Introduction
In recent years, the United Nations and other multilateral organizations have joined activists, nongovernmental organizations, human rights treaty committees, national governments, transnational courts, and foundations to form a matrix of networks that use human rights as the basis for global governance. In place of more traditional and widely recognized civil and political rights, this matrix of human rights governance networks promotes the recognition, enforcement, and funding of a wide range of ambiguous economic, social, and cultural rights. This section tracks the continuing development and adaptation of this network and its implications for national sovereignty.
United Nations
In recent years, the United Nations and its agencies have played an increasingly significant role in promoting global governance, particularly in the area of economic and social affairs. In addition to the United Nations, the United Nations agencies involved in promoting global governance are the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs; the UN Human Rights Council; the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; the UN Development Programme; the UN Population Fund; the World Health Organization; and the World Intellectual Property Organization. This focus area highlights the ongoing efforts by the United Nations to redistribute wealth, advance the climate change agenda, and otherwise undermine national sovereignty.
