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UN Uses Health, Security Policies to Pursue Climate Agenda
February 25, 2016
The UN Environment Programme has announced pledges made by governments to "set the table" for the agency's upcoming Environment Assembly in Nairobi, including promises related to the reduction of health and security risks by advancing the UN's environmental agenda and "to the development of a new sustainable and equitable economic model" that eliminates poverty.
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NGOs Object to Replacement TTIP Tribunal
February 25, 2016
IP Watch reports that nongovernmental organizations have objected to European proposals to replace an investor-state dispute settlement ("ISDS") tribunal for companies to challenge government actions under the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership ("TTIP") with an "Investment Court System," which these groups say is simply an "ISDS zombie."
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UNOHCHR Faces Criticism over Zika Virus Comments
February 25, 2016
C-Fam reports that diplomats from countries including Nicaragua and the Holy See have objected to statements from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ("UNOHCHR") that they have interpreted as encouraging Latin American countries in which the Zika virus is spreading to permit access of women infected by the virus to abortions.
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UN Rights Chief Seeks "Due Process" for Guantanamo Detainees
February 24, 2016
Applauding US President Barack Obama's proposal to close the terror detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and to transfer some occupants to US prisons, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called on the US to try detainees before civilian courts and to provide them "due process guarantees" in line with international standards.
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AI Recommends Climate Action by UN Women's Rights Committee
February 24, 2016
A submission from Amnesty International ("AI") to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women ("CEDAW") applauds CEDAW's scrutiny of government action on global warming due to "the disproportionate impact it has on women and girls" and recommends a broad CEDAW review of states' obligations to counter climate change.