IN THE NEWS view News archive
SPOTLIGHT ON SOVEREIGNTY
ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, HUMAN RIGHTS
UN Task Force Ignores Member States to Globally Govern Access to Medicines
February 3, 2010
In a stunning behind-the-scenes rejection of actions taken by the member states of the World Health Assembly (“WHA”), the governing body of the World Health Organization (“WHO”), a United Nations Human Rights Council (“HRC”) task force used a 2009 technical mission to the WHO to discuss how to implement a WHO global strategy on public health in a manner that promotes a human right to health that member states specifically deleted from the final text of the global strategy. Apparently, the HRC task force members believe that their pursuit of a right to health that promotes access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries justifies undermining the legitimacy of outcomes achieved by member states in the course of negotiations held during official meetings of an international organization.
HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE, SOCIETY & CULTURE
UN Interference in Domestic Affairs Evidences Need for Transparency
January 27, 2010
The most recent session of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW Committee) provides further evidence of the United Nations' willingness to advance an agenda of global governance through its involvement in governmental affairs and domestic policy, often with little or no transparency.
HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
End of UN Internal Corruption Unit Shows Folly of Human Security Taxes
January 20, 2010
According to a recent Associated Press review, the United Nations has cut back sharply on investigations into corruption and fraud within its ranks, shelving cases involving the possible theft or misuse of millions of dollars. Unfortunately, at the same time, the UN, Japan, and the United States of America are promoting a broad "human security" agenda, which, if the World Health Organization adopts the global taxation proposals of one of its expert working groups, would result in billions of dollars flowing into the UN public health agency's coffers.
Chemicals Regulation and Real Science: The Troubling Case of BPA
Ethical Corporation
By Jon Entine
Environmental NGO's shocked over U.S. refusal to ban chemical BPA.
NGOs and Government Funding
NGOWatch
By Frederico Ferreira
Government funds transferred to civil society groups often lack transparency and accountability.
Where Are NGOs Concentrating Their Campaigning Resources?
By SigWatch
In its latest quarterly report, Where Are NGOs Concentrating Their Campaigning Resources?, SigWatch catalogues NGO campaigns and priority issues, both globally and by region.
RESOURCES
UN Council Resolution on Human Rights Education
On October 1, 2009, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution, the World Programme for Human Rights, which calls for human rights education in schools and training programs for teachers, civil servants, law enforcement officials and military personnel.
The Key to Changing the United Nations System
This foreword appeared in ConUNdrum: The Limits of the United Nations and the Search for Alternatives, edited by Brett D. Schaefer.
View the entire foreword as an Adobe Acrobat PDF.
Voting Practices in the United Nations, 2008
The 26th annual Report to the U.S. Congress on Voting Practices at the United Nations.

















