Handicap International  [to 16 February 2014]

Handicap Int’l-US ‏@HI_UnitedStates Feb 14
Handicap International condemns the reported use of cluster munitions in #SouthSudan. http://bit.ly/SouthSudanClusterBombs …

Handicap Intl UK ‏@HI_UK Feb 14
Handicap International to evaluate the needs of people affected by the volcano eruption in #Indonesia http://bit.ly/1mgCfRW  #Kelud

Handicap Intl UK ‏@HI_UK Feb 14
Making sure disability is high on the development agenda – Handicap International give evidence at UK parliament http://bit.ly/1iVcNg1

Heifer International  [to 16 February 2014]

Heifer International ‏@Heifer Feb 15
A new program in Nepal is showing that Heifer’s work can have a much broader impact on feeding the world. http://hefr.in/1cITktQ

Heifer International ‏@Heifer Feb 12
Update: Heifer staff is assessing the damage to farmers’ homes and livestock in the wake of the floods in Bolivia. http://hefr.in/1m9zkKA

Pierre Ferrari ‏@HeiferCEO Feb 12
Check out “What We Do – Heifer International” on Vimeo http://vimeo.com/74388606  @Heifer #heiferinternational #IYFF14 #nonprofit #poverty

HelpAge International  [to 16 February 2014]

Global population ageing key topic as UN meeting
12/02/2014
By Anders Hylander
The Fifty-Second Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD) opened yesterday at the United Nations (UN) in New York. The goal of the CSocD is to advise the Economic and Social Council and Governments on a range of social policy issues from a development perspective.

The commission’s priority theme this year is “promoting empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all”. We’re at the Commission for Social Development to discuss a post-2015 framework that is inclusive of all, regardless of age. (c) U Myo Thame/HelpAge International

A HelpAge delegation is present to take part in the discussions and ensure older people’s issues are included. In his opening statement, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr Wu Hongbo, said regarding ageing:

“Our world is witnessing the unprecedented global phenomenon of population ageing. Yet critical issues related to the social and economic integration of older persons have not received the policy attention they deserve.”

Some of our aims included reviewing the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and discussing how ageing can be addressed by the post-2015 agenda.

Presenting the Global AgeWatch Index
On 13 February, Professor Asghar Zaidi from the University of Southampton will be presenting our Global AgeWatch Index at an event hosted by the UNDP.

The event will explore evidence generated by the Index and how it supports our goal to ensure the post-2015 agenda “leaves no one behind”.

Professor Zaidi, who was the main architect behind the Global AgeWatch Index, will be joined at the meeting by representatives from Member States, UN agencies and civil society, including HelpAge CEO, Toby Porter….

The Global AgeWatch Index 2013 report highlights the connection between social policy and the wellbeing of older people, as well as the huge gaps in international data sets which routinely exclude measuring levels of poverty, HIV prevalence and many others in people over the age of 49.

.
Retweeted by HelpAge
Mayur Paul ‏@mayurpaul Feb 14
Older people have #humanrights too! Video by @helpage affiliate @AgeingNepal on #olderpeople‘s rights in #Nepal. http://youtu.be/kl5C71lgF2A?t=3s …

HelpAge ‏@helpage Feb 10
Age Helps is out! http://paper.li/helpage/1360751304 … Stories via @helpage @GlobalAgeing @Aging_Society

International Rescue Committee   [to 16 February 2014]

IRC Blog
The IRC’s impact: Read stats and stories in our new annual report
Posted by The IRC on February 14, 2014
In 2013, the IRC and our partner organizations provided 13 million people with primary and reproductive health care and gave 1.4 million people access to clean drinking water and sanitation. Read more about the impact of our work in our latest annual report. more »

Much more than medicine: a doctor’s first days with the IRC
Posted by The IRC on February 14, 2014
Hear from Dr. Mohammed Awni Ibrahim, a Jordanian general practitioner who works in an IRC primary care clinic in northern Jordan where most of the patients are Syrian refugees. more »

South Sudan: Updates from the field
Posted by The IRC on February 12, 2014
The IRC’s Sophia Jones-Mwangi is in Juba, South Sudan, this week to report on work the IRC is doing to assist people displaced by the conflict in the world’s newest nation. Follow our South Sudan Storify story for updates from Sophia and others who are responding to and reporting on the crisis. more »

Salam Neighbor: A bridge between Americans and Syrians
Posted by The IRC on February 12, 2014
When an email arrived in my overflowing inbox with news that yet more visitors were coming in January—this time a documentary film crew—my first reaction was, “We are too busy for this.” After our meeting, however, I realized I may have misjudged them. more »

Helping Syrian children with no one to look after them
Posted by Peter Biro on February 11, 2014
“Children are our future but they the ones those who suffer the most in refugee camps,” says the IRC’s Salih Salahaddin Musa, who specializes in helping unaccompanied and separated Syrian refugee children. more »

David Miliband: Syria may be lost, but we must stand by its victims [Commentary]
Posted by The IRC on February 10, 2014
David Miliband writes in The Sunday Times: “Is Syria lost — gone, finished, beyond hope as a nation and beyond redemption for its people? That is the unspoken fear of refugees that the International Rescue Committee is helping in neighboring countries and the displaced people we are helping with humanitarian aid inside Syria.” more »

Intl Rescue Comm IRC ‏@theIRC Feb 13
#GBV in conflict settings by @JhumkaGupta on @TheWorldPost. Learn about the IRC’s collaborative research w/ @Yale>> http://huff.to/MPfcO2

Intl Rescue Comm IRC ‏@theIRC Feb 13
(2/2) FACT: In 2013, IRC provided 725k girls&boys schooling & educational opportunities & trained over 20k educators pic.twitter.com/qLBlSKjoCC

Intl Rescue Comm IRC ‏@theIRC Feb 13
Interested in learning more about the IRC’s work in #SouthSudan? Go to our @Storify with live updates here: http://bit.ly/1brRPpd

Intl Rescue Comm IRC ‏@theIRC Feb 8
Watch here @DMiliband‘s interview on PBS @NewsHour on the situation in #Homs and what needs to be done for #Syria: http://to.pbs.org/1nk7yX7

IRCT   [to 16 February 2014]

News
IRCT President awarded Council of Europe prize
12 February 2014
IRCT President Suzanne Jabbour is the winner of the prestigious North-South Prize from the Council of Europe, in recognition of her “lifelong commitment to the promotion of human rights and the fight against torture.”

The prize, which has been awarded annually since 1995, goes to two persons each year to honour their exceptional work in the protection of human rights. The jury also decided to award His Highness Aga Khan and the Aga Kahn Development Network.
Ms Jabbour, who became IRCT President in November 2012, has been a leading figure in the prevention of torture and rehabilitation of survivors since 1996, when she co-founded the Restart center for rehabilitation of victims of torture and violence, an IRCT member in Lebanon. In 2009, she joined the IRCT Executive Committee and soon after was elected to the United Nations Sub-Committee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) as a member and later as Vice-President.

Previous winners of the North-South prize include Kofi Annan and Bob Geldof.

Reacting to the award, Mr Victor Madrigal-Borloz, IRCT Secretary-General said: “The IRCT is pleased that Ms Jabbour is receiving this honour from the Council of Europe and pleased that her work, and the work of the human rights defenders she works with every day, have been recognised in such high regard.

“Difficult times across the globe, particularly in the Middle East in the wake of the Syrian crisis, have put an enormous pressure on torture rehabilitation organisations in the region to deliver services to the victims but also on international governments to fund the rehabilitation of increasing refugees, many of whom are suffering and will suffer from long-term mental and physical effects of torture,” said Mr Madrigal-Borloz.

“An award such as this shows that torture is high on the agenda and that what Restart center and the IRCT movement are doing to stop torture is having an impact.”

The award shall be presented by the President of Portugal at a ceremony in Lisbon in the Spring of 2014.

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières  [to 16 February 2014]

February 13, 2014
Doctors Without Borders to Vaccinate 400,000 Children Against Measles in Guinea
MSF has launched a campaign to vaccinate close to 400,000 children in Conakry, Guinea, against measles. Read more »

Doctors w/o Borders ‏@MSF_USA 20h
MSF runs extensive emergency programs in CAR, now mobilizing in neighboring countries too #CARcrisis http://bit.ly/1kJC93t

Doctors w/o Borders ‏@MSF_USA Feb 15
On @CNNiReport an MSF nurse on treating patients targeted for violence in Central African Republic #CARcrisis http://bit.ly/1g2teEG

Doctors w/o Borders ‏@MSF_USA Feb 13
MSF treating patients amid extreme violence and tensions in Carnot, #CentralAfricanRepublic http://bit.ly/1czjak2  #CAR

Doctors w/o Borders ‏@MSF_USA Feb 12
#MSF coordinator reports armed groups in #CAR “slaughter[ing] each other in the street, even in broad daylight” http://bit.ly/1fZsaBk

Doctors w/o Borders ‏@MSF_USA Feb 12
Since December, #MSF has treated 1,000+ wounded in violence in #Bangui, #CAR, mostly machete and bullet wounds http://bit.ly/MLjfuG

Doctors w/o Borders ‏@MSF_USA Feb 11
#MSF doing 1,000 consultations, delivering 10 babies per day in #Bangui, #CAR, displacement camp http://bit.ly/1aS8otX

See also journal articles below in Journal Watch and Google Scholar sections:

Prehospital & Disaster Medicine
Volume  29  – Issue 01 – February 2014
https://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=PDM&tab=currentissue
Original Research
Médecins Sans Frontières Experience in Orthopedic Surgery in Postearthquake Haiti in 2010
Carrie Lee Teichera1 c1  id1, Kathryn Albertia1, Klaudia Portena1, Greg Eldera1, Emannuel Barona1 and Patrick Herarda1
a1 Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders, Epicentre/Medical Department, New York, New York USA
https://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9167457&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S1049023X13009278

Surgery
Available online 8 February 2014
Surgical Skills Needed for Humanitarian Missions in Resource-limited Settings: Common Operative Procedures Performed at Médecins Sans Frontières Facilities
Evan G. Wong, MD1, 2, 3, Miguel Trelles, MD, MPH, PhD4, Lynette Dominguez, MD4, Shailvi Gupta, MD2, 3, 5, Gilbert Burnham, MD, PhD2, Adam L. Kushner, MD, MPH2, 3, 6

Partners In Health  [to 16 February 2014]

Feb 14, 2014
Working in Global Health: Advice from PIH’s Ellen Ball
Software Engineer Ellen Ball, who’s been working on PIH’s medical informatics team for a decade, shares insight about working in global health. Read More ▸

Feb 13, 2014
Paul Farmer: To Fight Hepatitis C, Look to HIV
In a Washington Post op-ed, Dr. Paul Farmer advocates for access to hepatitis C drugs.

Feb 11, 2014
PIH Mexico at Two Years: A Doctor Reflects
Dr. Hugo Flores Navarro reflects on progress in two short years in Chiapas, Mexico.

Feb 10, 2014
Rwanda: Redefining HIV Care for the World’s Poor
In this opinion piece, Dr. Neil Gupta examines the success of HIV programs in Rwanda and what we can learn from them.

Partners In Health ‏@PIH Feb 13
Learn more about how @PIH influenced the global HIV response through the HIV Equity Initiative in #Haiti: http://ow.ly/tB8JN

PATH  [to 16 February 2014]

Announcement | February 11, 2014
Award honors PATH’s leadership on sustainability in Seattle
Sustainable Seattle award recognizes our commitment to improving road safety and local transportation systems

Retweeted by PATH
Vax Resource Library ‏@VaxResources Feb 14
If you’re searching for a high-level summary on #polio and the current #vaccine landscape, look no further: http://ow.ly/tmmUB

PATH ‏@PATHtweets Feb 13
Global #innovation hubs? PATH’s Anurag @Mairal discusses the future of #globalhealth: http://ow.ly/tB0zX

PATH ‏@PATHtweets Feb 10
MILESTONE: Number of people vaccinated w/ #MenAfriVac tops 150 million! http://bit.ly/1dCMwNU  #vaccineswork

SOS-Kinderdorf International  [to 16 February 2014]

SOS Children USA ‏@SOSChildrenUSA Feb 12
@LynnCroneberger is meeting SOS Children, Mothers and Family Strengthening Program participants in Bahir Dar! http://ow.ly/i/4zSaX

SOS Children USA ‏@SOSChildrenUSA Feb 10
Our CEO, Lynn Croneberger, visits SOS Addis Abeba in Ethiopia. Here she is with the SOS Ethiopia staff! http://ow.ly/i/4ytZW  #SOSNews

Tostan  [to 16 February 2014]

February 13, 2014
Tostan, AMREF, and Handicap International join efforts to end fistula through new Laureates Collaborative Future Leaders program
Today, the Hilton Prize Laureates Collaborative is launching a new program that gives early career professionals and promising students the opportunity to work alongside Laureates of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize on key development, human rights, and public health issues. Tostan and fellow laureates AMREF and Handicap International are partnering together to host the first placement of the Laureates Collaborative Future Leaders program in Senegal…

Tostan ‏@Tostan Feb 14
@together4girls’ twitter chat on innovations to end violence against women & children is starting now. Follow & ask your Qs using #TfGchat

Tostan ‏@Tostan Feb 13
@LASillinois, our founder @MollyMelching’s alma mater, honors her work in their Centennial Gallery of Excellence http://bit.ly/1ewzbH4

Tostan ‏@Tostan Feb 13
@ICRW cites Tostan as an effective program for encouraging abandonment of #childmarriage. http://bit.ly/M5Xs0z  @GirlsNotBrides

Tostan ‏@Tostan Feb 12
Read about Khady’s experience living w/ fistula & the impact of her life-changing operation http://bit.ly/1cw1FkF  pic.twitter.com/TrZGe6JzBR

Tostan ‏@Tostan Feb 11
@MollyMelching: Sharing good info with people in the community and across the entire connected network is essential http://bit.ly/1o0F47W

Women for Women International  [to 16 February 2014]

Women for Women Intl ‏@WomenforWomen Feb 12
Did You Know? #WfWI had a total of 1,524 active program participants in #Iraq last month http://ow.ly/txku0

Women for Women Intl ‏@WomenforWomen Feb 11
Last month we had a total of 996 active program participants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. #WfWI

Laureates Collaborative [to 16 February 2014]

Laureates Collab ‏@hiltonlaureates Feb 14
[1] Hilton Prize Laureates Collaborative launches Future Leaders field internship program — http://tinyurl.com/maguyo5

Laureates Collab ‏@hiltonlaureates Feb 14
[2] First Laureates Collaborative Associate to work with @Tostan @AMREF @Handicap on obstetric fistula in Senegal http://tinyurl.com/maguyo5

United Nations – Meetings Coverage and Press Releases [selected] [to 16 February 2014]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/

UN Meetings
Persons with Disabilities Still Face Employment Challenges in Many Countries, Special Rapporteur Tells Commission for Social Development (13 February 2014)
SOC/4812

Security Council Issues Presidential Statement Reaffirming Commitment to Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (12 February 2014)
SC/11274

General Assembly Weighs Progress in Controlling Non-Communicable Diseases ahead of Comprehensive Review (10 February 2014)
GA/11483

Press Releases
Security Council Press Statement on South Sudan (13 February 2014)
SC/11278-AFR/2816

Security Council Press Statement on Attack against United Nations in Somalia (13 February 2014)
SC/11277-AFR/2815

Secretary-General Condemns Attack on United Nations Convoy in Somalia, Reaffirming ‘Undeterred Resolve’ to Maintain Support (13 February 2014)
SG/SM/15643-AFR/2814

Secretary-General, Learning ‘with Great Shock’ of Reported Massacre in Syria, Strongly Condemns Violence against Civilians (11 February 2014)
SG/SM/15639

UNICEF [to 16 February 2014]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_71508.html

Media Releases [selected]
Horrific cruelty and violence against children in Central African Republic must end: UNICEF
NEW YORK/DAKAR, Senegal, 13 February 2014 – UNICEF officials in the West Africa region said today they are horrified by the cruelty and impunity with which children are being killed and mutilated in the Central African Republic.

UNICEF gets assistance to children evacuated from besieged area of Homs
HOMS, Syria, 11 February 2014 – At least 500 women and children were among civilians evacuated from the besieged old city of Homs over the past few days during the ongoing humanitarian operation being undertaken by the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

UNICEF, government vaccinating over 1.7 million children in Guinea amid measles outbreak
CONAKRY, Guinea/DAKAR, Senegal, 11 February 2014 – As the death toll and the number of suspected cases of measles continue to rise in Guinea, UNICEF and the Government of Guinea have kicked off a massive emergency campaign to vaccinate over 1.7 million children in an effort to stop the spread of measles throughout the country.

African leaders commit to the rights of people with disabilities
LILONGWE, Malawi,  10 February 2014 – The rights of people living with disabilities, especially intellectual disabilities, received a boost today at the conclusion of the first ever African Leaders Forum on Disability, as government, civil society and development actors committed to challenge stigma and inequity by seeking their inclusion in the continent’s development agenda.

UNHCR [to 16 February 2014]
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home

Press Releases
UN refugee agency chief calls on Latin America to champion protection and solutions for displaced populations 13 February 2014
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres, Thursday, called on countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to stand-up in championing the cause of refugees and those displaced in the region by conflict and violence.

“Latin America should further expand its strong asylum tradition and innovation by setting high protection standards and finding sustainable solutions for people affected by years of conflict, persecution and human rights abuses,” Guterres said while meeting ambassadors from Latin America and the Caribbean in Geneva.

The meeting launched the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees – known as the Cartagena +30 process. The commemorations campaign, which includes several regional meetings, will culminate in a Ministerial event in Brasilia in December 2014, where states are expected to adopt a regional Declaration and a new Plan of Action to enhance the protection framework for displaced and stateless people in the decade to come…

UNHCR Chief Guterres ‘Deeply Distressed’ by Situation in CAR 12 February 2014

Statement by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres on SARC/ UN Homs Evacuation and Humanitarian Aid Delivery Effort 9 February 2014

Briefing Notes
Refugee information presented in twice-weekly press briefings in Geneva.
:: UNHCR issues a non-return advisory for South Sudan

:: Displacement from Iraq’s Anbar province

:: Mexico withdraws reservations to Refugee and Statelessness Conventions

:: Turkey experiences major refugee influx

:: UNHCR welcomes Afghanistan’s new IDP policy

News
:: Appalling hardship revealed in Old City of Homs 14 February 2014

:: Syria Crisis: UNHCR issues cards against the cold in Lebanon 13 February 2014

:: 3D exhibition in Seoul sheds light on “invisible” refugees 12 February 2014

:: UNHCR chief decries “humanitarian catastrophe” in CAR, including massive ethno-religious cleansing 12 February 2014

:: Central African Republic: a town in danger of losing its soul 12 February 2014

:: UN and partners deliver desperately needed aid to besieged Syrian city of Homs 11 February 2014

:: More than 20,000 Syrians flee to Turkey this year, biggest influx in months 11 February 2014

:: Ivorian refugees call for disarmament, reconciliation and increased grant before return 10 February 2014

UNOCHA [to 16 February 2014]
http://www.unocha.org/

Press Releases
15 Feb 2014
Afghanistan: The Humanitarian Community Appeals for $406 Million for Afghanistan in 2014
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Afghanistan Kabul, 15 February 2014 – As part of the global appeal by the United Nations and its partners for almost USD $13 billion in funding in 2014, the humanitarian community in Afghanistan is seeking $406 million through the Common Humanitarian Action Plan to provide the most vulnerable people with essential, life-saving aid. Despite more than a decade of international and government development efforts, from a…

14 Feb 2014
Central African Republic: Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos to visit Central African Republic
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Central African Republic MEDIA ADVISORY WHO: Emergency Relief Coordinator and United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos WHAT: Mission to the Central African Republic WHEN: 18-20 February 2014 WHERE: Bangui and field visits The Emergency Relief Coordinator and UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos, is scheduled to visit the Central African…

14 Feb 2014
World: UN launches Humanitarian Data and Trends Report
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: World (Geneva, 14 February 2014): United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Kyung-wha Kang, today in Geneva launched the flagship report World Humanitarian Data and Trends 2013, authored by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The report highlights major trends in the nature of humanitarian crises, their underlying causes and drivers, and the actors that participate…

13 Feb 2014
Syrian Arab Republic: Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos Statement to the Press Security Council Briefing on Syria 13 February 2014
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Syrian Arab Republic Good afternoon. I have just briefed the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria and what has been happening since October. Four months ago the Council adopted a Presidential Statement which stressed the need for immediate action to protect civilians, give access to people in need. However, since that Presidential Statement was adopted, the conflict has intensified. Civilians are…

13 Feb 2014
Central African Republic: Central Emergency Response Fund allocates another US$10 million for the Central African Republic
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Central African Republic (New York, 14 February 2014): The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), Valerie Amos, has allocated US$10 million to support the most critical life-saving aid operations in the Central African Republic (CAR). This is an additional $10 million allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to CAR in a short period, bringing total funding to the current crisis to $20 million…

12 Feb 2014
World: Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos – Security Council Briefing on Protection of Civilians Wednesday, 12 February 2014
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Central African Republic, Syrian Arab Republic, World, South Sudan The Secretary-General’s latest report on the protection of civilians takes stock of the current, very bleak state of affairs in this area of work and also provides an update on progress in responding to the five core challenges. It makes recommendations for strengthening protection, addressing new weapons technologies; explosive weapons use in populated…

12 Feb 2014
Afghanistan: Speech by the Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, Mr. Mark Bowden – Launch of the Common Humanitarian Action Plan, Kabul, Afghanistan, 12.02.14
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Afghanistan As humanitarian coordinator, I am here today to bring to your attention the continuing humanitarian needs in Afghanistan and to announce that USD $406 million is required by the UN and its humanitarian partners to meet the most acute needs this year. Last year, significant achievements were made: For example, food security assistance was delivered to 2.2 million Afghans, shelter and non‐food items were…

11 Feb 2014
World: World Humanitarian Summit: Shape the Future of Humanitarian Action
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: World (by Cynthia Scharf) Humanitarian action has changed tremendously in the past two decades. The numbers of those in need are growing. New challenges, including climate change, resource shortages, and urbanization are placing additional demands on already-stretched resources. New humanitarian actors as well as new technologies are changing how we respond to crises. Now more than ever, we need a new humanitarian agenda…

UNDP  United Nations Development Program [to 16 February 2014]
http://www.us.undp.org/content/undp/en/home.html

13 Feb 2014
Helen Clark: Speech at the London High Level Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade
Speech at the London High Level Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade, United Kingdom
Excerpt
I thank the Government of the United Kingdom for hosting this important conference on illegal wildlife trade.
This vile trade is a development, environmental, and security challenge. It is pushing vulnerable and endangered species toward extinction, fuelling corruption and conflict, and putting lives and livelihoods at risk. At UNDP, we are committed to helping to stop this trade, contributing through our global presence and our expertise in governance, the rule of law, poverty eradication, and environmental protection…

12 Feb 2014
Investment in early childhood and youth vital for future of development in Panama
Panama – Building an equitable future in Panama that leaves no gaps in human development requires more and better investment in children and youth, according to a new report launched today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Panama’s national Human Development Report – ‘the Future is Now! Early Childhood, Youth and the Formation of Skills for Life’ outlines the critical importance of early childhood and youth for the country’s development, and calls for urgent action on issues ranging from parenting practices that foster and encourage the capacities of children to public policies designed to expand opportunities for young people.

Despite being among the most economically privileged countries in the region with a gross national per capita income of US$ 8,100, at current prices, Panama nevertheless faces challenges in youth training that represent a serious obstacle to its development. In Panama’s dynamic economy, the rapidly changing demands of the labour market contrast with a low supply of training for work…

10 Feb 2014
Building the link to home ownership, CEMEX joins the Business Call to Action
Leading building materials company, CEMEX has announced it will join the Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a commitment to ensure that more than 150,000 low-income families have access to safe and affordable housing by 2016.

UN Women  [to 16 February 2014]
http://www.unwomen.org/

African Union gender equality ministers adopt common position on the post-2015 development agenda
Posted on February 12, 2014
During the Africa Regional Preparatory and Consultative Meetings ahead of the 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW58) next month, African ministers and senior officials discussed the priority theme, “Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for Women and Girls”, and adopted an outcome message with strong recommendations. More

Call for Applications: 2014 SEED Awards seek innovative projects on gender equality and women’s empowerment
Posted on February 12, 2014
UN Women joins the European Union, the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, the Government of Flanders, the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the international law firm Hogan Lovells in supporting the SEED Awards 2014 More

Tunisia’s new Constitution: a breakthrough for women’s rights
Posted on February 11, 2014
Following the revolution and months of protests starting in 2011, Tunisia’s Constituent Assembly adopted a new Constitution on 26 January 2014, considered a harbinger of change for gender equality in the Arab States. More

Gender inequality addressed by the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
Posted on February 11, 2014
Promoting equality, including social equality, gender equality and women’s empowerment was one of three key topics on the agenda for the eighth session of the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals, which met last week at UN Headquarters to discuss the post–2015 development agenda. More

UNFPA  United Nations Population Fund [to 16 February 2014]
http://www.unfpa.org/public/

12 February 2014 – Press Release
Development is Being Derailed by Ignoring Equality, Rights and Women’s Health, UN Cautions
UNITED NATIONS, New York — A new report finds that growing inequalities will undo significant gains in health and longevity made over the past 20 years. To sustain these gains, the United Nations ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Report argues that governments must pass and enforce laws to protect the poorest and most marginalized, including adolescent girls and women affected by violence as well as rural populations. more

11 February 2014 – Press Release
UNFPA and Pathfinder International Renew Collaborative Commitment to Advance Family Planning, Gender Equality
On February 10th, leaders from Pathfinder International and UNFPA signed a memorandum renewing the organizations’ collaborative commitment to advance family planning and gender equality worldwide. Pathfinder President Purnima Mane and UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin met at UNFPA headquarters in New York to sign the agreement at a critical juncture in time—as progress toward the Millennium Development Goals is being assessed, new global development goals are taking shape, and the world is reviewing where we stand 20 years after the landmark International Conference on Population and Development. more

UNESCO  [to 16 February 2014]
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/for-the-press/all-news//

7 March 2014
Youth on the Move: the UN World Youth Report 2013 on youth migration

14 February 2014
UNESCO launches new website on “Working with Development Partners to Promote Freedom of Expression”

14 February 2014
Mobile Learning Week: Mobile Technology at the Service of Teachers

13 February 2014
“UNESCO and the United States of America should continue deepening common priorities for cooperation”, says UNESCO Director-General

13 February 2014
UNESCO, HNA Group and Cihang Foundation sign $5 million agreement to accelerate girls’ and women’s education