Library

How Trump Lowered America’s Standing in the World

“The values of liberty, democracy, freedom of expression and the rule of law for which the United States has stood, albeit with conspicuous failings, over the postwar decades have been abandoned….the United States has become a values-free international actor under a president who has led a values-free life” (Roger Cohen, 2020).

“Whoever Finds the Vaccine Must Share It” Strengthening Human Rights and Transparency Around Covid-19 Vaccines

Strengthening Human Rights and Transparency around Covid-19 Vaccines. (Human Rights Watch, 2020).

Think Big, Act Small: Elinor Ostrom’s radical vision for community power

"This report draws out Ostrom’s insights for the UK in the context of a growing crisis in the relationship between people and institutions. It adapts and contextualises her work into a new set of practical lessons for ‘self-governance’ – where communities take control over the things that matter to them – and connects these with contemporary examples of community-powered projects in the UK" (Dr. Simon Kaye, 2020).

New Weapons, Proven Precedent. Elements of and Models for a Treaty on Killer Robots

Fully autonomous weapons would usher in a new era of armed conflict. Also known as lethal autonomous weapons systems or “killer robots,” these systems would select and engage targets without meaningful human control. International law and non-legally binding principles of AI provide precedent for the elements of new treaties. Lessons from the past should be adapted to this emerging technology. (Human Rights Watch, 2020).

The pandemic has eroded democracy and respect for human rights

“The pandemic has been terrible not only for the human body but also for the body politic...Covid-19 'has fuelled a crisis for democracy around the world,' argue Sarah Repucci and Amy Slipowitz of Freedom House” (The Economist, 2020).

Assessment Of The Outcomes Of The 45th Session Of The Un Human Rights Council (Hrc45)

"This briefing document provides Amnesty International’s assessment of some of the key outcomes and developments that were priorities for the organization at the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC45), as well as recommendations for next steps" (Amnesty International, 2020)

Weakened democracy is another harm caused by Big Tech

“Each day reveals new harms caused by technology companies to democracy and public values...yet lawmakers still turn predominantly to market mechanisms when they seek to bolster the democratic accountability of technology companies...it is time for democratic principles to be safeguarded more explicitly” (Marietje Schaake, 2020).

Garry Kasparov on the need to improve our politics with technology

“Technology races ahead: and “society rushes to embrace it without a plan...politics, in contrast, still plods along. At a time when democratic institutions around the world are fraying...the solution is to borrow from the ethos of technological progress and instil innovation into our democracy and political processes” (Garry Kasparov, 2020).

Business for Purpose Roundtable (sponsored by Mishcon de Reya and National Bank of Greece)

Migration and Human Rights (with Council of Europe)

Wars, economic dislocation and climate change have pushed people from their homelands,

shifting migration patterns along the way. What has the impact been on social cohesion and

human rights, especially for children and youth? How does (or could) education come into play?