Science
08 July 2016 Vol 353, Issue 6295
http://www.sciencemag.org/current.dtl

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In Depth
Panel slams plan for human research rules
By David Malakoff
Science08 Jul 2016 : 106-107
National Academies report urges creation of new national commission on ethical studies.
Summary
In a development certain to fuel a long-running controversy, a prominent science advisory panel is calling on the U.S. government to abandon a nearly finished update to rules on protecting human research participants. It should wait until a new high-level commission, created by Congress and the president, to recommend improvements and then start over, the panel says. The recommendation, made 29 June by a committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that is examining ways to reduce the regulatory burden on academic scientists, is the political equivalent of stepping in front of a speeding car in a bid to prevent a disastrous wreck. It’s not clear, however, whether the panel will succeed in stopping the regulatory express—or just get run over. Both the Obama administration, which has been pushing to complete the new rules this year, and key lawmakers in Congress would need to back the halt—and so far they’ve been silent. Still, many researchers and university groups are thrilled with the panel’s recommendation, noting that they have repeatedly objected to some of the proposed rule changes as unworkable—with little apparent impact.

Stability: International Journal of Security & Development
http://www.stabilityjournal.org/articles
[accessed 9 July 2016]

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Research Article
Mass Claims in Land and Property Following the Arab Spring: Lessons from Yemen
08 Jul 2016
Jon Unruh
Abstract
The Arab Spring uprisings have released a flood of land and property conflicts, brought about by decades of autocratic rule. Expropriations, corruption, poor performance of the rule of law, patronage and sectarian discrimination built up a wide variety of land and property transgressions over approximately 30 years. The result has been the creation of longstanding, acute grievances among large components of national populations who now seek to act on them. If new, transitional or reforming governments and their international partners fail to effectively attend to such grievances, the populations concerned may act on them in ways that detract from stability. This article critiques the case of Yemen, whose transitional government, with international support, initiated a land and property mass claims process in the South in order to address a primary grievance of the southern population as part of the National Dialogue transition. A series of techniques are described that would greatly improve the mass claims process once it inevitably recommences after the Houthi conflict comes to an end. These improvements would attach more importance to socio-political realities and how to quickly attend to them, as opposed to an over-reliance on specific legalities. Such an approach could have wider utility among Arab Spring states seeking to address similar land and property grievances.

Tropical Medicine & International Health
July 2016 Volume 21, Issue 7 Pages 819–935
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tmi.2016.21.issue-6/issuetoc

Reviews
HIV-free survival at 12–24 months in breastfed infants of HIV-infected women on antiretroviral treatment (pages 820–828)
Lana Clara Chikhungu, Stephanie Bispo, Nigel Rollins, Nandi Siegfried and Marie-Louise Newell
Version of Record online: 24 MAY 2016 | DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12710

Clinical outcomes of HIV-exposed, HIV-uninfected children in sub-Saharan Africa (pages 829–845)
Stanzi M. le Roux, Elaine J. Abrams, Kelly Nguyen and Landon Myer
Version of Record online: 20 MAY 2016 | DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12716

Parental migration and children’s timely measles vaccination in rural China: a cross-sectional study (pages 886–894)
Xianyan Tang, Alan Geater, Edward McNeil, Hongxia Zhou, Qiuyun Deng, Aihu Dong and Qiao Li
Version of Record online: 30 MAY 2016 | DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12719

World Heritage Review
n°80 – July 2016
http://whc.unesco.org/en/review/80/

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World Heritage in Turkey
The 40th session of the World Heritage Committee is taking place in Istanbul from 10 to 20 July 2016, and we are extremely grateful to Turkey for generously hosting this session.

UNICEF – Office of Research – Innocenti Working Paper
WP-2016-18 | June 2016 ::65 pages
What We Know about Ethical Research Involving Children in Humanitarian Settings: An overview of principles, the literature and case studies
Gabrielle Berman, Jason Hart, Dónal O’Mathúna, Erica Mattellone, Alina Potts, Claire O’Kane, Jeremy Shusterman and Thomas Tanner
Abstract:
This working paper identifies and explores the issues that should be considered when undertaking ethical research involving children in humanitarian settings. Both the universal (i.e. relevant to all research involving children) and specific ethical issues that may arise when involving children in research in humanitarian settings are examined. This is undertaken through a review of the literature, relevant case studies, and a reflection on the ethical issues highlighted in UNICEF’s Procedure for Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation, Data Collection and Analysis (the Ethics Procedure). The key findings of this overview highlight that many of the ethical issues that are present in other settings remain relevant and applicable in the context of humanitarian settings. These include: an institution’s capacity to appropriately and respectfully engage children in research, understanding power relations, securing informed consent and assent, ascertaining harms and benefits, maintaining privacy and confidentiality, and ensuring appropriate communication of findings.
Downloads: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_18.pdf

Journal of Operations Management
Available online 2 July 2016
Empirically grounded research in humanitarian operations management: The way forward
AJ Pedraza-Martinez, LN Van Wassenhove

Volume 44, Pages 1-68 (May 2016)
Original Research Articles
Fleet management policies for humanitarian organizations: Beyond the utilization–residual value trade-off
Pages 1-12
Mahyar Eftekhar, Luk N. Van Wassenhove
Abstract
Four-wheel drive vehicles play a pivotal role in securing the last-mile distribution of goods and services in humanitarian development programs. To optimize the use of their fleets, humanitarian organizations recommend policies aimed at enhancing the utilization of vehicles while preserving residual value. Although these decisions have a significant impact on cost, there is limited empirical evidence to show that the recommended policies are actually implemented and that they produce the expected benefits. This paper theoretically and empirically examines the complex and inter-related effects of vehicle-to-mission allocation decisions and of alternative vehicle usage patterns on vehicle utilization and residual value in humanitarian development programs. The results suggest that humanitarian organizations could break the utilization–residual value trade-off by adopting different policies than the ones currently in place. They also reveal that organizations need to realize that what seems logical from the headquarters’ perspective may be illogical or inconvenient for the field, and as a result, the field may do the opposite of what is recommended or even instructed. Therefore, they either need better data and analysis combined with audits or they need to improve mechanisms that incentivize field delegations to follow standards recommended by the headquarters.

MSF Field Research
Issue Date: Jul-2016
A Médecins Sans Frontières ethics framework for humanitarian innovation
Sheather, Julian; Jobanputra, Kiran; Schopper, Doris; Pringle, John; Venis, Sarah; Wong, Sidney; Vincent-Smith, Robin
Abstract:
A framework to be used to guide work that does not lie within the purview of formal research ethics oversight
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10144/615490

Full text [framework only]

This framework is intended to be used to guide work that does not directly involve human participants and does not lie within the purview of formal research ethics oversight.

.1. Clearly identify the problem you are seeking to address, and what benefit you expect the innovation to have. This step may seem obvious, so what is its ethical significance? When identifying the problem, there should be consideration of up-stream solutions that may address the problem in a holistic and sustainable way. For instance, rather than focusing on technocratic fixes, what are the socio-political determinants of the problem and the wider possibilities for solutions? Who has stakes in finding a solution and who may have interests in perpetuating the problem? Is the problem a moving target? Collaboration and cross-fertilization with other disciplines should be considered in order to help to see the problem from various perspectives. In short, do not underestimate the importance of fully identifying the problem.

.2. Ensure that the innovation shows respect for human dignity. While this is a broad concept, it has practical implications. The focus of concern is respect for human beings, reminding us that the simplest or most direct solutions may not be ethically appropriate. Innovators must show due respect for the multiple and overlapping interests of those affected by the innovation. It extends beyond a concern for physical wellbeing to include psychological and cultural integrity. It also incorporates a concern for individual privacy and a respect for the confidentiality of individual, family, and community-based data.

.3. Clarify how you will involve the end user from the start of the process. Innovation should be driven by the requirements of the user. The innovation cycle should be participatory, using methods to involve relevant individuals and communities. Innovators must be sensitive to power dynamics between and within cultures and power imbalances between aid workers and beneficiaries.

.4. Identify and weigh harms and benefits. When considering innovations, a critical first step is the identification, as far as is reasonably possible, of potential harms along with the anticipated benefits. The next step involves weighing these harms and benefits.
.a. Where reasonably foreseeable harms outweigh the likely benefits, implementation will not be ethical. Potential harms include, but are not limited to, physical and psychological harms to individuals. There is also need to consider potential harm to communities.
.b. Where innovation involves a favourable balance of benefits and harms, all reasonable steps must be taken to minimise (mitigate) the harms as far as possible. Unnecessary harms must be eliminated. Where harms are unavoidable, those affected should be informed of the nature and severity of the risks involved.
.c. Conflicted partnerships or conflicts of interest may result in reputational harm to the organisation. If these are identified then oversight by an existing Ethics Review Board is recommended.

.5. Describe the distribution of harms and benefits, and ensure that the risk of harm is not borne by those who do not stand to benefit. Innovators need to give careful consideration to the distribution of benefits and harms associated with their projects. Do the risks or benefits fall unequally across groups? If so, is it appropriate to proceed, and how can these inequalities of distribution be addressed or mitigated? Equally, it is important that the innovation takes into account vulnerable groups; it may be ethically warranted to give particular attention to those who have particular needs. Just as we tend to give more health care to the unwell, so particular attention may need to be given to those who are vulnerable or who may not be able to protect their own interests. This is expressed in the humanitarian principle of impartiality. In addition, consider whether anyone is ‘wronged’ by the innovation. A ‘wrong’ is an infringement that is distinct from harm. For example, selecting one group for an innovation project over another may wrong the other group (as opposed to harming them).

.6. Plan (and carry out) an evaluation that delivers the information needed for subsequent decisions to implement or scale-up the innovation; and then ensure that the beneficiaries have access to the innovation. Innovation requires an acceptance of the risk of failure – not all innovation projects will achieve their desired outcome. But in all cases, we can learn and apply these lessons in the future. Given the time, energy, and resources that these projects require, rigorous evaluation and sharing of lessons is itself a moral obligation. Therefore, consideration should be given to dissemination of findings, since it may be important to avoid further exposure to potential harm by sharing findings, whether these are positive or negative. Likewise there should be a willingness and strategy for wider implementation of the innovation if found to be successful, and a commitment to ensure beneficiaries – at least in the communities where it was tested and ideally in similar communities affected by humanitarian crises – have access to the innovation subsequently.

The Sentinel

Human Rights Action :: Humanitarian Response :: Health :: Education :: Heritage Stewardship ::
Sustainable Development
__________________________________________________
Week ending 2 July 2016

This weekly digest is intended to aggregate and distill key content from a broad spectrum of practice domains and organization types including key agencies/IGOs, NGOs, governments, academic and research institutions, consortia and collaborations, foundations, and commercial organizations. We also monitor a spectrum of peer-reviewed journals and general media channels. The Sentinel’s geographic scope is global/regional but selected country-level content is included. We recognize that this spectrum/scope yields an indicative and not an exhaustive product. Comments and suggestions should be directed to:

David R. Curry
Editor &
Founding Managing Director
GE2P2 – Center for Governance, Evidence, Ethics, Policy, Practice
david.r.curry@ge2p2center.net

pdf version: The Sentinel_ week ending 2 July 2016

Contents [click on link below to move to associated content]
:: Week in Review
:: Key Agency/IGO/Governments Watch – Selected Updates from 30+ entities
:: INGO/Consortia/Joint Initiatives Watch – Media Releases, Major Initiatives, Research
:: Foundation/Major Donor Watch -Selected Updates
:: Journal Watch – Key articles and abstracts from 100+ peer-reviewed journals

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:: Week in Review
A highly selective capture of strategic developments, research, commentary, analysis and announcements spanning Human Rights Action, Humanitarian Response, Health, Education, Holistic Development, Heritage Stewardship, Sustainable Resilience. Achieving a balance across these broad themes is a challenge and we appreciate your observations and ideas in this regard. This is not intended to be a “news and events” digest.

Global Humanitarian Overview 2016
June Status Report – A Consolidated Appeal to Support People Affected by Disasters and Conflict
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) :: Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Branch (PRMB),
June 2016 :: 15 pages
Report pdf: http://www.unocha.org/stateofaid/assets/2016GHO_MYR.pdf

FOREWORD [Editor’s text bolding]
The UN-coordinated appeals for 2016 require an unprecedented US$21.6 billion to meet the needs of over 95.4 million people across 40 countries. Since I launched the Global Humanitarian Overview in December, Cyclone Winston swept through Fiji and an earthquake brought widespread devastation in Ecuador. The harsh effects of El Niño this year led us to revise the joint Ethiopia Humanitarian Requirements Document and develop a response plan for Zimbabwe. Funding requirements for new appeals issued since December (Burundi, Fiji, Haiti, Ecuador and Zimbabwe) and for appeals which have been revised are outlined in the pull-out poster inside this Status Report. Requirements of the plan for Sudan, now under development, are also included.

Our global appeal is currently 25 per cent funded. The World Humanitarian Summit echoed the fact that humanitarian action is woefully under-resourced and requires an immediate, effective and collective response. Underfunding jeopardizes the lives of people affected by conflict and disaster. To take just a few examples: underfunding means that the UN and its partners cannot adequately meet the needs of 13.5 million people whose lives have been overturned by the Syria crisis. It means humanitarian assistance cannot be assured in the critical post-electoral phase in Central African Republic where some humanitarian partners are withdrawing their operations from the country. It means further deterioration in the lives of half the population of the Lake Chad Basin, the scene of one of the world’s most neglected crises. And it means that humanitarian partners in Myanmar will be unable to provide for the food security, health, protection and livelihood needs of 1 million people in 2016. As I write, I hear that medical facilities in Iraq are today closing down due to depletion of international funding, and renewals simply not coming through.

We are grateful to our donors for their commitment and support so far this year, and for recognizing that the UN-coordinated appeals ensure a coherent, strategic and well-planned response to crises. We stand ready and resolute to continue providing vital humanitarian assistance across the world wherever and whenever needs arise and to whoever is in need. Donor support in the first half of 2016 has enabled us to deliver critical, life-saving relief. It is now incumbent on us to do substantially more to invest in the lives of millions of people bearing the brunt of crises around the globe. Their needs cannot wait. With more funding, millions of displaced women, girls, boys, and men will eat nutritious food, drink clean water and reap the benefits of good health, shelter, an education and protection. Investing in the survival and dignity of millions in need is investing in our shared, common humanity.
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Stephen O’Brien
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

Human Rights Council
32nd regular session of the Human Rights Council (13 June to 1 July 2016)
http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/pages/hrcindex.aspx

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1 July 2016
Human Rights Council extends the mandates on internally displaced persons and on violence against women

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30 June 2016
Human Rights Council extends mandates of Special Rapporteur on the right to food and of Working Group on discrimination against women

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30 June 2016
Council establishes mandate on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
GENEVA (30 June 2016) – The Human Rights Council this afternoon decided to appoint, for a period of three years, an Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also adopted a resolution on youth and human rights.

Adopted by a vote of 23 in favour, 18 against and 6 abstentions, the resolution said the mandate of the Independent Expert would be to assess the implementation of existing international human rights instruments with regard to ways to overcome violence and discrimination against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and to identify and address the root causes of violence and discrimination…

Action on Resolution on Protection against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
In a resolution (A/HRC/32/L.2/Rev.1) on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, adopted by a vote of 23 in favour, 18 against and 6 abstentions as amended, the Council decides to appoint, for a period of three years, an Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, with the mandate to assess the implementation of existing international human rights instruments with regard to ways to overcome violence and discrimination against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity; raise awareness of violence and discrimination against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and to identify and address the root causes of violence and discrimination; and engage in dialogue and to consult with States and other relevant stakeholders. The Council also requests the Independent Expert to report annually to the Human Rights Council, starting from its thirty-fifth session, and to the General Assembly, starting from its seventy-second session.

The result of the vote was as follows:
In favour (23): Albania, Belgium, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Georgia, Germany, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Panama, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Venezuela, and Viet Nam.

Against (18): Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, China, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Morocco, Namibia, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Togo, and United Arab Emirates.
Abstentions (6): Botswana, Ghana, India, Maldives, Philippines, and South Africa.

Migration / Refugees /Asylum / Humanitarian Response

Editor’s Note:
Again this week, we highlight a number of announcements and milestones associated with the global migration/refugee/asylum crises. We observe, unhappily, how many of these developments establish disappointing new precedents, often challenging and apparently compromising long-established principles and practices in IHL.

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REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UN INFORMATION SERVICE – Geneva: 1 July 2016
[Excerpt; Editor’s text bolding]
…Greece
Mr. Spindler spoke about a large-scale exercise to pre-register asylum seekers on mainland Greece, launched on 8 June by the Greek Asylum Service with UNHCR’s support. So far, more than 15,500 people residing in open temporary accommodation structures had received asylum seeker cards, valid for one year, allowing them to reside legally in Greece and to have the right to access services, pending the full lodging of their asylum application. The exercise would help to identify those eligible for family reunification or relocation to another EU country. It would also identify persons with specific needs so that they may be referred to the appropriate organizations and receive assistance and support.

The pre-registration exercise aimed to address the need to access international protection by an estimated 49,000 people currently on mainland Greece. The process was open to those who had entered Greece between 1 January 2015 and 20 March 2016. The exercise was supported financially by the European Commission (DG Home) and implemented with the help of UNHCR and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO). In addition, IOM provided information to asylum seekers about its Assisted Voluntary Return programme.

UNHCR had supported the exercise with technical guidance on the design, planning and preparation, as well as the provision of material resources. UNHCR was also supporting the identification of people with specific needs and facilitated their access to assistance. Among the 15,500 people pre-registered to date, roughly a third of the target population, some 680 unaccompanied and separated children had been identified and referred to EKKA, the specialized government entity in charge of unaccompanied and separated children.

At the end of the exercise, those pre-registered would be given an appointment with the Asylum Service to lodge their asylum claim and access family reunification and relocation. Asylum-seekers would be notified of the date of their appointment by a text message. People with specific needs, including unaccompanied and separated children were being prioritized for appointments.

Following the pre-registration, expanded capacity would be needed to fully register, process asylum claims and follow up family reunification and relocation cases. UNHCR was ready to support the Greek authorities in this regard. Faster implementation and an increased number of places for relocation were needed as more people eligible for relocation were identified. As of 29 June, only 1,970 asylum seekers had been relocated from Greece out of an agreed target of 66,400. Resettlement for those who had family links outside the EU should be also explored.
The exercise was proceeding as planned, with processing capacity now increased to about 700 people per day. The pre-registration was expected to be completed by early-mid August. Pre-registration was ongoing in the Attica and Thessaloniki regions and would move to other parts of Greece in the following weeks.

In response to a question, Mr. Spindler said that that was a special procedure. Usually, people arriving in a country requested asylum in that country and were entered into the asylum system. But in this case, people were arriving in Greece in very large numbers since last summer. Those who arrived more recently were still on the islands and those provisions did not apply to them as they fell under the EU-Turkey agreement. But for those on the mainland, whose movements had been stopped by the closing of the borders, the pre-registration exercise would offer three possibilities: to apply for asylum in Greece, apply for family reunification if they had relatives in other EU countries, or the relocation programme. Voluntary return under the IOM scheme was also possible. UNHCR, together with the Greek asylum system and all partners were trying to find a solution for those people stuck in Greece.

The total of those having arrived in Greece who were still in the country at the moment was 57,000, out of which 49,000 people were on the mainland and the rest were on the islands. Regarding relocation, the agreed goal had been 160,000 thousand places in all countries, not just Greece. The agreement had included 66,400 people to be relocated out of Greece, and 39,600 out of Italy. As of 29 June, 24 countries had made 8,090 places available for asylum seekers to be relocated under the programme. Also as of 29 June, 2,759 asylum-seekers had actually been relocated, including 789 out of Italy and 1,970 out of Greece. The scheme needed to be speeded up. It was important for the EU to support Greece at this moment.

In response to other questions, Mr. Spindler said that it was crucial that more countries came forward with relocation places. The EU’s combined population was over 500 million; it should be possible to find places for those in need, also because not all 57,000 people would apply for asylum. So far, few countries had come forward and those who had, had not offered enough places for relocation. The relocation exercise was a way to share the responsibility of assessing asylum claims, so that Greece didn’t need to deal on its own with this situation, with which it was already overburdened. He also said that it was realistic for Europe to deal with those displaced people as it had dealt with hundreds of thousands or even millions of displaced people in the past.

The asylum seekers could not choose what country to go to but any links they had with a specific country would be taken into account. Most of the asylum seekers had mobile phones and that is why this system of notification about the appointment dates was chosen.

In response to further questions, Mr. Spindler said that the 57,000 he spoke of were the people remaining in Greece, out of over one million people who had arrived in Greece during the recent crisis and had relocated by themselves. UNHCR had been advocating for an orderly relocation programme which would avoid people having to risk their lives and use smugglers. It would have been much more effective for the receiving communities and local authorities to organize the reception of people rather than being overwhelmed by hundreds of thousands of arrivals. They would have been spread all over the EU and it would have been a more regular, predictable system. That is why UNHCR had been advocating for this from the very beginning…

Sarah Crowe, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said that UNICEF’s ask was that family unity be preserved and that immigration law be broadened, particularly for unaccompanied and separated children, so that if they have family ties anywhere within Europe, not just the EU, this should be taken into consideration. Children were best off in the family unit and needed to be reunified with their families wherever they were and when in children’s best interests.

In response to a question, Mr. Spindler said that countries had been coming forward regularly to offer places, but the number of places was inadequate. Leonard Doyle, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that there had been a large increase in voluntary returns, and according to the latest IOM report there had been 70,000 voluntary returns worldwide in 2015. Greece played a role in that and Mr. Doyle would get back to the press with precise numbers on returns from that country. There had been a relatively large number of assisted voluntary returns facilitated by IOM, from Greece to a variety of countries. There had been assisted voluntary returns to 156 countries of origin worldwide, from 97 different host countries…

Video:
Geneva Press Briefing: HRC, OCHA, IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM, ITC, WTO
1 Jul 2016 – Biweekly Geneva Press Briefing Chaired by Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva

IOM Member States Endorse Move to Join United Nations
07/01/16
Switzerland – Member States of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), meeting at a Special Council in Geneva on 30th June, decided that IOM should join the United Nations system as a related organization.

IOM Director General William Swing will communicate the decision of IOM Member States to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. It is expected to enter into force, upon signature of the agreement, on 19 September during a UN Summit on Migrants and Refugees, after being submitted to the UN General Assembly for approval.

“Today has been a watershed moment in the life of this Organization, which is celebrating its 65th year,” said IOM Director General William‎ Lacy Swing. “Member States approved the motion by which IOM will join the United Nations system.”

“We expect to soon have a seat and a voice at the UN table and the UN will soon have a dedicated migration agency,” he added.

The decision taken unanimously by IOM Member States also recognized IOM’s operational efficiency, flexibility and cost effectiveness.

Also at the Special Council, the People’s Republic of China joined IOM, becoming its 165th member state. Tuvalu and Solomon Islands also joined the Organization.
“We welcome China, Tuvalu and Solomon Islands membership of IOM at this crucial time,” said Director General Swing.
IOM, which assisted an estimated 20 million migrants last year, is an intergovernmental organization with over 9,500 employees and 450 offices worldwide.

Joint statement ahead of the European Council 28-29 June
27 Jun 2016

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At the upcoming European Council, European Union (EU) leaders will discuss the European Commission’s Communication on a new Partnership Framework with third countries.

The Communication proposes an approach which aims to leverage existing EU and Member States’external cooperation instruments and tools in order to stem migration to Europe. The undersigned organisations express their grave concern about the direction the EU is taking by making deterrence and return the main objective of the Union’s relationship with third countries. More broadly, this new Partnership Framework risks cementing a shift towards a foreign policy that serves one single objective, to curb migration, at the expense of European credibility and leverage in defence offundamental values and human rights.

The proposed approach is inspired by the EU-Turkey deal which although touted as a successful example of cooperation, has actually left thousands people stranded in Greece in inhumane and degrading conditions. This has particularly affected children, with the result that hundreds of unaccompanied children have been held in closed detention facilities on the islands or forced to sleep in police cells on the Greek mainland. The wider repercussions of this should not be underestimated.

It is hard to see how Europe can ask partner countries to keep their doors open, to host large-scale refugee populations and prevent further movements while at the same time Member States refuse to shoulder their fair share of responsibility for protecting people who flee their homes. The right to asylum is being significantly undermined, and it will become more and more challenging for civilians in conflict zones to seek international protection.

The Commission’s proposal ignores all the evidence on the ineffectiveness of deterrence strategies aimed at stopping migration. This approach will not only fail to “break the business-model” of smugglers but increase human suffering as people are forced into taking more dangerous routes.

Moreover, despite the stated commitment to respect the principle of non-refoulement, there are no safeguards envisaged to ensure that human rights, rule of law standards and protection mechanisms are in place. As a result, people risk being deported to countries where their rights
are not safeguarded. Responsibility and liability for human rights violations do not end at Europe’s borders.

We are disappointed to see that once again the emphasis on deterrence leaves no clear commitments to open up safe and regular channels to Europe for those in need of international protection and for other migrants, e.g. through resettlement, humanitarian admission schemes,
family reunification, educational visas, labour mobility and visa liberalisation. Resettlement, labour migration and visa liberalisation are only mentioned as possible leverage with partner countries in a quid pro quo approach.

Another major concern is the financing of the proposed Partnership Framework which would represent a wholesale re-orientation of Europe’s development programming towards stopping migration. This is an unacceptable contradiction to the commitment to use development
cooperation with the aim to eradicate poverty, as enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty. Aid is for the benefit of people in need, and should not be used as a leverage for migration control. EU funding should be transparent and adhere to clearly established principles, such as the Busan principles on effectiveness and the Paris principles of ownership by and alignment to partner countries’ strategies. In addition, striking ‘migration management’ agreements with countries where grave human rights violations are committed will be counter-productive in the longer term – undermining human rights around the globe and perpetuating the cycle of abuse and repression that causes people to flee.

Migration has many drivers; people may be on the move in search of new livelihood opportunities, an education or to reunite with family, while conflict and violence, human rights violations, climate change, poverty and unemployment can all trigger migration and forced displacement. Any cooperation to manage migration should take into consideration this complex and multi-faceted reality, be evidence and needs-based, and ensure that the benefits of migration are maximised and the risks are mitigated.

If the EU wants to call for more global solidarity, it needs to set the right example. The EU, a project built on the rubble of a devastating war, is about to embark on a dark chapter of its history.

We urge EU leaders to choose a rights-based system to manage migration, based on a viable long-term strategic vision, rather than pursuing an unattainable and inhumane deterrence objective and thereby abandoning its core founding principles.

As human rights, humanitarian, medical, migration and development agencies, and key implementing partners of development programmes in third countries, we call on European leaders to:
1. Reject the current Commission Communication and develop a sustainable long-term and evidence-based strategy for migration management, in consultation with civil society and experts.

2. Facilitate safe mobility by opening and strengthening safe and regular channels to Europe both for those in need of international protection and other migrants including through resettlement, humanitarian admission and humanitarian visas, family reunification, worker mobility across skill levels and student visas. Member States must commit to clear benchmarks and appropriate timelines for implementing a migration framework that meets the needs of migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees, their families, as well as the needs and obligations of Member States.

3. Exclude any conditionality based on migration control indicators in the allocation of development aid to third countries. Development aid is a tool to fight poverty and inequality, not to manage migration. Vulnerable populations should not be punished because of concerns that are largely political.

4. Stop any readmissions or removals of people by the EU to a third country that violate – or risk violating – fundamental rights and rule of law, including the principle of nonrefoulement. Ensure access to protection, justice and effective remedy for all people in migration and asylum procedures.

5. Ensure transparency in the development of any instruments to manage migration and accountability for human rights violations resulting from EU migration policies.

6. Commit to a foreign policy and action focused on preventing and unlocking protracted crises. While the Communication mentions the need to address root causes of displacement in the long term, it does not include engagement to prevent and manage crises.

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Signatories
1. ACT Alliance EU
2. ActionAid
3. aditus foundation
4. Afrique Culture Maroc
5. Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de l’Homme
6. Aid Services
7. Amnesty International
8. Amycos
9. Andalucía Acoge
10. Asamblea de Cooperacion Por la Paz ACPP
11. Asgi – Associazione per gli Studi Giuridici sull’Immigrazione
12. Asociacion por ti mujer
13. Asociacion Salud y Familia – Spain
14. Association for action against violence and trafficking in human beings-Open Gate
La Strada Macedonia.
15. Association for the Social Support of Youth
16. Ayuda en Acción
17. British Refugee Council
18. CAFOD
19. Care International
20. CCOO de Andalucia
21. Centre for Youths Integrated Development.
22. Centro de Investigaciones en Derechos Humanos PRO IGUAL
23. ChildFund Alliance
24. Church of Sweden
25. Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe
26. Citizens’ association for combating trafficking in human beings and all forms of genderbased
violence
27. CNCD-11.11.11
28. Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado –CEAR-
29. Concern Worldwide
30. CONCORD Europe
31. CONCORD Sweden
32. Conseil des Béninois de France
33. Consortium of Migrants Assisting Organizations in the Czech Republic
34. Coordinadora Andaluza de ONGD
35. Coordinadora Cantabra de ONGD
36. Coordinadora de ONGD de la Región de Murcia
37. Coordinadora de ONGD del Principado de Asturias
38. Coordinadora de ONGD España
39. Coordinadora de ONGD Navarra
40. Coordinadora Extremeña de ONGD
41. Coordinadora Gallega de ONGD
42. Coordinadora ONGD de Castilla y León
43. Coordinadora Valenciana de ONGD
44. Cordaid
45. Detention Action
46. Detention Forum
47. Doctors of the World International network
48. EU-CORD Network
49. Eurochild
50. EuroMed Rights
51. European Association for the Defence of Human Rights
52. European Council on Refugees and Exiles
53. European Youth Forum
54. Federación Aragonesa de ONGD
55. Federación de Asociaciones de Derechos Humanos
56. Federation of Christian NGOs in Italy
57. FIACAT
58. FIDH
59. FIZ advocacy and support for migrant women and victims of trafficking
60. Flüchtlingsrat Niedersachsen e.V.
61. Forum des Organisations de Solidarité Internationale issues des Migrations
62. Fundacion 1º de Mayo de Comisiones Obreras
63. Fundación Alianza por los Derechos, la Igualdad y la Solidaridad Internacional –APS-
64. Greek Forum of Refugees
65. Habitat for Humanity International, Europe, Middle East and Africa
66. Handicap International
67. Human Rights Watch
68. Human Rights Without Frontiers
69. Instituto Sindical de Cooperación al Desarrollo –ISCOD-
70. InteRed
71. INTERSOS
72. Islamic Relief UK
73. Jesuit Refugee Service Europe.
74. Justice and Peace Netherlands
75. KISA-Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism
76. Koordinierungsstelle der Österreichischen Bischofskonferenz für internationale
Entwicklung und Mission
77. La Strada International
78. Lafede.cat – Organitzacions per a la Justícia Global
79. Le Monde des Possibles
80. Macedonian Young Lawyers Association
81. Menedék – Hungarian Association for Migrants
82. Migrant Voice UK
83. Migrants’ Rights Network
84. Movimiento contra la Intolerancia
85. Movimiento por la Paz –MPDL-
86. Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre
87. Norwegian Refugee Council
88. Oxfam
89. PAX
90. Pax Christi International
91. PICUM-Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants
92. Plan International EU office
93. Platform Minors in exile / Plate-forme Mineurs en exil / Platform Kinderen op de vlucht
(Belgium)
94. Red Acoge
95. Réseau de Compétences Solidaires – Groupement d’Economie Sociale et Solidaire France –
Europe – Afrique
96. Réseau Immigration Développement Démocratie – IDD
97. Save the Children
98. SOS Children’s Villages International
99. SOS Racisme – Touche pas à mon pote
100. Stichting LOS
101. Swedish Refugee Advice Centre
102. Télécoms Sans Frontières
103. Terre des Hommes International Federation
104. The International Federation of Social Workers European Region
105. The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture victims
106. the Norwegian Centre Against Racism
107. Trócaire
108.World Vision Brussels and EU Representation
109. ZOA

Facility for Refugees in Turkey: Commission proposes additional €1.4 billion in support
European Commission – Press release
Brussels, 30 June 2016
The European Commission has today proposed to mobilise an additional €1.4 billion in support for refugees in Turkey, with a view of raising the total amount allocated under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey to €2 billion by the end of July.

The proposed Special Measure, presented by the Commission today at the meeting of the Steering Committee of the Facility, will cover measures in the areas of education, health, municipal and social infrastructure and socio-economic support. The Commission also presented the recently published Humanitarian Implementation Plan for Turkey which sets out the humanitarian strategy under the Facility, with total funding of over €500 million, including contributions from Member States. This is the biggest Humanitarian Implementation Plan ever published by the Commission.

Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said: “The Commission is committed to helping refugees and host communities in Turkey as quickly, efficiently and effectively as it can, in close cooperation with the Turkish authorities. The mobilisation of funding under the Facility is the most effective way to provide education and health care to refugees and support their host communities. The progress achieved to date shows that the European Union and Turkey are living up to their commitment to cooperate closely to improve the conditions for refugees in Turkey.”

Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, said: “The publication of the 2016 Humanitarian Implementation Plan for Turkey marks another step in the implementation of the EU humanitarian assistance under the Facility for a total amount of over €500 million. This unprecedented budget mirrors the humanitarian challenges in Turkey, which hosts the world’s largest refugee population; well over 3 million refugees. It reflects the ambition of the European Commission to address this difficult situation in a dignified, effective, cost-efficient and accountable manner, whilst remaining true to the humanitarian principles which guide our actions.”

The Steering Committee, gathering representatives from EU Member States and Turkey, under the chairmanship of the European Commission, today welcomed the progress achieved on the disbursement of support to refugees, which has been fast-tracked during the past months. Out of the total €3 billion, €740 million has so far been allocated in total, for both humanitarian and non-humanitarian assistance. Of this €740 million, €150 million has been contracted, of which €105 million has so far been disbursed.

The Steering Committee also discussed in detail an ambitious pipeline of projects to be funded under the Facility for Refugees in support of education, health, municipal and social infrastructure, and socio-economic support for refugees and host communities in Turkey. Subject to EU Member States’ approval, this Special Measure will be implemented in cooperation with the relevant Turkish authorities, International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian crisis.

The Commission presented to the Steering Committee the humanitarian strategy under the Facility which aims at responding to the basic needs of up to 1 million refugees through the implementation of the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) – an electronic card which will allow the most vulnerable refugees to receive monthly transfers to meet their needs in terms of, for example, food and shelter.

Hand-in-hand with this flagship initiative, the European Commission also presented its robust protection framework as well as its strategy regarding health and non-formal education activities which will be carried out in complementarity of longer-term initiatives. A buffer of funding will also be foreseen in order to swiftly respond to urgent and unexpected humanitarian needs. The activities under the Humanitarian Implementation Plan will be rolled out from the end of July 2016.

As a result, the European Commission is on track to reach the target of committing more than €2 billion of the €3 billion Facility envelope for 2016-2017 before the end of the summer 2016.
Background

The Facility for Refugees in Turkey is the answer to the European Council’s call for significant additional funding to support refugees in Turkey. The Facility provides a joint coordination mechanism for actions financed by the EU budget and national contributions made by the Member States, designed to ensure that the needs of refugees and host communities are addressed in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.

Funding under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey supports refugees in the country – it is funding for refugees and not funding for Turkey. The support seeks to improve conditions for refugees in Turkey as part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to addressing the refugee crisis inside and outside the EU.

The Facility has a budget of €3 billion for 2016-2017. This is made up of €1 billion from the EU budget, and €2 billion from the EU Member States. All Member States have sent in their contribution certificates for the €2 billion they pledged.
For more information:
Details on projects funded under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey can be found at:
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/news_corner/migration/index_en.htm

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Commission brings together non-confessional organisations to discuss “Migration, integration and European values: putting values into action”
European Commission – Press release Brussels, 30 June 2016
Today, European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans hosted a high-level meeting with ten representatives from philosophical and non-confessional organisations from across Europe to discuss “Migration, integration and European values: putting values into action”

Today, European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans hosted a high-level meeting with ten representatives from philosophical and non-confessional organisations from across Europe. This seventh annual high-level meeting discussed the topic “Migration, integration and European values: putting values into action”. The meeting took place within the framework of the ongoing dialogue with churches, religions, philosophical and non-confessional organisations based on Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty.

First Vice-President Timmermans said: “At a time when European societies are marked by a sense of crisis, it is essential to put our values into action. Nowhere is this discussion more relevant than with regards to migration and integration. Values cannot be imposed, they must be passed on and embraced across generations and communities, and we need to find concrete ways to achieve this. Because of their engagement in their respective communities, non-confessional organisations are among those who can provide concrete ideas to move this discussion forward.”

The high-level meeting provided a platform to discuss three main issues: how to improve integration policies; how to address the rise of populism and intolerance; and, how to build more cohesive societies. Today’s discussion focused in particular on addressing fears and increased polarisation in our societies, and the need to move beyond the crisis mode when it comes to migration and think long-term. The need for proactively transmitting values and cultural understanding was underlined, as well as the central role of education. It was agreed that this is a challenge for society at large and that concrete ways to convey values in practice must be developed. The organisations present will continue to work with the Commission to develop these ideas.

Background
Today’s high level meeting with representatives of philosophical and non-confessional organisation is the seventh in the series of meetings launched by the Commission in 2009 when the dialogue with churches, religions, philosophical and non-confessional organisations was enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty (Art 17 TFEU). The dialogue is under the responsibility of First Vice-President Timmermans.

The Commission will hold its annual meeting with religious leaders on 29 November 2016.
On 7 June 2016, the Commission adopted an Integration Action Plan for Third-Country Nationals outlining a set of actions ranging from education to non-discrimination and social inclusion. The Commission puts a particular emphasis on promoting inclusive education and common EU values as well as reaching out to young people.

The Commission has taken a number of steps to implement the Paris Declaration on promoting citizenship and the common values of freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination through education, adopted on 17 March 2015. The Commission will propose a Council Recommendation establishing a policy framework on promoting inclusion and fundamental values through education. In 2016, the Erasmus+ programme is making more than €400 million available to transnational partnerships to develop innovative policy approaches andpractices at grassroots level. Under the Europe for Citizens Programme 2014-2020, the Commission co-finances projects raising awareness of EU values, notably tolerance, mutual respect, and promoting civil society engagement. The Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme 2014-2020 supports projects focusing on preventing and combating racist and xenophobic hatred and intolerance, as well as projects promoting the development of tools and practices to prevent, monitor and combat online hate speech, including through the development of positive counter-narratives.

UNHCR and ILO sign new agreement to help displaced people find work
01 July 2016
GENEVA (ILO News) – Amid rising forced displacement as a result of conflict and persecution and other causes, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) today agreed a new understanding to promote employment opportunities for refugees and other forcibly displaced persons.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on 1 July 2016 at ILO headquarters, is expected to open a new and deeper phase of collaboration between the ILO and UNHCR.

The agreement focuses on long-term solutions for refugees and others displaced by conflict and persecution. As part of the wider UN response to the Syrian refugee crisis, the ILO has adopted a development-focused and employment-driven strategy to support host communities and refugees to maintain and reinforce the social and economic stability of the neighbouring countries affected.

The agreement, which builds on an earlier one from 1983, was signed by Deborah Greenfield, ILO Deputy Director-General for Policy, and Volker Türk, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection.

“These alarming displacement trends cannot be dealt with by stopgap measures. This MoU will enable our two agencies to join forces and promote comprehensive durable solutions enabling refugees and other forcibly displaced persons to obtain decent work, while protecting their rights and supporting the countries and communities hosting refugees,” said Greenfield.

“Allowing refugees and other forcibly displaced persons to get jobs helps them fend for themselves, restore confidence, and rebuild their lives, but just as importantly it allows them to contribute economically to the communities they are part of,” said Volker Türk, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection.

The MoU identifies eight common priorities, including the promotion of solutions and protection of refugees’ rights, and advocates inclusive and equal treatment in access to decent work and livelihoods, as well as social protection. It also seeks to ensure support to local communities, countering the economic exploitation of those displaced and eradicating child labour…

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More major companies sign the Global Business and Disability Network Charter
29 June 2016
PARIS (ILO News) – Four major international companies (BNP Paribas, IBM, Repsol and Sodexo) have just signed the ILO Global Business and Disability Network Charter in an event held at Carrefour headquarters in Paris on Wednesday…

The Charter expresses the commitment of those companies to promoting and including persons with disabilities throughout their operations worldwide.

It covers a wide range of areas, from protecting staff with disabilities from any kind of discrimination to making company premises and communication to staff progressively accessible to all employees with disabilities.

“For the ILO, promoting decent work for people with disabilities is a key objective, and one which needs the active involvement of the private sector. I would like to welcome the four companies that are signing today the Global Business and Disability Charter, joining the eleven global companies that signed the Charter last October in Geneva. I hope that many of the other companies attending the meeting today will also consider doing so in the near future,” ILO Director-General Guy Ryder told the meeting in Paris…

The State of the World’s Children 2016 Report: A fair chance for every child
UNICEF
June 2016 :: 180 pages
Full report pdf: http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_91711.html#

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FOREWORD
Inequity imperils millions of children and threatens the future of the world
As we look around the world today, we’re confronted with an uncomfortable but undeniable truth: Millions of children’s lives are blighted, for no other reason than the country, the community, the gender or the circumstances into which they are born.

And, as the data in this report show, unless we accelerate the pace of our progress in reaching them, the futures of millions of disadvantaged and vulnerable children – and therefore the future of their societies – will be imperilled.

Before they draw their first breath, the life chances of poor and excluded children are often being shaped by inequities. Disadvantage and discrimination against their communities and families will help determine whether they live or die, whether they have a chance to learn and later earn a decent living. Conflicts, crises and climate-related disasters deepen their deprivation and diminish their potential.

But it need not be so. As this report also illustrates, the world has made tremendous progress in reducing child deaths, getting children into school and lifting millions out of poverty. Many of the interventions behind this progress – such as vaccines, oral rehydration salts and better nutrition – have been practical and cost-effective. The rise of digital and mobile technology, and other innovations have made it easier and more cost-effective to deliver critical services in hard-to reach communities and to expand opportunities for the children and families at greatest risk.

For the most part, the constraints on reaching these children are not technical. They are a matter of political commitment. They are a matter of resources. And they are a matter of collective will – joining forces to tackle inequity and inequality head-on by focusing greater investment and effort on reaching the children who are being left behind.

The time to act is now. For unless we accelerate our progress, by 2030:
:: Almost 70 million children may die before reaching their fifth birthdays – 3.6 million in 2030 alone, the deadline year for the Sustainable Development Goals.

:: Children in sub-Saharan Africa will be 10 times more likely to die before their fifth birthdays than children in high-income countries.

:: Nine out of 10 children living in extreme poverty will live in sub-Saharan Africa.

:: More than 60 million primary school-aged children will be out of school – roughly the same number as are out of school today. More than half will be from sub-Saharan Africa.

:: Some 750 million women will have been married as children – three quarters of a billion child brides.

These vast inequities and dangers do more than violate the rights and imperil the futures of individual children. They perpetuate intergenerational cycles of disadvantage and inequality that undermine the stability of societies and even the security of nations everywhere.

More than ever, we should recognize that development is sustainable only if it can be carried on – sustained – by future generations. We have an opportunity to replace vicious cycles with virtuous cycles in which today’s poor children – if given a fair chance at health, education and protection from harm – can, as adults, compete on a more level playing field with children from wealthier backgrounds. Thus making not only their own lives better, but their societies richer in every sense of the word.

For when we help a boy access the medicine and nutrition he needs to grow up healthy and strong, we not only increase his chances in life, we also decrease the economic and social costs associated with poor health and low productivity.

When we educate a girl, we not only give her the tools and knowledge to make her own decisions and shape her own future, we also help raise the standard of living of her family and her community.

When we provide education, shelter and protection for children caught in conflicts, we help mend their hearts and their minds – so that someday, they will have the ability and the desire to help rebuild their countries.

This report concludes with five ways to strengthen our work, building on what we have learned over the last 25 years – and what we are still learning: Increasing information about those being left behind. Integrating our efforts across sectors to tackle the multiple deprivations that hold so many children back. Innovating to accelerate progress and drive change for the most excluded children and families. Investing in equity and finding new ways of financing efforts to reach the most disadvantaged children. And involving everyone, beginning with communities
themselves, and with businesses, organizations and citizens around the world who believe we can change the outcome for millions of children.

We can. Inequity is not inevitable. Inequality is a choice. Promoting equity – a fair chance for every child, for all children – is also a choice. A choice we can make, and must make. For their future, and the future of our world.

Human Capital Report 2016
World Economic Forum – Insight Report
June 2016 :: 48 pages
ISBN 978-1-944835-02-6

CONCLUSIONS [p.28]
Globally, nearly 35% of our human capital potential remains undeveloped, due to lack of learning or employment opportunities or both. The Human Capital Index reveals specific gaps in each country and points to the future outlook for major economies. It finds that many of today’s education systems are disconnected from the skills needed to function in today’s labour markets. While current education systems seek to develop cognitive skills, non-cognitive skills that relate to an individual’s capacity to collaborate, innovate, self-direct and problem-solve are increasingly important. Current education systems are also front-loaded in a way that is not suited to current or future labour markets. In many countries, education investments have not resulted in labour market returns for individuals and their families, due to unemployment, underemployment or large demographic segments remaining economically inactive. In others, regardless of education levels, work may be precarious, may insufficiently tap into existing knowledge or may not invest in the lifelong learning and retraining that must take place simultaneously throughout the work life cycle.

Technological change may be further exacerbating some of these challenges, but it is also providing a unique new opportunity to address and transform these concerns, both in learning and employment. These developments imply that we need to rethink how the world’s human capital endowment is invested in and leveraged for social and economic prosperity and the well-being of all. Governments, business leaders, educational institutions and individuals must each understand the magnitude of the change underway and fundamentally rethink the global talent value chain. In order to be proactive in our response to the future needs of economies, societies and individuals, we must re-think what it means to learn, what it means to work and what is the role of various stakeholders in ensuring that people are able to fulfil their potential.

The potential for technology to transform educational access and quality has been well documented. In addition, in a world where 13% of the working age population are own-account workers, 4% are unemployed, a further 7% are underemployed and 20% are inactive (in addition to 3 out of 4 increasingly healthy, and in many cases highly skilled, over 65 year-olds)—in all, some 44% of the world’s working age population, or 2 billion people—new technologies may also present an enormous opportunity to unlock and nurture the human capital potential of a sizeable share of the population around the globe. A wide range of research has shown the existing and potential benefits in the form of flexibility, accessibility, transparency and scale provided by new formats of employment. For workers, technology is lowering the access threshold to employment and multiplying opportunities to form new client-provider relationships and find new work. For employers, digital labour markets are expanding access to fresh talent. Yet well-founded concerns also remain about the fragmentation of work and its effects on income equality, income security and social stability, amongst other areas of concern.

Much of the focus of recent policymaking in labour markets has been on the challenges of managing new formats of work. Updated social safety nets and modern forms of unionization—such as digital freelancers’ unions—are also beginning to emerge in some countries to complement new models of work. It will be important for legislators to develop agile, thoughtful and forward-thinking governance to manage and regulate the rapidly emerging digital labour market as well as the disruptions to traditional forms of work, for optimal socio-economic results. It is also imperative that, in parallel, policymakers work with other stakeholders to deliver on the promise of technology for education and lifelong learning.

Businesses—whether traditional or new—will need to be a part of designing a new social contract, including re-thinking their role as a consumer of ‘ready-made’ human capital. Companies will need to rethink jobs as bundles of skills and invest in the lifelong learning, re-skilling and up-skilling of their present employees in addition to working closely with education systems to support the development of both general and specialized employability skills. In addition, while business cycles can naturally lead to peaks and troughs in employment, any socially responsible business in today’s deeply interconnected and transparent world must consider how it can contribute to mitigating unemployment and enhancing people’s abilities to earn a livelihood.

While much has been written about the various positive and negative employment scenarios that may emerge from the current wave of technological change, these forecasts are highly dependent on the actions we take today to leverage opportunities and mitigate risks. The private sector and public sector, along with other stakeholders, will need to work together to lead adaptation to the new world of learning and work. The World Economic Forum’s platform aims to provide this space, complementing the analysis in this Report and other insight tools, with a space for dialogue and action that is critical to our collective future.

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Media Release
28 Jun 2016
The Global Economy is Failing 35% of the World’s Talent
:: The Human Capital Report 2016 finds that globally only 65% of the world’s talent is being optimized through education, skills development and deployment during people’s lifetimes
:: Finland, Norway and Switzerland hold the top spots, utilizing around 85% of their human capital. Japan leads when it comes to 55 year-olds and over
:: Report aims to assess how public and private sector investments in education and skills can best prepare workforces for the future and how big data and the gig economy might drive greater opportunity for workers…

Satellite-Based Damage Assessment of Cultural Heritage Sites
2015 Summary Report of Iraq, Nepal, Syria & Yemen
June 2016 :: 16 pages
UNESCO, UNOSAT United Nations Institute for Training and Research

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Foreword [Excerpts]
[UNESCO]
…Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between UNITAR-UNOSAT and UNESCO in June 2015, cultural heritage around the world has continued to suffer on an unprecedented scale from intentional attacks, collateral damage, widespread looting and the effects of natural disasters. Many of the countries affected by conflicts remain inaccessible, while those hit by disaster are also often hard to enter immediately.

However, thanks to their collaborative efforts, UNITAR-UNOSAT and UNESCO are now able to monitor damage to cultural heritage via satellite imagery, as shown in this report. While UNOSAT provides technical expertise in remote monitoring, UNESCO contributes to this partnership through its vast network of cultural heritage experts, who help identify damage and put it into context. Satellite images are then corroborated by data collected on the ground, where available.

Satellite imagery helps to clarify situations, deploy cultural first aid wherever it is most needed, if the security conditions allow, and plan for future recovery. This report provides a glimpse of the potential of this technology and cooperation between UNESCO and UNITAR-UNOSAT, which we hope will be considerably developed in the future.

[UNOSAT]
…The examples given in this report illustrate both the invaluable heritage of the specific sites through UNESCO’s contribution and the resulting technical analysis performed by UNITAR-UNOSAT. With World Heritage properties and other cultural heritage under increasing risk of destruction, objective and timely information is crucial for UNESCO and affected governments to call for and take action towards its protection. UNOSAT is pleased to contribute to this important work and to once again guide the way to apply innovative satellite imagery solutions for UN sister agencies and Member States.

Overview
During the ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Syria and Yemen and the earthquake that affected Nepal in 2015, the UNITAR’s UNOSAT programme has been supporting the humanitarian community with satellite imagery derived analysis. While conducting damage assessments of civilian infrastructure in those countries, it became evident that widespread destruction and damage has been inflicted on cultural heritage locations. This report is the result of a dedicated, combined effort between UNOSAT and UNESCO to assess the current status of a selection of cultural heritage sites.

:: Agency/Government/IGO Watch
We will monitor a growing number of relevant agency, government and IGO organizations for key media releases, announcements, research, and initiatives. Generally, we will focus on regional or global level content recognizing limitation of space, meaning country-specific coverage is limited. Please suggest additional organizations to monitor.

United Nations – Secretary General, Security Council, General Assembly  [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/
Selected Press Releases/Meetings Coverage

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1 July 2016
GA/11800
General Assembly Adopts Resolution Affirming Importance of Balanced, Integrated Implementation of Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
The General Assembly continued its fifth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopting a resolution on ways in which to redouble efforts to work swiftly, collectively and effectively in rooting out the scourge.

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30 June 2016
HR/5319
Meeting of States Parties Elects 9 Members to Child Rights Committee in Secret Balloting, Appoints Chairperson by Acclamation
The sixteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child elected nine members to four-year terms on the related United Nations Committee, while appointing Muhammad Anshor (Indonesia) as its Chairperson.

Elected by secret ballot to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the new members will replace those serving until 28 February 2017. The new members are: Amal Salman Aldoseri (Bahrain); Olga A. Khazova (Russian Federation); Cephas Lumina (Zambia); Benyam Dawit Mezmur (Ethiopia); Mikiko Otani (Japan); Luis Ernesto Pedernera Reyna (Uruguay); Ann Marie Skelton (South Africa); Velina Todorova (Bulgaria); and Renate Winter (Austria).

Also elected, by acclamation, was Vice-Chairperson Thorvardur Thorsson (Iceland)…

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29 June 2016
ECOSOC/6778
Capping Three-Day Humanitarian Segment, Economic and Social Council Adopts Text Urging Better Protection of People Trapped in Crisis, Aid Workers
The Economic and Social Council concluded its humanitarian affairs segment today, adopting a resolution recognizing the significant increase in forced displacement worldwide and stressing the need to respond to the specific needs of refugees, internally displaced persons and the host communities struggling to care for them.

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28 June 2016
GA/11796
General Assembly Elects 4 New Non-permanent Members to Security Council, as Western and Others Group Fails to Fill Final Vacancy
Membership Will Consider Proposal for Italy, Netherlands to Split 2-Year Term
In multiple rounds of voting, the General Assembly elected four new non-permanent members to the Security Council today, but was unable to fill a fifth seat after a highly-contested campaign.

Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Bolivia and Sweden were all elected to serve as non-permanent members of the Council for the next two years. After five rounds of voting, however, neither Italy nor the Netherlands met the required two-thirds majority for election. As a result, they announced a proposal whereby they would divide the term, with each serving one year on the Council…