considered by Member States at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June, proposes international agreements on a wide range of issues, including green economic policy, sustainable development, energy, ocean management, education, and gender equality.UN, OECD, and World Bank to Shape Economic and Environmental Strategies
January 18, 2012
In an attempt to steer developing countries into "green growth" strategies, the Global Green Growth Institute, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Bank, are implementing a Green Growth Knowledge Platform to influence local, national, and global economic and environmental policy-making around the world.ECHR Rules Britain Cannot Deport Terrorism Suspect
January 18, 2012
Aggravating the perception of many British conservative leaders that the European Court of Human Rights ("ECHR") is overstepping its authority, the ECHR has ruled that Abu Qatada, a radical Islamic preacher regarding as one of Al Qaeda's leaders in Europe, cannot be deported from Britain to his native Jordan.HRW Criticizes State of Alabama for Threatening Immigrants' "Rights"
January 17, 2012
Human Rights Watch says that Alabama's new immigrant act denies unauthorized immigrants and their families, including US citizen children, their basic rights, threatening their access to everyday necessities and equal protection of the law.A JOINT PROGRAM OF
