Criticism and support for China in the Human Rights Council

Map of the Month 07/2020

In the framework of the 44th Human Rights Council in Geneva, 27 countries supported a UK-led joint statement which heavily criticized China's actions in Xinjiang and the controversial national security law for Hongkong. However, a statement by 46 countries, led by Belarus, dismissed criticism towards China regarding Xinjiang. Another statement, presented by Cuba and backed by 53 countries defended the national security law for Hongkong. The following map illustrates which countries supported the respective statements.

Map of the Month 06/2020

Forced displacement remains a crucial global challenge. On 18 June 2020, the UNHCR published its new Global Trends Report. The following maps illustrate some of its key elements.

New interim solution for WTO dispute settlement

Map of the Month 05/2020

The Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been inoperative since December 2019. An important pillar of the WTO was severely damaged. On 30 April, 19 WTO members (including the EU) agreed upon an interim appeals procedure. Under this temporary agreement, an arbitration tribunal will hear appeals based on existing WTO rules. This instrument will remain until the Appellate Body becomes operational again. Already on 24 January, 17 WTO members signed a political declaration in Davos indicating such a step. The list of participants has somewhat changed in the meantime. The following maps show the countries which have signed the political declaration (24 January) and those which are now (30 April) participating in the new interim appeals procedure.

First steps of the "Alliance for Multilateralism"

Map of the Month 04/2020

The "Alliance for Multilateralism" that was launched on 26 September, 2019 is a flexible network for states, institutions and non-state actors that are committed to work on the preservation and enhancement of the rules-based order in various policy areas. So far, the Alliance has launched six initiatives. On 16 April, members of the Alliance (supported by other countries) published a Joint Declaration urging for closer global cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The following maps show the participants of the Alliance, of some of its initiatives as well as the signatories of the Joint Declaration.