The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights held its first forum on December 4 and 5 in Geneva. The Halifax Initiative spoke at the forum on a panel concerning public financial institutions and human rights. ECA-Watch, CIEL and BankTrack disseminated the attached document at the forum containing analysis and recommendations regarding financial institutons and human rights.

This month we examine 'odious investment' - Mongolia Undermined; (Mis)Investment in Agriculture; More than Bricks and Mortar; and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

The debt edition featuring articles on the re-emerging debt crisis, odious debt, debt distress assessments, export credit agencies and soveriegn debt work-out procedures.

Climate finance: the World Bank, Export Development Canada and the Canadian government. Plus Rio+20 postmortem.

The tax edition: the fair tax summit, mobilizing domestic resources and the financial secrecy index. Plus Pascua Lama and Talisman.

Energy poverty, climate change and the World Bank; Durban postmortem.

Selecting new IMF boss; CSOs urge UN to move beyond Ruggie; Argentine civil society sues Barrick Gold; Quebec court accepts jurisdiction in case against Anvil Mining.

Ruggie guidelines stir debate
In 2008, the UN Human Rights Council extended Special Representative John Ruggie’s mandate on business and human rights. Among other things, the Council asked Mr. Ruggie to identify “concrete and practical recommendations on ways to strengthen the fulfilment of the duty of the State to protect all human rights from abuses by or involving transnational corporations.”

2010 G8/G20 Canadian Civil Society Coordinating Committee
Parliamentary Roundtables on the G8/G20 Agendas

Roundtable 2: The Global Financial Crisis

Monday, April 26th, 2010 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Room 2-2, National Press Building, 165 Sparks Street, Ottawa

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Dean Baker.mp3