United Nations

UN Lauds Global Deal on "Land Degradation"

November 18, 2015

The UN Convention to Combat Desertification has praised its recent deal limiting countries' infrastructural, agricultural, and other development of land, seeking "land degradation neutrality" by the year 2030, arguing that the deal will help counter global warming and sends a "strong message" to negotiators of a UN climate agreement later this year.
World Bank Official Promotes Cash Redistribution Programs

November 06, 2015

In a recent World Bank Policy Research Talk, a Senior Economist from the organization Berk Özler argued in favor of the benefits of unconditional cash transfer programs in providing a national social safety net.
Groves: US Senate Must Protect Treaty Power on Climate

November 06, 2015

Steven Groves of the Heritage Foundation writes that as the Obama Administration seeks to bypass the US Senate in upcoming climate negotiations that will likely produce a pledge to limit the country's carbon emissions, Senators must lead an effort to protect the body's constitutional authority to consent to international treaties.
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.