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The Business of Human Rights

Australians are making strides to create gender equality in the workplace

Australians are making strides to create gender equality in the workplace

Australians are making strides to create gender equality in the workplace

A recent discussion on gender equality in Australia is worth mentioning. Australia’s Gender Equality Agency notes that while Australian women are making up more of the workforce than they ever have in the past, there is still an unequal distribution of women in the higher paid and more prestigious positions within companies and organizations. Helen Conway, the director of Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency, said, “We know less than one in 10 executives of directors at ASX 500 level are women and Australia’s female workforce participation rate lags comparable countries such as Canada. Lifting Australia’s female workforce participation is critical to boosting national productivity while also ensuring Australia is maximising its investment in training and education.” Meanwhile, the President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Ged Kearney, said “Australia ranks amongst the highest of OECD countries for women’s education but the participation rate for mothers with children below school age is amongst the lowest and the gender pay gap remains at 18.3%.”

The Australian government recently took issue with the persistent gender inequality in the workplace. Starting next year, organizations with more than 100 employees will have to submit a report to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency that will show the following:
– Gender composition of their workforce;
– Gender composition of their governing bodies (i.e. boards);
– Total remuneration payments of women and men for the reporting period;
– Availability and usage of flexible working arrangements for employees and arrangements supporting employees with family or caring responsibilities; and
– Consultation with employees on issues concerning gender equality in the workplace.

“Achieving progress on workplace gender equality requires organisational leadership and a cultural shift at the workplace and individual level. WGEA is developing a range of campaigns, educational materials and tools aimed at shifting the dial on this persistent economic and social issue, ” continued Helen Conway.

Corporations Rest Easy (But Pirates Beware) - The Supreme Court and Alien Torts Statute

Pirate

Pirates around the world are shaking in fear. 

Pirate
After two years, two oral arguments, and a multitude of briefs, the Supreme Court has finally issued its opinion on the use of the Alien Torts Statute (ATS) in human rights abuse cases. On Wednesday, the court issued a unanimous ruling limiting the rights of foreign victims of human rights violations to bring their claims in US courts.

The court focused on the extraterritoriality of the claims – holding that because the conduct took place outside of the United States, ATS does not apply.

In order to get the unanimous ruling it appeared as if the court crafted their holding very narrowly. Chief Justice Roberts, writing the majority opinion stated “The question here is not whether petitioners have stated a proper claim under ATS, but whether a claim may reach conduct occurring in the territory of a foreign sovereign.” According to the court, it does not. In reaching its decision, the court distinguished between violations of international law (what the court called the law of nations) and violations of international law abroad. As Chief Justice Roberts wrote: “The ATS covers actions by aliens for violations of the law of nations, but that does not imply extraterritorial reach – such violations affecting aliens can occur either within or outside of the United States.”

WVU to Host a Business and Human Rights Conference in the Fall 2013

WV Mountain

It is with a ridiculous amount of pent up enthusiasm that I am announcing WVU’s inaugural business and human rights conference. The conference will take place at West Virginia University on September 23rd and 24th. Frankly, I have been itching to announce this for quite some time but I had to wait until we worked out some logistical issues before I could.

In conjunction with the conference I am putting out a call for papers (found here). The call for papers has much more information about the conference and our vision for the conference, however, it’s also a work in progress. So, to that end, if you have any thoughts about what (or who) you would like to see featured here, please don’t hesitate to let me know (jena.martin@mail.wvu.edu).

As planning for the conference develops I will be sure to post updates here. So follow us to stay informed!

WV Mountain

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