Are we moving towards a ‘world free of poverty’?
Blog / 26th October 2016There are reasons to question the World Bank’s upbeat estimate of global poverty, especially if non-income dimensions are considered. If we adopt a truly international poverty line, there could be around five billion poor people in the world – far beyond the 700 million estimated, explains Iyanatul Islam.
Who owns geosynchronous orbital pathways?
Blog / 21st October 2016Who owns outer space? Our most idealistic visions of the future require us to transcend our narrow personal or nationalistic interests, but increasingly, space seems likely to be divvied up among the powerful, as has so often happened with the Earth. Can space be managed to serve the common interest? A commentary by EarthSharing.
Convening world conference on tax evasion should be priority for next Secretary-General – UN expert
Blog / 18th October 2016The newly selected UN Secretary-General António Guterres should convene a world conference on tax avoidance and evasion, the abolition of tax havens and the protection of whistleblowers, urges the UN’s Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Alfred de Zayas.
Human rights beyond borders: The Maastricht Principles turn five
Blog / 8th October 2016Five years ago, the Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations of States was adopted in the area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and these Principles are increasingly being used by civil society organisations to hold States accountable for their extraterritorial conduct. Human rights obligations are now well recognized to extend beyond borders, as explained in the following news update published by the ETO Consortium.
‘Good news’ claiming ‘falling global poverty’ isn’t news at all
Blog / 7th October 2016Is poverty really on the decline across the world, as widely reported by the World Bank and United Nations? This ‘good news’ narrative is far from the whole truth, explains The Rules team.