Contents
- DEBATE CONTINUES OVER NRC
- CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT
- WTO APPELLATE: DISPUTE RESOLUTION
- FATF PUTS 150 QUESTIONS TO PAKISTAN
DEBATE CONTINUES OVER NRC
Why in news?
- Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that there had been no discussion or talk over an NRC for all India since his government had taken power in 2014
- He also mentioned that vested interests are spreading “lies and rumors” about the NRC, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and detention centers for Muslims
- An appeal to the youth to both read and read the details the NRC and the CAA was made by him
CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT
Possible solutions to calm down violence:
- Need to amend the Act or add a provision even by an ordinance, to drop its religion specific wording, and make it explicit that the benefit would be open to all undocumented migrants who can prove persecution in their home countries.
- India should enact a refugee law wherein the right to live a life without fear or confinement can be protected.
- UNHCR can work with illegal migrants and officially make claims for their voluntary repatriation
WTO APPELLATE: DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Why in News?
With the retirement of two of the remaining three members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body and a veto by the United States on fresh appointments, the “crown jewel” of the WTO been rendered dysfunctional.
Issues with WTO appellate
- Over the last few years, the membership of the body has shriveled to just three persons instead of the required seven.
- This is because the United States, which believes the WTO is biased against it, has been blocking appointments of new members and reappointments of some members who have completed their four-year tenure.
- Two members will complete their tenures in December 2019, leaving the body with just one member.
- At least three people are required to preside over an appeal, and if new members are not appointed to replace the two retiring ones, the body will cease to be relevant
History of appellate body of WTO
- The Appellate Body was set up in 1995 as a “safety valve” against erroneous panel reports in return for the membership agreeing to adopt reports using the “reverse consensus” rule in lieu of the “positive consensus” rule.
Consequences
- Fall of the Appellate Body may see the adoption of more unilateral sanctions by states, possibly leading to increased trade wars, it will not render the WTO rules unenforceable
FATF PUTS 150 QUESTIONS TO PAKISTAN
Why in News?
- FATF – A global watchdog for terror financing has sought more clarifications and data from Pakistan on actions taken by it against madrasas belonging to the banned outfits, after Islamabad submitted a report to the Paris based body detailing steps taken by the country to curb terrorism and money laundering.
- The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which has kept Pakistan on the Grey List for an extended period till February 2020, had warned in October that Islamabad would be put on the Black List if it did not comply with the remaining 22 points in a list of 27 questions
