Transnational Bodies

Article Expresses Concerns on "Multi-Stakeholder" Governance

January 20, 2016

In a recent article, Harris Gleckman of the University of Massachusetts Boston raises concerns regarding a proposal by a World Economic Forum-appointed group to reform the current "multilateral" system of global governance, comprising national governments, to make way for a "multi-stakeholder" governance system, made up of a range of corporate and other actors.
OSCE Official Seeks Repeal of Polish Media Law

January 13, 2016

An official from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's ("OSCE") Parliamentary Assembly Isabel Santos has called on Poland to repeal a recently adopted law granting the Polish Treasury Minister authority over the composition of public television and radio broadcasting management, citing concerns regarding the freedom of the media.
IMF Chief Seeks Strengthened "Global Financial Safety Net"

January 13, 2016

In recent remarks, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund ("IMF") Christine LaGarde said the world needed a stronger and expanded "global financial safety net" as a "precautionary instrument" that springs into action in the case of national financial crises.
UN, OSCE Officials Reissue Call for Closure of Guantanamo Facility

January 12, 2016

UN human-rights mandate holders and an official from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ("OSCE") have called for the US to close its terror-suspect detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, to permit detainees to seek redress, and to "end impunity" for officials "at the highest level" who ordered certain counterterrorism actions following the 9/11 attacks.
OSCE Official Calls on Poland to Withdraw Media Proposal

January 08, 2016

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's ("OSCE") Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has called on the Polish Government to withdraw a proposal permitting the country's Treasury Minister to appoint and dismiss members of the management and supervisory boards of public broadcasters.
WTO Rules Against US Meat-Labeling Regulations

January 08, 2016

The World Trade Organization ("WTO") has found that US regulations requiring meat packaging to list the country or countries where the animal was born, raised, and slaughtered violates US trade obligations and places an unfair burden on meat producers.
OSCE Official Criticizes Media Trespassing Case

January 07, 2016

Following an Austrian court ruling punishing reporters for violating trespassing laws at an asylum center, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's ("OSCE") Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic argued that the court could not justify the use of property rights to punish journalists for covering stories of "high public interest."
OSCE Official Urges Russia to Adhere to ECtHR Rulings

January 06, 2016

Arguing that Russia's Council of Europe membership requires adherence to European Court of Human Rights ("ECtHR") rulings, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's ("OSCE") Parliamentary Assembly human rights chair Isabel Santos has indicated that a new law permitting Russian courts to review international human rights rulings simply seeks to evade unfavorable ECtHR decisions.
Reform Approval Amplifies Voices of Russia, China at IMF

January 06, 2016

The approval of International Monetary Fund ("IMF") reforms in a spending deal recently passed by the US Congress means the international organization can double its permanent financial resources and gives "emerging" economies, including Russia, China, and India, greater voting power at the IMF.
Security Organization Seeks Solutions to Economic Inequality

December 30, 2015

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ("OSCE") recently hosted an "inter-religious dialogue," including commentary from the director of a consultancy on "Shariah Solutions" and Islamic finance, in Rome on how to confront economic inequality in the OSCE region and beyond.