Legal Research

Interesting New Documents from the UN

By Michel-Adrien Sheppard

I have a thing for government documents. “GovDocs” was my best class in library school.

I have a particular thing for UN documents because the UN deals with just about anything and everything.

Here are a few recent ones:

• Our World 2.0: the United Nations University (yes, they have their own university) launched a webzine this past summer about solutions for the planet’s climate, oil and food security messes
• Toolkit to Combat Human Trafficking: the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has developed a “toolkit” that provides guidance to policymakers, law enforcers, judges, prosecutors, and victim service providers who are working to prevent human trafficking, and assist victims
• Good practices in legislation on violence against women: the UN Division for the Advancement of Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime have come up with a model framework for legislation on violence against women
• Capacity Survey: Regional and Other Intergovernmental Organizations in the Maintenance of Peace and Security: another United Nations University publication, this one surveys the conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping, enforcement, and peace-building capacities of 21 regional organizations such as the African Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Organization of American States
• Montreux Document: the document is a joint initiative of Switzerland & the Red Cross and proposes legal rules and good practices relating to private military and security companies operating in armed conflict zones

Full post as published by Slaw.ca on November 12, 2008 (boomark / email).