Diplomatic Pouch

Employers should not rely solely on Certificates of Conduct (VOGs) when assessing the reliability of job candidates, according to legal experts Jan Dop and Erika van Zadelhof. VOGs, which detail an individual's criminal record, are a "snapshot" and offer "false security", the pair wrote in Dutch legal publication Accountancy Vanmorgen. They suggested that periodic applications for VOGs could help employers ensure staff remain suitable for their roles, but warned that this would not cover all risks, as employees could still commit offences. Continuous screening is required in certain industries, including childcare and taxi services.

Advocate general recommends giving Crimean treasures to Ukraine in ongoing legal dispute, with final ruling to come from Supreme Court of the Netherlands. The advocate general's opinion supports the Amsterdam Court of Appeal's ruling that Ukraine should receive the artefacts, due to the country's suspension of the operational right of the Crimean museums. The museums in Crimea have objected to this ruling and have filed an appeal in cassation to the Supreme Court. The court is expected to issue its final ruling on the matter in September 2023.

On May 15th the United Nations officially commemorated the Nakba, the events around the formation of the State of Israel.

The II International Forum on Poverty Reduction has completed its work. Within the framework of 6 thematic panel sessions, a wide range of issues were discussed, problems and proposals for developing countries were voiced.

International Biodiversity Day - Over half the world’s GDP – is moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services. Unfortunately, this is not common knowledge or reflected in corporate strategies. 40% of the world’s largest public companies have net zero targets yet less than 20% of S&P 500 companies have made biodiversity commitments.

We remember September 21 in the Province of Drenthe as one of the most surprising and stimulating day of 2022, after visiting the town of Frederiksoord...

In Tashkent, the Hilton Tashkent City Hotel hosted the II International Forum on the topic: "Implementing of best practices in poverty reduction", organized by the Center for Economic

By Yagmur Ceylan Korkut Hassan Following successes of the similar programs in Europe (Vienna and Geneva notably), the Istanbul-based International Organization along with its European...

The second International Healthcare Week (IHW), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and supported by a wide range of healthcare sector partners, runs from 16 to 31 May in Hong Kong, leveraging the city’s strategic role as an innovation and investment healthcare hub in Asia. 

SOVA Center a Russia NGO monitoring violations of freedom of religion or belief has been closed by court decision.