During the last century there have been many successes in women’s’ rights movements, but there remains a lot of work to be done in accomplishing gender equality. In the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, authors Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn retell an experience had by Bill Gates during a speaking engagement in Saudi Arabia.
In honor of International Women’s Day 2012 and women around the world, Task Force Allied Organizations are showcasing inspirational women and their work by contributing to an online album.
Every other week, the Task Force highlights a Featured Allied Organization. The Task Force has more than 120 member organizations from all over the world which endorse its mission. The current featured Allied Organization is The Council on Geopolitics. To learn more about the Task Force Allied Organizations and to see a full list of our members please visit the Allied Organization webpage
Every other week, the Task Force highlights a Featured Allied Organization. The Task Force has more than 120 member organizations from all over the world which endorse its mission. The current featured Allied Organization is The Council on Geopolitics.
HUMANBE is a unique organization focused on promoting sustainable development throughout all aspects of life: economic practices, the environment, social interaction, etc. The organization’s mission is to change both the individual and collective behavior of society through the implementation of concrete and sustainable solutions. Recognized as an organization working to build a more humane society, HUMANBE makes every effort to build awareness of our interdependence.
It is appropriate that the United Nations officially recognizes Anti-Corruption (9 December) and Human Rights (10 December) on two consecutive days as the two issues are inextricably linked. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services…” Corruption undermines a society’s ability to attain these basic standards. When corrupt individuals and institutions steal aid money, or a Multinational Corporation exploits a country’s resources or shifts profits to evade taxes, it is the average citizen that suffers lack of food, education, medical care, and more.
Delaying Release of Final Rules on Extractive Industries Disclosure Law Will Hurt Developing Countries, Could Weaken Enforcement
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced in April that the final rules for Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection act could be delayed until sometime between August and December 2011, at the earliest. Once enacted, Section 1504 would require companies operating in the oil, gas and mining industries (the extractive industries) that have to report to the SEC, which includes—at a minimum—all such companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges, to report payments made to the U.S. and foreign governments to attain mining and drilling rights on a country-by-country and project- by-project basis. With the rest of the world watching – in some instances, poised for action, ready to follow the U.S. example – now is not the time to lose momentum on this issue.
Since it was passed in July 2010, Section 1504 has inspired other countries to take similar financial transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption measures. France, Germany and the United Kingdom all stated their willingness to support such a rule in the EU, and important steps have already been taken in Norway towards creating a similar law. In a letter to SEC Chairman Schapiro, Senators Cardin and Lugar expressed concerns that “a delay of this nature may undermine [the law’s] efficacy.” They noted that while these global partners “are eager to move forward with a similar disclosure law […] to be as collaborative as possible, they are waiting for the final rule issuance in the U.S., recognizing that many multinational companies are listed in several markets around the world, warranting similar rules for all markets.” This interest in collaboration is not just in Europe; South Korea is looking to implement similar laws, and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has already implemented disclosure rules for extractive industry companies newly listing on that exchange.
In a joint press conference with Salvadoran President Funes last week, President Obama announced that—through the Central American Security Partnership program—$200 million will be provided to fight drug cartels and organized crime in the region. The President noted that the money will be used to address “the social and economic forces that drive young people towards criminality,” as well as “help strengthen courts, civil society groups and institutions that uphold the rule of law.” While this is a more comprehensive effort than has been previously seen, the Obama administration’s plan of attack still falls short.
Traditional approaches to combating drug trafficking and organized crime involve strengthening law enforcement and border control, seizing narcotics, and interdicting criminals in the act. The new regional initiative shows a shift from the more traditional approach to one that includes preventative measures such as investment in social policies, creation of more economic opportunities for Salvadorians, and efforts to address the demand for drugs by reducing consumption. All of these methods are important steps towards the goal of clamping down on drug trafficking and organized crime. However, if these governments really want to start seeing tangible results, they need to go after the money.
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