International Criminal Court (ICC) [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/Pages/default.aspx

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Press Release : 11/11/2015
ICC President addresses high-level panel in Geneva on Rome Statute, accountability and the protection of human rights
ICC-CPI-20151111-PR1171
Today, 11 November 2015, the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, participated in a high-level panel discussion on the Rome Statute, accountability and the protection of human rights convened by the permanent missions of Denmark and Cyprus to the United Nations in Geneva.

BRAC [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.brac.net/#news

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12 November 2015
BRAC marks FI2020 week with nationwide dialogue on microfinance
…The only partner from Bangladesh, BRAC seized the opportunity by launching a nation-wide dialogue with local government leaders on how microfinance is contributing to alleviating poverty in the country. Across the 64 districts of Bangladesh, deputy commissioners- representatives of local government- were invited to visit BRAC’s microfinance operations. They gained better appreciation of how microfinance empowers the poor, especially women, and how the provision of financial services serve as cross-cutting tools that complement the government’s work towards the sustainable development goals….

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9 November 2015
A fight against hygiene-related diseases
Global Handwashing Day was celebrated in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on 26 October 2015 led by the regional department of education and department of health. With the commitment to improve the performance of children in schools, the DepEd-ARMM decided to celebrate the event annually with a regular carry out of the Essential Health Care Program (EHCP) activities including bi-annual deworming. This is the fourth year for the event to be celebrated in this region.
BRAC Philippines along with other government and non-government organizations celebrated the event in Cotabato City. To date, more than half of the 845 learning centers of the alternative delivery model (ADM) project have integrated the EHCP in their classroom sessions in partnership with GIZ Philippines. The learning facilitators conduct daily group tooth brushing and hand washing with soap in BRAC Learning Centers as part of their daily classroom activities. EHCP aims to show children the importance of personal hygiene…

CARE International [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.care-international.org/news/press-releases.aspx

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CARE Prepares to Respond as 43 Million People Affected by Haze
INDONESIA
9 NOVEMBER 2015
CARE is monitoring the situation and is preparing to work with local partners to support the Government of Indonesia in its emergency response if needed. These activities may include the distribution of masks for those living in heavily-affected regions coupled with equipping safe spaces for respite from the haze.

IRC International Rescue Committee [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index

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Press Releases
14 Nov 2015
International Rescue Committee statement on Paris attacks

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11 Nov 2015
International Rescue Committee Deeply Concerned Over Safety of Unaccompanied Children Fleeing to Europe
Lesbos, Greece, Thursday November 11 – The International Rescue Committee has deep concerns over the safety of unaccompanied children fleeing from conflict-ridden countries and what is being done to protect them as they make a desperate attempt to reach Europe safely. There is little credible information about the total number of unaccompanied children that have arrived in Europe since the beginning of the crisis, but IRC aid workers on the ground have seen up to 50 unaccompanied children a week (between 15 to 17-years-old) arriving on the Greek island of Lesbos, the main entry point to Europe for refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and other warring countries.

“This is incredibly worrying. Meticulous safeguards must be put in place to preserve the rights, safety and best interests of all children. Otherwise, an alarming number will fall through the cracks,” said IRC protection coordinator Kiryn Lanning. “This is a growing and very vulnerable group of young people confronted with serious risks.”..

ICRC [to 21 November 2015]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new

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Ukraine: Over 40 experts join forces to improve forensic human identification
ICRC staff take part in the evacuation of bodies from Donetsk airport. ICRC / O. Davydova.
13-11-2015 | News release

Syria: Vienna talks must focus on respect for International Humanitarian Law
Geneva (ICRC) – As major powers gather in Vienna for fresh talks to try to end the conflict in Syria, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has called on states to intensify efforts to ease the Syrian people’s suffering…
13-11-2015 | News release

Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
Statement of the International Committee of the Red Cross to the 2015 Meeting of High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
12-11-2015 | Statement

ICRC works to avoid massive water crisis in Aleppo
As water cuts in Aleppo reach an all-time high, the ICRC and its local partner organizations are asking for help in publicizing a GPS-enabled map that gives users the ability to pinpoint themselves in relation to a network of restored water wells thr
10-11-2015 | Article

Yemen: Attacks on health care facilities must stop
The ICRC is appalled by the continuing attacks on health care facilities in Yemen, the latest of which took place in the city of Taiz. Al-Thawra hospital, one of the main health care facilities in Taiz…
10-11-2015 | News release

Colombia: ICRC welcomes measures to find missing people
On 18 October the government of Colombia and the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) announced that they would be taking a wide range of measures to find missing people.
09-11-2015 | Statement

Burundi: Concerned at escalating violence, ICRC calls for restraint
Bujumbura / Geneva (ICRC) – The ICRC is extremely concerned by the humanitarian consequences of the violence in Burundi.
09-11-2015 | News release

Ukraine Crisis: Striving to improve management of dead bodies in Donetsk
Kiev / Donetsk – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) held a round-table discussion yesterday in Donetsk with key stakeholders on the search, collection, examination and identification of dead bodies.
08-11-2015 | News release

Islamic Relief [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.islamic-relief.org/category/news/

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Beyond blockades in Yemen
[New, but undated announcement]
Islamic Relief has been one of the only charities to get through a blockade and deliver much needed medical supplies to a city of around 300,000 people.

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Role of Faith in Refugee Protection
November 11, 2015
The importance of faith when responding to humanitarian crises was the topic of an event held at the UNHCR headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/press/press-releases

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Press release
Occupied Palestinian Territory: “MSF Urges the Relevant Military Authorities to Comply with International Humanitarian Law”
November 13, 2015
Cristina Carreño, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) medical coordinator, Jerusalem
What is the MSF position on the incident in which a patient was taken and one of his caretakers killed in a Hebron hospital?
The incident occurred at El Ahli Hospital, which is not an MSF facility. However, the patient was receiving care in MSF’s mental health support program for victims of political violence.

Press release
MSF Launches Global Action Against Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline to Cut the Price of Pneumonia Vaccine
November 12, 2015
MSF dumps $17 million in fake cash at Pfizer’s New York HQ, the amount the company makes in one day of pneumonia vaccine sales.

Field news
CAR: MSF Reinforces Medical Activities in Bangui Following Renewed Violence
November 12, 2015
The situation remains tense in Bangui, capital of Central African Republic (CAR), following the resurgence of violence at the end of September. Many have sought refuge in camps for displaced people such as Ben Zvi, John XXII, Saint-Sauveur, and Mpoko.

Field news
Fighting Measles in DRC “Like Trying to Put out a Forest Fire Blindfolded”
November 12, 2015
A deadly measles epidemic continues to spread through Katanga province, in southern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with devastating effects on the very young. For the past two months, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) doctor Marion Osterberger has been working in Ankoro hospital, which has become so overcrowded with patients that up to five children have had to share each bed.

OXFAM [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases

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Refugees crossing into Europe tell of abuse at hands of Bulgarian police
13 November 2015
Refugees and migrants arriving in Europe through Bulgaria are claiming to have been abused by the country’s law enforcement officials.

G20 spends over 15 times more on fossil fuels than developed countries spend helping poor countries adapt to climate change
13 November 2015
G20 countries spend far more subsidizing the coal and oil industry than developed countries provide in adaptation finance to poor and vulnerable countries.

Oxfam’s Nepal humanitarian program moves close to complete standstill due to fuel crisis
12 November 2015
As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the UK, Oxfam today warned that its humanitarian program in Nepal is just two weeks away from a complete standstill due to the fuel crisis that has severely affected the country.

Valletta migration summit must not be hijacked by EU border agenda
11 November 2015
EU and African leaders neet to use the Valletta summit to address the causes forcing people to flee their homes if the meeting is to benefit the populations of the African countries taking part. The EU must let human rights be the focus at Valletta and not prioritize the EU’s own agenda of tightened borders and increased state security.

G20 among biggest losers in large-scale tax abuse – but poor countries relatively hardest hit
10 November 2015
G20 countries are the biggest losers when US multinationals avoid paying taxes where they do business.

Norwegian Refugee Council [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.nrc.no/

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Valletta Summit
Leaders must prioritise people over borders
(12.11.2015)
European and African leaders must follow their promises of collaboration on migration at the Valletta Summit with policies that protect people more than bolster borders, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and Migration and Development Civil Society Network (MADE) said today after participating in the summit.
Download African and European Civil Society Joint Statement

Iraq
Thousands of displaced Iraqis affected by flood
Becky Bakr Abdulla (10.11.2015
Heavy rain and storm have paralysed most parts of central Iraq leading to floods in several camps for internally displaced people.

Plan International [to 21 November 2015]
http://plan-international.org/about-plan/resources/media-centre

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Publications & research
Getting the Evidence: Asia Child Marriage Initiative
In 2014 and 2015, as part of the Asia Child Marriage Initiative (ACMI), Plan International and Coram International undertook a research study in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

The purpose of the ACMI research was to gather in-depth and detailed evidence on the root causes of child marriage practices. It focused on exploring social attitudes, values and norms concerning child marriage, and identifying the structural and environmental factors which influence them. In addition, the research informed the development of an index for measuring environmental factors associated with the acceptability of child marriage which will be used by Plan International to track progress and improve the effectiveness of our child marriage programming globally.

The research found rates of child marriage of girls to be high across all three countries, particularly in Bangladesh; rates of marriage of boys were found to be highest in Pakistan.
The research found that the number of years a girl spends in education is associated with her age of first marriage; girls who stay in school longer tend to marry later. Furthermore, male sexual violence and control of female sexuality underlie the practice of child marriage, whilst improved access to sexual and reproductive health rights reduces child marriage acceptability.

The summary report presents the research findings and makes a series of recommendations that are necessary to reduce levels of child marriage throughout Asia.

The Elders [to 21 November 2015]
http://theelders.org/news-media

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News 13 November 2015
Four vital requirements to reach COP21 deal
In less than two weeks, world leaders will meet in Paris to reach an agreement on climate change. The Elders have called for a strong, inclusive and equitable climate agreement in Paris. Here are four vital elements that The Elders are calling for leaders to resolve at COP21.

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News 11 November 2015
G20 Antalya Summit: The Elders’ letter to leaders on climate change
The Elders have written to world leaders attending the G20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey. They call for strong leadership to ensure an equitable and ambitious international agreement on climate change in Paris in December.

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Press release 10 November 2015
The Elders urge G20 leaders to commit to a strong, inclusive and equitable climate deal
The Elders have written to the G20 heads of state and government on the need for a strong and just climate agreement at COP 21 in Paris.

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Opinion Hina Jilani 10 November 2015
Who has the courage to protect refugees?
Hina Jilani, back from a series of meetings in Evian and Geneva, expresses her grave concern with the lack of political will to protect refugees during the current crisis and calls on political

Gavi [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.gavialliance.org/library/news/press-releases/

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Measles vaccination has saved an estimated 17.1 million lives since 2000
12 November 2015
New data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Measles & Rubella Initiative, estimates that 17.1 million lives have been saved since 2000, largely due to increased vaccination coverage against this highly contagious viral disease.

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Unprecedented number of children protected against pneumonia with Gavi support
12 November 2015
As the international community marks the seventh World Pneumonia Day, Gavi pneumococcal and pentavalent vaccines are reaching children at an accelerated pace.

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Scientists mark ‘stunning success’ of vaccine in virtually ridding Africa of meningitis A
10 November 2015
New research forecasts a resurgence of meningitis A epidemics in 15 years should immunization efforts stall

InterAction [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.interaction.org/media-center/press-releases

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Will G20 Leaders Act Decisively on Syrian Crisis?
Nov 12, 2015
InterAction releases online toolkit on the G20 Summit, the ongoing crisis in Syria and refuge aid efforts
.WASHINGTON – This weekend (Nov. 15-16) leaders from the world’s 20 largest advanced and emerging economies will meet in Antalya, Turkey to discuss policy and economic issues of vital…

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NCBA CLUSA Announced as the Winner of InterAction’s NGO Aid Map Data Quality Award
Nov 10, 2015
After a five month competition, with over 30 organizations entering to win and working to improve their data on NGO Aid Map, NCBA CLUSA took the top prize of $10,000 and title of NGO Aid Map Data Quality Award Winner for 2015. NCBA CLUSA is the trade association for cooperative businesses in…

Start Network [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.start-network.org/news-blog/#.U9U_O7FR98E
[Consortium of British Humanitarian Agencies]

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How International Medical Corps has implemented rapid response training on Ebola in Guinea-Bissau
November 10, 2015
Posted by Helen James in Blog.
As Sierra Leone celebrates 42 days free of Ebola, we take a look at the success of the rapid response team training on Ebola, part of International Medical Corps’s Start project in Guinea Bissau.
Rapid response teams are key to strengthening health systems and preventing the spread of Ebola. The teams prepare medical staff to respond to potential Ebola cases by equipping them with knowledge of Ebola epidemiology. Training teams is important because screening and case management have been identified as areas for improvement by agencies working in the region.
International Medical Corps had previously responded to the epidemic in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea and so was able to apply their past experience in Guinea-Bissau with existing curricula and materials for Rapid Response Team training…

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Extra UK help for refugees arriving in Western Balkans
November 8, 2015
Posted by Helen James in News.
Tens of thousands of people who have made the dangerous journey to the Western Balkans will receive immediate, lifesaving humanitarian assistance with new funding from the UK Department for International Development.
A £5 million funding package is being released to the Start Network. This support will provide emergency relief supplies such as sleeping bags, towels, rain wear, hygiene kits, nappies, food and clean water for refugees and migrants in Greece, Serbia and Macedonia.
This support builds on the UK’s £20m funding for organisations including UNHCR, International Organisation for Migration and the International Red Cross to support refugees and migrants…

CHS International Alliance [to 21 November 2015]
http://chsalliance.org/news-events/news

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12/11/2015
Core Humanitarian Standard now available in Khmer
The Standard was translated into Khmer by World Vision Cambodia, and the CHS management team would like to thank World Vision Cambodia for their tireless work in translating and designing the Khmer language version of the CHS, which will be an invaluable resource for the community of humanitarian and development organisations working in Cambodia.

ODI [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.odi.org/media

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G20 providing $452bn a year on fossil fuel production subsidies – despite pledge to remove them and take action to limit climate change
News | 12 November 2015
G20 governments are handing out approximately $452 billion a year to prop up the production of fossil fuels – despite pledges to phase out subsidies

Building paths for youth entrepreneurship
Research reports and studies | November 2015 | Claudia Pompa; Tiina Pasanen
This paper presents findings from a review of Raleigh International’s youth entrepreneurship pilot projects in Nicaragua and Tanzania.

Empty promises: G20 subsidies to oil, gas and coal production
Research reports and studies | November 2015 | Elizabeth Bast, Alex Doukas, Sam Pickard, Laurie Van Der Burg and Shelagh Whitley
This study compiles publicly available information on fossil fuel production subsidies in the G20 in 2013 and 2014.

Scaling up international support for adaptation: productive safety nets and reimbursable debt service
Working and discussion papers | November 2015 | Neil Bird, Marcus Manuel and Smita Nakhooda
This report explores the potential of productive safety nets and reimbursable debt service to speed up international climate finance spending in vulnerable countries.

Markets in crises: the 2010 floods in Sindh, Pakistan
Working and discussion papers | November 2015 | Steven A. Zyck, Irina Mosel, Huma Dad Khan and Saad Shabbir
This paper looks at how the emergency and subsequent humanitarian response impacted markets in flood-affected areas of Sindh province.

Three lessons from Mongolia’s ‘wolf economy’
Articles and blogs | November 2015 | Phyllis Padadavid and Mark Miller
Resource-rich Mongolia needs more than money to build its ‘wolf economy ‘ to sustainably promote equitable growth.

BMGF – Gates Foundation [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases

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No Time to Lose: Fulfilling Our Family Planning Promise to 120 Million Women
SEATTLE (November 12, 2015) – More women and girls than ever before are able to access contraceptives and family planning services. But a new report finds that the global community risks falling short of its goal to reach an additional 120 million women and girls by 2020. In response, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced that it will invest an additional $120 million dollars in family planning programs over the next three years – a 25% increase on its current family planning funding.

Ford Foundation [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.fordfoundation.org/?filter=News

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Renewing Communities in California: a transformative approach to reentry
November 10, 2015
Today, California officials announced the launch of a new public-private partnership, Renewing Communities. This groundbreaking program brings together foundations and public sector organizations from across the fields of education, criminal justice, and social justice to support higher education institutions in their efforts to provide opportunities to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. By transforming these Californians into college students and graduates, the partnership aims to improve public health and safety, build economic and social mobility, and strengthen communities.

The partnership is supported by the Ford Foundation, the Heising-Simons Foundation, the Rosenberg Foundation, the Roy & Patricia Disney Family Foundation, and The California Endowment. The participating foundations have contributed varying amounts thus far, all building toward a goal of $15 million over three years…

HHMI – Howard Hughes Medical Institute [to 21 November 2015]
https://www.hhmi.org/news

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Research [ November 8, 2015 ]
Deisseroth and Hobbs Awarded Breakthrough Prizes
HHMI investigators Karl Deisseroth and Helen Hobbs are among five scientists honored for transformative advances toward understanding living systems and extending human life.

… Deisseroth was honored for the development and implementation of optogenetics — the programming of neurons to express light-activated ion channels and pumps, so that their electrical activity can be controlled by light. Hobbs was recognized for the discovery of human genetic variants that alter the levels and distribution of cholesterol and other lipids, inspiring new approaches to the prevention of cardiovascular and liver disease.

… The Breakthrough Prizes recognize pioneering work in physics and genetics, cosmology, and neurology and mathematics.

Founded in 2013, the Breakthrough Prize Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to advancing breakthrough research, celebrating scientists and generating excitement about the pursuit of science as a career.

MacArthur Foundation [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.macfound.org/

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November 13, 2015 – Research and Results
Assessing Increased Enforcement at Mexico’s Border
This report finds that Mexico’s Southern Border Program has resulted in a significant uptick in migrant apprehensions and changes in where and how migrants are traveling.

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November 9, 2015 – Research and Results
Report Offers Lessons for Chinese Development in Latin America
Latin America’s recent China-led economic boom was associated with significant environmental degradation and social conflict, according to a report by Boston University’s Global Economic Governance Initiative.

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November 9, 2015 – Research and Results
Assessing Incidence of Abortion in Nigeria
Though permitted only when necessary to save a woman’s life, induced abortion is common in Nigeria, according to a study by the Guttmacher Institute and the University of Ibadan.