Civil Rights

• [New] China will accelerate the legislation for IPR protection in new areas and new forms of business, and improve the punitive damages system for IPR infringements.
• [New] An Afghan government even partly controlled by the Taliban will not be good for human rights or women's rights - no matter how much the Taliban crave international acceptance.
• [New] U.S.-China climate diplomacy threatens to be overshadowed by what the United States sees as Beijing's menacing policies toward Hong Kong, Taiwan and the South China Sea, conflict over human rights and trade, and U.S. claims of Chinese espionage.
• [New] Bringing work to towns in the North of England could address regional inequalities and will hopefully bring opportunities to new areas.
• [New] Massachusetts Bill HD2582, also known as An Act establishing portable benefit accounts for app-based drivers, ostensibly provides portable benefits for app-based drivers, but includes a few additional sections which workers say will offer scraps instead of rights and benefits drivers need.
• [New] UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
• [New] Technology transfer will only get worse if significant components of the U.S. technology sector move their research and development to China or other countries that are more vulnerable than the United States to technology transfer efforts.
• [New] Sneaking out of Auckland right at the beginning of a lockdown and having large gatherings of people is simply putting people at risk unnecessarily.
• [New] In foreign policy terms, Beijing hopes President Joe Biden will pursue more cordial ties than his predecessor, but being tough on China has bipartisan support in Washington, and the Chinese leadership will be prepared for human rights issues to remain contentious.
• [New] Inequality is growing for more than 70% of the global population, exacerbating the risk of division and hampering economic and social development.
• [New] The Biden administration is right to express concern that China might exploit a new law authorizing its coast guard to fire on other vessels in order to assert its unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea.
• [New] Many countries will devote attention to human rights issues in China in inverse proportion to the quality of their overall bilateral relationship.
• [New] Demand for biomedical lab space is insatiable right now and will remain in high demand for next 24-36 months in the Boston-Cambridge metro.
• [New] If the Biden administration is successful in gaining membership at the UNHRC in 2022, China is not the only authoritarian human rights abuser the U.S. delegation will find around the UNHRC table.
• [New] Over a third of conservative academics and PhD students in the United States say they have been threatened with disciplinary action for their beliefs.
• [New] In the US, over a third of conservative academics and PhD students have been threatened with disciplinary action for their views while 70% of conservative academics report a hostile departmental climate for their beliefs.
• [New] The Special Committee recommends that the Government of Canada also specifically seek to proactively warn people who are travelling to Hong Kong about the new situation, including via - but not limited to - updated travel advisories.
• [New] Ensuring that the rights and interests of seafarers are represented helps lower the operational risks to the sectors involved and allows global trade to continue in a sustainable way.
• [New] Bank of America recently announced a $1 billion, four-year initiative to help advance racial equality and economic opportunity, with a particular focus on helping create opportunity for people and communities of color.
• [New] Enforcing freedom of navigation in the South China Seas, and discouraging aggression against Taiwan, carry grave risks, with the potential to be damned if you do, damned if you do not.

Last updated: 07 March 2021