ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.asean.org/news
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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ASEAN to Convene Consumer Protection Conference
BANGKOK, 9 December 2015 – The 2nd ASEAN Consumer Protection Conference (ACPC) will be convened on 14-15 December in Bangkok as part of an ongoing effort to enhance awareness on consumer protection issues in ASEAN. The 2nd ACPC will discuss consumer product safety legislation, the use of warranties and guarantees, enforcement and remedies, recalls and redress, institutional design and effectiveness of consumer and competition agencies, and finally a look at future trends such as sustainable consumption and the modern ASEAN consumer.

European Union [to 12 December 2015]
http://europa.eu/rapid/search-result.htm?query=18&locale=en&page=1
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives]

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Refugee Crisis: New €13 million in humanitarian aid for refugees in Western Balkans
Date: 10/12/2015
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 10 December 2015 The EU is to release further emergency humanitarian aid of €13 million, aimed at supporting refugees along the Western Balkans route.

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Implementing the Common European Asylum System: Commission escalates 8 infringement proceedings
Date: 10/12/2015
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 10 December 2015 Implementing the Common European Asylum System: Commission escalates 8 infringement proceedings The European Commission adopted today 8 infringement decisions for failing to fully transpose and implement the Common European Asylum System.

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EU launches innovative new mechanism to help human rights defenders
Date: 09/12/2015
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 9 December 2015
On the eve of Human Rights Day (on December 10) EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, announced the first ever EU comprehensive Human Rights Defenders Mechanism. The initiative is set to become one of Europe’s key tools to assist human rights defenders at high risk, including in remote areas, running until 2018.

Commissioner Mimica said: “Human rights are at the core of EU’s values. Therefore, it is only logical that those who risk their lives to defend them must be able to count on us for support. Thanks to this first-of-its-kind mechanism, we will provide them with essential help, from urgent relocation to legal advice”.
The mechanism counts on a budget of €15 million of EU funds until 2018. This funding is in addition to the continuous support to Human Rights Defenders already provided by the EU, including under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human rights (EIDHR). Since 2007, the EIDHR has allocated €200 million to Human Rights Defenders worldwide.
Through the new mechanism, the EU will provide human rights supporters at risk with:
:: Short-term support, including physical protection, legal and medical support, trial and prison monitoring, and urgent advocacy and relocation, among other actions;

:: Medium-term support, including monitoring of their situation, early warning of risks, training on risk prevention and security (including digital security), and international, regional and national advocacy.

:: Long-term support including support to national networks, advocacy, lobbying and development of strategies to counter restrictions and sanctions imposed on human rights defenders by states.

The mechanism is managed by a consortium of 12 independent international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)[1] who have practical experience of working to support human rights defenders at risk. The mechanism has worldwide coverage, with a specific focus on remote areas. The concrete initiatives to be supported under the mechanism are decided upon by the NGO consortium, against a number of criteria including identity, situation and needs…

[1] Front Line Defenders, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Network (ESCR-Net), International Gay and Lesbian Association (ILGA), Urgent Action Fund for Women Human Rights Defenders (UAF), Protection International, Peace Brigades International (PBI), Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF), Forum Asia and East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP).

OECD [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/publicationsdocuments/bydate/
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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The time is now for a new Latin America-China partnership to foster mutual development strategies, says the Latin American Economic Outlook 2016
11-December-2015
Latin America’s GDP growth slowdown deepened and is expected to be negative in 2015. For a second consecutive year, Latin America falls behind the average growth of OECD countries after a full decade of convergence with advanced economies, according to the Latin American Economic Outlook 2016.

International Anti-Corruption Day Statement by Drago Kos, Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery
9-December-2015
International Anti-Corruption Day provides us all with a unique opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made over the past year in the global fight against corruption, but also to think about the work that remains to be done in the years ahead.

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.oic-oci.org/oicv2/news/
Selected Press Releases

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OIC Welcomes Declaration of Principles Agreement for ending Libyan Crisis
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomed the agreement by the delegations of the House of Representatives and the General National Congress in Libya on principles to end the conflict in Libya which was signed in Tunisia on 6 December 2015….
07/12/2015

UNCTAD [to 12 December 2015]
http://unctad.org/en/Pages/AllPressRelease.aspx

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08 Dec 2015 – International trade in services was main driver of growth in global trade in 2014
UNCTAD’s Handbook of Statistics 2015 reveals that global trade in services grew by 5 per cent as merchandise trade stagnates and foreign direct investment falls
UNCTAD/PRESS/PR/2015/045
Geneva, Switzerland, (08 December 2015)
International service exports accounted for 21 per cent of total global exports (valued at just over $5 trillion) in 2014, a growth of almost 5 per cent compared with the previous year, while merchandise exports (valued at $19 trillion), increased by only 0.3 per cent in the year, as measured in current prices, UNCTAD’s Handbook of Statistics 20151 reveals. Total global exports for 2014 were valued at $24 trillion, up by 1.2 per cent compared with the previous year.

Services exports from both developed and developing economies grew strongly in 2014, at 5.3 per cent and 4.8 per cent respectively. But services exports from the transition economies of South-East Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as Georgia, declined sharply in 2014, falling by almost $10 billion or 7 per cent compared with 2013…

World Bank [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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New Report Highlights the World’s Most Competitive Cities
Increasing competitiveness key to more jobs and growth
WASHINGTON, December 10, 2015 – Improving the competitiveness of cities is a vital pathway to eliminating extreme poverty and promoting prosperity…
Date: December 9, 2015 Type: Press Release Language: English

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The Right Mix of Labor Regulations Can Protect Workers While Maintaining Incentives to Create Jobs, Says New WBG/ILO Report
WASHINGTON, December 9, 2015— The World Bank Group (WBG) and International Labor Organization (ILO) today released a new report which shows how countries can reform labor regulations to protect their workers…
Date: December 9, 2015 Type: Press Release Language: English

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Womb-to-Tomb Policies Needed to Tackle Labor Force Decline and Higher Public Spending in Rapidly Aging East Asia
BEIJING, December 9, 2015—East Asia is aging faster than any other region in history, and some middle-income and wealthier economies could lose as much as 15 percent of their working-age population by 2040, according to a new World Bank report.

The report, Live Long and Prosper: Aging in East Asia and Pacific, finds that 36 percent of the world’s population ages 65 and over, or 211 million people, live in East Asia, the largest share among all regions. By 2040, the graying of the population could shrink the number of working-age adults by more than 15 percent in Korea and more than 10 percent in China, Thailand and Japan. In China alone, that would translate into a net loss of 90 million workers….
Date: December 9, 2015 Type: Press Release Language: English

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Speech by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim at the World Bank Group Tourism Forum 2015: Driving Development Through Tourism
Date: December 8, 2015 Type: Speeches and Transcripts Language: English

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NEPAD Launches Initiative for the Resilience and Restoration of African Landscapes
PARIS, December 6, 2015 – The African Union New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) launched today the African Resilient Landscapes Initiative (ARLI). This initiative will be implemented through forest and ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, climate smart agriculture, and rangeland management. The World Bank Group and World Resources Institute will, as main partners, support the mobilization of financial and technical resources from multiple sources to design and implement country-specific strategies….
Date: December 6, 2015 Type: Press Release Language: English

IPU Inter-Parliamentary Union [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.ipu.org/english/news.htm

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Micronesia hands over funds to support work on migration
9 DECEMBER 2015
The Speaker of the Micronesian Congress Wesley W. Simina handed over a cheque of US$100,000 to IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong as a practical first step in his parliament’s support for IPU’s work on migration. The funds, which had been pledged during the recent 133rd IPU Assembly in Geneva, will help support implementation of IPU’s follow-up to a declaration on migration adopted at the Assembly.

International Criminal Court (ICC) [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/Pages/default.aspx

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Statement of the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, on the Occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2015
10/12/2015
On 10 December 2015, the International Criminal Court joins the rest of the world in marking Human Rights Day, which commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 67 years ago.

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French Minister of Justice visits the ICC and announces a contribution of €750,000 to the Trust Fund for Victims
07/12/2015
On 7 December 2015, French Minister of Justice Christiane Taubira announced a voluntary contribution of €750,000 to the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The contribution is the single largest French donation to the TFV to date.

Amref Health Africa [to 12 December 2015]
http://amref.org/news/news/

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Amref Health Africa Celebrates 29th Graduation Ceremony
Published: 11 December 2015 Carolyne Khamala
Joyful graduates celebrated their academic achievements with family and friends at Amref Health Africa’s 29th graduation ceremony in Nairobi on Wednesday this week.

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Training Health Workers to Tackle ’Lifestyle Diseases’
Published: 10 December 2015 Marie Kinyanjui
GlaxoSmithKline and Amref Health Africa have launched a new programme to train health workers on management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The three-year programme will train 2,500 health workers including nurses, clinical officers, laboratory technicians,…

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Amref Health Africa Statement of Business Ethics
Published: 09 December 2015 Carolyne Khamala
Message from the Group CEO This statement outlines the integrity and ethical standards expected of employees, partners, suppliers and service providers when doing business with and for Amref Health Africa.

BRAC [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.brac.net/#news

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6 December 2015
Young coders develop app solutions on social problems
“BRACathon”- BRAC’s first ever hackathon attracted more than 120 budding app developers and students to compete for prize and developing useful mobile applications to contribute in social innovation. The 36 hour long BRACathon took place from 4-5 December 2015 in BRAC University. 27 teams including IT students and tech start-ups participated.

The theme of BRACathon was technology for social good. The participating teams were given 11 problems including TB prevention, micro-learning, microfinance data access, crowdsourcing information for city roads improvement, bKash user interface etc. Students from BRAC University, NSU, IUB, BUET, Ahsanullah University and technology start-ups including EMPOWER, Miyaki participated in this competition…

CARE International [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.care-international.org/news/press-releases.aspx

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Investing in the future of South Sudan must bring peace
SOUTH SUDAN
11 DECEMBER 2015
CARE’s new briefing note – “Our small peace cannot survive alone”. Lessons in peacebuilding and economic development in South Sudan – argues that the Compromise Peace Agreement signed in August presents an opportunity for South Sudanese authorities and the international community to adopt a new approach, one that balances community reconciliation with economic development.

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Global countdown starts for Paris climate deal
FRANCE
10 DECEMBER 2015
The endgame for the UN climate deal has begun with only a few days left until countries are expected to adopt a new agreement to tackle climate change. In response to the draft Paris outcome text released on the 9th of December.

Heifer International [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.heifer.org/about-heifer/press/press-releases.html

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Heifer International Weekly
Tuesday, Dec. 08, 2015

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Heifer International Awarded $1.5 Million Grant to Expand Disaster Risk Reduction Work
December 7, 2015 LITTLE ROCK, Ark.
Heifer International has received a $1.5 million grant to help fund phase two of the RISE-UP: Resilience Initiatives through Sustainable Enterprises and Upgrade of Community Preparedness project. The money will extend work in the Philippines while expanding the work to Guatemala, two of the most disaster-prone countries in which we work.

The grant from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation will help strengthen the disaster preparedness and risk reduction capacities of up to 7,200 at-risk small-scale farming families—4,200 in Guatemala and 3,000 in the Philippines—by providing essential training and resources that sustain their livelihoods and increase their resiliency in the face of disaster.

HelpAge International [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.helpage.org/newsroom/press-room/press-releases/

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We can’t ignore the consequences of climate change and an ageing world, says HelpAge International
Adapting to climate change today will protect older people from natural disasters, droughts and famine tomorrow, says HelpAge International.
Posted: 09 December 2015

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Paris climate conference: first week sees positive commitments but neglects older people, says HelpAge International
The first week of the Paris climate change conference is a welcome step forward but the wellbeing of older people needs specific focus, says HelpAge International.
Posted: 07 December 2015

IRC International Rescue Committee [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index

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Refugees in the U.S.: Latest IRC updates on Storify
Posted by The IRC on December 8, 2015
The United States has a long tradition of offering refuge to those fleeing persecution and war. Get the latest updates on the IRC’s refugee resettlement work in the U.S., including our response to Texas’s efforts to ban the arrival of Syrian refugees.

ICRC [to 12 December 2015]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new

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Red Cross Red Crescent leaders and States take decisive steps to advance principled humanitarian action
News release
11 December 2015
The 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has closed with a call for greater collaboration between States, humanitarian organizations and other stakeholders to address escalating humanitarian needs.

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No agreement by States on mechanism to strengthen compliance with rules of war
News release
10 December 2015
Geneva (ICRC) – After four years of extensive consultations, States have been unable to agree on a new mechanism proposed by the ICRC and the government of Switzerland to strengthen compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL). The decision was taken at the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which draws to a close today in Geneva.

Instead, States agreed to launch an inter-governmental process to find ways to enhance the implementation of IHL. This process should culminate in four years, when the outcome will be presented at the next International Conference.

“It is disappointing that States could not agree on the original proposal, which addressed all the concerns raised during the consultation process,” said ICRC president Peter Maurer. “International humanitarian law is flouted almost every day, in every conflict around the world. By failing to support this initiative, States missed an opportunity to help to protect millions of people.”

The new mechanism would have involved setting up an annual meeting of states party to the Geneva Conventions, a non-politicized forum for them to share best practices and technical expertise.

At the conference, many States reaffirmed their commitment to respecting IHL, including through bilateral dialogue with the ICRC. Mr Maurer welcomed this, and said that the ICRC will pursue a strengthened dialogue with States on their IHL obligations.

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More is needed to protect the dignity and safety of migrants, says Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
News release
09 December 2015
Governments as well as aid and humanitarian organizations need to do more to protect and promote the dignity and safety of all migrants, and to ensure their access to essential services.

This was the message delivered today by leaders of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement during a high-level event on migration at the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

IRCT [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.irct.org/

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News
UN Committee against Torture issues recommendations on rehabilitation and documentation of torture to Denmark and Jordan
11 December 2015

News
Freedom from Torture: A pioneer in torture rehabilitation celebrates 30th anniversary
09 December 2015

News
IRCT to mark Human Rights Day with exhibition on torture at UN headquarters
08 December 2015

News
Latest issue of Torture Journal examines use of counseling by paraprofessionals and the effect immigration status has on rehabilitation processes
07 December 2015

Islamic Relief [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.islamic-relief.org/category/news/

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Food, health, and water
Plans are being made to help more people in Yemen access food, health and safe water.
[undated[
…Islamic Relief is currently working in 16 of the 22 governorates affected since March, and has distributed goods to 3,042,922 people.

In a new project that will be rolled out until April, food, health and hygiene goods will be distributed to nearly 7,000 families. This includes food baskets, medicines and medical supplies for six health facilities, bringing in safe water, and distributing hygiene kits containing items such as toothpaste and soap.

Islamic Relief has already provided food to more than 2.5 million people, and has equipped 21 hospitals and clinics across the country, even negotiating blockades, to support doctors and nurses working to treat the unwell and injured in difficult circumstances.

On Universal Children’s Day, on November 20, experts in Yemen provided a free medical check up to more than 1,500 children who had been orphaned, giving medicines where required…

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/press/press-releases

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Press release
MSF Delivers Petition Calling For Investigation Into Kunduz Hospital Attack
WASHINGTON, D.C., DECEMBER 9, 2015 — The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today delivered a petition signed by more than 547,000 people to the White House, calling for President Obama to consent to an independent investigation of the deadly U.S. airstrikes on MSF’s trauma hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Press release
Syria: Increased Fighting and Bombing Jeopardize Medical Care and Essential Aid
December 07, 2015
BARCELONA, SPAIN/GAZIANTEP, TURKEY—An upsurge in fighting and bombing over the past week in northern Syria’s Azaz District, near the Turkish border, is jeopardizing medical activities in the few hospitals and health posts that are still functioning, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said today, warning that it may be forced to close its own hospital in Aleppo province.

Field News
Chad: MSF Teams Provide Support after Deadly Attack in Koulfoua Island
December 07, 2015
A triple suicide attack that took place on the island of Koulfoua in the Lake Chad area in Chad on Saturday morning has reportedly killed 30 people and wounded up to 200. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams in the area immediately mobilized to provide support to the Chadian Ministry of Health.

Mercy Corps [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases

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Mercy Corps Applauds UN Security Council Adoption of Youth, Peace and Security Resolution
December 10, 2015
Historic move underscores the essential role youth play in promoting peace and countering violent extremism
Portland, Ore — The global organization Mercy Corps commends the United Nations Security Council for adopting a new resolution prioritizing youth and youth-led organizations in peacebuilding and violence prevention efforts, and thanks the government of Jordan and the 10,000 young peace builders who participated in this year’s first-ever Global Forum on Youth, Peace, and Security for leading this landmark initiative.

“In places fraught by conflict, instability, violence and economic crisis, youth are critical partners to help move their communities toward stability, prosperity and resilience,” says Andrea Koppel, vice president of Global Engagement and Policy at Mercy Corps. “Recognition by the United Nations of the urgent need to engage youth directly in decision making is essential to prevent violence and create lasting peace.”

Mercy Corps has worked with the United Network of Young Peacebuilders since 2011 to advocate for the inclusion of youth and youth-led organizations in peace-building initiatives and lay the foundation for this resolution…

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Mercy Corps-Managed Microfinance Program Yields Unprecedented Return for Mongolia
Mongolia, December 10, 2015
$10 million return to be invested in Mongolia Resilient Communities Program
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – A program that started with a small investment to support pastoral herders has grown into one of the country’s major financial institutions in less than 15 years. As a result of this unprecedented financial success — and in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) — $10 million will be redeployed for the benefit of Mongolians in a resilience program designed and administered by Mercy Corps. The funds will come from shares sold this week to the National Bank of Canada.

TenGer Financial Group evolved from an international development project implemented as the country transitioned from a centralized state to a free-market economy. Funded initially with roughly $1 million from USDA and USAID and managed by Mercy Corps, the program has helped tens of thousands of pastoralists and small businesses to access fundamental financial tools such as savings accounts, lines of credit and insurance policies…

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Airstrikes along Turkish Border Jeopardize Cross-Border Aid to Syria, Says Mercy Corps
Syria, December 7, 2015
Mercy Corps continuing aid efforts amid increasing danger
Portland, Ore.— The ongoing violence in Syria, which has resulted in nearly five years of catastrophic conditions for the country’s citizens, is now severely restricting the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Intensification in airstrikes against towns located between Aleppo City and the Syria-Turkey border threatens critical supply routes for humanitarian aid. Because of its large team working closely with local partners and the prepositioning of aid and supplies, Mercy Corps is able to continue providing assistance in the war-torn nation.

OXFAM [to 12 December 2015]
http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases

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Yemen: Women are key to finding political solution at peace talks
11 December 2015
Negotiations to end a bloody conflict in Yemen have a far better chance of long term success if women have a place at the table, says Oxfam. The current conflict has had a devastating impact on women and girls with millions hungry, out of school and lacking vital healthcare. Women are also facing a rise in sexual and domestic violence. Yet political discussions about peace and the country’s future are still largely run by men and those who have taken up arms…