European Sovereignty Network

 The European Sovereignty Network is dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability in the various pan-European political, economic, legal, and security institutions. ESN monitors the work of the European Court of Human Rights, European Parliament, and other institutions and reports on the resulting threats to national sovereignty, individual freedom, and the rule of law. Click here to access the ESN main page.

NGO

SECURITY, HOMELAND SECURITY & TERRORISM

HRW Calls for Repeal of U.S. Force Authorization

In testimony before the U.S. Armed Services Committee, Kenneth Roth of Human Rights Watch ("HRW") called for Congress to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force ("AUMF"), which grants the President the authority to pursue the architects of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE

Group Considers Class Action over UN Cholera Scandal

The U.S.-based Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti has threatened a class action suit against the UN after the UN denied any involvement in an ongoing cholera epidemic in Haiti and invoked legal immunity.

HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIETY & CULTURE

Mchangama: Freedom Restricted Due to Religious "Sensitivities"

Free to Choose TV has released a video by Jacob Mchangama highlighting the recent tension between the right to free speech and the desire to respect religious feelings and prevent violent reprisals across the globe.

HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE

EarthRights Seeks System of Punishment for Businesses Violating Human Rights

EarthRights International has released an article demanding a more comprehensive remedy system in the U.S. to punish businesses that have committed human rights violations.

HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIETY & CULTURE

HRW Selects Anti-Israel Activist as Award Finalist

The Washington Times reports that Human Rights Watch ("HRW") has chosen Mona Seif, an Egyptian activist noted for deeming Israel the "real terrorist," as a finalist for its human rights defender award.

view NGO Watch

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SPOTLIGHT ON SOVEREIGNTY

HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIETY & CULTURE

Cameron Objects to UN Income Equality Plan

UK Prime Minister David Cameron calls for the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals ("MDGs") to focus on ending extreme poverty in the world and not on reducing income inequality in developed countries.

SECURITY, DIPLOMACY

UN Syrian Fact-Finding Mission Stalled

As countries await the conclusion of a UN fact-finding mission to determine whether the Syrian regime used chemical weapons against its citizens, the mission has been unable to gain entry to Syrian territory.

HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE

UN Urges End to LGBT Discrimination

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for countries to grant LGBT people legal protection from discrimination and hate crimes.

ECONOMICS, CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP

German NCP Receives Complaint on Bangladesh Factory

A German Parliament member has filed a complaint against three companies with Germany's National Contact Point ("NCP"), which promotes implementation of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development ("OECD") Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, alleging responsibility for the April factory collapse in Bangladesh.

HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE

UN Official Promotes UN Governance of McDonald's

In a clear case of interfering with economic freedom and sovereignty, Margaret Jungk, a member of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, is publicly promoting a shareholder resolution that would require McDonald's Corporation to engage in a costly human rights due diligence process based on the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights.

view Spotlight on Sovereignty archive

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UN TREATY WATCH

HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIETY & CULTURE

Schaefer and Groves: Hold UN Experts Accountable

Brett Schaefer and Steven Groves of the Heritage Foundation write that the Human Rights Council should dismiss experts who "grossly or repeatedly" violate their code of conduct and require disclosure of financial support given to these experts.

SECURITY, DIPLOMACY

ICC Prosecutor Opens Israel Flotilla Raid Investigation

International Criminal Court ("ICC") Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has opened a preliminary examination into a 2010 raid by the Israeli Navy on a flotilla carrying aid to the Gaza Strip.

SECURITY, HOMELAND SECURITY & TERRORISM

UN Committee Against Torture Criticizes UK Reporting on Treatment of Terrorist Detainees

The UN Committee Against Torture accused a UK delegation of evading its questions as the committee expressed concerns about the UK government's alleged treatment and rendition of accused terrorist detainees.

HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE

Pillay Opposes Draft Civil Society Restrictions in Egypt

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says a draft Egyptian law restricting the funding and activities of NGOs in the country is "draconian" and could violate the right to freedom of association.

HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE

Kerry Seeks Revival of Disabilities Treaty

Following the defeat of the UN disabilities treaty in the U.S. Senate last year, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry plans to once again seek ratification of the treaty that has provoked concerns over national sovereignty.

view UN Treaty Watch archive


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