United Nations

UN Mandate Holder Pushes Abolition of Trade Tribunals

November 05, 2015

Accusing them of "compromising" government regulatory authority and contributing to economic inequality, UN Independent Expert Alfred de Zayas has called for the abolition of Investor-State dispute settlement mechanisms ("ISDS") in trade agreements and for multinational courts to consider the human-rights implications of ISDS provisions.
UN Agents Chide Europe on Border "Securitisation"

November 05, 2015

Two UN human rights mandate holders, on the human rights of migrants and of migrant workers, have criticized European migration policies for concentrating on securing borders and cracking down on migrant smugglers and have called for Europe instead to provide safe passage to a "meaningful number of refugees (most probably in the millions)" in the coming years.
UN Agent Criticizes Laws Prohibiting NGO Terror Support

November 04, 2015

In recent remarks to the UN General Assembly on national security policies and civil society organizations, the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights and counterterrorism Ben Emmerson criticized the "chilling effect" of national policies and jurisprudence outlawing support from public interest groups to terrorist organizations.
UN Mandate Holders Push Latin American Environment Treaty

November 04, 2015

Promoting the link between the UN's "sustainable development" agenda and human rights, a group of UN human-rights mandate holders have published a statement calling on Latin American and Caribbean countries to adopt a legally binding agreement on rights of access to information, participation, and justice in environmental issues.
Vatican Pushes for Broad UN Climate Agreement

November 04, 2015

A recent statement announced by the Vatican and signed by Catholic officials from five continents has called for countries to agree at UN negotiations later this year on a climate change deal to "complete decarbonisation" by the year 2050 and "new models of development and lifestyle" that would end fossil fuel use.
UK Considers Filing EU Negotiation Outcome with UN

November 04, 2015

The Telegraph reports that UK Government officials are considering registering with the UN any deal these officials make with the EU regarding a new balance of competences between Britain and the bloc in order to give the deal the status of a "binding international contract" and force the EU to adhere to the bargain.
UN Council Pushes Integration of SDGs in National Policies

November 04, 2015

The UN Economic and Social Council has "urgently" called for countries to create plans to integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals ("SDGs") in their national policies, with "balanced" consideration of economic, social, and environmental issues included in the global development agenda.
WHO Calls for Action to Reduce Traffic Risks

November 04, 2015

The UN's World Health Organization ("WHO") has called for "urgent action" from countries around the world to improve legislation, enforcement, and road and vehicle safety regulations in order to prevent deaths caused by road traffic crashes.
US Secretary of State Affirms Support for UNESCO

November 03, 2015

US Secretary of State John Kerry has affirmed the Obama Administration's support for the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization ("UNESCO") and for the restoration of funding to the organization after the US was legally forced to withdraw it following UNESCO's recognition of Palestine as a member state.
UN Uses SDGs as Platform for Oceans Governance

November 03, 2015

A new initiative of the UN Environment Programme called the Partnership for Regional Oceans Governance will seek to pressure governments to accept regional, multi-stakeholder governance of oceans to achieve provisions of the UN Sustainable Development Goals ("SDGs") related to "sustainable use of the oceans."