Establishing a meaningful human rights due diligence process for corporations : learning from experience of human rights impact assessment

The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Business and Human Rights, Professor John Ruggie, has constructed a new international framework, which is set to become the cornerstone for all action on human rights and business at the international level. The principle of human rights due diligence (HRDD) is the central component of the corporate duty to respect human rights within that framework. This article argues that Ruggie's HRDD principle contains the majority of the core procedural elements that a reasonable human rights impact assessment (HRIA) process should incorporate. It is likely that the majority of corporations will adopt HRIA as a mechanism for meeting their due diligence responsibilities. However, in the context of the contentious debate around corporate human rights performance, the current state of the art in HRIA gives rise to concerns about the credibility and robustness of likely practice. Additional requirements are therefore essential if HRDD is to have a significant impact on corporate human rights performance – requirements in relation to transparency; external participation and verification; and independent monitoring and review

Trial Monitoring of People v. Cansu Pişkin (Turkey 2019)

Between March and May 2019, TrialWatch monitors under the supervision of theColumbia Law School Human Rights Clinic monitored the trial of Cansu Pişkin, ajournalist for the Turkish daily paper, Evrensel, in Istanbul, Turkey. Pişkin was charged with “making a public servant into a target for terrorist organizations” in violation of Section 6(1) of Law No. 3713, otherwise known as the Anti-Terror Law, for publishing the prosecutor’s name in her April 5, 2018 article, “Special Prosecutor for the Bosphorus Students.” On May 7, 2019, the Court convicted Pişkin and sentenced her to 10 months’ imprisonment (with the sentence pronouncement deferred for a period of five years)

Mitral valve replacement for rheumatic heart disease in Southern Africa

Background: Threshold countries like South Africa provide cardiac surgery to a largely indigent population with rheumatic heart disease. Although repairs are a preferred treatment modality many rheumatic mitral valves can only be replaced. In view of significantly improved primary health care and broad access of the indigent population to communication technology we revisited the efficacy of mitral valve replacement (MVR) at the interface of the developing and developed world. Methods: A cohort of 280 patients (mean age 40.7±13.7y/range 12-80y/median 41y; 76.4% female) with rheumatic heart disease (21% MR; 11% MS; 68% mixed) undergoing mitral valve replacement (MVR) (88.2% mechanical versus 11.8% tissue valves) was analyzed

Human centred design: a paradigm for 21st century enterprise

This seminar was delivered on 7th March 2012 by Professor Joseph Giacomin, Director of the Human Centred Design Institute (HCDI) based in the Department of Design in the School of Engineering and Design at Brunel University. The Institute is renowned for performing research leading to products, systems and services which are physically, perceptually, cognitively and emotionally intuitive to their users. Professor Giacomin has participated in numerous EU and UK research projects and has produced more than 60 publications. More recently he has published his book Thermal - seeing the world through 21st century eyes. Joseph Giacomin is a member of the editorial boards of Ergonomics in Design, Ergonomics, and the International Journal of Vehicle Noise and Vibration (IJVNV). He is a Fellow of the UK Ergonomics Society (FErgS), a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA), a member of the Associazione Per Il Disegno Industriale (ADI) and of the Royal Photographic Society (RPS).HCDI is a University Research Centre (URC) that brings together expertise in Human-centred Design which combines methodologies and technologies from design, engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence and philosophy. Human-centred Design leads to machines, systems and products which are physically, cognitively and emotionally intuitive to their users. The Human Centre Design seminar series are events designed to encourage communication and teamwork with colleagues across the university and experts leaders in human-centred related topics.The 21st century is characterised by ever growing expectations regarding experiences, quality of life, privacy and ethics. With the growing pressure for human centred products, systems and services, the activity of design has taken centre stage in most customer driven innovation. Having been often described as the "century of the human mind", the current period is rich in new products, systems and services which are characterised by interactivity, intelligence, agency and emotion. This seminar will define the paradigm of human centred design, an approach which is being followed by ever greater numbers of businesses. The multidisciplinary paradigm will be defined in comparison to the main competing paradigms of technology-driven design and sustainable design, the business implications will be discussed and application examples will be provided. Key areas for HCD research are also identified

Effects of cigarette advertising: reply to Boddewyn

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75370/1/j.1360-0443.1990.tb03535.x.pd

'Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place': Anti-discrimination Legislation in the Liberal State and the Fate of the Australian Disability Discrimination Act

This article offers a critical analysis of some of the practical implications for disabled people of the Disability Discrimination Act of 1992. Specifically, it raises questions about politics and the role of the law as an instrument of social change?taking greater account of the interests of disabled people?on the one hand, and of the reliance of the social model of disability on a strategy based upon legal rights on the other. The article also suggests that the constraining effects of Australia's constitutional protections of rights and its federal system of government hinder the mildly progressive elements of the Disability Discrimination Act. To illustrate this, the paper employs empirical evidence to suggest that these effects have been exacerbated by the passage of the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act in 1999

Human suffering in need of God’s ‘face’ and ‘eyes’ : perspectives on Psalm 13

The COVID-19 global pandemic and its consequent outcomes have caused immense suffering and distress in every community and at all levels of life worldwide. Theological and religious communities raise the question about God’s involvement in the causes of and healing from this horrendous misery and grief. These questions become paradigmatic of how God is involved in suffering and how the supplicant could experience deliverance through interaction with God, whilst situated in the midst of such a crisis. Exegetic contemplation on Ps 13, a well-known lament song, provides an exemplary experience of a psalmist in a severe lifeendangering context. An exposition of the text—its historical, cultic and literary contexts—and the genre of ‘lament’ brings insight into the Yahweh-believer’s interaction. Without pretending to provide answers to enigmatic forms of suffering, this article shows how Yahweh-believers in ancient Israel understood and reacted to suffering. Human suffering is indeed in need of the ‘face’ and ‘eyes’ of Yahweh to experience healing and redemption.https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journalpm2022Old Testament Studie

Portraits of ‘angels’ : some ancient near Eastern and Old Testament perspectives in relation to ATR belief system(s)

For the modern mind the notion of heavenly beings or ‘angels’ is an enigmatic and fascinating phenomenon. In the Ancient Near Eastern world and in the Hebrew Bible the word for ‘angel’, namely mal’ āk, is widely attested and refers to both human and supernatural emissaries. The notion and function of angels as messenger-beings are evident. In the Israelite faith and their confession of a sole monotheistic God, Yahweh, several questions arise regarding these ‘angels’: who were these human and supernatural entities? In addition, the Hebrew Bible also recorded ‘other’ ‘angel’-like beings, such as Seraphim and Cherubim. Then there was the ‘angel’ of Yahweh! Who was this figure, and what role did he play in the portrayal of the theologies of the Hebrew Bible? Were there fallen angels? And what has the Hebrew Bible to say about Satan? Ultimately, perspectives on ‘angels’ in the Hebrew Bible are brought into relation with realities of the ‘seen’ and the ‘unseen’ in or from Africa in perspectives of the worldview of African Traditional Religions (ATR). Various categories and agents in African Traditional Religions and their belief systems are apparent. These include the Supreme Being (God), divinities, and spirits. The relationship between the Supreme Being and the other categories describe the character, nature and function of all these entities. Primary and minor divinities are distinguished. They are created, are derivations of God, receive functions to perform in the universe. Furthermore, they serve intermediatory functions between the Supreme Being (the ‘unseen’) and humankind (the ‘seen’). Spirits are similarly ‘created’ entities. In many African narratives they are portrayed in human form, activities and personalities (a change from the ‘unseen’ into the ‘seen’). Hereby the interaction between the ‘seen’ and the ‘unseen’ in African Traditional Religions remain real.http://www.pharosjot.comam2022Old Testament Studie

Honouring the pioneers of ProPent (2000–2020) : Eckart Otto and Jurie Le Roux

In 2021, the ProPent (Project for the Study of the Pentateuch [Projek vir die studie van die Pentateug]) seminar is going to celabrate its 20th jubilee. This event of the Department of Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures at the Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, marks a special occasion on its academic calender. It is the longest existing, single academic project at the Faculty of Theology since its inception in 1917. This project has gained national and internationa academic status amongst Old Testament scholars during this period.http://www.ve.org.zaam2021Old Testament Studie

Re-interpretation as transformation : perspectives and challenges for Old Testament interpretation

This contribution explains that the re-interpretation of theological motifs or ideas leads to transforming theology and religion. This phenomenon takes place within the corpus and boundaries of the Old Testament. Innerbiblical debate or “later” texts that re-interpret “earlier” texts underscore this process and confirm a transformed theology that is relevant and life-giving for the “new” or “later” context. Because these processes happened within the range of a long history of development of Old Testament literature, the article first discusses important hermeneutical realities or directives for Old Testament interpretation. It then mentions a few approaches to, and challenges of interpreting Old Testament literature. Finally, it briefly portrays how the book of Ruth re-interpreted certain pentateuchal texts as an act of transforming theology.http://www.ufs.ac.za/ActaTheologicaam2022Old Testament Studie