background preloader

Human Rights

Facebook Twitter

Conflict minerals rules can promote both human rights and trade. It is an inescapable fact that many of the minerals and metals contained within the technology we use every day are procured from gangs, who use slavery and rely on cheap labour to increase their available income for reinvesting in armed conflict. I write this following an impassioned speech to the European parliament by Sakharov prize winner Denis Mukwege, who continues to risk his own life by providing essential treatment to women and girls in conflict zones who have suffered from the horrific brutality of war, such as rape and slavery. His words should make us all think about the priorities we hold as legislators. To ignore his fervent plea for action at a European level would be unforgivable.

By ensuring that we take action across the supply chain, we further bolster a key tenet of this commission's stated policy ambitions: that we achieve, where possible, policy coherence across different areas of the union's decision-making. We have a duty to share this realisation. No Woman, No Drive. S&Ds want human rights and sustainability included in EU-China investment agreement | Socialists & Democrats. Today the European Parliament gave a mandate to the European Commission to engage in negotiations with China for an investment agreement. This agreement will replace 26 individual bilateral agreements signed by EU member states and it will have a big impact on EU industry and businesses.

In the plenary vote, MEPs called for a well-balanced partnership, based on regular high-level dialogue and mutual benefits, rather than engaging in competitive confrontations. As requested by the Socialists and Democrats, the mandate calls for human rights and sustainability standards to be included in the agreement. The S&D Group also insisted on a level-playing field for all companies. The chairman of the international trade committee, S&D MEP Vital Moreira, said: "We expect transparency in the negotiations and a constant flow of information to the Parliament. "The EU should ensure it includes due protection for intellectual property rights (IPR), industrial property, brands and geographic indications. " Holidays in the sun: now I gotta reason...

Whenever I think of summer holidays I almost involuntarily hear the Sex Pistols’ scornful punk classic Holidays In The Sun ricocheting around in my head. As you’ll recall, this opens with the unforgettable “A cheap holiday in other people’s misery” line and continues with: “I don’t wanna holiday in the sun / I wanna go to the new Belsen.” (Check out this footage of the band performing it in, suitably enough, Penzance!). Hmm, in the mood for your holiday now? Well, I’ll come back to the Sex Pistols later, but first a quick run-through of the summer holiday ritual in all its sun-baked glory. Yes, the deeply-entrenched British (northern European? Phew! But when all is said and done, it’s only a holiday. Woah!

I think the theory is roughly right actually. So no, it’s not really a question of the Sex Pistols’ cheap holidays in other people’s misery (though wider issues of ethical tourism are definitely bound up in John Lydon’s lacerating lyrics). View latest posts. Power to the people. Over 64,000 now! We’re adding your name to an...

MakeITfair