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UN Appointee: Trade Agreements Conflict with Human Rights Law
September 23, 2015
In a recent report, UN Independent Expert Alfred de Zayas calls for national leaders to perform human rights impact assessments before and after adopting multilateral investment treaties and pushes for a UN conference to amend these treaties to take into account international human rights law.
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US Defunds UN Agency over Whistleblower Issues
September 23, 2015
George Russell writes that the US State Department has removed its funding from the World Intellectual Property Organization ("WIPO") over allegations that the leadership of the UN agency has retaliated against whistleblowers and has failed to meet ethical standards.
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Supermarket Adopts NGO Wage Recommendation
September 23, 2015
German supermarket chain Lidl has announced that it has adopted the recommendation of the Living Wage Foundation in raising the level of wages of its employees in England, Wales, and Scotland.
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Saudi Appointment to UNHRC Post Draws Condemnation
September 21, 2015
The nongovernmental organization UN Watch has criticized the selection by the Asian regional group at the UN Human Rights Council ("UNHRC") of a diplomat from Saudi Arabia, a country often criticized for its human rights violations, to head up the UNHRC's Consultative Group, which recommends appointments of human rights investigators.
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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.