Transnational Bodies

Russia Cuts Ties to ICC

December 05, 2016

Citing the institution's ineffectiveness and lack of independence, and following a verdict from the body on Russia's recent actions in Crimea, the Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmed the country's intent, under a directive signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, to no longer seek to become a full party to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
OECD Mayors Initiative Launches "Inclusive Growth" Plan

December 02, 2016

Meeting in Paris, a group of 50 mayors from around the world participating in the OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative launched a "comprehensive," global action plan to reduce income inequality and ensure that economic growth in urban areas is sufficiently "inclusive."
WEF Experts Seek "Values" in Tech Products

December 01, 2016

At the first meeting of its elite Network of Global Future Councils in Dubai, hundreds of nongovernmental, business, government, and international organization representatives convened by the World Economic Forum discussed how technology companies must embed "values," such as health and education, in their products to avoid widening economic disparities.
Essay Outlines Multi-Tiered OECD Role in Global Governance

November 30, 2016

An essay by former Director of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ron Gass explores the broad and multi-tiered role - from international to local policy - he envisions for the OECD in the future of global governance and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
OSCE Highlights Points of "Weakness" in US Election

November 29, 2016

While they credited the recent US elections as largely "well-run," OSCE monitors criticized "intolerant discourse" during the campaign, called voter identification laws "unnecessary obstacles for voters," claimed a lack of nationwide voting standards as a "weakness," and warned of voting restrictions for convicted felons and residents of certain jurisdictions.
Global Entities Seek Increased Climate Finance for Islands

November 28, 2016

The Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the World Bank, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development have published a report pushing for a more coordinated global system of development finance for island countries to counter the future catastrophic impacts of climate change.
ICC Prosecutor Considers US "War Crimes" Inquiry

November 28, 2016

The prosecutor's office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) recently announced that, despite the fact that the US has not joined the ICC, the prosecutor would soon decide whether to seek authorization to investigate potential "war crimes" allegedly committed by US soldiers and operatives against detained individuals in Afghanistan and other countries.
US Election May Spur China to Take Global Governance Lead

November 22, 2016

Reuters reports that commentators and Chinese officials view the election of Donald Trump as US President as an opportunity for China to take the lead in UN and other transnational structures created to combat global warming, with its control eventually "spilling over" into other forums of global governance.
EU Pushes for Lower Global Bank Capital Requirements

November 16, 2016

Reuters reports that European regulators are warning that proposed global standards from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, a global banking regulator, on how banks must calculate the capital they set aside to reduce the risk of taxpayer bailouts, would discourage European lending and favor US banks.
WTO Criticizes Non-Compliance on Subsidy Notifications

November 07, 2016

The Chair of the World Trade Organization’s Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, Jin-dong Kim, has warned of widespread non-compliance with the WTO's rules requiring notification of domestic subsidy programs.