Published on 7 September 2018 in Client Alerts

A UN working Group issues draft binding international instrument on Business and Human Rights

In June 2014, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a resolution drafted by Ecuador and South Africa to establish an open-ended intergovernmental working group to elaborate an international legally binding instrument on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with respect to human rights.  Chaired by Ecuador, the intergovernmental working group (IGWG) has met three times (July 2015, October 2016 and October 2017).   Elements for a draft  legally binding instrument were issued by the Chair in September 2017, and a Zero Draft instrument and optional protocol were presented in July 2018 (a summary of the Zero Draft is available here).  A fourth IGWG session will be held in Geneva in October 2018.

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Volterra Fietta client Barbados appears before the International Court of Justice for the first time in historic public hearing on the climate crisis

On 2 December 2024, representatives and legal counsel of Barbados made oral submissions to the International Court of Justice (the “Court”) in the climate change advisory proceedings (the “Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change Case”). 

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Three Volterra Fietta lawyers ranked in 2025 edition of Lexology Index

The global awards Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) recognised three of Volterra Fietta’s lawyers in its 2025 edition for Arbitration.

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Volterra Fietta’s client, Barbados, completes the first ever debt swap for climate resilience

Barbados completed the first ever debt swap for climate resilience.  The transaction generates USD 125 million for Barbados in fiscal savings, which it will use “to enhance water resource management and increase water and food security”. Barbados is a small island developing State, which is facing the destructive effects of climate change.  The climate crisis

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Ahmed Abdel-Hakam, Partner at Volterra Fietta, has been appointed to the International Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association

On 21 November 2024, Volterra Fietta partner Ahmed Abdel-Hakam was appointed to the International Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association.  Ahmed’s selection by the New York City Bar Association was made despite the fact that he is not a member of the Association or even qualified to practice in New York.  It

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