Switzerland tops Global AgeWatch Index 2015
Wednesday 9 September 2015
HelpAge International is launching the Global AgeWatch Index 2015, ranking 96 countries according to the social and economic wellbeing of older people. The Index represents 91 per cent of people aged 60 and over, some 901 million people, measuring the wellbeing of older people in four key areas: income security, health, personal capability and an enabling environment.

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GLOBAL AGEWATCH INDEX 2015: Headlines
:: Switzerland tops this year’s Index as the best country to live for older people.
:: The Index includes 96 countries but 98 countries had to be left out through lack of data. Only 11 out of 54 countries in Africa included.
:: Poverty rates in old age missing from international data sets in at least 93 countries; millions of older people missing from the data.
:: Inequality among older people increasing – life expectancy gap at age 60 between countries at the top and bottom of the Index has widened from 5.7 years in 1990 to 7.3 years in 2012.
:: Impact of austerity on older people increasing.
:: Investing in people throughout their lives reaps dividends in later life.

… “The big story this year in the Index, is that millions of older people are invisible, living their lives in countries where information on the quality of older age is missing from international data sets,” said Toby Porter, Chief Executive, of HelpAge International.

Against a back drop of global ageing there is a danger that wellbeing in older age is going backwards not forwards. Data shows that the gap in life expectancy at age 60 between countries at the top and bottom of the Index has widened from 5.7 years in 1990 to 7.3 years in 2012. This inequality will grow without more focus on this age group and better targeted policies. Austerity measures are already affecting older people in Europe.

“Later this month, governments will be signing up to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, committing us to universal goals and targets until 2030,” said Porter.

“Ageing has started to be recognised in the Sustainable Development Goals, following the commitment set by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to ‘leave no one behind’.

“The Global AgeWatch Index can help show the impact that implementing the Sustainable Development Goals will have on the lives of older people but we need to fill the data gaps to complete the picture.

“Improved national, regional and global data, broken down by age and gender will help us to fully understand how men and women experience ageing around the world.”

Countries that do well in the Index are thinking about ageing. They have data on older men and women and consult them on targeted approaches to meet their needs and build on their experience and skills. These countries score highly in all four areas, have social pensions, accessible and appropriate healthcare, promote and support flexible working as well as life-long learning for older people and have created a secure and supportive environment for people of all ages.

The Sustainable Development Goals, with their 17 goals and 169 targets, will be adopted at the United Nations at the end of September. By the time they reach their fruition in 2030, the proportion of people aged 60 and over, globally, is predicted to rise from 12.3% now to 16.5%. Three-quarters of this number will live in developing countries.

In a message accompanying this year’s Index, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: “I want to tell the world that I count, that older people everywhere count and that people of all ages should be included in the Sustainable Development Goals.”
www.globalagewatch.org

Payment aspects of financial inclusion – Consultative report
Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures; World Bank Group
September 2015 :: 77 pages
Bank for International Settlements and World Bank Group 2015
ISBN 978-92-9197-216-6 (online)
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Excerpt from Foreword
In recent years, a number of reports have been prepared by organisations on financial inclusion, a topic whose importance is increasingly being recognised. However, few of these reports have addressed what may be called the “payment aspects” of financial inclusion. In cases where the topics of payment systems and payment services have been raised in the context of financial inclusion, discussion has focused only on specific aspects of payments, such as mobile payments, rather than on the payment system in its entirety.

nderstanding payments in a holistic sense, including how individual elements relate to one other, is crucial to an understanding of financial inclusion and to promoting broader access to and usage of financial services.

This report provides an analysis of the payment aspects of financial inclusion, on the basis of which it sets out guiding principles designed to assist countries that seek to advance financial inclusion in their markets through payments. The report is being issued as a consultation document. Comments are invited from any interested parties, and should be sent to the CPMI (cpmi@bis.org) and the World Bank Group (paymentsystems@worldbank.org) by 7 December 2015; please mention “PAFI” in the subject line of your e-mail. A final version of the report will be published subsequently.

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Press Release
New Report Examines Payment Aspects of Financial Inclusion
Date: September 9, 2015 Type: Press Release
The Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) and the World Bank Group today issued a consultative report on Payment aspects of financial inclusion. The report examines demand and supply-side factors affecting financial inclusion in the context of payment systems and services, and suggests measures to address these issues.

Financial inclusion efforts – from a payment perspective – should aim at achieving a number of objectives. Ideally, all individuals and businesses should have access to and be able to use at least one transaction account operated by a regulated payment service provider, to: (i) perform most, if not all, of their payment needs; (ii) safely store some value; and (iii) serve as a gateway to other financial services.

Benoît Cœuré, member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB) and CPMI Chairman, says that, “With this report, the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures and the World Bank Group make an important contribution to improving financial inclusion. Financial inclusion efforts are beneficial not only for those that have no access to financial services, but also for the national payments infrastructure and, ultimately, the economy.”

Gloria M. Grandolini, Senior Director, Finance and Markets Global Practice of the World Bank Group, comments that, “This report will help us better understand how payment systems and services promote access to and effective usage of financial services. It provides an essential tool to meeting our ambitious goal of universal financial access for working-age adults by 2020.”

The report outlines seven guiding principles designed to assist countries that want to advance financial inclusion in their markets through payments:
(i) commitment from public and private sector organisations;
(ii) a robust legal and regulatory framework underpinning financial inclusion;
(iii) safe, efficient and widely reachable financial and ICT infrastructures;
(iv) transaction accounts and payment product offerings that effectively meet a broad range of transaction needs;
(v) availability of a broad network of access points and interoperable access channels;
(vi) effective financial literacy efforts; and
(vii).the leveraging of large-volume and recurrent payment streams, including remittances, to advance financial inclusion objectives.

Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015 – How are the world’s forests changing?
FAO
Rome, 2015 :: 56 pages
[Excerpt from Foreword]
The contributions of forests to the well-being of humankind are extraordinarily vast and far-reaching. Forests play a fundamental role in combating rural poverty, ensuring food security and providing decent livelihoods; they offer promising mid-term green growth opportunities; and they deliver vital long-term environmental services, such as clean air and water, conservation of biodiversity and mitigation of climate change.

Forestry has an important place in FAO’s Strategic Framework, which strongly promotes an integrated approach to addressing the major problems that concern food production, rural development, land use and sustainable management of natural resources.

However, in order to manage our forests wisely for the benefit of current and future generations, it is vital to have a clear understanding of the situation of the world’s forests and ongoing trends.

The Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) allows us to do exactly that. Since the first FRA was published in 1948, FAO has reported periodically on the situation of the world’s forests, serving the international community with the best information and techniques available.

FRA 2015 arrives in a decisive year for forests and sustainable development. This year the development agenda towards 2030 is being defined, including the adoption of new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Forests and their role in protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems and their services are essential for the post-2015 development agenda.

A global and inclusive climate change agreement – in which forests are a key part – is also expected to be reached at the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Paris in December 2015. The year 2015 also
features the XIV World Forestry Congress in Durban, the biggest international forest event of this decade – to be held in Africa for the first time – where we are honoured to launch FRA 2015.

FRA 2015 shows a very encouraging tendency towards a reduction in the rates of deforestation and carbon emissions from forests and increases in capacity for sustainable forest management. The reliability of the information collected has also improved enormously – presently national forest inventories apply to some 81 percent of global forest area, a substantial increase over the past 10 years.

Two broad conclusions can be drawn: 1) we have a wealth of reliable information today on the situation of the world’s forests; and 2) the direction of change is positive, with many impressive examples of progress in all regions of the world. However this positive trend needs to be strengthened, especially in the countries that are lagging behind…

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Press Release
World deforestation slows down as more forests are better managed
FAO publishes key findings of global forest resources assessment
7 September 2015, Durban/Rome – The world’s forests continue to shrink as populations increase and forest land is converted to agriculture and other uses, but over the past 25 years the rate of net global deforestation has slowed down by more than 50 percent, FAO said in a report published today.

Some 129 million hectares of forest – an area almost equivalent in size to South Africa – have been lost since 1990, according to FAO’s most comprehensive forest review to date, The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015.

It noted however, that an increasing amount of forest areas have come under protection while more countries are improving forest management. This is often done through legislation and includes the measuring and monitoring of forest resources and a greater involvement of local communities in planning and in developing policies.

The FAO study covers 234 countries and territories and was presented at this week’s World Forestry Congress in Durban, South Africa…

Global Waste Management Outlook
United Nations Environment Programme, 2015
ISBN: 978-92-807-3479-9 :: 346 pages
Foreword
Good decision-making about how we manage the waste we create is one of the most important contributions humanity can make to reducing its impact on the natural world. The Global Waste Management Outlook (GWMO) is being released at a critical moment, one where the world is considering a new regime to keep global warming to below 2 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures, and, at the same time, discussing what the future development agenda will look like and how it will be funded.

Environmental sustainability is the core issue that will need to be addressed for development to focus on human well-being and yet stay within the limitations of planet’s capacity. Environmentally sound waste management is one of the key elements for sustainable development.

Already, science has demonstrated that we are on an unsustainable path, and that urgent and united action is required to correct this. The global population, currently at 7.3 billion, will grow in the coming decades to 9 billion and perhaps 11 billion by the end of the 21st century. Some 80% of this growing population will live in cities, most of which are yet to be built. Of this projected 9 billion people, 3 billion will belong to the middle class, with sufficient disposable income to purchase the consumer goods that others enjoy elsewhere in the world, further draining the planet’s already strained natural resources.

Moving to a circular development model – which works to reduce waste before it is produced, but which treats waste as a resource when it is – is essential, and holistic and integrated sustainable waste management will be crucial.

The GWMO is the first comprehensive, impartial and in-depth assessment of global waste management. It reflects the collective body of recent scientific knowledge, drawing on the work of leading experts and the vast body of research undertaken within and beyond the United Nations system. The six chapters inform the reader about trends, provide an analysis on governance and financial mechanisms, and offer policy advice on the way forward. The main document targeting professionals is accompanied by two summary documents, one for decision makers and the other for the public more broadly.

This GWMO offers a profound analysis of the enormous potential better waste management provides to assist in meeting the sustainability challenges ahead.

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Press Release
The Mounting Problem: World’s Cities Produce up to 10 Billion Tonnes of Waste Each Year, UN Study Estimates
Holistic waste management could save countries hundreds of billions USD and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% annually
Antwerp, 7 September 2015 – Inadequate waste management has become a major public health, economic and environmental problem, with 7-10 billion tonnes of urban waste produced each year and 3 billion people worldwide lacking access to controlled waste disposal facilities.

Fuelled by population growth, urbanization and rising consumption, the volumes of waste are likely to even double in lower-income African and Asian cities by 2030, warns the Global Waste Management Outlook – launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) today.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said, “An urgent response to the world’s mounting waste problem is not only a public health and environmental necessity, but also a sound economic investment. Inaction is costing countries 5-10 times more than investments in proper waste management. A greater commitment by nations to systematically apply the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – can transform the problem of waste into a resource for our economies…

Development Co-operation Report 2015 – Making Partnerships Effective Coalitions for Action
OECD, Paris.
Published on September 07, 2015
http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/dcr-2015-en
pdf: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/deliver/4315041e.pdf?itemId=/content/book/dcr-2015-en&mimeType=application/pdf
Overview
With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, the question of how to finance, implement and monitor these goals moves to the centre of the debate. Today, international development co-operation takes place in an increasingly complex environment, with an ever growing number of actors, policies and instruments involved. This complexity raises the stakes for achieving the goals, but also opens up new opportunities. Although governments will remain the key actors in the implementation of the new post-2015 goals, the role of non-state actors such as civil society, foundations and business is growing. Their association through effective partnerships will be key to the implementation of the post-2015 agenda.

The Development Co-operation Report 2015 explores the potential of networks and partnerships to create incentives for responsible action, as well as innovative, fit-for-purpose ways of co-ordinating the activities of diverse stakeholders. The report – Making Partnerships Effective Coalitions for Action – looks at a number of existing partnerships working in diverse sectors, countries and regions to draw lessons and provide practical guidance, proposing ten success factors for post-2015 partnerships. A number of leading policy makers and politicians share their insights and views.

Foreword
The world has made great progress since the Millennium Development Goals were put in place a decade ago. Poverty has been cut in half. Illness and early deaths have been significantly reduced, particularly among women and children. Despite these achievements, huge challenges remain if we are to meet the new and ambitious set of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. These truly universal targets involve – and depend on – all nations, leaders and peoples for their successful realisation. Likewise, we must address climate change and ensure that our actions to combat it are fully aligned with common development objectives.

The stakes are high. If we are to succeed, we must raise the level of ambition and strengthen the capacity of the international system to support universal, inclusive and sustainable development.

Only through joined up action guided by an effective system of global governance will we be able to make the Sustainable Development Goals a break-through success. And that is what this Development Co-operation Report 2015: Making Partnerships Effective Coalitions for Action is all about. Based on analysis and experience, it draws out ten success factors that will enable us to ensure, as we go forward, that partnerships function to their maximum potential and that they are fit-for-purpose in addressing the imposing challenges of the post-2015 world. Among these success factors, strong leadership, country ownership, right-sizing partnerships to the challenge at hand and a focus on results are key. This is a powerful model – and one that the global community cannot afford to ignore.

The OECD hosts various initiatives to advance effective and coherent development policies, and is a front-line player in ongoing efforts to improve global governance mechanisms. With our work on taxation, private investment, smart use of official development assistance, and combating bribery – just to name a few – we stand ready to join with all stakeholders in producing “Better Policies for Better Lives” and making the new goals reality through common action. This Development Co-operation Report 2015 is an important contribution to that mission.

African leaders, international partners launch new initiatives to spur scientific research in Africa
10 September 2015
African and international partners have launched the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA), a new initiative that aims to help drive Africa’s research agenda across the continent.

AESA was created by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency with US$5.5 million in initial seed funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

The AESA launch ceremony featured the announcements of two grant programmes intended to support Africa’s future research leaders: the Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training and Science (DELTAS) Africa Awards and Grand Challenges Africa.

Closing the Science Gap
Currently, Africa accounts for 15% of the global population and 25% of the global disease burden, but only produces about 2% of the world’s research output. Although more than 60% of African countries have increased their recent investments in science, over half of African countries still invest less than 0.5% of their GDP on research – far less than the global target of 1%. Increased domestic investment in research is needed to accelerate the long-term health and development progress required to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Endorsed by African Heads of State and Government, the Nairobi-based AESA aims to support the implementation of the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (STISA-2024) and the African Health Strategy (AHS) for 2015-2030. Ministers of Health tasked the NEPAD Agency within the context of AHS to develop the continent’s health research agenda at the AU Specialised Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control in April 2015.

In addition to serving as a scientific think tank, AESA will manage more than US$70 million in Africa-focused research programmes as part of its broader effort to build pan-African scientific capacity and leadership.

“Building capacity for science, technology and innovation is a strategic and critical investment for Africa’s future,” said Prof Berhanu Abegaz, Executive Director of AAS. “Today, we are proud to launch new initiatives that will help harness Africa’s scientific potential to contribute to the wellbeing of Africa’s people.”

Investing in Local Researchers
To this end, AESA will play a key role in the implementation of the two grant programmes announced today, DELTAS Africa and Grand Challenges Africa.

“Africa is home to some of the most dynamic innovators and institutions, poised to advance the continent’s research agenda,” said Dr Thomas Kariuki, Director of AESA. “Working in collaboration with key African and international partners, AESA will help provide researchers with the funding, training and resources they need to succeed and drive forward Africa’s development.”

DELTAS Africa
The US$70 million DELTAS Africa programme – initiated by the Wellcome Trust in partnership with AESA, and including US$10 million in additional funding from DFID announced today – supports the African-led development of world-class researchers and research leaders across the continent. Over an initial period of five years (2015-2020), the programme will support collaborative teams to conduct health research, offer training and mentorship and improve health research infrastructure. Following a joint review, operations and leadership of DELTAS Africa will be transferred to AESA early next year.

Today, the first seven DELTAS Africa awards, new grants were announced, focusing on locally relevant research including infection and immunity, mental health and biostatistics. The programmes will be led from universities and research institutes in Ghana, Kenya, Mali, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe, and involve collaboration across the continent and with international research centres.

“The Wellcome Trust has a long-established track record in investing in health research in sub-Saharan Africa. DELTAS Africa is a new approach and a long-term commitment, which has its centre of gravity and decision making firmly based in Africa,” said Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust. “We welcome DFID’s announcement today that it will provide additional funding to DELTAS Africa. The vision is to support the new generation of African research leaders. Individuals and teams from across the continent will play a leading role in shaping and driving world class, locally driven and relevant health research that improves human health.”

Grand Challenges Africa
The Grand Challenges family of grant initiatives seeks to engage innovators from around the world to solve the most pressing challenges in global health and development. Today, that family has grown with the announcement of Grand Challenges Africa. Led by AAS through the AESA platform, Grand Challenges Africa will build on the success of local Grand Challenges programmes in India, Brazil and South Africa, as well as the strong base of African Grand Challenges grantees funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada and USAID.

Initially, Grand Challenges Africa will focus on supporting the over 400 existing Grand Challenges grantees in Africa, including by hosting a 2016 convening of African grantees. The programme will ultimately develop, launch and manage Africa-specific Grand Challenges targeted to the development challenges preventing African countries from reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Grand Challenges Africa builds on over a decade of Grand Challenges investment in local innovators, including hundreds of Grand Challenges grants awarded to innovators across Africa,” said Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “We’re excited to work with AESA to support African innovators in finding transformative solutions to major health and development challenges.”

Yesterday, Grand Challenges Explorations launched four new calls for proposals focused on antimicrobial resistance, newborn and infant gut health, digital financial services and global health priority areas. Initial grants will be for US$100,000 and successful projects will be eligible to receive a follow-on grant of up to US$1million. For more information or to submit a two-page application, visit http://www.grandchallenges.org.

United Nations – Secretary General, Security Council, General Assembly  [to 12 September 2015]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/

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Selected Press Releases/Meetings Coverage
11 September 2015
GA/11677
Adopting Six Resolutions, General Assembly Supports Multilingualism, Bolsters Transparency in Selection of Secretary-General
Resolutions aimed at fostering greater transparency in the selection of the next Secretary-General and equitable use of all six official languages in the activities of the United Nations were among six texts adopted by the General Assembly today, one of which required a recorded vote.

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10 September 2015
GA/11676
State of Palestine Flag to Fly at United Nations Headquarters, Offices as General Assembly Adopts Resolution on Non-Member Observer States
Amidst heated debates about the political value of symbolic gestures, the General Assembly today adopted five resolutions on a wide range of topics, including the raising of flags by non-member observer States at the United Nations and debt restructuring.

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10 September 2015
SC/12038
Tackling Ebola, Post-Conflict Challenges, Liberia Poised to Resume Security Duties as Mission Readies Drawdown Plan, Top Peacekeeping Official Tells Security Council
With Liberia having turned a corner from its unprecedented Ebola health emergency, the people and Government now had the important work of continuing to build a unified and reconciled nation fully responsible for its own destiny, the top United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council today.

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10 September 2015
SG/SM/17064-SC/12040-DC/3582
Secretary-General Welcomes Security Council Follow-Up to Resolution 2235 (2015), Reiterating Call for Parties in Syria to Support Joint Investigative Body
The Secretary-General welcomes the authorisation by the Security Council of the Secretary-General’s recommendations to establish and operate the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons–United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism.
It underlines once again the importance of addressing the use of toxic chemicals as weapons, and the need for the perpetrators to be held accountable.
The Secretary-General, in close coordination with the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and all other relevant parties, shall, without delay, undertake all steps, measures and arrangements necessary for the speedy establishment and full functioning of the Joint Investigative Mechanism…

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9 September 2015
SG/SM/17062-OBV/1514
Tourism Now a ‘Transformative Force’, Secretary-General Says, in Message for International Day
Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for World Tourism Day 2015 under the theme “One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities”, observed 27 September.

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8 September 2015
SG/SM/17055-REF/1211
In Phone Calls with European Heads of State, Secretary-General Stresses Collective Duty to Respond Humanely as Refugees Arrive, Many Fleeing War, Violence

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8 September 2015
SG/SM/17054-GA/11672
Secretary-General, Citing ‘Damning’ List of Humanitarian Crises, Calls for Renewed Action as General Assembly Holds Dialogue on ‘Responsibility to Protect’ Pledge

UN OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [to 12 September 2015]
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true

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UN child rights committee urges EU Justice and Home Affairs Council to include child rights in migration response
11 September 2015

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Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers closes twenty-third session
09 September 2015

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Statement by the Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers on the global migration crisis
09 September 2015
As the Committee marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, we are witnessing a constantly worsening situation experienced by many migrants. These migrants are on the move due to various and interrelated reasons. Many are fleeing from their countries of origin due to extremely difficult circumstances, including violations of their human rights. As a group, they are already in a vulnerable situation, but this vulnerability dramatically increases during their transit as a result of inadequate regular migration channels, numerous and diverse migration control practices, xenophobic attitudes and the growing presence of organized criminal groups that take advantage of the structural character of irregular migration.

In this regard, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights highlighted that “[w]hen people are unable to use regular channels to escape oppression, violence and economic despair, they may attempt, in desperation, to find irregular ones. This does not make them criminals. It does not withdraw their right to be treated with dignity. On the contrary, their vulnerability cries out for humanity – an approach that is motivated by respect for their plight, and for their fundamental rights as human beings.” The Committee wholeheartedly shares this view.

All of these people, whether they can be considered migrants, asylum seekers or refugees, are entitled to a protection response based on international law, in particular, the human rights, humanitarian, and refugee law treaty framework. Policies and practices aimed at effectively tackling the root causes of this phenomenon of increasing mixed-migration flows, as well as to address the situation of migrants in transit and destination countries, must be fully in line with these norms and principles established by the international community. A comprehensive, rights-based short and long term response is critical and inevitable. States should also refrain from reacting to this multidimensional and complex issue through criminalization of irregular migration, building of fences and strengthening other border controls measures, including detention, push-back and deportation practices.

In the view of the Committee, it is high time to holistically address this complex and grave situation which affects every region of the world and calls upon the international community to rise to this challenge and respond in accordance with human rights norms and with compassion and humanity. Likewise, it is important to note that the Sustainable Development Goals will not be fully achieved unless this phenomenon is adequately addressed. Therefore, all Member States of the United Nations have a historic opportunity to revert this sad state of affairs through meeting the targets agreed to by the international community. In this context, the Committee is committed to maximizing its efforts to substantially and actively contribute to this process with the firm conviction that the human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families Convention of Migrant Workers, are critical tools for achieving this just goal.

The Committee also recognizes all of the initiatives undertaken to promote and protect the human rights of migrants and supports the organization of a global discussion, that is both constructive and practical, with a view to put in place measures, policies and actions so not to further prolong this human rights and humanitarian crisis.

Committee on the Rights of the Child [to 12 September 2015]
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRC/Pages/CRCIndex.aspx

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UN child rights committee urges EU Justice and Home Affairs Council to include child rights in migration response
11 September 2015
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child expresses its deep concern at the current migration crisis in Europe, and underscores that the continued shocking images that ricochet around the world do not tell the full extent of the devastating, and at times irreversible, impact the crisis continues to have on the rights and well-being of the children involved.

Ahead of the extraordinary “Justice and Home Affairs” Council taking place on 14 September in Brussels, dedicated to the situation of migration outside and inside the European Union, the Committee urges EU Ministers to adopt a child rights-based approach when planning, discussing, and implementing the measures designed to strengthen the European response.

“All European states have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and have committed to ensuring rights to all children that come under their jurisdiction irrespective of their legal status, and without discrimination of any kind,” said the Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Mr. Benyam Dawit Mezmur. “The majority of these children have already experienced human rights violations before leaving their countries of origin, and subjecting them to yet more violations within European borders through laws and treatment that are contrary to their rights constitutes an additional serious violation of Convention obligations.”

A number of these obligations are particularly relevant to the current situation. “The right of the child to have his or her best interests taken as a primary consideration should serve as the underlying obligation upon which all migration laws, policies, and services in countries of origin, transit, and destination must hinge,” the Chairperson said. “In addition, the obligation to respect and protect the right of the child to freedom from all forms of violence — physical or mental, intentional or non-intentional — needs to be upheld by all branches of Governments in all contexts, including migration,” Mr. Mezmur added, noting increasing visual evidence of police and other authorities acting in ways that may physically harm or traumatize migrant children.

The Convention obligations apply both in times of stability and crisis. And the Committee expects all Governments to fully commit to placing at the heart of their responses their legal obligations towards children in a migration situation.

“Since a response to the current migration crisis needs rights-based, serious, and collaborative efforts, the Committee stands ready to engage with all countries in Europe in their efforts to strengthen the protection of the rights of the child in their migration responses,” the Chairperson concluded.

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Committee on the Rights of the Child holds seventieth session in Geneva from 14 September to 2 October
9 September 2015

UN OCHA [to 12 September 2015]
http://www.unocha.org/media-resources/press-releases

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11 Sep 2015
World: In Search of Humanitarian Leaders: Call for applications for the IASC Humanitarian Coordination Pool
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: World On 13 August, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, called on the Principals of Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) organizations to nominate candidates for inclusion in the Humanitarian Coordination (HC) Pool. The HC Pool is a roster of humanitarian leaders from the UN, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, NGOs and other organizations who have been screened by the IASC as potential candidates…

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10 Sep 2015
Sudan: UN condemns fatal attack on humanitarians in W. Darfur, Sudan

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08 Sep 2015
Haiti: Les Nations Unies demandent aux bailleurs 25 millions pour des besoins humanitaires urgents en Haïti

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08 Sep 2015
Yemen: Yemen: An economy in free fall and livelihoods destroyed

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06 Sep 2015
Sudan: The United Kingdom contributes an additional US$10 million to the Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund for 2015

UNICEF [to 12 September 2015]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_78364.html

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Selected press release and news notes
UNICEF urges European leaders to quickly turn new commitments for refugees and migrants into action for children
NEW YORK, 11 September 2015 – UNICEF welcomes increasing commitments by European leaders to support refugees and migrants – commitments that should now trigger urgent action by all EU Member States to fully protect children.

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Child refugee crisis in Europe will only grow if humanitarian needs in Syria and the region are not met, warns UNICEF
NEW YORK, 10 September 2015 – The refugee and migrant crisis in Europe will only worsen if greater efforts are not made to end the protracted conflict in Syria and address the humanitarian needs of the millions affected by the violence, says UNICEF today.

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UNICEF and WFP intensify efforts to defeat malnutrition in South Sudan
JUBA, South Sudan, 9 September 2015 – The World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF are intensifying their efforts to reverse the dire malnutrition situation in South Sudan, where a brutal conflict has displaced millions of people, destroyed basic services, increased disease and exacerbated hunger.

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Child mortality rates plunge by more than half since 1990 but global MDG target missed by wide margin
NEW YORK/GENEVA/WASHINGTON, 9 September 2015 – Child mortality rates have plummeted to less than half of what they were in 1990, according to a new report released today. Under-five deaths have dropped from 12.7 million per year in 1990 to 5.9 million in 2015. This is the first year the figure has gone below the 6 million mark.

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Rising numbers of women and children pass through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia to seek refuge in Europe – UNICEF
SKOPJE/BELGRADE/GENEVA, 8 September 2015 – Women and children seeking refuge in Europe continue to pass through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia in growing numbers. Nearly 10,000 people, approximately 40 per cent of whom were women and children, were registered crossing into the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia at Gevgelija from Greece between 1 and 6 September. More than 7,720 people were also registered crossing into Serbia through Presevo over the same time period

UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [to 12 September 2015]
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/search?page=&comid=4a0950336&cid=49aea93a7d&scid=49aea93a40

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Statement by Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR’s Regional Refugee Coordinator for the Refugee Crisis in Europe
8 September 2015
We have met the authorities here in Budapest and have offered UNHCR’s assistance to deal with the increasing number of refugees and migrants arriving in Hungary.

We have repeated our call for simplifying and streamlining registration, reception at the collection points, registration centres and reception centres and care for those who come to seek international protection.

Over 150,000 refugees and migrants have crossed into Hungary from Serbia since January this year. A majority of those are from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Some other nationalities include Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and people from Sub-Saharan Africa.

UNHCR expects more people to come during the coming months. The number of arrivals yesterday was over 2,700 people, as the daily average has remained around 2,000 since last month…

IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 12 September 2015]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases

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Selected Press Releases
IOM Supports Dominican Republic Government, Civil Society during Implementation of National Regularization Plan
09/11/15
Dominican Republic – Over 100,000 migrants have received a document proving their legal immigration status.

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Displacement in Iraq Reaches Nearly 3.2 Million: IOM
09/11/15
Iraq – IOM’s Iraq Displacement Tracking Matrix published this week identified 3,182,736 internally displaced Iraqis from January 2014 through 27 August 2015.

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IOM Helps Prevent Disease at UN Displacement Sites in South Sudan
09/11/15
South Sudan – To help stem the spread of disease in crowded displacement sites in South Sudan, IOM health teams are promoting preventative health care, including two cholera vaccination campaigns benefiting 113,600 internally displaced persons (IDPs).

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IOM Distributes Aid to Displaced Flood Victims in Ethiopia’s Afar State
09/11/15
Ethiopia – IOM Ethiopia is today distributing non-food aid to 90 households displaced by severe flooding in Aysaita woreda (district), Afar Regional State.

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Community Stabilization Project Launched in Central African Republic
09/11/15
Central African Republic – Following a series of meetings with local government leaders, IOM yesterday (10/9) launched the European Union-funded Community Stabilization for At-Risk Communities project (SIRIRI) in Boda, Central African Republic (CAR).

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IOM, Government Free Victims of Sex Trafficking in Papua New Guinea
09/11/15
Papua New Guinea – Following a call alerting the IOM mission in Port Moresby to the situation of potential victims of sexual slavery in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG), an IOM protection team, working with a specialized police squad, has completed a successful rescue operation.

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IOM Monitors Migrant Arrivals, Deaths in Italy, Greece and Spain
09/08/15
Italy – September continues to be a deadly month in the Mediterranean. IOM’s Missing Migrants Project recorded 58 new fatalities at sea since noon Friday (4/9).

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Typhoon Assistance to Micronesia Tops USD 10 Million
09/08/15
Federated States of Micronesia – Over USD 10 million – the lion’s share from USAID – has been allocated to support remote and delicate communities in Micronesia.

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IOM Empowers Communities Hosting Refugees in Mauritania
09/08/15
Mauritania – IOM has launched a project to boost community empowerment and self-reliance in communities hosting Malian refugees in southeast Mauritania.

UN Women [to 12 September 2015]
http://www.unwomen.org/news/stories

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Selected Press Releases
Building resilience against climate change: Women in Bangladesh lead the way
Date : September 11, 2015
In 10 of the most climate-vulnerable districts of Bangladesh, more than 19,100 women have built better systems of support and preparation for disasters, while livelihood skills training has enabled more than 1,600 women to expand their businesses.

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G20 leaders launch group to promote women’s economic empowerment
Date : September 8, 2015
Marking a historic step for women’s rights and gender equality, representatives of G20 countries, that constitute two-thirds of the world’s population and 85 per cent of GDP, launched a new engagement group to advance the economic empowerment of women.

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UN Women Executive Director announces collaborative study with Asian Development Bank during mission in the Philippines
Date : September 8, 2015
During a two-day Mission in the Philippines, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, addressed the Eminent Speakers’ Forum of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to promote gender equality and women’s rights within a regional context. ADB and UN Women will work together on a collaborative study announced during the Mission that will help Asia and the Pacific track its progress in realizing gender equality.

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“We must be diligent and vocal advocates” – Lakshmi Puri
Date : September 8, 2015
Remarks by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri at the W20 Official Launch Event in Ankara, Turkey

UNFPA United Nations Population Fund [to 12 September 2015]

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New UNFPA Tool on Implementing HIV and STI Programmes with Men who have Sex with Men
8 September 2015 Press Release
A tool for implementing comprehensive programmes on HIV and sexually transmitted infections with men who have sex with men was released today by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. The publication, Implementing Comprehensive HIV and STI Programmes with Men Who Have Sex With Men: practical guidance for collaborative interventions, presents concrete steps that public-health officials, health workers and non-governmental organizations can use to implement HIV and STI programmes for men who have sex with men…

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 12 September 2015]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html

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540,000 Malawians to be provided with safe, clean water by 2018
Sep 11, 2015
Basic Water Needs, a Dutch manufacturer and marketer of household water treatment and safe storage products, has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA), a global initiative supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other international organizations that encourages companies to fight poverty through innovative business models. As part of its commitment, Basic Water Needs plans to distribute its low-cost Tulip Table Top water filters to more than 540,000 Malawians by 2018, making safe and clean drinking water more available, easily accessible, and affordable.

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Rwanda launches the National Risk Atlas, first-ever comprehensive risk profile developed in Africa
Sep 10, 2015
The Government of Rwanda today launched its first National Risk Atlas, the first-ever comprehensive risk profile developed in Africa. In collaboration with UNDP, the World Bank and the European Union, the National Risk Atlas was developed through a comprehensive risk assessment to provide to the Government of Rwanda guidance in national planning and policy-making on disaster risk reduction.

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Faiths launch far-reaching action plans to help the world’s poorest people
Sep 9, 2015
Faith leaders have pledged far reaching practical action over the next 10 years to help the world’s poorest people at a meeting with senior UN officials in Bristol, UK, to discuss the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Sweden continues commitment to support UNDP by pledging $58.6m for 2015
Sep 3, 2015
The Swedish Government announced its continued commitment to the United Nations Development Programme by making a 2015 core contribution of $58.6m, or 495m Swedish Kroner, to help UNDP support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and fulfill its coordination role for the UN system.

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme [to 12 September 2015]
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/?doctypeID=1

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Selected Press Releases
Largest Brazilian Cosmetics Manufacturer Recognized with United Nation’s Top Environmental Award
Natura named Champion of the Earth for making sustainability their business
11/09/2015

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National Geographic Wins Top United Nations Environmental Prize for Science and Innovation
The Champions of the Earth Award recognizes outstanding visionaries and leaders in the fields of policy, science, entrepreneurship, and civil society
10/09/2015

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Demand for Wood in Africa Could Triple by 2050, Straining the Continent’s Dwindling Forest Resources, Warns UN Report
Integrating informal sectors into official economy could protect forests by promoting sustainable management and boosting productivity
Nairobi, 9 September 2015 – The demand for forest products and services in Africa is growing rapidly, fuelled by a growing population and an expanding economy. By 2050, domestic demand for industrial roundwood could double or even triple from the current annual level of 96.2 million m3 found a report released today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Such pressure, coupled with the encroachment of other sectors on forests, could lead to unsustainable levels of exploitation and accelerating deforestation, resulting in loss of livelihoods and a decrease in biodiversity.

The report, entitled “The Role of Forests in a Green Economy Transformation in Africa”, calls for a stronger integration of the largely informal forest sector into national planning and accounting. This would boost the sector’s productivity, while promoting sustainable management of forest resources, helping to meet the growing demand for forest products.
Further Resources
Download Full Report in English

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The Mounting Problem: World’s Cities Produce up to 10 Billion Tonnes of Waste Each Year, UN Study Estimates
Holistic waste management could save countries hundreds of billions USD and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% annually
Antwerp, 7 September 2015 – Inadequate waste management has become a major public health, economic and environmental problem, with 7-10 billion tonnes of urban waste produced each year and 3 billion people worldwide lacking access to controlled waste disposal facilities.
Fuelled by population growth, urbanization and rising consumption, the volumes of waste are likely to even double in lower-income African and Asian cities by 2030, warns the Global Waste Management Outlook – launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) today.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said, “An urgent response to the world’s mounting waste problem is not only a public health and environmental necessity, but also a sound economic investment. Inaction is costing countries 5-10 times more than investments in proper waste management. A greater commitment by nations to systematically apply the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – can transform the problem of waste into a resource for our economies…
Further Resources
Download Global Waste Management Outlook

UNISDR UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction [to 12 September 2015]
http://www.unisdr.org/archive

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Selected Press Releases
Making a resilient airport
NADI, Fiji, 9 September 2015 – When floods closed Fiji’s main international airport for the only time in its history, economic shockwaves rippled through the tourism-dependent country.

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Southern Africa moves on Sendai Framework
MAPUTO, 7 September 2015 – African leaders and experts on disaster risk are moving ahead on detailed planning of implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the new global agreement on reducing disaster losses and a key pillar of the post-2015 Development Agenda.

UNESCO [to 12 September 2015]
http://en.unesco.org/news

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International Literacy Day 2015: Literacy and Sustainable Societies
08 September 2015

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Informed citizens build sustainable societies says Dan Wagner, UNESCO Chair in Learning and Literacy
08.09.2015 – Education Sector
Mr Dan Wagner, UNESCO Chair in Learning and Literacy at the University of Pennsylvania, will make a keynote presentation on strengthening links between literacy and sustainable development as part of the UNESCO Global Meeting on “Literacy and Sustainable Societies”, which will be held at the Organization’s headquarters in Paris to celebrate International Literacy Day on 8 and 9 September.

Mr Wagner will present a paper on September 8 which discusses how nation-building and development, which depend on resources taken from the planet, must be rethought as those resources become depleted. He will highlight the disproportionate impact of environmental change on children, the poor, women and indigenous populations and the implications for education.

“A focus on literacy and sustainability in these marginalized groups is the most important thing we can do,” he said.

He says that while globalization brings with it threatening changes such as climate and environmental upheaval which will impact on education, social and political conflict, national and international migration, and employment, it also brings an increasingly connected global citizenry, greater access to new technologies and new respect for the world’s dwindling resources.

In relation to literacy he said: “UNESCO plays a very special and central role in the promotion of literacy worldwide. In the era of the Sustainable Development Goals, its role should be strengthened as this is a special time where sustainable development requires that science and culture be linked to education initiatives. It’s the combination of these three sectors that will be needed for success, and UNESCO is uniquely positioned to make that happen.”

He said literacy helps to empower people and create more informed citizens who are vital to address the problems associated with building more sustainable societies. Rural farmers are better farmers if they have been to school just as educated people are better able to understand key health messages and educated mothers pass on their health learning to their children.