United Nations

UN Agent Calls Strict Abortion Laws Torture

April 14, 2016

Stefano Gennarini writes that UN Special Rapporteur on torture Juan Mendez's recent report declaring that strict abortion laws should be considered to be "torture or ill-treatment" highlights the UN's comprehensive approach to expanding the interpretation of UN treaties and other instruments to include a human right to abortion.
UN Agents Support African Agenda on Terrorism and Human Rights

April 14, 2016

Calling on countries around the world to focus on implementing "international legal norms and standards" in their counterterrorism efforts, a group of UN human rights observers have applauded the African Commission on Human and People's Rights launch of its Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights while Countering Terrorism in Africa.
UN Talks Target Global Governance of Ocean Resources

April 13, 2016

George Russell writes that a UN preparatory committee has begun talks aimed at developing a global, legally binding instrument on UN management of ocean resources that would require the production of "environmental impact assessments" for development projects involving the high seas.
World Bank Accelerates Spending on Climate Change

April 13, 2016

AP reports that, as its senior director for climate change indicates that the organization is "making climate change a central part of everything we're doing," the World Bank has released a detailed climate action plan that will involve large boosts in spending to assist poor countries in meeting their pledges under the UN climate deal agreed last December.
Article: Paris Climate Deal Could Bind Next US President

April 13, 2016

The Washington Post reports that, under the terms of a UN climate deal agreed in Paris in December 2015, the agreement could bind the next US President to follow its reporting and other provisions until withdrawal is permitted in 2019 at the earliest.
Article: UN Pressure Has Led to Permissive Abortion Laws

April 13, 2016

Attorney Kelsey Zorzi of ADF International has published an article describing how the UN's global governance initiatives have succeeded in pressuring countries to adopt more permissive laws on abortion.
UNESCO Signs Updated Education Recommendations

April 13, 2016

Responding to requests from countries to revise the recommendations to reflect "new educational, social, economic, cultural and political trends," officials from the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization ("UNESCO") have signed two updated, "comprehensive" recommendations on adult and vocational education and training policies.
UN Develops Action Plan on "Sustainability" in Higher Education

April 13, 2016

As its leaders seek to "promote the formation of citizens with a global conscience," the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization ("UNESCO") recently held a conference at which it developed a four-year strategy for a Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development in higher education institutions around the world.
UN Reflects on Progress of Information Access Guidelines

April 13, 2016

The UN recently hosted a conference for the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Council for the Information for All Programme ("IFAP") at which officials reflected on IFAP's progress in pushing guidelines for the development of national information policy and strategy frameworks, which the UN is using in part to advance its sustainable development agenda.
UN Touts Latin American Deal Ahead of Environment Summit

April 12, 2016

The UN Environment Programme is praising Latin American countries for agreeing to accelerate cooperation on environmental issues, including climate change, renewable energy, and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, at a summit just ahead of the UN Environmental Assembly in Kenya in May.