Perhaps Platform S?, 24 October 2018 When Accord and Alliance came to town, the brands and retailers had offered assurance of business continuity and were paying for the audits and assessments. Taking financial responsibility for factory remediation was…the manufacturer's end of the bargain. In five years [a] total [of] 1,159 factories have gone out of […]

Amnesty urges Meghalaya to investigate attacks on activists for exposing illegal coal mining, 10 November 2018 The grievous attack on activist Anges Kharshiing and her two aides -- Amita Sangma and Emiki Kurbah -- in Meghalaya, highlights a pattern of reprisals against activists who are standing up against injustice and exposing corruption in the state, […]

Today, we the undersigned civil society organizations, call on Facebook to provide a mechanism for all of its users to appeal content restrictions, and, in every case, to have the appealed decision re-reviewed by a human moderator... [S]ocial media companies, including Facebook, have a responsibility to respect human rights, and international and regional human rights bodies […]

"A Blueprint for Content Governance and Enforcement," 15 Nov 2018 [W]e have a responsibility to keep people safe on our services -- whether from terrorism, bullying, or other threats. We also have a broader social responsibility to help bring people closer together -- against polarization and extremism. The past two years have shown that without […]

Mark Zuckerberg announced that a new external oversight committee would be created in 2019 to handle some of Facebook’s content policy decisions. The body will take appeals and make final decisions. The hope is that beyond the influence of Facebook’s business imperatives or the public’s skepticism about the company’s internal choices, the oversight body can come to […]

“Juez rechaza acción de protección en contra de exploración minera” – 10 de noviembre de 2018 Un juez rechazó un recurso de acción de protección para impedir la exploración de una concesión minera, al considerar que no vulnera la legislación vigente, informó este 10 de noviembre la Procuraduría General del Estado…El magistrado de la Unidad Judicial Multicompetente del cantón Santa Ana de Cotacachi, Óscar Coba Vayas, […]

“Imputan al ministro Bergman por la acumulación de mercurio en Veladero” – 7 de noviembre de 2018 El abogado ambientalista Enrique Viale informó en su cuenta de Twitter que la fiscal Alejandra Mángano solicitó la instrucción del Secretario de Ambiente de la Nación, Sergio Bergman, en la causa iniciada por la acumulación de 400 toneladas […]

Tema central: “El respeto empresarial de los derechos humanos, construyendo a partir de lo que funciona” Programa: Programa del Foro 2018 Inscripciones: Por favor inscríbase en línea a través de la plataforma Indico Documentos:  Nota conceptualInformación práctica para los participantes Lecturas recomendadas: Informe del Grupo de Trabajo sobre empresas y derechos humanos – “La debida diligencia de las […]

Formula One chiefs have admitted for the first time that they are “concerned” that an activist who protested against the Bahrain Grand Prix on Facebook was jailed for three years by the country’s authorities. F1 has traditionally been reluctant to intervene on politics and human rights cases but has made a rare exception in the case of […]

Addressing a conference in Paris on 16 November 2018, entitled ‘A WTO Fit for the 21st Century: What Needs to Change’, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo argued that the international community must strive to “turn the current crisis of multilateralism into an opportunity to save it, and strengthen it for the generations to come.” During his visit […]

The WTO launched on Friday 16th November its new online database. The WTO Data portal brings together a wide range of statistical indicators on international trade and other WTO-related information.

WTO members achieved a breakthrough at a 14-15 November meeting of the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) by agreeing on a list of recommendations that aim at reducing obstacles to trade and improving implementation of the WTO’s TBT Agreement. Members also discussed 62 specific trade concerns at the committee meeting, including eight new […]

Speaking at the Geneva Grain Conference, on 15 November, Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff stressed the crucial role played by business and farming communities in designing international trade rules, and called on policy-makers, regulators and government officials to seek their consistent feedback to remain knowledgeable about the fundamental changes in the global economy. “Throughout the history […]

Japan has requested WTO dispute consultations with Korea concerning alleged subsidies provided by the Korean government to its shipbuilding industry. Japan’s request was circulated to WTO members on 13 November.

On 13 November 2018, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo addressed the first “Advanced Global Workshop on Government Procurement and Governance Issues” held at the WTO. He highlighted the importance of good governance tools, such as the WTO Government Procurement Agreement, in helping to prevent corruption and supplier collusion in government procurement. He also stressed that effective and […]

Director-General Roberto Azevêdo joined world leaders in Paris on Sunday 11 November to mark the centenary of the World War One Armistice and to take part in the first Paris Peace Forum, an event dedicated to the idea that “international cooperation is key to tackling global challenges and ensuring durable peace”. Speaking during the Peace […]

On 12 November the WTO circulated the compliance panel report in the dispute initiated by the Philippines in “Thailand — Customs and Fiscal Measures on Cigarettes from the Philippines — Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by the Philippines” (DS371).

Speaking at the Belarusian State University in Minsk on 9 November Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff said efforts by Belarus and other candidates to accede to the WTO will have a positive impact on the business environment and promote good governance by creating predictable and transparent rules for trade. “Membership in the Organization sends a clear […]

WTO members discussed how intellectual property (IP) can catalyse growth in infant businesses and how its link with competition law and policy can foster public health objectives at a meeting of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on 8-9 November. Members also agreed to grant the Cooperation Council for the Arab […]

Following the cabinet's approval of the draft Withdrawal Agreement this week, Open Europe's Aarti Shankar, Dominic Walsh and David Shiels examine what the text sets out on the Irish backstop, as well as the possibilities for the future relationship. While the UK has secured key concessions, particularly on the creation of UK-wide customs backstop, problematic […]

Speaking to BBC News on November 16, Open Europe's Henry Newman argued that Prime Minister Theresa May should have explained the compromises of Brexit more clearly.The post There was never going to be a perfect Brexit appeared first on Open Europe.

Open Europe's Henry Newman discussed the Brexit deal agreed by the UK and the EU and the chances of a No Deal Brexit scenario on the BBC News Beyond 100 Days programme on November 15. The post The possibility of a No Deal Brexit is getting higher appeared first on Open Europe.

Open Europe’s Henry Newman was on the BBC 2’s Politics Live programme on November 13, discussing Brexit negotiations along with Conservative MP Anna Soubry, Labour MP John Mann, and Polly Mackenzie of Demos think tank. The post It is crucial for a Brexit deal to protect the integrity of the UK appeared first on Open […]

Following reports the EU is pursuing "level playing field" commitments as part of the Irish backstop, Open Europe's Aarti Shankar considers what the UK government might accept to obtain a UK-wide customs arrangement.The post How far would the UK go to secure an all-UK customs backstop? appeared first on Open Europe.

Open Europe’s Dominic Walsh assesses how this week’s Budget will be affected by the outcome of the Brexit process, and what the political consequences might be.The post The Budget and Brexit: Open Europe responds appeared first on Open Europe.

Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe appeared on the BBC World News Briefing programme on October 18, discussing the implications of a possible extension of the Brexit transition period. The post The British refuse to give EU a veto over when UK can regain its trade policy appeared first on Open Europe.

Open Europe's Henry Newman examines what proposals for a Northern Irish-specific backstop on regulations might mean for future regulatory divergence within the UK.The post How much regulatory divergence can we have within the UK? appeared first on Open Europe.

Open Europe's David Shiels spoke to TRT World News on October 17 about the deadlock in Brexit negotiations, saying that it is important for the EU to realise that the UK Prime Minister faces several constraints in Parliament.The post Parliamentary constraint is key problem for Theresa May appeared first on Open Europe.

Appearing on TRT World News, Open Europe’s Dominic Walsh examined the prospect of solving the Irish border backstop issue in Brexit negotiations at this week’s European Council summit.The post EU needs to move on the Irish backstop issue in Brexit talks appeared first on Open Europe.