7 May 2014

UN officials stress need for comprehensive accountability framework to ensure development progress beyond 2015

According to UNGA President John Ashe, “[t]he move to a universal development agenda will require an accountability mechanism that is comprehensive and flexible, yet robust, holding different actors to account according to their differing responsibilities.” He said “[t]he time to begin this work is now (…) a global monitoring and accountability framework will need to be an integral part of our ongoing discussions on the design of a post-2015 development agenda and its implementation.” (more…)

Source: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon | Latest Statements | Secretary-General's remarks at the Interactive Dialogue of the President of the General Assembly on Elements for an Accountability Framework for the Post-2015 Development Agenda | New York, 1 May 2014
Source: Remarks by H.E. Mr. John W. Ashe, President of the 68th Session of the United Nations, General Assembly | Interactive Dialogue of the President of the General Assembly | "Elements for an Accountability Framework for the Post-2015 Development Agenda" | Opening Session | New York, 1 May 2014

11 November 2013

Report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe urges accountability mechanisms for international organisations

The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe published a report on the accountability of international organisations for human rights violations. The report, written by Rapporteur Mr. José Maria Beneyto, Spain, Group of the European People’s Party, identifies lacunae in the protection of individuals against human rights infringements by international organisations. By virtue of the separate legal personalities of international organisations, their member states are in general not responsible for their acts. This opens an accountability gap, where the conferral of legal personality to international organisations is not accompanied by effective accountability mechanisms. Additionally, member states can use the organisations as a shield from liability. The report notes that the most serious challenges are the lack of fora where the individual could implement accountability of international organisations, as well as procedural obstacles, such as immunity before national courts.

The report offers a number of suggestions in response to these problems. For example, it suggests that organisations should waive immunity when it is not required to ensure the independent fulfillment of its functions. Additionally, the report urges international organisations to establish internal mechanisms for accountability of human rights violations.

Source: Council of Europe | Parliamentary Assembly | Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights | Accountability of international organisations for human rights violations

12 February 2013

Book on Extraterritorial Scope of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights published

The recently published book Global Justice, State Duties: The Extraterritorial Scope of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in International Law (CUP 2013) contains several chapters dealing with questions of shared responsibility. The book is edited by Malcolm Langford, Wouter Vandenhole, Martin Scheinin and Willem van Genugten.

This book asks the question if states possess extraterritorial obligations under existing international human rights law to respect and ensure economic, social and cultural rights and how far those duties extend. Issues that are addressed in the book include jurisdiction, causation, division of responsibility, remedies and accountability.

25 July 2011

New Book on Accountability for Collective Wrongdoing

A new book on ‘Accountability for Collective Wrongdoing’, edited by Tracy Isaacs and Richard Vernon, has recently been published. More information about the book can be found here.

Source: http://www.cambridge.org