2024 MASS ATROCITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT SYMPOSIUM

Oftentimes when international crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes are discussed the connection between these crimes and the environment is ignored or often discussed tangentially instead of in direct connection with or as a possible motive for the commission of international crimes. The connection between the environment and mass atrocities and the actions of perpetrators is under-discussed. For example, many activists from Myanmar have raised the issue of the military junta’s source of income being derived from Jade mines in the Kachin region or pearls from the Tanintharyi region. Recent reports indicate gold mining is one of the underlying issues fueling the genocide in Sudan.

Continue reading 2024 MASS ATROCITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT SYMPOSIUM

2024 Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Conference Program

The Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Conference took place on July 12, 2024 in St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands at St. Peter’s Centre. This was an in-person event.

Speakers (listed in alphabetical order):

Continue reading 2024 Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Conference Program

CFP: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Conference

CALL FOR PAPERS

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966.  Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) are interlinked and States have an obligation to respect, fulfill, and protect these rights. ESCR are also found in other treaties such as the Convention against the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In addition, ESCR are also found in regional instruments in different parts of the world.  Given the prevalence of ESCR in international and regional conventions, this conference seeks to examine how much progress has been made on realizing these rights.

The Common Good Foundation in partnership with The Jersey Law Commission will be hosting a 1-day conference dedicated to ESCR. This inter-disciplinary conference welcomes scholars, practitioners, activists who work in areas of protection, fulfillment, and realization of these rights from around the world.

Some suggestions for abstracts/papers include:

• Effectiveness of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• Effectiveness of the work of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights treaty body
• The intersection of ESCR and other international and/or regional conventions
• ESCR and enforcement mechanisms
• Broadening the scope of ESCR to include other types of rights
• ESCR in The Channel Islands
• Intersections and/or relationships between:
 ESCR and how it is provided to different groups, such as: ethnic, religious, linguistic minorities, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, children, the elderly, refugees, women, and LGBTQ+ persons
 ESCR and the environment (including oceans and climate change)
 ESCR and Artificial Intelligence
 ESCR and law
 ESCR and connections to other types of human rights violations and/or crimes

Other topics which are not listed here but are connected to ESCR are welcome.

Abstracts are due Monday, April 15, 2024.

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Abstracts/Presentations which are accepted for the conference will have an opportunity to publish their article in the Special Edition issue for The Resolution Journal, dedicated to ESCR. This conference follows up on a previous report published by The Common Good Foundation, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Indigenous Groups in Asia.

This conference will be held in person, in St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands on Friday, July 12, 2024. No travel stipends are available, all participants must handle their own expenses. There may be a minimal registration fee.  

To learn more about Jersey, please visit: https://www.jersey.com/.

CGF concludes Climate Justice Conference with Government Law College Ernakulam in Kerala

From January 24 – 26, 2023 the Common Good Foundation in partnership with the Centre for Criminal Law of His Highness Maharajas Government Law College Ernakulam completed a three day conference focusing on current topics related to climate justice as it intersects with green crimes. For more information, check out the program and speakers below!

Envi-Confe-Brochure-3-1-1

Addressing Alleged Witchcraft Persecution – Report

Recently in Malawi, an elderly woman was accused of “bewitching” her daughter to death. Two men, intent on punishing the women for being an alleged “witch,” forced her to bury the body. They beat her and then buried the woman alive, who survived because she was rescued by her sister and daughters.

All over the world, people who are elderly, widowed, disabled, and children, are accused of witchcraft or being witches. Most people assume witchcraft accusations are a part of history, but sadly this behavior continues in the present day. This report examines the human rights instruments that address this kind of persecution and recommends actions be taken to prevent further violations of human rights.

CGF-AWP-Report-1252022

Protecting Minority Rights in the face of Mass Atrocities – Conference

The Common Good Foundation is excited to partner with Dr. Narissa Ramsundar, Professor at Canterbury Christ Church University (UK) to host “Examining Human Rights violations against minority groups” on July 14, 2022 from 9 am – 5 pm. This one day conference will examine minority rights from around the world and what mechanisms have done to address human rights violations. This conference compliments a previous report examining minority rights published by the Common Good Foundation which can be found here.

Examining-Human-Rights-Violations-_Conference-Programme-1

ECOR concludes 2022 Milieura International Conference

The Earth, Climate and Ocean Research Foundation based in Kerala, India has concluded its two day conference titled, “Milieura- One Earth for All of Us: Changing Climate and Environment” which took place virtually on June 11th and 12th. The international conference featured select speakers from around the world. The conference addressed an area of topics which included climate change, oceans, and best practices to work together on environmental issues. The Common Good Foundation was excited to be a Knowledge Partner for this Conference.

Continue reading ECOR concludes 2022 Milieura International Conference