SIGNED AND SEALED? TIME TO RAISE THE DEBATE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE TALKS. By Panos London, July 2006. A new media brief on trade explores how journalists can draw attention to the issues, exploit public interest, and raise the debate on whether trade deals will positively or negatively affect people’s lives. While the Doha Round has sparked further tensions between various governments of the world, the real impact will be felt by common people. The brief questions how much does the general public really know about the international trade agreements that their governments are negotiating on their behalf. It also raises the issue whether ordinary people can have any say in the decisions. The brief can be downloaded at http://www.panos.org.uk/PDF/reports/prsptoolkit2.pdf.
GUIDANCE IN GOOD PRACTICES ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DISCLOSURE. By the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), June 2006. The report draws attention to good corporate governance disclosure practices that enterprises in different parts of the world may wish to emulate. It is essentially a technical aid for regulators and companies, particularly in developing countries and transition economies, and is intended to help those responsible for preparing company reports to produce disclosures on corporate governance that address the major concerns of investors and other stakeholders. The focus of the report is two-pronged, on financial and non-financial corporate governance disclosures and also on disclosure issues regarding general meetings, timing and means of disclosure and compliance with best practices. The full report may be downloaded at http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/iteteb20063_en.pdf.
POLICY ENGAGAMENT; HOW CIVIL SOCIETY CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE. By J. Court, E. Mendizabal, D. Osborne and J. Young. Overseas Development Institute, June 2006. The report explores the potential for progressive partnerships between civil society organisations (CSOs) and policymakers in developing countries in light of increased democratisation, reductions in conflict, and advances in information and communication technologies. The report also examines the role of CSOs which have been criticised for having a limited impact on policy and practice, as well as on the lives of poor people. It also raises questions about their legitimacy and accountability, and challenges the bases and feasibility of their policy positions. The report addresses these problems and proposes context assessment, engaging policymakers, getting rigorous evidence, working with partners and communicating well as possible solutions to the problem. The report may be downloaded at http://www.odi.org.uk/RAPID/Publications/Documents/Policy_engagement_web.pdf.