ASEAN Ministers Meet on Irregular Movement of Persons
on Thursday, 02 July 2015. Posted in 2015, ASEAN Secretariat News
KUALA LUMPUR, 2 July 2015 – ASEAN Ministers responsible for combating transnational crime met in Kuala Lumpur today to discuss concerted regional action to address the recent influx of irregular movement of persons in Southeast Asia.

The Emergency ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime discussed feasible regional solutions to deal collectively with this issue and to explore the possibility of setting up a Task Force to respond to similar crisis in the future. The Ministers also supported the establishment of a trust fund for humanitarian and relief efforts related to the irregular movement of persons in Southeast Asia.

In noting the link between irregular movement of persons and the crime of trafficking in persons and people smuggling, the Ministers resolved to strengthen law enforcement efforts through information and intelligence sharing. Other measures to address this issue include conducting analysis and studies, developing regional communication campaigns and strengthening cooperation with ASEAN Dialogue Partners and international organisations.

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EMERGENCY ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING ON TRANSNATIONAL CRIME CONCERNING IRREGULAR MOVEMENT OF PERSONS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT – ADOPTED 2 JULY 2015
[Excerpt]
1. ASEAN Ministers overseeing the responsibilities of combating transnational crime and Representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam met in Kuala Lumpur on 2 July 2015 for the convening of the Emergency ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (EAMMTC) concerning Irregular Movement of Persons in Southeast Asia. The Meeting was also attended by the Secretary General of ASEAN and Brunei Darussalam as the current Chairman of the Directors General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM)…

3. The Meeting discussed on three (3) main issues mainly*(i)*the Scenario on the Irregular Movement of Persons in Southeast Asia (by land and sea), (ii) the Connection
between Irregular Movement of Persons with Human Trafficking and People Smuggling and (iii) Plan of Action / Way Forward to resolve these issues…

6. The Meeting have resolved to:
(i) Task SOMTC to consider including people smuggling as one of the transnational crimes under the purview of SOMTC and AMMTC and to work in tandem with the DGICM on this issue.

Look forward to the current discussion in the DGICM on irregular movement of persons including the possibility of establishing a Special Task Force or Heads of Specialist Unit on this issue;

(ii) Strengthen law enforcement efforts to combating trafficking in persons and people smuggling as well as other forms of transnational crime at the national and regional level, among others, through the sharing of information and intelligence sharing and, where appropriate, the establishment of a special investigative taskforce;

(iii) Utilise the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters to ensure that ASEAN Member States are well-equipped to prosecute perpetrators of the heinous crimes of trafficking in persons and people smuggling, and bringing such perpetrators to justice through due process;

(iv) Conduct analysis and studies on the irregular movement of persons in the Southeast Asia and its connection with trafficking in persons and people smuggling as well as other forms of transnational crime with a view to assist ASEAN Member States in their efforts to address the long-term impact of this issue;

(v) Develop and implement together with relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies comprehensive regional communication campaigns to send a strong message to the community to prevent irregular migration that is closely linked to trafficking in persons and people smuggling;

(vi) Strengthen cooperation with ASEAN Dialogue Partners and related International Organisations in combating trafficking in persons and people smuggling, including through law enforcement cooperation, sharing of information and expertise, exchange of intelligence and capacity building;

(vii) Support the establishment of a trust fund to be administered by the ASEAN Secretariat for voluntary contributions from ASEAN Member States and members of the international community to support the humanitarian and relief efforts involved in dealing with challenges resulting from irregular movement of persons in Southeast Asia;

(viii) Recommend the ASEAN Leaders to task relevant ASEAN bodies to explore the possibility of setting up a Task Force to respond to crisis and emergency situation arising from irregular movement of persons in Southeast Asia, and

(ix) Look forward to the early adoption of the ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons especially Women and Children (ACTIP) and the ASEAN Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons especially Women and Children (APA) at the 10th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) in September 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia…

Joint Statement by UNHCR, OHCHR, IOM, the SRSG for Migration and Development, and UNODC
Press Releases, 1 July 2015
A comprehensive people-oriented approach to the irregular movement of migrants and refugees in South East Asia

We, the undersigned*, welcome the convening later this week of the Emergency ASEAN Ministerial meeting on Transnational Crime: Irregular Movement of Persons in the South East Asia Region. The meeting provides a timely opportunity to move meaningfully forward on the comprehensive and durable solution called for by the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in Putrajaya on 20 May 2015, in keeping with the spirit of unity and solidarity of a people-oriented and people-centred ASEAN.

Progress has been made on a number of the individual and collective actions called for in that statement, as well as on the 17 recommendations of the Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean held in Bangkok on 29 May 2015. But much more needs to be done. This includes providing access for relevant national and international actors, such as UNHCR and IOM, to the refugees and migrants. We encourage States to act consistently with the recommendation we made to avoid the use of immigration detention in our earlier Joint Statement of 19 May 2015.

We call on States to implement UNODC’s recommendation to network ports and border crossings for operations to share information and improve policies in line with country commitments to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

We strongly urge States to undertake sustained efforts to expand avenues for safe and legal migration, including for family reunification and labour migration at all skill levels, while stepping up law enforcement. This includes prosecution of individuals involved in human trafficking and migrant smuggling syndicates – whoever they may be and whatever their affiliations – in a manner fully consistent with international standards for human rights in the administration of justice. Likewise, we continue to urge intensified efforts to identify and respond to the drivers and root causes of the irregular movement, as recommended in the Putrajaya Statement, and therefore call for the protection of the human rights of all migrants and refugees at places of origin, transit and destination.

The creation of an ongoing mechanism, such as the Task Force recommended at the Special Meeting, is the best way to ensure that a regular channel is available for international community support for efforts undertaken by affected States. This must include ensuring protection of the rights of all migrants and refugees, instituting appropriate law enforcement measures and responding to the drivers and root causes of forced movement. The Emergency Meeting on Thursday 2 July 2015 is a welcome opportunity to implement that recommendation.
*António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
William L. Swing, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration
Peter Sutherland, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Migration and Development Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

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Migration by Sea
Joint statement from IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu and IOM Director-General William L. Swing on enhanced cooperation and collaboration between the two Organizations International Maritime Organization IMO); International Organization for Migration (IOM)

“At our meeting today, on 29 June 2015, in London at the Headquarters of the International Maritime Organization we discussed the ongoing situation of migration by sea. We noted the urgency with which the situation must be addressed of thousands of migrants who find themselves on perilous journeys. We held a silent minute in honour of the thousands of migrants who lost their lives on such journeys and we resolved to intensify our Organizations’ cooperation to find international solutions to the issues at hand;

We recalled the agreement of cooperation between the two organizations concluded in 1974 and noted with satisfaction the close engagement of the two organizations in accordance with arrangements made from time to time;

We recognized that unsafe mixed migration across the oceans and seas has been a serious concern for decades and that it has increased dramatically in recent years posing a major challenge to the international community;

Concerned about the loss of life, injury, trauma and serious human rights’ violations affecting migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees travelling by sea, we acknowledged that the current situation is a humanitarian crisis and requires concerted global action;

In light of this we decided to:
1. Establish an inter-agency platform for information sharing on unsafe mixed migration by sea, in collaboration with other interested agencies, as soon as possible;

2. Disseminate information material on the dangers of unsafe and irregular migration by sea, in collaboration with other interested agencies;

3. Promote the relevant provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Convention on Maritime Search and
Rescue (SAR), the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL), and international migration law;

4. Support the relevant technical cooperation programmes of each organization;

5. Remain engaged by setting up technical or advisory bodies, as appropriate, on terms and conditions to be mutually agreed upon in each case;

6. Facilitate discussions to find solutions to unsafe migration by sea;

7. Urge the international community to take robust measures against people smugglers who operate without fear or remorse and who deliberately and knowingly endanger the lives of thousands of migrants at sea.”

Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2015 – Settling In
OECD/European Union 2015
Published on July 02, 2015 :: 348 pages
ISBN 978-92-64-23230-3 (print)
ISBN 978-92-64-23402-4 (PDF)
This joint publication by the OECD and the European Commission presents the first broad international comparison across all EU and OECD countries of the outcomes for immigrants and their children, through 27 indicators organised around five areas: Employment, education and skills, social inclusion, civic engagement and social cohesion (Chapters 5 to 12). Three chapters present detailed contextual information (demographic and immigrant-specific) for immigrants and immigrant households (Chapters 2 to 4). Two special chapters are dedicated to specific groups. The first group is that of young people with an immigrant background, whose outcomes are often seen as the benchmark for the success or failure of integration…

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Press Release
Discrimination and poor job prospects hit children of immigrants
2/7/2015 – The children of immigrants continue to face major difficulties integrating in OECD countries, especially in the European Union, where their poor educational outcomes leave many struggling to find work, according to a new OECD/EU report.

Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2015: Settling In finds that youth with immigrant parents experience nearly 50% more unemployment in the European Union than those with native-born parents.

Even if their labour market outcomes are generally better than those of their foreign-born parents, discrimination is felt more keenly among native-born children of immigrants than among persons who have themselves immigrated. This is true in EU countries, where one in five feels discriminated against, something not observed in non-European OECD countries.

Overall, educational outcomes are improving for many immigrant children and for those with immigrant parents but major gaps remain, notably for children with low-educated parents. In the European Union, the share of immigrant students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds who perform at the highest levels in the OECD’s PISA literacy tests is only half that of native-born students.

“Where your parents were born still has a major impact on your life chances,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría. “Countries are not making enough progress helping immigrants and their children integrate. This is a wake-up call on the need to strengthen integration policies to get the most out of migration, for our economies and societies and for the migrants themselves.”

The OECD/EU report presents the first detailed international comparison of the outcomes of immigrants and their children in all European Union and OECD countries. The indicators cover key dimensions of integration, including employment, education, income, housing, health, civic engagement and social cohesion. A special focus is on young people with a migration background.

In both the EU and the OECD, the immigrant population has grown by more than 30% since 2000. One in ten people living in the EU and OECD areas in 2012 was born abroad and one in four young people (15-34) is either foreign-born or the child of an immigrant.

The report finds that low-educated immigrants have higher employment rates than their native-born peers but often are stuck in low-paid jobs with poor working conditions. Employed immigrants are twice as likely as their native-born peers to live in a household whose income is below the country’s relative poverty threshold. Partly as a result of their lower income, immigrants are also more than twice as likely to live in overcrowded accommodation as their native-born peers (19% versus 8%) across the OECD.

More and more immigrants are high skilled – a promising development for future integration outcomes, the report notes. However, one in three immigrants of working age in the OECD and one in four in the EU now holds a tertiary education degree, with most obtaining their highest degree abroad. In contrast to the low educated, tertiary-educated immigrants have lower employment rates than their native-born peers in virtually all countries. When employed, they are overqualified more often than their native peers. This holds especially for those with foreign qualifications, who account for the majority of highly-educated immigrants.

Across the EU, 42% of highly-educated employed immigrants with foreign degrees have jobs that would require lower levels of education, twice the number of those who hold a qualification from the host country. Despite this, highly-educated immigrants still perform better in the labour market than low-educated immigrants…

$2.3 billion required to send children to school in war-torn countries
29.06.2015 – UNESCOPRESS
A new paper by UNESCO’s Education For All Global Monitoring Report (EFA GMR) shows that 34 million children and adolescents are out of school in conflict-affected countries. The most vulnerable are the hardest hit: the poorest are twice as likely to be out of school as their counterparts in peaceful countries. The paper shows that $2.3 billion is required to place them in school – ten times the amount that education is receiving from humanitarian aid right now.

The EFA GMR’s last report showed that only a third of countries had reached global education goals set in 2000, and identified conflict as one of the major barriers to achieving better results. Today’s paper shows the extent of the challenges that conflict presents. Children in conflict-affected countries are more than twice as likely, and adolescents two-thirds more likely, to be out of school than in non-conflict affected countries. Young women are almost 90 per cent more likely to be out of secondary school in conflict affected-countries than elsewhere.

“Returning to school may be the only flicker of hope and normality for many children and youth in countries engulfed in crises,” said Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO. “The Incheon Declaration adopted by 160 countries commits to meeting the needs of these populations through more resilient, resistive and inclusive education systems and a response to crisis that spans the phases of emergency, recovery and building. Education must be seen as part of the first response when crisis hits and an integral part of any peacebuilding strategy.”

One of the core reasons conflict is taking such a heavy toll on education is lack of financing. In 2014, education received only two per cent of humanitarian aid. The paper determines that even the suggested target of four per cent, championed since 2011, is insufficient. Had this target been met in 2013, it would have left 15.5 million children and youth without any humanitarian assistance in education.

Aaron Benavot, Director of the EFA GMR, said: “A new target for directing funds to education in times of conflict has been required for some time. Present targets are hugely insufficient and diverting attention from the true needs of children and youth on the ground. For primary education, an extra $38 is needed per child in conflict situations. $113 is needed per adolescent in lower secondary education. Surely we can find these funds. Most of us carry the cost for one child in our pocket.”

Media attention unfairly prioritizes some countries over others: more than half of available humanitarian aid to education was allocated to just 15 out of 342 appeals between 2000 and 2014.

Many appeals do not cover all those in need. In 2013, 21 million people in conflict-affected zones were identified as requiring education support. Just eight million were included in appeals. Of those, just three million received assistance once funding was distributed – leaving 18 million without any help at all.

The paper proposes a new, evidence-based finance target, and makes recommendations for tightening the current aid structure for education in crises:
:: There must be a consistent and objective education needs assessment to truly understand the requirements of children and adolescents in conflict.
:: There should be better connections between humanitarian and development financing: The World Humanitarian Summit in July 2016 together with a High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing to be formed later in 2015 represent opportunities to make the architecture of humanitarian funding more relevant and realistic.
:: The $2.3 billion funding gap for education in conflict, which is ten times more than education currently receives from humanitarian aid, urgently needs to be filled.
:: Any new global emergency education fund should ensure that resources for education in crises are additional, flexible and predictable. Funding must be aligned to need. It should work closely with the Global Partnership for Education and the Global Education Cluster.

2015 World Food Prize Laureate: Leading a Generation out of Poverty
Founder of BRAC to receive $250,000 prize for giving nearly 150 million people worldwide the opportunity for enhanced food security and a pathway out of poverty

Washington, D.C. (July 1, 2015) – Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of Bangladesh was announced today as the 2015 winner of the World Food Prize, the most prominent global award for individuals whose breakthrough achievements alleviate hunger and promote global food security…

“I offer my sincerest congratulations to Sir Fazle and appreciation for the progress he has made in improving people’s lives, alleviating hunger, and providing pathways out of poverty. Sir Fazle’s and his organization’s recognition that engaging women in STEAM fields—science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and math—benefits our local and global communities is a vision that we share at USDA. It is my honor to participate in this event today with people who see the need for innovative approaches to feeding our rapidly growing population,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Awarded by the World Food Prize Foundation, the $250,000 prize honors Sir Fazle’s unparalleled achievement in building the unique, integrated development organization BRAC, which is headquartered in Bangladesh and operates programs in 10 other countries around the globe. Since he created it over 40 year ago, Sir Fazle’s organization has provided the opportunity for nearly 150 million people worldwide to improve their lives, have enhanced food security and follow a pathway out of poverty through its dynamic and effective development programs.

“At a time when the world confronts the great challenge of feeding over nine billion people, Sir Fazle Abed and BRAC, the organization he founded and leads, have created the preeminent model being followed around the globe on how to educate girls, empower women and lift whole generations out of poverty. For this monumental achievement, Sir Fazle truly deserves recognition as the 2015 World Food Prize Laureate,” commented World Food Prize President, Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn in making public the Laureate’s name.

BRAC, which was formally known as Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, has been hailed as the most effective anti-poverty organization in the world. Its agricultural and development innovations have improved food security for millions and contributed to a significant decline in poverty levels through direct impacts to farmers and small communities across the globe. Today BRAC operates 18 financially and socially profitable enterprises, across health, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, education, green energy, printing and retail sectors, and has been responsible for extraordinary advancements in the poultry, seed, and dairy industries in Bangladesh and other countries in which it operates in Africa…

On receiving the award, Sir Fazle commented: “Being selected to receive the 2015 World Food Prize is a great honor. I consider this award recognition of the work of BRAC, which I have had the privilege to lead over the last 43 years. The real heroes in our story are the poor themselves and, in particular, women struggling with poverty. In situations of extreme poverty, it is usually the women in the family who have to make do with scarce resources. When we saw this at BRAC, we realised that women needed to be the agents of change in our development effort. Only by putting the poorest, and women in particular, in charge of their own destinies, will absolute poverty and deprivation be removed from the face of the earth.”…

Saudi prince to donate $32bn fortune to charity
BBC | 1 July 2015
Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has said he will donate his $32bn (£20bn; €29bn) personal fortune to charity.

The 60-year-old nephew of King Salman is one of the world’s richest people.

He said he had been inspired by the Gates Foundation, set up by Bill and Melinda Gates in 1997.

The money would be used to “foster cultural understanding”, “empower women”, and “provide vital disaster relief”, among other things, he said.

Mr Gates praised the decision, calling it an “inspiration to all of us working in philanthropy around the world”.

Prince Alwaleed is at number 34 on the Forbes list of the world’s richest people.

The money will go to the prince’s charitable organisation, Alwaleed Philanthropies, to which he has already donated $3.5bn.

The prince, who does not hold an official government position, is chairman of investment firm Kingdom Holding Company.

United Nations – Secretary General, Security Council, General Assembly  [to 4 July 2015]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/

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Selected Press Releases/Meetings Coverage
30 June 2015
SC/11956
Peacekeeping, Children in Armed Conflict Dominate June Agenda, as Security Council Wraps Up Month
Peacekeeping, peacebuilding and children in armed conflict had been the centrepieces of the Security Council’s work over the past four weeks, said the Permanent Representative of Malaysia, President of the body for June, in a monthly wrap-up meeting this afternoon.

29 June 2015
SC/11952
‘Any and Every’ Route in Syria Must Be Opened for Life-Saving Humanitarian Aid, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Tells Security Council in Briefing
As a “nightmare of violence and destruction” continued without end in Syria, it was crucial for humanitarian workers to use every route, across borders and conflict lines, to deliver live-saving aid, a top United Nations humanitarian official told the Security Council this morning.

UN OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [to 4 July 2015]
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true

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Human Rights Council adopts texts on enhancing the efficiency of the Council, Rohingya Muslims, the protection of the family, and Ukraine
03 July 2015

Human Rights Council extends mandates on Belarus and Eritrea, asks OHCHR to undertake a fact-finding mission to South Sudan
02 July 2015

Human Rights Council adopts twelve texts, on protection of migrants in transit, unaccompanied migrant children, and others
02 July 2015

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

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UNHCR welcomes ASEAN proposals to respond to boat crisis in South-East Asia
3 July 2015

Mediterranean Crisis 2015 at six months: refugee and migrant numbers highest on record
1 July 2015

Joint Statement by UNHCR, OHCHR, IOM, the SRSG for Migration and Development, and UNODC
1 July 2015

UN OCHA [to 4 July 2015]
http://www.unocha.org/media-resources/press-releases

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02 Jul 2015
occupied Palestinian territory: The Gaza Strip: The Humanitarian Impact of the Blockade, July 2015
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: occupied Palestinian territory KEY FACTS

01 Jul 2015
World: Pacific voices heard on humanitarian action
Talks about the future of humanitarian action in the Pacific have wrapped up with calls for stronger partnerships with vulnerable and crisis affected communities.

29 Jun 2015
Syrian Arab Republic: Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien: Statement to the Security Council on Syria, New York, 29 June 2015

UNICEF [to 4 July 2015]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_78364.html

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Selected press release and news notes
UNICEF teams, supplies arrive in areas affected by new Ebola cases in Liberia
MONROVIA/DAKAR/GENEVA, 3 July 2015 – Responding to Liberia’s first confirmed cases of Ebola in more than three months, UNICEF has begun distributing emergency supplies in the affected communities including tents for isolating those under quarantine, hygiene kits and chlorine and buckets for handwashing stations.

Urgent action needed to tackle child labour caused by Syrian Crisis: Save the Children and UNICEF
AMMAN, 2 July 2015 – The conflict and humanitarian crisis in Syria are pushing an ever increasing number of children into exploitation in the labour market, and much more needs to be done to reverse the trend, according to a new report released by Save the Children and UNICEF.

UNICEF, WHO: Lack of sanitation for 2.4 billion people undermining health improvements
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 30 June 2015 – Lack of progress on sanitation threatens to undermine the child survival and health benefits from gains in access to safe drinking water, warn WHO and UNICEF in a report tracking access to drinking water and sanitation against the Millennium Development Goals.

Millions of children in war-torn Yemen at risk of disease and malnutrition – UNICEF
SANA’A, Yemen, 30 June 2015 – The ongoing conflict in Yemen is having a devastating impact on the country’s health system, and exposing millions of children to the threat of preventable diseases, says UNICEF.

IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 4 July 2015]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases

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Selected Press Releases
Free Movement and Migration in West Africa Launches Call for Proposals for Non-State Actors
06/30/15
Nigeria -The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and IOM are launching the Non-State Actors (NSA) Fund call for proposals at the ECOWAS Commission Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria, today (30 June 2015).

First Ever IOM-NGO Consultations Focusing Solely on Humanitarian Issues
06/30/15
Switzerland – IOM, with the support of the Non-Governmental Organization consortium International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), Tuesday will host delegates from more than 40 NGOs and 17 countries to a one-day meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on humanitarian action concerning displaced populations and migrants.

IOM Boosts Border Actions for Vulnerable Migrants in Central America
06/30/15
El Salvador – IOM concluded this month the workshop “Exchange of border experience in Honduras and El Salvador to optimize response capabilities to cater to the needs of vulnerable people,” which served as a platform for the generation of a cross-border action plan and sharing of best practices of inter-institutional work at the local level.

IOM Ghana Distributes Solar Lanterns to Rescued Children
06/30/15
Ghana – IOM in Ghana has distributed 34 solar lanterns to child survivors of trafficking who were rescued from fishing communities along Lake Volta.

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 4 July 2015]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html

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Selected Press Releases
Sevamob: Using Mobile Technology to Improve Health
Jun 30, 2015
The social enterprise Sevamob is fundamentally transforming primary healthcare in India through mobile clinics and a tele-health marketplace. The newest company to join the Business Call to Action (BCtA), Sevamob, has committed to reducing anemia by 30 percent, HIV transmission to children by at least half of the national average, and dental issues like caries by 25 percent, in the areas where it is active.

UNESCO [to 4 July 2015]
http://en.unesco.org/news

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Sites in China, Iran, Mongolia and Singapore inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
4 July 2015
The World Heritage Committee this morning approved the inscription of six cultural sites on World Heritage List: Tusi Sites (China), Susa, Cultural Landscape of Maymand (both in the Islamic Republic of Iran), Singapore Botanic Gardens (Singapore), Baekje Historic Areas (Republic of Korea), Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape (Mongolia).

Sites in Italy, Jordan and Saudi Arabia inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
3 July 2015
The World Heritage Committee inscribed three new cultural sites on the World Heritage List this afternoon: Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale in Italy; Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas) in Jordan and Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia. – See more at: http://en.unesco.org/news/sites-italy-jordan-and-saudi-arabia-inscribed-unesco-s-world-heritage-list#sthash.gYrvn3gB.dpuf

Establishing a Global Centre for Excellence for Persons with Disabilities using ICTs
3 July 2015
An international expert meeting on the “Establishment of a Global Centre for Excellence for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)” was held on 29 and 30 June 2015 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. The meeting brought together more than a dozen experts from Brazil, Ecuador, France, India, Ireland, Kuwait, UK and USA, as well as the UN Economic Commission for Western Asia (UNECWA), in cooperation with the Permanent Delegation of the State of Kuwait to UNESCO.
…Over the two days, the experts discussed the proposed Centre, to be based in the State of Kuwait, defining its vision, mission, functions, objectives, scope and title. They further proceeded to the development of a strategic roadmap, and proposals for the structure of the Global Centre, as well as resources and infrastructure required.

Reconstruction of Timbuktu mausoleums nears completion
1 July 2015

$2.3 billion required to send children to school in war-torn countries
28 June 2015

UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [to 4 July 2015]
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/allpress.html?ref=fp

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03/07/2015 –
Tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts, and Components and Ammunition

02/07/2015 –
Colombia Survey 2014: UNODC study shows significant increase in coca leaf production in high density areas

FAO Food & Agriculture Organization [to 4 July 2015]
http://www.fao.org/news/archive/news-by-date/2015/en/

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Huge opportunities for agricultural growth in West Africa
West Africa has unprecedented opportunities for agricultural growth, but making the most of them will require more effective regional integration, says a new 400-page book by the African Development Bank (AfDB), FAO and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
2-07-2015

OECD – FAO expect stronger production, lower prices over coming decade
Strong crop yields, higher productivity and slower growth in global demand, along with lower oil and fertilizer prices, should contribute to a gradual decline in real prices for agricultural products over the coming decade, according to the latest Agricultural Outlook report produced by the OECD and FAO.
1-07-2015

FAO Director-General highlights role of trade in food security and the use of public standards to ensure food safety
Global trade can play an important role in improving food security and nutrition and in fighting poverty and hunger while the use of science-based public standards is essential to ensure food safety, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva has told participants in the World Trade Organization’s 5th Global Review of Aid For Trade.
1-07-2015

Child Labour in Agriculture
Child labour is defined as work that is inappropriate for a child’s age, affects children’s education, or is likely to harm their health, safety or morals. It should be emphasized that not all work carried out by children is considered child labour. Some activities may help children acquire important livelihood skills and contribute to their survival and food security.
29-06-2015

ILO International Labour Organization [to 4 July 2015]
http://www.ilo.org/global/lang–en/index.htm

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Occupational safety and health
Ebola: How decent work in the health sector saves lives of health personnel
01 July 2015
International labour standards and tools, if correctly applied, are very effective in protecting frontline health workers treating patients with potentially deadly infectious diseases, such as Ebola, says Christiane Wiskow, Senior Health Sector Specialist at the International Labour Organization (ILO).

IMO International Maritime Organization [to 4 July 2015]
http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/Pages/Home.aspx

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Nippon Foundation’s Sasakawa to be awarded 2014 International Maritime Prize
03/07/2015 IMO Council awards the prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2014 to Mr. Yohei Sasakawa.

Mr. Ki-tack Lim (Republic of Korea) elected as IMO Secretary-General
30/06/2015 Mr. Lim has been elected as the Secretary-General of IMO with effect from 1 January 2016, for an initial four-year term.

Maritime and migration heads pledge action on unsafe mixed migration by sea
29/06/2015 IMO Secretary-General Sekimizu and IOM Director-General Swing recognized need for concerted global action