Background Sex workers are disproportionately affected by HIV compared with the general population. Most studies of HIV risk among sex workers have focused on individual-level risk factors, with few studies assessing potential structural determinants of HIV risk. In this Article, we examine whether criminal laws around sex work are associated with HIV prevalence among female sex workers.

In France the goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2050. To support this, there are ambitious targets for the development of photovoltaic energy: 500 MW of new installations per year at a constant rate. Following a consultation with the stakeholders from the photovoltaic sector, a new regulatory framework for solar energy, set out in this detailed practice note, has been implemented which provides two distinct mechanisms depending on the type of installation. Solar energy is critical to SDG 7.2 to increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

Texte en français.

In France, the law on the development of wind farms has undergone major reform over the last few years aimed at easing regulation to remove existing barriers to the transition to a low carbon economy and to simplify financing. This practice note provides detailed guidance on the current regulations, as they apply to existing wind farms and to the development of new wind farms. Wind power is critical to SDG 7.2 to increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

Texte en français.

The European Union (EU) has had laws on the disposal of waste for over 30 years and laws concerning the environmental performance of products for over 20. However, these laws have not formed a cohesive whole - and that is about to change. December 2015 saw the European Commission (the body responsible for proposing new EU legislation) published its Circular Economy Package, with the stated objective of "closing the loop" of product lifecycles. This paper provides an overview of this package and demonstrates why the development of standards underpins future legislation.

This paper explores the importance of a diverse workforce for the legal profession. City law firms are losing female talent because these careers have been unable to accommodate flexible working. Setting the business case for a diverse workforce and highlighting cost-effective resource options for law firms, this report helps to advance SDG 5 within the legal profession.

Urban water management via Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) has been successfully applied in cities worldwide. This infrastructure has proven to be a cost efficient solution to manage flood risks whilst also delivering wider benefits. Despite their technical performance, large-scale SuDS uptake in many places has been slow, mostly due to reasons beyond the engineering realm. This is the case of England and Wales, where the implementation of SuDS has not reached its full potential.

Disasters impacts on urban environment are the result of interactions among natural and human systems, which are intimately linked each other. What is more, cities are directly dependent on infrastructures providing essential services (Lifeline Systems, LS). The operation of LS in ordinary conditions as well as after disasters is crucial. Among the LS, drinking water supply deserves a critical role for citizens. The present work summarizes some preliminary activities related to an ongoing EU funded research project.

Urban source separation infrastructure systems have a promising potential for a more sustainable management of household food waste and wastewaters. A renewed trend of larger implementations of pilot areas with such systems is currently emerging in Northern Europe. This study investigates the drivers behind the decision of stakeholders to implement source separation systems as well as the importance of the previously existing pilot areas in the decision-making process. By means of semi-structured expert interviews, five areas with source separation were characterized and compared.

In the UK, gender pay gap reporting legislation will require large employers to publish their overall mean and median gender pay gaps from 2018. XpertHR highlights its useful tools including frequently asked questions relating to unequal pay, and legal guidance on the new legislation. The Regulations contribute to advancing SDG 10.4 to adopt policies, wage and social protection policies to progressively achieve greater equality.

This feature length article highlights findings from three new reports, showing the progress by companies complying with the UK Modern Slavery Act. With almost half of FTSE companies currently not complying, and 77% of companies that participated in a recent research study agreeing there is a likelihood of modern slavery occurring in their supply chains - there is still much to do. The goal of SDG target 8.7 is to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.