Statement on Data Sharing in Public Health Emergencies

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Statement on Data Sharing in Public Health Emergencies
The arguments for sharing data, and the consequences of not doing so, have been thrown into stark relief by the Ebola and Zika outbreaks.

In the context of a public health emergency of international concern, there is an imperative on all parties to make any information available that might have value in combatting the crisis.

We are committed to working in partnership to ensure that the global response to public health emergencies is informed by the best available research evidence and data, as such:
:: Journal signatories will make all content concerning the Zika virus free to access. Any data or preprint deposited for unrestricted dissemination ahead of submission of any paper will not pre-empt its publication in these journals.
:: Funder signatories will require researchers undertaking work relevant to public health emergencies to set in place mechanisms to share quality-assured interim and final data as rapidly and widely as possible, including with public health and research communities and the World Health Organisation.

We urge other organisations to make the same commitments. This commitment is in line with the consensus statement agreed at a WHO expert consultation on data sharing last year whereby researchers are expected to share data at the earliest opportunity, once they are adequately controlled for release and subject to any safeguards required to protect research participants and patients.

Signatories to the Statement
Academy of Medical Sciences, UK
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
The British Medical Journal (BMJ)
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
The Department of Biotechnology, Government of India
The Department for International Development (DFID)
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
eLife
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
F1000
Fondation Mérieux
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz)
The Institut Pasteur
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
The JAMA Network
The Lancet
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
National Academy of Medicine
National Institutes of Health, USA
National Science Foundation, USA
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)
PLOS
Science Journals
South African Medical Research Council
Springer Nature
UK Medical Research Council
Wellcome Trust
ZonMw – The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development

BRAC [to 13 February 2016]

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BRAC [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.brac.net/#news
Graduation: What’s next for ultra-poor programmes?
Results are in: Research shows that BRAC’s one-shot, ‘big-push’ intervention targeting the ultra-poor with assets and skills can lift extreme households onto a more sustainable path out of poverty. In this blog we presented updated findings on the long-term impact and sustainability of the approach from studies showcased at the recent IGC-BRAC conference: Tackling extreme poverty: Evidence from the field.

CARE International [to 13 February 2016]

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CARE International [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.care-international.org/news/press-releases

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12th Feb 2016 Syria
“Cessation of hostilities” welcome, but at what price?
CARE response to “cessation of hostilities” in Syrian conflict

CARE mobilizing aid as civilians flee advancing military and airstrikes in north and south
10th Feb 2016 Syria
The international aid agency, CARE, is mobilizing additional supplies to assist civilians trapped in the on-going conflict in Syria, which has escalated in recent weeks with military advances on major centers held by opposition forces.

Aid agencies: Impacted by war, 88 percent of Syrians in the south living in extreme poverty
8th Feb 2016 Jordan
Aid agencies CARE, NRC and RFSAN (FAO, iMMAP) release “The Forgotten South: Food Security and Livelihoods in southern Syria”.

Danish Refugee Council [to 13 February 2016]

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Danish Refugee Council [to 13 February 2016]
https://www.drc.dk/news

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13.02.16
Better conditions meet refugees in Greece
Since mid-December the Danish Refugee Council has been working to support the Greek Authorities in improving the reception conditions at Moria site on Lesvos Island.

12.02.16
DRC opens representation in Brussels
The Danish Refugee Council is opening its first office in Brussels. Together with the DRC Representation in Geneva, the initiative is an important step in DRC’s strategic advocacy work on behalf of conflict-affected refugees and internally displaced people.

08.02.16
DRC on emergency standby in Turkey
More than 25,000 Syrians have been fleeing Aleppo the last days. Some of them are stranded at the Turkey border. While some aid is provided in the other side of the border, the Danish Refugee Council is standby and ready to support and assist new comers in Turkey.

IRC International Rescue Committee [to 13 February 2016]

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IRC International Rescue Committee [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index

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Latest Press Releases
12 Feb 2016
Clooneys Speak to Syrian Refugees in Meeting with International Rescue Committee

11 Feb 2016
Increase in airstrikes and ongoing sieges “making a mockery” of international efforts to help Syrians, says aid agency

10 Feb 2016
Katherine Farley, Tracy R. Wolstencroft elected Co-Chairs of International Rescue Committee

08 Feb 2016
“This loss of life is avoidable.” IRC reacts to 33 more lives lost in Aegean Sea

08 Feb 2016
The International Rescue Committee supports Federal Court’s denial of request to prevent Syrian refugees from resettling in Texas

ICRC [to 13 February 2016]

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ICRC [to 13 February 2016]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new

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13-02-2016 | News release
Philippines: Red Cross extends assistance to people affected by Typhoon Melor
The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has scaled up its humanitarian assistance to tens of thousands of families who have lost their homes and livelihoods after the onslaught of Typhoon Melor (local name: Nona).

Yemen: Desperately needed medical supplies reach Taiz
Sana’a/Geneva – A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has managed to enter the city of Taiz, one of the worst-affected places in Yemen’s fighting, and deliver life-saving medical supplies.
13-02-2016 | News release

Yemen: Staggering crisis, insufficient response
Dominik Stillhart, director of operations at the ICRC has just concluded a three-day visit to war-torn Yemen. “I am appalled by what Yemenis are having to endure,” said Mr Stillhart.
11-02-2016 | News release

Our humanitarian action in Colombia
While the peace talks between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP) are making headway, there is no respite from the everyday armed violence in Colombia.
11-02-2016 | Article

Syria: Aid stepped up amidst heavy fighting in Aleppo province
As the humanitarian situation deteriorates in northern Syria, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said it is increasing the amount of aid for people caught up in the latest round of violence.
10-02-2016 | News release

Georgia/South Ossetia: Ninth meeting held in Ergneti to seek answers on fate of missing persons from conflicts of 1990s and 2008
ICRC – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has chaired the ninth meeting of the coordination mechanism for clarifying the fate and whereabouts of people who have been missing since the conflicts of the 1990s and August 2008 and their
10-02-2016 | News release

Liberia: Armed Forces of Liberia receive international humanitarian law manual
The ICRC has donated 480 copies of a new training manual on the law of armed conflict to the Armed Forces of Liberia.
09-02-2016 | News release

IRCT [to 13 February 2016]

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IRCT [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.irct.org/

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News
Two decades of fostering social and mental wellbeing in Sri Lanka
11 February 2016

News
IRCT submits forensic evidence to the ECOWAS Court of Justice
09 February 2016

Statements & declarations
Turkey must respect the right to health and life of civilians in the Southeast – Open letter to Prime Minister Davutoğlu and the Turkish government
09 February 2016

News
20 years of EMPATHY in Georgia
09 February 2016

Islamic Relief [to 13 February 2016]

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Islamic Relief [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.islamic-relief.org/category/news/
February 12, 2016
Empowerment through sports and education
Sports and education have played a part in empowering people who feel stigmatized by disability.
In Chechnya, Islamic Relief has been working with the Chechen Union of Visually Handicapped to set up a learning centre for people who are blind or have severe problems with their eyesight…

[Undated]
Increasing aid to displaced Syrians after need escalates
More than 70,000 people are living in desperate conditions on the Turkish border with Syria after military action newly displaced tens of thousands of people.
Around 40,000 of these have come from Aleppo city, in north-west Syria, following the escalating government assault earlier this year.
Islamic Relief is providing emergency aid to those who are now living on the Turkish border with no shelter and little food…

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 13 February 2016]

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MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news-stories/press/press-releases

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Press Release
NATO’s Response to Migration is Dangerously Myopic
February 11, 2016
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) issued the following statement today from Aurelie Ponthieu, MSF humanitarian affairs advisor on displacement, after NATO announced its response to migration in the Aegean Sea:

Press release
Pharma Company Attempt to Secure Patents for Key HIV Drugs Opposed in India
February 10, 2016
Delhi/New York—A patient living with HIV in India has filed an application to try to block ViiV Healthcare from being granted patents on two new critical HIV drugs, the medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced today.

Press release
Syria: Escalation of Conflict in Azaz District Could Have Dire Consequences
February 10, 2016
Medical services disrupted in many areas and basic aid lacking for 30,000 newly displaced people.

Field News
Syria: Thousands Newly Displaced Amid Violence
February 09, 2016
In Aleppo governorate, Syria, thousands of people have fled north toward Azaz town and the border with Turkey in recent days. Approximately 23,000 new arrivals are in urgent need of emergency shelter and support near the Bab el Salamah border crossing, in addition to tens of thousands of displaced people already in areas near the border.

Field news
MSF-Supported Hospital Hit by Airstrikes in Southern Syria
February 09, 2016
Airstrikes hit a Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)-supported hospital in Dara’a Governorate in southern Syria, killing three people and wounding at least six, including a nurse, says MSF.

Mercy Corps [to 13 February 2016]

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Mercy Corps [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases

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Press releases
Syria: Mercy Corps on Syria Cease-fire: Why Wait One Week?
February 11, 2016 Portland, Oregon – We are encouraged by the apparent breakthrough in negotiations on Syria and hopeful that it will pave the way to a permanent cease-fire and, eventually, a lasting peace. A cessation of hostilities by all parties to the conflict will allow for humanitarian access to the millions of innocent Syrian civilians trying to survive a seemingly endless war.

Mercy Corps Urges Passage of Legislation to Advance Global Food Security
February 8, 2016 Washington, DC — The global organization Mercy Corps urges U.S. lawmakers to pass the Global Food Security Act (GFSA) (HR 1567/S 1252), which will create a comprehensive strategy to address hunger and promote lasting food security around the world. With 795 million people going to bed hungry every night, it is vital that Congress support efforts to help vulnerable families grow and obtain nutritious food that will help them become stronger and more resilient.

OXFAM [to 13 February 2016]

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OXFAM [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases

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11 February 2016
Central African Republic’s new president must prioritize the issue of civilian protection – with the support of the international community
Voters in Central African Republic will this Sunday vote in a new president whose first task must be to end the violence which continues to devastate the country, and to provide better protection for its exhausted population.

Norwegian Refugee Council [to 13 February 2016]

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Norwegian Refugee Council [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.nrc.no/

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Iraq
Thousands of civilians flee Anbar
(12.02.2016)
As operations to retake opposition-held areas in Ramadi and Fallujah continue, thousands of civilians are forced to flee their homes. “Aid agencies are struggling to provide assistance due to the sudden increase in newly displaced families from towns inside Anbar governorate,” NRC’s Area Manager in Baghdad, Anja Riiser says…

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South Sudan
The struggle for peace
(12.02.2016)
If the security situation does not improve soon, we will miss our opportunity to move supplies and effectively prepare for the overwhelming humanitarian needs before rainy season arrives, writes Melody Knight, NRC’s Conflict and Policy Analyst in South Sudan.

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Turkey
Syrians freeze at the Turkish border
(11.02.2016)
NRC is concerned for the thousands of civilians at the border of Turkey, as the humanitarian situation worsens. We are currently working around the clock to provide internally displaced Syrian families with tents and emergency aid.

Pact [to 13 February 2016]

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Pact [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.pactworld.org/news

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February 11, 2016
Plummeting commodity prices increase risk of ‘conflict minerals’ in consumer electronic devices
Washington, D.C.
A steep fall in worldwide mineral prices is jeopardizing the operational traceability system designed to both stem ‘conflict minerals’ and protect vulnerable artisanal miners in Africa’s Great Lakes region.

At risk are rollbacks, suspensions and even closure of the iTSCi traceability and due diligence system that Pact has helped governments to implement in more than 800 mines, ensuring the livelihoods of more than 60,000 artisanal miners in Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.

Prices for tin, tungsten, and tantalum – 3T minerals that are used in all smartphones, computers, and airliners – have plummeted over the past year. While miners all over the world face the same price squeeze, the impact is magnified in central Africa where producers have to meet exceptionally strict requirements for due diligence if they are to trade on the international market. Central African miners and traders are at a commercial disadvantage and have to cut their own cost, including levies that self-fund the system during normal market conditions…

PATH [to 13 February 2016]

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PATH [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.path.org/news/index.php

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Press release | February 12, 2016
PATH and Siemens Foundation partner to launch Ingenuity Fellowships
A global health opportunity for university students in science, technology, engineering, and math

Announcement | February 08, 2016
PATH partners with Health Affairs to highlight importance of accelerated action on global immunization goals
Theme issue and policy discussion mark the midpoint of the Decade of Vaccines

Save The Children [to 13 February 2016]

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Save The Children [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.9357111/k.C14B/Press_Releases_2016/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp

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February 10, 2016
President Budget Request Mixed Picture: Raises Concern for Continued Progress for Mothers and Children Worldwide

American Households Not Prepared for Disasters, Not Confident That Children’s Needs Will be Met
February 9, 2016

Ticking Clock on Ethiopia Drought: Foreign Donors Must Pledge $245m in Next Three Weeks to Avoid Break in Food Aid Pipeline by End of April
February 10, 2016

Women for Women International [to 13 February 2016]

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Women for Women International [to 13 February 2016]
http://www.womenforwomen.org/press-releases

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February 12, 2016 | Digital Journal
Abdoulaye Toure: A life dedicated to women’s empowerment
Sharing his experiences confronting gender inequality during his childhood, WfWI-DRC Country Director Abdoulaye Toure discusses how it inspired his lifelong passion to work for women’s empowerment. In the most insecure regions of the DRC, Toure and his team are working to provide social and economic empowerment training opportunities for women, and engage men to support women’s equality.

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How Do People Live and Cope in the Midst of Violent Conflict?
February 11, 2016 | NPR’s TED Radio Hour
WfWI Founder Zainab Salbi discusses what it means to endure through violent conflict and the lessons she learned from her own life growing up in Iraq in the midst of war and from women survivors in WfWI’s programs. Sharing stories and anecdotes, Salbi explains how the women she has met find their own resistance to conflict, and the resilience and strength to help their families and children move forward.