Surveillance Capitalism

UN Agency Advocates Global Fishing Framework

August 31, 2017

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has encouraged national governments to implement its voluntary guidelines on small-scale fisheries as a way to further “policy coherence” that protects human rights and sustainability.
NGO: UNHRC’s Proposed Israel Boycott Unlawful

August 31, 2017

The nongovernmental organization Lawfare has issued a press release advising companies targeted by the UN Human Rights Council's (UNHRC) forthcoming database of businesses purportedly operating in Israeli settlements that they may have legal recourse under US law against inclusion on such a "blacklist."
Telecom Company Agrees to Implement SDGs

August 30, 2017

As part of the UN's partnership with a broad range of the private sector on the achievement of its comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Kenyan telecommunications company Safaricom has signed a memorandum of understanding committing to working with UN Environment to incorporate various environmental SDG targets into its operations.
Activist Criticizes Economic Case for Women's Rights

August 28, 2017

Sanyu Awori of International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific warns that rights activists must reject the economic case made by businesses and others for corporate engagement of women in the workforce, which mistakenly relies on "the neoliberal macroeconomic system" to empower women, in favor of government-centered women's rights efforts.
Companies Agree to Promote Unionizing in Garment Industry

August 28, 2017

A group of garment and retail companies and a global trade union federation called IndustriALL have launched a global compact providing for industry-wide collective bargaining to promote the payment of so-called "living wages" to workers across the garment production industry.
Consultant Pushes Broad Child Rights Agenda for Businesses

August 28, 2017

Benjamin Azada of PricewaterhouseCoopers' Philippines-based consulting services, which are working with the UN Children's Fund to enhance business respect of children's rights around the world, sets out a series of 10 broad principles companies must prioritize in enhancing children's rights in their operations, including using safe marketing and respecting environmental rights.
RB Joins Global Campaign Toward Tax Clampdown

August 25, 2017

In a victory for nongovernmental organization Oxfam's global pressure campaign toward reducing corporate tax "loopholes" to fund the global economic, social, and cultural rights agenda, consumer goods company RB has called on governments to introduce new rules clamping down on corporate tax avoidance.
ISO Releases Standard for "Learning Providers"

August 24, 2017

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has released a new international standard providing "minimum requirements for internationally agreed levels of quality learning services" for providers outside formal, national education systems.
ISO Standard Targets Construction Impacts on Environment

August 24, 2017

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has created a new system of standards for builders worldwide to disclose a construction project’s lifelong “environmental footprint.”
New ILO Body to Explore Social Justice in Employment

August 24, 2017

The UN International Labour Organization (ILO) has established the Global Commission on the Future of Work to “provide the analytical basis for the delivery of social justice in the 21st century” amidst rapid changes in the global economy and employment.