CIEL and Bretton Woods Project formally request that the U.N. Special Representative on Business and Human Rights help ensure that the Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation provide a robust framework for securing human rights

A Submission to the U.N. Special Representative to the Secretary General on Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises November 3, 2009   The Performance Standards on Social and Environmental Sustainability (Performance Standards) of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have become the most widely accepted framework among international project financiers to address social … Read More.

CIEL Participates in discussions on U.S. Model Bilateral Investment Treaty.

October 23, 2009 CIEL participated in the work of the U.S. State Department’s Sub-committee on Investment that led to a report regarding revisions to the 2004 Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). This report was presented to the U.S. State Department’s Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy (ACIEP), which discussed it and transmitted it to the … Read More.

Tribunal in Piero Foresti, Laura De Carli and others v. the Republic of South Africa grants CIEL and human rights organizations access to documents by the parties

October 23, 2009 On October 5, 2009, the arbitral tribunal in the Piero Foresti, Laura De Carli and others v. the Republic of South Africa case, pending at the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), granted an NGO coalition the opportunity to file a written submission. The arbitral tribunal issued its decision almost … Read More.

CIEL speaks at international workshop on extraterritorial human rights obligations

September, 2009 From September 9-11, 2009, CIEL participated in an international seminar on States’ Extraterritorial Obligations Related to Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, held at Lancaster University in England. Organized by Lancaster University’s Law School, this workshop provided an opportunity to examine the theoretical and practical aspects of the concepts of extraterritorial human rights obligations … Read More.

CIEL and other civil society organizations express concerns over the 2004 U.S. model Bilateral Investment Treaty.

Updated August 2009 On July 31, CIEL along with a coalition of civil society organizations submitted written comments, as requested by the Obama Administration, in order to inform the Administration’s review of the U.S. model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). As the Administration reviews the current model bilateral investment treaty to assess whether changes should be … Read More.

CIEL Plays Decisive Role in Global Chemicals Conference

May 2009 The Second International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM-2) was held in Geneva, Switzerland, during the week of May 11-15, 2009. Delegates from more than 122 countries and dozens of public interest advocates, business associations, trade unions, and other stakeholders gathered to discuss progress toward the ambitious goal to use and produce chemicals by … Read More.

CIEL Expresses Concern about the Violation of Human Rights and Environmental Destruction Involved in the ATCA Case against Royal Dutch Shell

May 13, 2009 CIEL is gravely concerned about the increasing frequency of cases involving human rights violations and environmental destruction. For example, on May 26, 2009, oil company Royal Dutch Shell (Shell) will stand trial in federal court in New York for complicity on egregious human rights and environmental abuses in Nigeria. Wiwa v. Shell … Read More.

CIEL participates in two international conferences on extractive industries and indigenous peoples

March, 2009 CIEL participated in an International Conference on Extractive Industries and Indigenous Peoples, organized by the Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy Research and Education (Tebtebba) in Manila, Philippines from 23-25 March 2009. The conference adopted the Manila Declaration, available here in English and Spanish. CIEL also participated in the International Expert Workshop on … Read More.

CIEL Applauds Breakthrough Agreement on Mercury

February 2009 World governments convening as the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) ended years of indecision when they agreed on February 20th in Nairobi, Kenya to commence negotiations on a treaty to tackle the global mercury pollution crisis. The decision was made possible, in part, by the United States’ dramatic reversal … Read More.

The International Finance Corporation Improperly Interferes in Pending Investigation on Biofuels

February 9, 2009 Yesterday, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) asked the President of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, to retract a letter written by the Agribusiness Department of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) that contains false and misleading statements regarding a pending complaint on biofuels. The letter jeopardizes imminent negotiations between the IFC … Read More.

Investigation Finds that OPIC Denied that Project-Affected Community is Indigenous, Did Not Comply with its Policies

For Immediate Release February 27, 2009 Washington, D.C.-In a report released this week, the Office of Accountability of the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation found that OPIC staff failed to ensure that indigenous peoples were adequately compensated for the impacts of an OPIC-supported silver mine, San Bartolomé, operated by U.S. mining company Coeur d’Alene Mines … Read More.

CIEL participates in OHCHR consultation on Human Rights and Climate Change

November 2008 At a meeting of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), CIEL explains that States have a duty under human rights law to cooperate with the aim to effectively combat climate change and protect human rights. On 22 October the OHCHR convened an open-ended consultation meeting on the relationship between … Read More.

CIEL prepares analysis of the Asian Development Bank’s proposed “Country Systems Strategy” for civil society consultations on the ADB’s proposed “Safeguard Policy Statement

November 2008 The Asian Development Bank’s proposed Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS) adopts the use of a “country safeguard systems” (CSS) approach to addressing the environmental and social impacts of projects the ADB funds. Pursuant to this approach, the ADB would use a country’s “system” — its legal and institutional framework — rather than the full … Read More.

CIEL plays central role in October 10, 2008 recommendation of governments on a global policy framework to address the mercury pollution crisis

CIEL applauds recommendation on global mercury policy framework October 2008 CIEL applauds  the October 10, 2008 recommendation of governments on a global policy framework to address the mercury pollution crisis. Meeting as the second “ad hoc Open-ended Working Group on Mercury” (OEWG) in Nairobi, Kenya, government delegates from all regions, joined by representatives of environmental … Read More.

CIEL provides support for Maldives submission to UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the effects of climate change on the full enjoyment of human rights

October 2008 In March, the UN Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a resolution, based on the Male’ Declaration, calling on the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct a study into the effects of climate change on the full enjoyment of human rights, especially economic, social and cultural rights; the … Read More.

UN Resolution adopted on Human Rights and Climate Change

On March 26, 2008 the U.N. Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a resolution on human rights and climate change. The resolution was co-sponsored by 69 countries. The resolution recognizes that climate change poses an immediate and far-reaching threat to people and communities around the world and has implications for the full enjoyment of human … Read More.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on business & human rights, John Ruggie, thanks CIEL and colleagues for the “extensive analysis” in their submission, “The International Finance Corporation’s performance standards and the Equator Principles: respecting human rights and remedying violations?”

October 1, 2008 Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on business & human rights, John Ruggie, thanks CIEL and colleagues for the “extensive analysis” in their submission, “The International Finance Corporation’s performance standards and the Equator Principles: respecting human rights and remedying violations?” Additional Materials: Statement by SRSG on Submission by the Bank Information Center … Read More.

CIEL and colleagues find that the International Finance Corporation and leading international banks do not have a robust framework for minimizing the social risks posed by their projects

August 7, 2008 A new study finds that international project financiers, including the leading international banks and the International Finance Corporation, do not have a robust framework for minimizing the social risks posed by their projects. The study — “The International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standard and the Equator Principles: Respecting Human Rights and Remedying Violations?” … Read More.

UN Body Supports Transparency in New Arbitration Rules

July 3, 2008 New York – On June 27, 2008, the main body of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) reached consensus that the UNCITRAL arbitration rules should provide for transparency in arbitrations brought by investors against States, referred to as investor-State arbitrations. It mandated the group currently revising those rules (Working … Read More.

CIEL and IISD call for an end to an era of secrecy in investor-State arbitration: UN body must support transparency in new arbitration rules

Friday, 27 June in New York, a UN body will make a critical decision about whether new arbitration rules will include transparency in investment arbitrations against States. “While secrecy may be appropriate for arbitrations between private parties, the lack of transparency is unacceptable in arbitrations brought by foreign investors against States,” said Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder of … Read More.

CIEL discusses options for suspending intellectual property protection to enforce WTO Dispute Settlement Rulings

On May 6, 2008 CIEL organized a workshop in Geneva with developing country delegates and other stakeholders to discuss a new CIEL paper on Suspending IP Obligations Under TRIPS: A viable alternative to enforcing prevailing WTO rulings? The paper provides a comprehensive introduction and analysis of the opportunities and problems surrounding intellectual property (IP) cross-retaliation. … Read More.

CIEL supports secretariat at UNEP Mercury Partnership meeting, Geneva, 1-3 April 2008

April 2008 CIEL attorney Glenn Wiser assisted UNEP Chemicals by serving on the secretariat for the Global Mercury Partnership meeting, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland, 1-3 April 2008. The Partnership meeting culminated a consultative process between UNEP and governments and other stakeholders to strengthen the mercury partnerships by developing an overarching framework for them. … Read More.

CIEL urges Inter-American Development Bank Executive Directors to ensure much-needed reform of the IDB Accountability Mechanism

April 4, 2008 The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) stands alone as the only multilateral development bank without an adequately functioning accountability mechanism. The IDB’s 2005 proposal to improve the Independent Investigation Mechanism (IIM) fell short of providing project-affected people with an effective voice at the bank and was ultimately shelved without ever securing the needed … Read More.

CIEL and partners webcast the meeting between civil society and candidates for Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization

April 15, 2008 In May 2008, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will be choosing a new Director-General. Historically, the selection process has been non-transparent and closed to civil society. In an attempt to open up the process, CIEL, Third World Network, and a group of civil society organizations invited all 15 of the WIPO … Read More.

CIEL, on behalf of the Government of Germany, prepares Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) thought starter exploring whether the mobility of lead and cadmium through international trade may warrant coordinated international action to protect human health and the environment

CIEL: International Transport of Lead and Cadmium via Trade: An International Concern? September 2006 The sixth session of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) will be held in Dakar, Senegal, in September 2008. As lead sponsor of the plenary topic, “Lead and Cadmium: Need for International Action?,” the Government of Germany contracted CIEL to … Read More.

CIEL plays leading role in developing Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) background paper and draft resolution on the future of IFCS

September 2008 Since its first session in 1994, the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) has been a unique, over-arching mechanism to develop and promote chemical safety strategies and partnerships among national governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The Fifth Session of IFCS (Forum V) was hosted by the Government of Hungary and held 25-29 September … Read More.

CIEL and partners publish reports and presentations from a Capacity Building Workshop on the Relationship between the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Convention on Biological Diversity

February 21, 2008 Since its inception, discussions in the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Working Group on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) have continuously referred to the World Intellectual Property Organization. In particular, some delegations have argued that intellectual property related issues such as the protection of traditional knowledge and disclosure of origin in patent applications … Read More.

Block of countries refuses to discuss transparency in investor-State arbitrations

February 15, 2008 In February 2008, a Working Group of the United Nations charged with revising key international arbitration rules rebuffed calls by many States and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to discuss introducing transparency requirements into arbitrations brought by private foreign investors against States. Under most international investment treaties, foreign investors have the right to bring … Read More.

Call for Protection for Indigenous Peoples in Isolation in the Peruvian Amazon (Llamado Para La Protección De Los Pueblos Indígenas En Aislamiento En La Amazonia Peruana)

For Immediate Release January 22, 2008 On 19 December, 2007, the Federation of Indigenous Cacataibo Communities (FENACOCA), the Peruvian NGO Instituto del Bien Común, and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL); with the support of the Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana (AIDESEP), have requested precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission on … Read More.

CIEL requests precautionary measures for the protection of Cacataibo indigenous peoples in isolation in the Peruvian Amazon

On 19 December 2007, the Federation of Indigenous Cacataibo Communities (FENACOCA), the Peruvian NGO Instituto del Bien Común, and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL); with the support of the Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana (AIDESEP), have requested precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to protect the … Read More.

CIEL challenges the European Free Trade Association over their anti-development pursuit of intellectual property provisions in Free Trade Agreements with developing countries

Berne Declaration, Alliance Sud, and CIEL Media Briefing: Intellectual Property and Proposed European Free Trade Area (EFTA) Bilateral Agreements with Developing Countries December 2007 CIEL challenges Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein (the European Free Trade Association) over their anti-development pursuit of intellectual property provisions in Free Trade Agreements with developing countries, at a media briefing … Read More.

CIEL urges the World Trade Organization to move towards greater coherence

November 2007 At the recent WTO Public Forum CIEL hosted a discussion on the problem of an increasingly fragmented legal framework. WTO Members have been largely unsuccessful in negotiating explicit multilateral solutions on coherence, shifting some of the responsibility to dispute settlement panels and the Appellate Body. Clarity is needed in order to foster coherence … Read More.

CIEL and a Coalition of European and Latin American NGOs submit an amicus curiae brief to the WTO’s Appellate Body in the Brazil-Retreaded Tyres case

October 11, 2007 Geneva, Switzerland — On October 11, 2007, a coalition of human rights and environmental organizations from Europe and Mercosur countries submitted an amicus curiae brief to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Appellate Body in the Brazil-Retreaded Tyres case. In this dispute, the EC challenged Brazil’s ban on the importation of retreaded tyres, … Read More.

CIEL announces Climate Change Program Partnership with Philip Blumberg, Chairman of Blumberg Capital Partners

September 2007 Philip Blumberg, founder and Chairman of Blumberg Capital Partners, is pleased to announce his companies’ support for environmentally friendly real estate operations as an institutional supporter of CIEL’s Climate Change Program. “It’s increasingly clear that environmental impact is a bottom line issue as well as a social one. The Center for International Environmental Law … Read More.

CIEL and IBC work together to safeguard the rights of the Catataibo Indigenous Peoples threatened by Oil exploration in Amazonia

September 2007 In August 2007, the Peruvian government approved oil and gas exploration in the traditional territories of the indigenous Cacataibo communities, where there still exist Cacataibo peoples living in voluntary isolation. With the approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment of the 2D Seismic Project for Block 107, the “Petrolifera” company, which is headquartered in … Read More.

CIEL Criticizes Weak North American “Regulatory Cooperation” on Chemicals

On August 21, 2007 Canadian Prime Minister Harper, U.S. President Bush, and Mexican President Calderón held a Security and Prosperity Partnership summit in Montebello, Quebec. Their joint statement unveiled a new Regulatory Cooperation Framework and was accompanied by a two-page statement proposing “strengthened regulatory cooperation among our countries in the area of chemicals” with goals … Read More.

Environmental chapter of the Peru trade agreement marks a significant step forward

For Immediate Release June 27, 2007 Statement by Center for International Environmental Law, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Environmental Investigation Agency, Friends of the Earth, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club The environmental provisions included in the final text of the Peru Free Trade Agreement mark a significant step forward, and we commend the Democratic leadership … Read More.

A coalition of human rights and environmental organizations file an amicus curiae brief in an investment arbitration concerning access to water and sanitation in Buenos Aires, Argentina

April 5, 2007 On April 4, 2007, four human rights organizations in Argentina, the Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), the Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia (ACIJ), Consumidores Libres, and the Unión de Usuarios y Consumidores, and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) filed an amicus curiae brief in English … Read More.

Global warming and human rights gets hearing on the world stage

March 2007 On March 5, 2007, CIEL Senior Attorney Donald Goldberg, Inuit leader and Nobel Prize nominee, Sheila Watt-Cloutier, and Earthjustice Managing Attorney Martin Wagner provided testimony before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The subject of their testimony was the impact of global warming on the Inuit and other vulnerable communities in the … Read More.

CIEL analyzes the human rights responsibilities of International Financial Institutions at a public hearing held at the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights

February 28, 2007 At 10:15am (2:15pm GMT) of March 1st, CIEL, the Indian Law Resource Center, and Oxfam America spoke on Human rights violations and responsibility of international financial institutions. The organizations presented written legal analysis presented to the IACHR, in addition to Oxfam America’s The Inter-American Development Bank, the Camisea Gas Project and Human … Read More.

Political Deal on European Chemical Law Paves Way for Passage

December 2006 After eight years of debate, a provisional agreement between the European Parliament, Council, and Commission hammered out November 30 sets the stage for adoption of REACH, the world’s most significant legislation on chemicals. Under REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals), companies that make or import chemicals in Europe will shoulder new obligations … Read More.

Civil Society Organizations request amicus curiae status, “Friend of the Court,” in international arbitration proceedings against Tanzania

December 1, 2006 On November 27, 2006, three Tanzanian-based civil society organizations and two international ones have joined forces to request status as amicus curiae to an International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Tribunal hearing a case brought by Biwater PLC, a UK-based water company, against the Government of Tanzania. The five organizations … Read More.

CIEL and partners welcome the second open hearings in WTO dispute settlement history and ask parties to make open hearings their policy

October 11, 2006 On 27-28 September 2006 and 2-3 October 2006 two dispute settlement panels’ proceedings with the scientific experts and with the parties (the European Commission, the United States and Canada) were open to public observation via closed-circuit television broadcast. The three disputing parties in the two cases, (US – Continued suspension of obligations … Read More.

D.C. Circuit establishes dangerous precedent in upholding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s critical use exemption rule for methyl bromide

On August 29, 2006 A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied a petition by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to review EPA’s 2004 rule implementing critical use exemptions for methyl bromide under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The Montreal Protocol, a global … Read More.

CIEL Urges UNCITRAL Member Governments to Adopt More Transparent and Participatory Arbitral Rules for Disputes Involving States

September 16, 2008 Please see the full text of CIEL’s statement. This week CIEL attended the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law’s (UNCITRAL) meetings in Vienna to revise UNCITRAL’s arbitration rules. CIEL’s goal is to improve the rules’ treatment of transparency, public participation and accountability in arbitrations involving a State as a party (“State … Read More.

CIEL and partners organize Workshop on Intellectual Property and Regional Trade Agreements in Cape Town, South Africa on October 6th, 2006

Workshop organized by CIEL, ICTSD, and TRALAC October 6, 2006 Free trade agreements (FTAs) are mushrooming at the regional and bilateral level. According to the World Bank, (See “Global Economic Perspectives, Trade, Regionalism, and Development”, The World Bank, 2004.) the number of agreements in force now surpasses 250, and has increased six fold in just … Read More.

FTAs and sustainable development: The example of EFTA and other upcoming challenges

June 7, 2006 On 7 June 2006, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Berne Declaration co-organized a discussion on “FTAs and sustainable development: The example of EFTA and other upcoming challenges“, at the Maison des Associations, Geneva. The discussion aimed at addressing concerns raised in relation to ongoing bilateral trade negotiations in … Read More.

CIEL requests that the European Comission make available to the public its initial written submission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Panel in the Brazil-Retreaded Tires case

June 2006 On June 9, 2006, CIEL sent a letter to the European Commission, requesting that it make available to the public its initial written submission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Panel in the Brazil-Retreaded Tires case, as well as subsequent filings of the EC in this case. Brazil has already made … Read More.

CIEL forecasts brighter days ahead for reforming antiquated U.S. toxics law

Despite the serious failings of the 30-year old Toxic Substances Control Act and a chilly political climate, CIEL finds reason for optimism about overhauling federal law on dangerous chemicals. Cloudy Skies, Chance of Sun: A Forecast for U.S. Reform of Chemicals Policy, highlights bold political steps by state and local governments, business leaders, and a … Read More.

The WTO dispute panel issues its final ruling on the European Communities – Measures affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products (EC-Biotech) case

EC-Biotech Panel reportedly confirms most of the findings of its Interim Report May 24, 2006 The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Dispute Settlement Panel issued its final ruling on May 10th in the European Communities – Measures affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products (EC-Biotech) case. Reports indicate that while the Panel’s final ruling maintains … Read More.

CIEL publishes first in-depth analysis of the EC-Biotech Interim Report

March 31, 2006 On February 7, 2006, a Dispute Settlement Panel at the World Trade Organization (WTO) issued the interim report in the European Communities – Measures affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products (EC-Biotech) case. Interim reports in the WTO contain all of the elements of a final report, but are released only … Read More.

Results and recommendations of the EU’s Sustainablity Impact Assessments must feed into trade policy-making and negotiations

March 28, 2006 On 21-22 March 2006 the European Commission organized the EU TRADE Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) Stocktaking Conference. The two-day discussions focused to a great extent on the question of whether trade SIAs were, in fact, feeding into policy making. The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and many other participants were of … Read More.

CIEL is participating in crucial meetings in Dubai to win support for a strategic approach to chemicals management around the world

CIEL in Dubai for Global Chemical Meetings Capping a three year process, governments, international organizations, industries, environmental health advocates, and other civil society representatives are meeting at the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) in Dubai, February 4-6, 2006. The goal is to adopt an international strategy for minimizing the harmful effects of chemicals on … Read More.

Environment and Trade: A Guide to WTO Jurisprudence (December 2005) is a new publication authored by CIEL lawyers, and published by Earthscan Publications Ltd

January 2006 This book is a comprehensive guide to environment and trade jurisprudence, providing  thorough coverage of WTO rulings and impacts. More specifically, the guide examines the significant impacts that international trade rules have on environmental law and policy at the domestic, regional and global levels, analyzing how environment-related questions have been treated under the … Read More.

Inuit File Petition with Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Claiming Global Warming Caused by United States Is Destroying Their Culture and Livelihoods

December 7, 2005 MONTREAL —  Ms. Sheila Watt-Cloutier, the elected Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC), today announced that a petition has been filed with the Washington, DC-based Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The petition seeks relief from violations of the human rights of Inuit resulting from global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions … Read More.

CIEL Facilitates the 2005 UNEP North American Regional Civil Society Consultation

October 2005 On 28 October 2005, CIEL Senior Attorney Glenn Wiser served as Facilitator for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) North American Regional Civil Society Consultation in Washington, DC. Sixty representatives of 41 organizations participated in this year’s Consultation, which was convened by the UNEP Regional Office of North America (RONA) and hosted by … Read More.

68 Civil society groups submit open letter slamming WTO procedural irregularities in GATS negotiations — WTO Director General responds

Update 23 November 2005: WTO Director General Pascal Lamy’s response to the letter 1 November 2005 Civil society groups today are sending the WTO Director General Pascal Lamy an open letter (available in English, French and Spanish) slamming the highly undemocratic and deceptive process used to manufacture the services section of the draft Ministerial Declaration … Read More.

Civil society organizations promote clear and objective guidelines for adequate access to information and public participation at the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants

Open Letter to Member States of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) October 25, 2005 On October 27, 2005, the Thirty-Ninth Ordinary Session of the Council for the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) will address the rules governing public participation and access to … Read More.

CIEL calls on Congress to demonstrate “essential elements of U.S. leadership” in implementing legislation for the Stockholm Convention on POPs

CIEL Joins Three Dozen NGOs on Congressional Letter Calling for Renewed U.S. Leadership on POPs September 7, 2005 A letter from 37 environmental health groups to Senate and House leaders calls on Congress to ensure that implementing legislation for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) restores U.S. leadership in this critical chemical safety … Read More.

ICSID Tribunal Affirms its Power to Admit Amicus Curiae Participation

June 1, 2005 On 19 May 2005, an ICSID tribunal for the first time has decided that it has the power to accept amicus curiae briefs from civil society organizations, even in the face of objections from parties. The ICSID tribunal’s decision came in response to a petition for transparency and public participation presented in … Read More.