By Jonathan Bonnitcha, Lauge N. Skovgaard Poulsen & Michael Waibel, Published by Oxford University Press, July 2017<\/p>\n
This book synthesises and advances the growing literature on international investment law and policy by integrating legal, economic, and political perspectives. Based on an analysis of the substantive and procedural rights conferred by investment treaties, it asks four basic questions. What are the costs and benefits of investment treaties for investors, states, and other stakeholders? Why did developed and developing countries sign the treaties? Why should private arbitrators be allowed to review public regulations passed by states? What is the relationship between the investment treaty regime and the broader regime complex that governs international investment? Available at https:\/\/global.oup.com\/academic\/product\/the-political-economy-of-the-investment-treaty-regime-9780198719557<\/a><\/p>\n By Maria Nicole Cleis, Published by Brill | Nijhoff, June 2017<\/p>\n The legitimacy of investor\u2013state arbitration is a much-debated topic, with arbitrators\u2019 independence and impartiality being one of the core concerns. The author explores how unbiased decision-making is ensured under the ICSID Convention<\/span>. Juxtaposing existing disqualification decisions in the ICSID system against corresponding requirements in related dispute settlement systems, the book argues that the current approach to disqualification requests against ICSID arbitrators is too exacting considering the high stakes of investor\u2013state disputes. The author\u2019s analysis of the status quo is followed by novel suggestions for reforms (including a proposal for ICSID-specific guidelines on conflict of interest). Available at http:\/\/www.brill.com\/products\/book\/independence-and-impartiality-icsid-arbitrators<\/a><\/p>\n By Lorenzo Cotula & Mika Schr\u00f6eder, Published by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), June 2017<\/p>\n Although investment arbitration proceedings pit an investor against a state, the underlying dispute often also involves communities affected by, but not party to, the arbitration. Issues that have surfaced in such cases include concerns about communities\u2019 enjoyment of human rights, their access to land and natural resources, exposure to environmental harm and public authorities\u2019 responsiveness to community demands. This report examines whether and how investment tribunals consider community perspectives, interests and rights. It identifies 20 arbitrations where some form of community action was part of the facts of the case and was reflected\u2014albeit partially and cursorily\u2014in publicly available case documents. The analysis highlights the need to rethink arrangements for settling investment-related disputes. Available at http:\/\/pubs.iied.org\/12603IIED<\/a><\/p>\n By United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD<\/span>), Published by UNCTAD, June 2017<\/p>\n The World Investment Report (WIR) focuses on trends in foreign direct investment (FDI<\/span>) and emerging measures to improve its contribution to development. In Chapter III, \u201cRecent Policy Developments and Key Issues,\u201d of the 2017 WIR, UNCTAD presents and analyses the pros and cons of 10 policy options for phase 2 of IIA<\/span> reform (modernizing the existing stock of old-generation treaties): jointly interpreting treaty provisions; amending treaty provisions; replacing \u201coutdated\u201d treaties; consolidating the IIA network; managing relationships between coexisting treaties; referencing global standards; engaging multilaterally; abandoning unratified old treaties; terminating existing old treaties; and withdrawing from multilateral treaties. Available at http:\/\/www.worldinvestmentreport.org\/world-investment-report-2017<\/a><\/p>\n By Kathleen Sexsmith, Carin Smaller & William Speller, Published by IISD<\/span>, May 2017<\/p>\n Two broad agendas have emerged in response to global calls for greater gender equality, more sustainable trade and more responsible investment in the agriculture. The first, largely targeted at the private sector, are represented by the array of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS), such as fair trade labels. The second, largely targeted at governments, are the multitude of guidelines on responsible investment in agriculture. This policy brief explores how global standards and guidelines contribute to gender equality and women\u2019s empowerment, and whether more can be done through these instruments to improve the situation of women in agriculture. Available at http:\/\/www.IISD<\/span>.org\/library\/how-improve-gender-equality-agriculture-policy-brief-5-investment-agriculture<\/a><\/p>\n WTO<\/span> PUBLIC FORUM 2017<\/strong>, \u201cTrade: Behind the Headlines,\u201d<\/strong> Geneva, Switzerland, http:\/\/www.wto.org\/pf17<\/a><\/p>\n COLLOQUIUM, \u201cInternational Investment Law & the Law of Armed Conflict,\u201d<\/strong> Athens Public International Law Center (AthensPIL) of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Faculty of Law, Athens, Greece, https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/colloquium-on-international-investment-law-the-law-of-armed-conflict-registration-36507239135<\/a><\/p>\n UNCTAD ANNUAL HIGH-LEVEL IIA CONFERENCE, \u201cPhase 2 of IIA Reform,\u201d<\/strong> Geneva, Switzerland, http:\/\/investmentpolicyhub.UNCTAD<\/span>.org\/Pages\/unctad-annual-high-level-iia-conference-phase-2-of-iia-reform<\/a><\/p>\n WORLD BANK CIVIL SOCIETY PUBLIC FORUM, <\/strong>World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings, Washington D.C., United States, http:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/events\/2017\/10\/13\/civil-society-policy-forum<\/a><\/p>\n ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2017, \u201cManaging Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining,\u201d<\/strong> Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), Geneva, Switzerland, http:\/\/igfmining.org\/agm-2017<\/a><\/p>\n UNIGE\u2013IISD LUNCH SERIES ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES<\/strong>, University of Geneva (UNIGE) & International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Geneva, Switzerland, http:\/\/www.IISD<\/span>.org\/project\/unige-iisd-lunch-series-investment-disputes<\/a><\/p>\n 3rd SESSION OF THE OPEN-ENDED INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP ON TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND OTHER BUSINESS ENTERPRISES WITH RESPECT TO HUMAN RIGHTS<\/strong>, UN Human Rights Council, Geneva, Switzerland, http:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/HRBodies\/HRC\/WGTransCorp\/Session3\/Pages\/Session3.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n REGIONAL CONFERENCE \u201cInternational Investment Policies: The way forward,\u201d <\/strong>UNCTAD, Republic of Azerbaijan, International Energy Charter, Transnational Economic Law Research Center (Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg), Baku, Azerbaijan, http:\/\/ipcbaku.com<\/a><\/p>\n INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE \u201cGlobal Currents in International Investment Law,\u201d<\/strong> Centre for International Law (National University of Singapore), Singapore, https:\/\/cil.nus.edu.sg\/siaa-2017-conference-global-currents-in-international-investment-law<\/a><\/p>\n WORKSHOP \u201cInternational Investment Treaties and National Governance,\u201d <\/strong>Centre for International Law (National University of Singapore), Singapore, https:\/\/cil.nus.edu.sg\/call-for-papers-international-investment-treaties-and-national-governance<\/a><\/p>\n 34th SESSION OF UNCITRAL<\/span> WORKING GROUP III, \u201cInvestor\u2013State Dispute Settlement Reform,\u201d <\/strong>United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, Vienna, Austria, http:\/\/www.uncitral.org\/uncitral\/en\/commission\/working_groups\/3Investor_State.html<\/a><\/p>\n 2017 UN FORUM ON BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS, <\/strong>\u201cRealizing Access to Effective Remedy,\u201d <\/strong>Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Geneva, Switzerland, http:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/Issues\/Business\/Forum\/Pages\/2017ForumBHR.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n UNIGE\u2013IISD LUNCH SERIES ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES<\/strong>, Geneva, Switzerland, http:\/\/www.iisd.org\/project\/unige-iisd-lunch-series-investment-disputes<\/a><\/p>\nThe Independence and Impartiality of ICSID<\/span> Arbitrators: Current case law, alternative approaches, and improvement suggestions<\/h3>\n
Community Perspectives in Investor\u2013State Arbitration<\/h3>\n
2017 World Investment Report: Investment and the digital economy<\/h3>\n
Equality in Agriculture: Investment in Agriculture Policy Brief #5<\/h3>\n
\nEvents 2017<\/h2>\n
September 26\u201328<\/h3>\n
October 5\u20136<\/h3>\n
October 9\u201311<\/h3>\n
October 10\u201313<\/h3>\n
October 16\u201320<\/h3>\n
October 19<\/h3>\n
October 23\u201327<\/h3>\n
October 24\u201325<\/h3>\n
November 2<\/h3>\n
November 16\u201317<\/h3>\n
November 27\u2013December 1<\/h3>\n
November 27\u201329<\/h3>\n
November 30<\/h3>\n