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NGO Seeks Monitoring as Path to Global Governance
September 21, 2015
Chief Executive of the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz writes that global governance on the issues of climate change, trade, and "sustainable development" depend on global monitoring, policy-setting, and pressure toward implementation of these agendas at the national level.
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US Adopts Term "Sexual Rights" for Use at UN
September 18, 2015
While cautioning that the US does not recognize the term as a concept enshrined in international human rights law, Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Richard Erdman recently announced at a meeting of UN Women that the US will adopt the term "sexual rights" - often interpreted in the international community to include abortion - in discussions on rights and development.
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UN Creates Partnership to Push Sustainability Agenda
September 17, 2015
The UN has announced a new initiative, called the Sustainable Energy for All Partnership, that will seek to push the international organization's energy agenda following the adoption of its long-term Sustainable Development Goals.
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UN Agent: Sovereign Debt Principles Are Legally Binding
September 16, 2015
The UN Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and human rights Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky argues that a recently adopted UN General Assembly resolution attempting to grant "rights" to debtor countries to restructure their obligations represents customary law and general principles of international law and is therefore legally binding.
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Activist Calls for Link Between SDGs and UN Climate Deal
September 16, 2015
Human rights activist and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson has called on countries to agree to a strong climate change accord at negotiations in Paris in December in order to avoid "undermining" the UN's proposed Sustainable Development Goals ("SDGs"), set to be adopted later this month.