The European Union has been at the forefront of the fight against climate change and the protection of nature for years

ABC News

Cracks emerging in Europe's united front to battle climate change

The federal government has made a push toward enacting policies addressing climate change in recent years, but state lawmakers in Montana are bucking the trend, recently passing a law curbing climate impact reviews in the state.


Montana’s new law banning climate impact reviews sparks backlash from environmental experts

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry sued the Biden administration over so-called environmental justice actions targeting his state's petrochemical industry in a federal lawsuit late Wednesday.

Yahoo News

Republican state sues Biden admin over environmental justice actions: 'Dystopian nightmare'

Climate change directly contributes to the violation of human rights in many different ways — from droughts to floods that lead to loss of shelter, food shortages and breakdown of critical infrastructure, including schools and health facilities, increased human and animal diseases and disruption of habitats and critical ecosystems services that underpin survival, wellbeing and enjoyment of life. 

Down to Earth

How climate change threatens human rights in various sectors of Tanzania

A plan to use the ocean is necessary to boost the economy to combat climate change

Solid oceans economic plans will aid developing countries

A decision by Brazil’s environmental regulator to block state-owned oil company Petrobras’ Amazon oil project has exposed tensions in President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s coalition between those wanting to protect Brazil’s environment and those prioritising economic development at any cost.

Climate Home News

Regulator blocks Brazilian oil drilling, sparking conflict within government

Brazil’s environmental regulator has refused to grant a license for a controversial offshore oil drilling project near the mouth of the Amazon River, prompting celebration from environmentalists who had warned of its potential impact.


Oil project near Amazon River mouth blocked by Brazil's environment agency

Today, the European Union adopted an important new law requiring EU-based companies to ensure their imports and exports are “deforestation-free” and not driving human rights abuses.


Human Rights Watch

EU Approves Law for ‘Deforestation-Free’ Trade

Everyone has the human right to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Most human rights systems in the world recognise this, but the European human rights convention needs to catch up. This week there’s an opportunity for European governments to collectively recognise people’s right to a healthy environment and send a clear signal that they are committed to its effective protection. We’re pushing for that to happen.

Green Peace

Litmus test for the Council of Europe: Time to recognise and protect the right to healthy environment

The social media company did not explain which tweets would be blocked, nor who made the request, but current president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously blocked Twitter across all of Turkey

Forbes

Twitter Blocks Content In Turkey One Day Before National Election

The political party behind the European Parliament's biggest lawmaker group on Friday opposed two of the EU's main policies to protect the environment, threatening to block the laws which the group says would hurt European farmers.


Reuters

Centre-right lawmakers push back on EU nature laws

The United Nations enshrined the right to adequate food in the Charter of Human Rights. Be that as it may, some 690 million people suffer hunger today which gives reason to doubt that the elimination of world hunger and all forms of malnutrition will be achieved in the near future.

The Manila Times

Environmental law vis-à-vis food insecurity and malnutrition

On Thursday, ClientEarth filed a legal complaint against agricultural giant Cargill to stop environmental destruction and human rights failings



Earth.Org

Agricultural Giant Cargill Faces Legal Action Over Deforestation and Human Rights Failings in Brazil

Illegal gold miners ambushed Brazilian police and environmental protection agents on sprawling Indigenous territory in the Amazon rainforest, and four miners were shot dead in an exchange of gunfire, the government said.

Al Jazeera

Brazil: Illegal gold miners fatally shot in Indigenous territory

Offshore drilling leases covering 1.7 million acres of federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico will remain in place after a federal appeals court said last year's $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act

Environmental groups lose bid to undo Gulf of Mexico drilling leases

Gov. Jared Polis’ then-sweeping overhaul of land use policies was seen as transformative to many looking to reign in skyrocketing housing prices — as well as to environmental advocates hopeful it would help Colorado make a state-sized dent in climate emissions.

CPR News

Polis’ land use bill aimed to blunt climate change. Conservation groups say watering it down is a ‘huge disappointment’

Greenwashing, fragmented real-world action, and the continued failure to reign-in climate-altering emissions are increasingly defining international summits designed to address the climate crisis

The Independent

Emissions are rising, climate disasters are worsening: So are Cop summits working?

The United Nations says Guinea-Bissau has become the first non-European country to join an international agreement on government accountability for human rights and the environment.


Voice of Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau Joins UN Agreement On Environment

The Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations for the Prevention of Human Rights Violations in Supply Chains aims to promote social and environmental sustainability with primary focus on preventing human rights and environmental law violations in global supply chains.

Mondaq

Germany: Legal Bulletin On The German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act

Alessandra Korap Munduruku, who headed a campaign that led mining corporations to respect her people's Indigenous territory in the Amazon rainforest, has been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize.


Indigenous woman wins prize for campaign against mining firms in Amazon

Human Rights | Environmental Rights

Several GOP-led states are relaxing child labor laws to ease workforce shortage. "Instead of panicking, we should be celebrating" says Reason Assistant Editor Emma Camp, "because there are so many positive outcomes associated with working as a teenager."

Could kids solve the labor shortage?

Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law Friday that rolls back child labor protections by extending the hours that teens can work and the establishments where they can be employed.

Iowa governor signs bill rolling back child labor protections into law

An alliance of major labor groups in the Philippines called on government to work with representatives in their sector on upholding the right to organize, noting that a recently approved government task force lacked participation from workers.

Business World

Labor groups want part in task force on rights

Amazon has been accused again of illegal anti-union behavior. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a complaint Monday, saying the company changed its policies to squash union support at its only unionized warehouse in Staten Island, as reported by Bloomberg. 

Amazon again accused of breaking labor laws at unionized warehouse

Several large tea companies — including Unilever, Ekaterra, and Starbucks — were linked to plantations at which 70 reports of human rights abuses were made in 2022

Supply Chain Dive

Major tea companies linked to human rights abuses, report says

U.S. labor officials on Monday said they have asked Mexico to investigate alleged worker rights abuses at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co (GT.O) plant in Mexico in the latest "rapid response" probe under North American trade rules.

US seeks labor rights probe at Goodyear Tire in Mexico

Studies reveal that employee well-being has a significant impact on productivity, engagement, and overall success

Modern Diplomacy

Social Matters: Valuing Employee Well-being

The Fiscal Year 2024 New York State Budget (the "Budget") includes a multi-year plan to increase the State's minimum wage starting on January 1, 2024

New York Minimum Wage To Increase Again

The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its consideration of the combined fourth and fifth periodic report of Türkiye, with Committee Experts praising the State’s free child healthcare services and raising questions about child labour and sanctions of children involved in terrorist organizations.

Mirage

Child Rights Experts Praise Türkiye’s Free Healthcare, Seek Answers on Child Labor and Terror Sanctions

Starbucks Corp. violated federal labor law by seeking information from workers and union staffers that could be used to identify union supporters and detractors, their organizing activities, and the union’s strategy, a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled.


Bloomberg Law

Starbucks’ Union Subpoenas Violated Labor Law: NLRB Judge 

The UAE presented to the UN’s Human Rights Council (HRC) its legislative ecosystem, which regulates the local labour market, provides social security and ensures decent working conditions to UAE workers in line with the Paris Principles

Zawya

UAE presents labour market legislations to Human Rights Council

The United Nation’s top human rights body adopted a resolution Thursday that drew attention to mounting civilian deaths and rights abuses in Sudan


MillenniumPost

UNHRC passes resolution on human rights abuses in Sudan

Traceability is a major exercise to ensure transparency in the supply chain, that requires efficient supply chain mapping to track down various modes in the chain

Business Recorder

Traceability essential for sustainability

From the offices that tower the skylines of modern cities to tech parks to smaller offices, questions around the future of workspaces are emerging across various categories of offices today

Economic Times

Building future-ready workspaces

Couriers will be moved to cheaper insecure deals after government fails on promise to bring in new employment bill

The Guardian

UK rapid grocery firms plan to put riders back on zero-hour contracts

A vote at the annual meeting will allow Tesla to explain its supply chain dilemmas that result from artisinal mining. Additionally, shareholders are expressing concern again over Elon Musk’s ability to function fully as CEO

CleanTechnica

Tesla Shareholders Demand Child & Forced Labor Rights

In recent years, the US Department of Labor has seen a significant increase in child labor violations, with over 100 children working dangerous, overnight shifts in meatpacking facilities. The Biden administration has stated that it will increase enforcement efforts to protect these children. Enforcement is critical, but it cannot assist children who work in dangerous jobs that are entirely legal.

Technology Times

Strong Child Labor Laws Needed To Protect Child Labor In Farms

A series of investigative reports over the last few months has revealed that migrant children, mostly from Central America, are working in some of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S.


NPR 

Amid a child labor crisis, U.S. state governments are loosening regulations

McDonald's restaurants across four states violated the labor rights of over 300 minors, including two 10-year-old children who were not paid, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor reveals. 

USA Today

McDonald’s locations violated labor rights of over 300 minors, including two 10-year-olds: Feds

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) has signaled its intent to materially increase the severity of the remedies it will impose upon employers who repeatedly violate the National Labor Relations Act.

JD Supra

NLRB Increases Penalties for Repeat Labor Law Violators

Human Rights | Labour Rights

FIVE new countries should be added to the United States government’s list of countries with severe and worsening restrictions on religious freedoms, a commission on religious freedom has said. The recommended countries, which include Nigeria, India, and Vietnam, would join 12 others designated in November as being of particular concern for repression of religious freedom under the International Religious Freedom Act.

Church Times

US government urged to act on severe restrictions on religious freedom

Last week, the Biden Administration released its updated guidance on prayer and religious expression in public schools. In the past, the purpose of this guidance was to provide clarity on the exercise of religious freedoms in the school setting and to extend the greatest protection possible for these freedoms. 

American Center for Law and Justice 

Biden Administration Undermines Religious Liberty, Removing Important Guidance and Protections in Its Updated Memorandum on Religious Freedom in Schools

On May 15, the US State Department released a report saying religious freedom in India has worsened. In a 49-page detailed booklet, the report titled ‘2022 Report on International Religious Freedom’ cited examples from a number of cases where minorities were targeted and attacked in the country.

The Wire

US Report Expresses Concern Over Religious Freedom in India

The Uganda Human Rights Commission has recently advocated for the government to enact comprehensive regulations and procedures governing the operations of religious institutions, specifically aimed at curbing instances of abuse and extortion targeting their followers. 

Capital FM

Uganda Human Rights Commission wants gov't to regulate religious institutions operations

Religious freedom is a universal human right. The United States’ defense of that right includes issuing the International Religious Freedom report each year to assist those who protect this fundamental freedom

Share America

U.S. stands with defenders of religious freedom

Many religious traditions preach the need to care for strangers. But what happens when caring for the stranger comes into conflict with government policy?


The Conversation

When faith says to help migrants – and the law says don't

Foreign Office (FO) has strongly rejected the baseless assertions made about Pakistan in the International Religious Freedom Report (IRFR) released by the United States.

Pakistan Today

FO rejects ‘ill-informed’ US report on religious freedom in Pakistan

State Department officials continued to point to religious freedom atrocities in Russia, China and Afghanistan as they released their annual report on threats to religious liberties across the globe.

The Salt Lake Tribune

U.S. points to religious liberty atrocities in Russia, China and Afghanistan

The United States has denounced the continuing violations of religious freedom in Algeria wherein non-Muslim minority groups and Shiites suffer unabated harassment, persecution and growing restrictions.

North Africa Post

Religious Freedom: U.S. Decries Algeria’s Continuing Harassment, Persecution and Violations

JPMorgan Chase decrease; red down pointing triangle has become the target of a campaign by Republican state officials seeking to expose what they see as religious discrimination in the bank’s business practices

The Wall Street Journal

JPMorgan Targeted by Republican States Over Accusations of Religious Bias

Minorities in Pakistan enjoy equal human rights to other citizens and “there is no misuse of the blasphemy laws against them,” Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, a religious cleric and the Pakistani prime minister’s special representative on interfaith harmony and the Middle East, told The Media Line.

The Jerusalem Post

Pakistan Rejects US Commission Report on Religious Freedom

Over the past year, two of the world’s most brutal regimes, Iran and the Afghan Taliban, have illustrated how denying religious freedom and women’s rights go hand-in-insidious-hand.

Religion News

Repression of women points to worsening religious freedom trends abroad

Is any human right – religious freedom in particular – more important than another? And what happens when human rights claims come into conflict?

Are some human rights more important than others? Religious freedom advocates often put it first

While longstanding offenders in Asia and the Middle East remain epicenters of persecution, Latin America and Europe occupy more space in an annual chronicle by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

Christianity Today

Religious Freedom Violations Go West

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom decried Iran’s use of violence against protesters in the wake of Mahsa Amini’s death.


Iran, 27 other countries critiqued by watchdog for religious freedom violations

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed grave concern over growing threats to the right to freedom of religion or belief in its flagship annual report 'State of Human Rights in 2022', which was published earlier this week

First Post

Violence against minorities in Pakistan on rise, says Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

On April 18, the Supreme Court faced a recurring issue: How much must employers bend the rules for employees who, based on their religious beliefs, demand special rights?

People's World

Supreme Court considers ‘religious freedom’ ploy to undo labor rights

Police continue to dig for bodies in forest after being told of shallow graves linked to church leader who reportedly told followers to starve to ‘meet Jesus’

Kenya cult deaths: toll from suspected starvation cult reaches 47

Professor Richard Garnett of Notre Dame Law School, discusses Supreme Court oral arguments in the case of a postal worker who refused to work on Sundays and his request for a religious accomodation.

Bloomberg

Religious Rights Case of Christian Postal Worker

The Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in a case that could expand religious protections for workers under a law changed in 1972, an interpretation backed by some congressional Republicans.

Roll Call

Supreme Court to hear arguments on workplace religious protections

Human Rights | Religious Rights

The European Union’s effort to secure a sustainable and secure supply of minerals, including through the draft Critical Raw Materials Act, is increasingly relying on flawed voluntary audit and certification initiatives.



EU’s Flawed Reliance on Audits, Certifications for Raw Materials Rules

It's been nearly three years since a white police officer put his knee on George Floyd's neck, asphyxiating the African-American man and sparking mass protests against racism and police violence.

Barron's

Three Years After George Floyd: Hopes Dashed, Progress Mixed

The NAACP over the weekend issued a travel advisory for Florida, joining two other civil rights groups in warning potential tourists that recent laws.

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