Julia Planitzer published an article on obligatory reporting and transparency in supply chains in the new VIDC's newsletter 'Spotlight'. In her article (in German, available here) she discusses whether enhanced transparency by obligatory reporting can prevent labour exploitation in supply chains.
Karin Lukas, Vice-President of the European Committee of Social Rights, held a presentation on 8 March 2017 at the European Parliament. She discussed the protection of social rights in the EU and by the Social Charter and identified possible tensions. As an example, she talked about austerity measures in Greece and their impact on social rights. Watch now the video of the full panel discussion. Karin Lukas' presentation starts at 2:08.
The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CoE Convention against THB) is the first legal instrument concerning trafficking in human beings (THB) that frames THB as a human rights violation. Although the CoE Convention against THB has been in force since 2008 and ratified by almost all Member States of the Council of Europe (46 out of 47 Member States), a comprehensive commentary to the Convention does not yet exist. Bearing in mind the significant importance of the Convention, this forms a remarkable gap which needs to be filled.
In cooperation with ECPAT Austria and LexisNexis, the Law Faculty of the University of Vienna and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights elaborated two expert opinions on questions concerning assistance to and identification of victims of child trafficking as well as the criminal responsibility of perpetrators.
One year ago Austria incorporated children's rights into its Constitution. On the occassion of this first anniversary, children's rights expert Helmut Sax (BIM) was interviewed by OE1 and gave an overview of the current status of implementation of children's rights. Link: http://oe1.orf.at/artikel/295852 (in German only)