Centre for Law and Democracy

CLD, in collaboration with a number of other civil society organisations which make up the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 Data Initiative, launched a report on the role of SDG 16 in reducing poverty, SDG 16 Data Initiative 2024 Report: SDG 16 as a Key Vector for Eliminating Poverty. Addressing the scourge of poverty is a central premise of the SDGs, as reflected in the aim of SDG 1, which seeks to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere”, and the core mantra of the SDGs, namely to “leave no one behind. The report demonstrates the causal link between progress on a number of SDG 16 targets and poverty reduction. The report contains five chapters looking at different SDG 16 targets, including Chapter 5: States Cannot Address Poverty in Secret, authored by Toby Mendel. The first part of Chapter 5 looks at the weak progress made so far in terms of SDG Indicator 16.10.2, which measures the adoption and implementation of right to information (RTI) laws, concluding that far more needs to be done both to reduce the number of 56 UN Member States which have still not adopted RTI laws and to improve the quality of those laws which have been adopted. The second part of the chapter highlights the strong causal relationship between increasing transparency and improving poverty alleviation outcomes. This includes bolstering government accountability, including to expose ineffective development efforts, enhancing public participation in development efforts, including so as to ensure that they are properly tethered to the needs of the poor, and strengthening efforts to combat corruption, which has been shown to have a disproportionate impact on the poor. The Report is available here: https://lnkd.in/eV9KDJhy

The Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD) has made a submission to a public consultation by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on their Draft Recommendation of the Council on Information Integrity (draft Recommendation). CLD’s Note provides analysis of and recommendations on key parts of the draft Recommendation, with a view to align the document better with international standards, with a particular focus on freedom of expression and the right to information. CLD’s Note is available here: https://lnkd.in/ej3hFeuF

Join ARTICLE 19, the Centre for Law and Democracy, and leading experts for the launch of our new report: Human Rights: Responsibilities and Challenges for Tech Companies Operating in Authoritarian Countries. Date: Tuesday, 24 September, 3:30 PM Location: Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand | Also livestreamed on Facebook This discussion will explore the role of tech companies in upholding human rights in Asia, focusing on censorship, surveillance, and privacy challenges. Hear from experts like Laura Notess, Trần Quỳnh Vi (LIV), FVS (HRIC), Benjamin Ismail, and Vicky Bowman Register now to join us in person or virtually: https://lnkd.in/ehGDRj3q

We're hosting a Virtual Panel Discussion on Access Rights and Democracy as part of this year's Right to Know Week celebrations and you're invited! The discussion will feature Nova Scotia's Information and Privacy Commissioner Tricia Ralph, along with Maria MacDonald from Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of PEI, and Sean Murray from Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Raphael Vagliano from the Centre for Law and Democracy. It's going to happen on Wednesday September 25th at 12:30PM Newfoundland Time (noon Atlantic, 11AM Eastern). Hope you can join us! Register to attend: https://lnkd.in/eEd3c_sH (photo clockwise from top left Raphael Vagliano, Tricia Ralph, Sean Murray, Maria MacDonald)

Applications for 2024 summer internships are now open! An opportunity for law students interested in international human rights, freedom of expression or access to information. https://lnkd.in/grxQnP_6