Risk Analysis
November 2015 Volume 35, Issue 11 Pages 1957–2119
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/risa.2015.35.issue-10/issuetoc

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Original Research Article
Building a Human Health Risk Assessment Ontology (RsO): A Proposed Framework
Thomas E. McKone1,2,* and Lydia Feng1
Article first published online: 15 MAY 2015
DOI: 10.1111/risa.12414
Abstract
Over the last decade the health and environmental research communities have made significant progress in collecting and improving access to genomic, toxicology, exposure, health, and disease data useful to health risk assessment. One of the barriers to applying these growing volumes of information in fields such as risk assessment is the lack of informatics tools to organize, curate, and evaluate thousands of journal publications and hundreds of databases to provide new insights on relationships among exposure, hazard, and disease burden. Many fields are developing ontologies as a way of organizing and analyzing large amounts of complex information from multiple scientific disciplines. Ontologies include a vocabulary of terms and concepts with defined logical relationships to each other. Building from the recently published exposure ontology and other relevant health and environmental ontologies, this article proposes an ontology for health risk assessment (RsO) that provides a structural framework for organizing risk assessment information and methods. The RsO is anchored by eight major concepts that were either identified by exploratory curations of the risk literature or the exposure-ontology working group as key for describing the risk assessment domain. These concepts are: (1) stressor, (2) receptor, (3) outcome, (4) exposure event, (5) dose-response approach, (6) dose-response metric, (7) uncertainty, and (8) measure of risk. We illustrate the utility of these concepts for the RsO with example curations of published risk assessments for ionizing radiation, arsenic in drinking water, and persistent pollutants in salmon.

Science
27 November 2015 vol 350, issue 6264, pages 1001-1124
http://www.sciencemag.org/current.dtl

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Policy Forum
Energy and Environment
Understanding China’s non–fossil energy targets
Joanna I. Lewis, David G. Fridley, Lynn K. Price, Hongyou Lu, and John P. Romankiewicz
Science 27 November 2015: 1034-1036.
Methodology standardization will improve comparability
Summary
More than 130 countries have targets for increasing their share of renewable or nonfossil energy (1). These shares and targets are often reported without clear articulation of which energy accounting method was used to convert nonfossil electricity into units that allow comparison with other energy sources (2–4). Three commonly used conversion methods are well documented by organizations dealing in energy statistics, but often, the method is not clearly stated when countries translate national targets into international pledges or when organizations track and compare targets across nations. China—the world’s largest energy producer, energy consumer, and emitter of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2)—uses a distinct fourth method that is unique, not well documented in the literature, and not transparent in policy documents. A single, standardized, and transparent methodology for any targets that are pledged as part of an international agreement is essential.

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Report
Predicting poverty and wealth from mobile phone metadata
Joshua Blumenstock1,*, Gabriel Cadamuro2, Robert On3
Author Affiliations
1Information School, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
2Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
3School of Information, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
Abstract
Accurate and timely estimates of population characteristics are a critical input to social and economic research and policy. In industrialized economies, novel sources of data are enabling new approaches to demographic profiling, but in developing countries, fewer sources of big data exist. We show that an individual’s past history of mobile phone use can be used to infer his or her socioeconomic status. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the predicted attributes of millions of individuals can, in turn, accurately reconstruct the distribution of wealth of an entire nation or to infer the asset distribution of microregions composed of just a few households. In resource-constrained environments where censuses and household surveys are rare, this approach creates an option for gathering localized and timely information at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.

The Sentinel

Human Rights Action :: Humanitarian Response :: Health ::
Holistic Development :: Sustainable Resilience
__________________________________________________
Week ending 28 November 2015

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 28 November 2015

blog edition: comprised of the 35+ entries  posted below on 29 November 2015

The Sentinel

Human Rights Action :: Humanitarian Response :: Health ::
Holistic Development :: Sustainable Resilience
__________________________________________________
Week ending 21 November 2015

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 21 November 2015

blog edition: comprised of the 35+ entries  posted below on 23 November 2015

Security Council ‘Unequivocally’ Condemns ISIL Terrorist Attacks, Unanimously Adopting Text that Determines Extremist Group Poses ‘Unprecedented’ Threat
20 November 2015
SC/12132
The Security Council determined today that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham (ISIL/ISIS) constituted an “unprecedented” threat to international peace and security, calling upon Member States with the requisite capacity to take “all necessary measures” to prevent and suppress its terrorist acts on territory under its control in Syria and Iraq.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2249 (2015), the Council unequivocally condemned the terrorist attacks perpetrated by ISIL — also known as Da’esh — on 26 June in Sousse, on 10 October in Ankara, on 31 October over the Sinaï Peninsula, on 12 November in Beirut and on 13 November in Paris, among others. It expressed its deepest condolences to the victims and their families, as well as to the people and Governments of Tunisia, Turkey, Russian Federation, Lebanon and France.

The 15-member body condemned in the strongest terms ISIL’s gross, systematic and widespread abuses of human rights, as well as its destruction and looting of cultural heritage. Those who committed, or were otherwise responsible for, terrorist acts or human rights violations must be held accountable. By other terms, the Council urged Member States to intensify their efforts to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters into Iraq and Syria, and to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism.

Following the vote, nearly all Council members took the floor to decry the “barbaric” attacks and hateful world view espoused by ISIL, reaffirming their support in both stemming the threat and bringing perpetrators to justice. In an echo of the sentiments voiced by many around the table Spain’s representative declared: “Today, we are all French, Russian, Malian and Arab,” adding: “It is time to act with a French, Russian, Malian and Arab heart.” The Council had a duty to guarantee the values and principles of the United Nations, and all must close ranks to vanquish terrorism, he stressed.

France’s representative, recalling that Da’esh had perpetrated an act of war against his country on 13 November, said today’s vote signalled recognition of the threat’s exceptional nature. The fight against terrorism could only be effective if combined with a political transition that would eliminate Da’esh, he said, adding that France had obtained activation of the European Union’s mutual solidarity clause.

The Russian Federation’s representative said today’s unanimous vote was a step towards the creation of a broad anti-terrorism front aimed at eradicating root causes. That also had been the aim of a Russian draft presented to the Council on 30 September, he said, describing attempts by some to block his delegation’s efforts as politically short-sighted.

Also speaking today were representatives of China, United States, Nigeria, Lithuania, Jordan, New Zealand, Chile, Angola, Venezuela and the United Kingdom.

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SC Resolution 2249 (2015)
The full text of resolution reads as follows:
[Editor’s text bolding]

The Security Council,
“Reaffirming its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1368 (2001), 1373 (2001), 1618 (2005), 1624 (2005), 2083 (2012), 2129 (2013), 2133 (2014), 2161 (2014), 2170 (2014), 2178 (2014), 2195 (2014), 2199 (2015) and 2214 (2015), and its relevant presidential statements,

“Reaffirming the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations,

“Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and unity of all States in accordance with purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter,

“Reaffirming that terrorism in all forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever and by whomsoever committed,

“Determining that, by its violent extremist ideology, its terrorist acts, its continued gross systematic and widespread attacks directed against civilians, abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, including those driven on religious or ethnic ground, its eradication of cultural heritage and trafficking of cultural property, but also its control over significant parts and natural resources across Iraq and Syria and its recruitment and training of foreign terrorist fighters whose threat affects all regions and Member States, even those far from conflict zones, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh), constitutes a global and unprecedented threat to international peace and security,

“Recalling that the Al-Nusrah Front (ANF) and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida also constitute a threat to international peace and security,

“Determined to combat by all means this unprecedented threat to international peace and security,

“Noting the letters dated 25 June 2014 and 20 September 2014 from the Iraqi authorities which state that Da’esh has established a safe haven outside Iraq’s borders that is a direct threat to the security of the Iraqi people and territory,

“Reaffirming that Member States must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law;

“Reiterating that the situation will continue to deteriorate further in the absence of a political solution to the Syria conflict and emphasizing the need to implement the Geneva communiqué of 30 June 2012 endorsed as Annex II of its resolution 2118 (2013), the joint statement on the outcome of the multilateral talks on Syria in Vienna of 30 October 2015 and the statement of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) of 14 November 2015,

“1. Unequivocally condemns in the strongest terms the horrifying terrorist attacks perpetrated by ISIL also known as Da’esh which took place on 26 June 2015 in Sousse, on 10 October 2015 in Ankara, on 31 October 2015 over Sinaï, on 12 November 2015 in Beirut and on 13 November 2015 in Paris, and all other attacks perpetrated by ISIL also known as Da’esh, including hostage-taking and killing, and notes it has the capability and intention to carry out further attacks and regards all such acts of terrorism as a threat to peace and security;

“2. Expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families and to the people and Governments of Tunisia, Turkey, Russian Federation, Lebanon and France, and to all Governments whose citizens were targeted in the above mentioned attacks and all other victims of terrorism;“

3. Condemns also in the strongest terms the continued gross, systematic and widespread abuses of human rights and violations of humanitarian law, as well as barbaric acts of destruction and looting of cultural heritage carried out by ISIL also known as Da’esh;

“4. Reaffirms that those responsible for committing or otherwise responsible for terrorist acts, violations of international humanitarian law or violations or abuses of human rights must be held accountable;

“5. Calls upon Member States that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular with the United Nations Charter, as well as international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, on the territory under the control of ISIL also known as Da’esh, in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Da’esh as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al-Qaida, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the United Nations Security Council, and as may further be agreed by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and endorsed by the UN Security Council, pursuant to the statement of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) of 14 November, and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria;

“6. Urges Member States to intensify their efforts to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters to Iraq and Syria and to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, and urges all Members States to continue to fully implement the above-mentioned resolutions;

“7. Expresses its intention to swiftly update the 1267 committee sanctions list in order to better reflect the threat posed by ISIL also known as Da’esh;

“8. Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

Statement of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on Universal Children’s Day
20 November 2015
Today, 20 November 2015, marks Universal Children’s Rights Day and the 26th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It is a time for celebration, as well as an opportunity to reflect on the various challenges that children’s rights, and in effect, children, continue to face in what is ever more a turbulent world.

Yet, we must embrace the 196th ratification of the CRC by Somalia on 1 October 2015, a testament to the global nature of the Convention. We must also redouble our efforts to accelerate the ratification of the three optional protocols to the Convention for the benefit of our children.

While the Committee notes general progress in how the Convention is being enforced in various thematic areas there remain some wide variations in its implementation with some disturbing trends. For instance, discrimination, both de jure and de facto, against girls, children with disabilities, children from ethnic, racial and religious minorities, children in poverty, and non-national and stateless children, remains a serious challenge. So do lack of birth registration, and violence that is still widespread, including sexual and other forms of exploitation such as child marriage and trafficking.

The Committee is also increasingly considering new and evolving issues. These include the negative effects of climate change as well as the impact of austerity measures that target investment in social services but that do not comply with international human rights standards. In addition, while digital media and the internet make positive contributions to children’s rights, they also can pose risks and potential harm, such as child pornography and bullying.

Terrorism, its impact on children’s life and development, and, in some instances, the various responses to it that do not comply with human rights standards, are a dire concern. The current migration crisis and its significant impact on children cannot be over-emphasised. In relation to children in conflict with the law, the Committee is following developments in a number of countries where some bills and laws are being introduced that do not advance the object and purposes of the Convention. Such legislation often reduces the minimum age of criminal responsibility below an internationally acceptable standard, impose harsh penalties on children, and/or deprive adequate substantive or procedural protection to all children below 18 years. In this regard, the United Nations is now undertaking a Global Study on children deprived of liberty following a request by the General Assembly. The Committee encourages all States parties to support the Global Study with adequate resources and information.

In all these challenges, the right of the child to have her or his best interests taken as a primary consideration should serve as the underlying obligation upon which all laws, policies, and services must hinge. A universal implementation of the Convention indeed has the potential to create a world fit for children in the foreseeable future – as long as all States, independently and collectively, embrace the Convention and make it the centre of all their activities for and with children.

For every child, a fair chance: The promise of equity
UNICEF
November 2015 :: 48 pages :: ISBN: 978-92-806-4817-1
PDF: http://www.unicef.org/media/files/Equity_Report.pdf

Introduction: The equity agenda
Giving a fair chance in life to every child, everywhere – especially the most disadvantaged – offers the greatest hope of breaking intergenerational cycles of inequity and poverty in every society. That is the central proposition underlying UNICEF’s ‘equity agenda’.

The principle of equity guides UNICEF’s work with a sharp focus on the world’s most vulnerable children: those from the poorest households, girls, children with disabilities, migrant and refugee children, those living in remote areas, and children from ethnic or religious groups facing discrimination. The following pages build on evidence and experience from this work to make two main arguments for closing persistent gaps in equity.

First, the cycle of inequity is neither inevitable nor insurmountable. UNICEF works to break that cycle by tackling inequities in opportunity for children who have been marginalized. That means supporting interventions to give these children a good start in life and continuing to intervene at key points during their early childhood and adolescence. Making such investments not only changes the future of the most disadvantaged children but also charts a new course for their children.

Second, the cost of inaction is too high. Failing to invest sustainably in essential services and protection for every child does not just deny today’s children their rights but will have detrimental effects for generations to come. Failing to seize critical windows of opportunity in the lives of the most vulnerable children now will incur higher costs later. These costs will be felt in terms of lost lives, wasted potential and reduced productivity. In the end, inaction will contribute to social and economic inequities affecting entire societies and will slow or reverse global development progress.

This report outlines many of the milestones achieved for the world’s poor and marginalized children to date, as well as many of the remaining gaps. It examines seven sectors that are critical to progress for children: health; HIV and AIDS; water, sanitation and hygiene; nutrition; education; child protection; and social inclusion. In each sector, there are stark contrasts between global advances on one hand and the urgent, unmet needs of the world’s most vulnerable children on the other.

Beyond facts and figures, the report also features selected stories about children and families who have not shared equally in those advances – and about what UNICEF and its partners are doing to right the balance. The stories highlight equity-focused approaches to both humanitarian crises and longer-term development, because action on both fronts will be needed to achieve the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals.

As policymakers chart pathways for the post-2015 era, the time has come to invest sustainably in equity for the most disadvantaged. For every child, a fair chance sets out UNICEF’s vision for equity and demonstrates the positive, concrete impact of equity-based programmes. Above all, the report underscores why equity is so important: because all children have the right to survive, thrive and reach their full potential, whoever they are and wherever they live.

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Press release
Universal Children’s Day: Why fair matters
NEW YORK, 20 November 2015 – The world remains a deeply unfair place for the poorest and most disadvantaged children despite major advances since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, according to a UNICEF report released today.

“In just over a generation, the world has cut child death rates by half, put over 90 per cent of children in primary school, and increased by 2.6 billion the number of people with access to safe water,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

“Yet children make up almost half of the world’s poor, nearly 250 million children live in conflict-torn countries, and over 200,000 have risked their lives this year seeking refuge in Europe.”
The report, For every child, a fair chance: The promise of equity, presents a statistical picture of how the world’s most marginalized children have fared against basic human development indicators.

It points out that:
:: Children from the poorest households are nearly twice as likely as those from the richest households to die before age five, and five times more likely to be out of school.
:: Girls from the poorest families are four times more likely as those from the richest families to be married before 18.
:: More than 2.4 billion people still do not have adequate toilets – 40 per cent of them in South Asia; and more than 660 million still lack access to safe drinking water – nearly half of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
:: Roughly half of the 159 million children suffering from stunting live in South Asia and one-third in Africa.

“Such vast inequities fuel a vicious intergenerational cycle of poverty and disadvantage,” Lake said. “But it doesn’t have to be this way. We know how to slow, stop, and reverse it into a virtuous cycle of intergenerational progress. It is up to us to decide to do so through more commitment and resources. We must make this moral, pragmatic, strategic…and fair…choice.”

For every child, a fair chance makes the case for closing persistent gaps in equity, arguing that investing in children, particularly the most vulnerable, is right in principle and right in practice – and that such investment brings multiple benefits not only to children but also to their families, communities and economies…

Norway ratification clinches landmark ILO forced labour protocol
Norway has ratified the 2014 Protocol to the 1930 ILO Forced Labour Convention, as part of a renewed global effort to eradicate modern slavery.
ILO Forced Labour Convention
News | 18 November 2015
– Norway has become the second country, after Niger, to ratify the Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention . The move is considered significant as ILO binding instruments generally provide that an adopted protocol only comes into force 12 months after being ratified by two member states. Following the Norwegian Government’s action, the new framework to fight forced labour and modern slavery will come into force on 9 November 2016.

“Norway’s ratification will help millions of children, women and men reclaim their freedom and dignity. It represents a strong call to other member States to renew their commitment to protect forced labourers, where ever they may be,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.

In 2014, government, employer and worker delegates at the International Labour Conference (ILC) voted overwhelmingly to adopt a Protocol and Recommendation which supplement the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29).

The Protocol complements the existing Forced Labour Convention (1930) , adding new measures including provisions on prevention, protection and access to justice, as well as requiring public and private employers to exercise “due diligence” to avoid modern slavery in their business practices and supply chains.

Commenting on his country’s role in bringing the protocol into force, Norway’s Ambassador to the United Nations and other international organizations Steffen Kongstad, said: “It is important for all countries to recognize the issue of modern slavery and that it must be a top priority on their agendas to eradicate it once and for all.”

The ILO estimates that 21 million people are victims of forced labour around the world, generating approximately US$150 billion a year in illicit profits. Victims are exploited in agriculture, fishing, domestic work, construction, manufacturing, mining and other economic activities. Women and girls, in particular, are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation.

ILO and IFRC to promote decent work opportunities in fragile and post-disaster settings
Agreement covers cooperation on livelihoods, procurement, SMEs, and cooperatives.
Press release | 20 November 2015
GENEVA (ILO News) – The ILO and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have signed a new partnership agreement aimed at promoting livelihoods and decent work opportunities for vulnerable groups in fragile and post-disaster settings.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the ILO and the IFRC will share and exchange knowledge on livelihoods programming, local procurement policies, small- and medium-sized enterprises, cooperatives development and business continuity management tools.

The agreement also involves capacity building for both ILO and IFRC staff and Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers, joint advocacy and communications activities, as well as cooperation on resource mobilization.

“Catastrophic events such as the recent Nepal earthquakes and the current refugee crisis are daily reminders of the absolute necessity to focus our attention on the millions of vulnerable people who are caught in fragile or disaster situations,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder. “We are confident that this agreement with the IFRC will help catalyse our joint efforts to help restore livelihoods and promote decent opportunities in fragile and disaster settings.”

“Humanitarian action needs to look beyond simply addressing the immediate consequences of disasters or crises. Our collective focus should be on building resilience at the community level, on supporting people to become stronger and better able to meet the long-term development challenges they face,” said IFRC Secretary General, Elhadj As Sy. “This partnership with ILO will help us do this by ensuring that we can support communities to quickly develop or re-establish their livelihoods and businesses.”

The ILO and the IFRC have worked together in the past, including in post-earthquake Haiti where the two organizations collaborated to address unemployment and stimulate local economic development.

To kick start the roll-out of the global partnership the ILO and IFRC will hold a partnership incubator workshop on 24 November which will define training, advocacy and implementation priorities.

Global Fund [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/

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New Grant to Support Human Rights in 10 African Countries
19 November 2015
GENEVA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Fund have signed a US$10.5 million grant to address human rights barriers faced by vulnerable communities in Africa, and facilitate access to lifesaving health care. The grant is the first of its kind and will cover 10 countries including Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, the Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Disenfranchised populations such as men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who use drugs and transgender people, systematically face human rights abuses and obstacles to receiving vital health care, such as HIV and tuberculosis (TB) prevention, treatment and care.

“The right to health means that each and every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health,” said Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator. “Together we need to support countries to implement laws and policies grounded in evidence and human rights in order to reduce stigma, safeguard dignity, and ensure access to essential health services for all. Punitive laws and practices impeding effective HIV and TB responses need to be abolished.”

Sub-Saharan Africa has 70 percent of the world’s new HIV infections. Although major progress has been made in recent years to promote better access to health services in most countries, social stigma and discrimination around those affected by HIV continues to hamper their access to life-saving treatment. The grant money will support the strengthening of laws and policies to improve access to health care and reduce the impact of HIV and TB on these vulnerable populations.

UNDP will be the principal recipient of the three-year Africa Regional Grant in collaboration with four African civil society organizations – the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA), ENDA Santé, KELIN, and the Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC). These organizations have recognized expertise in documenting human rights violations, in strategic litigation, advocacy and capacity-strengthening.

Since 2003, UNDP has partnered with the Global Fund to achieve the common goal of fighting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria more effectively, including among the poorest and most marginalized communities in challenging country contexts.

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Global Fund Board Approves New Strategic Framework
17 November 2015
GENEVA – The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria approved a new framework for its 2017-2022 strategy to maximize impact, strengthen systems for health, promote and protect human rights and gender equality, and mobilize additional resources.

At a two-day Board meeting, partners agreed to prioritize efforts that reach more people and achieve greater impact through innovative approaches that meet diverse country needs. The Global Fund invests nearly US$4 billion each year in programs in communities and countries all over the world to accelerate the end of HIV, TB and malaria as epidemics.

The strategic framework sets the structure for a multiyear strategy with a fuller narrative that is expected to be finalized in 2016. Several Board members commented on the extensive consultations and broad engagement in the year-long process in devising the strategic framework, intended to capture feedback from across the Global Fund partnership. Hundreds of partners participated in strategy discussions at Partnership Forums that were convened in Addis Ababa, Bangkok and Buenos Aires, and contributed through an e-Forum that collected views from all over the world.

“The strategic framework shows considerable progress on human rights, as well as the commitment of the Global Fund to demonstrate investments in women and girls,” said Rico Gustav, Alternate Board member of the Communities Delegation. “Looking forward, we need an allocation methodology aligned with the strategic framework for the impacts to translate into saving lives.”

At the Board meeting, led by Board Chair Norbert Hauser and Vice Chair Aida Kurtovic, members also voted to approve an operating budget and corporate work plan for 2016.
The new strategic framework is fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals embraced by member states of the United Nations in September 2015, with a holistic and multidisciplinary approach that seeks to reach those most in need, reduce inequalities, and support sustainable transition across the development continuum as countries move toward self-sustainability.

The new strategic framework underlines Global Fund commitment to contribute to building resilient and sustainable systems for health together with robust national strategies for health and with national disease-specific strategic plans in each country…

Investment Needs to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals: Understanding the Billions and Trillions
Guido Schmidt-Traub
Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Working Paper
Version 2
12 November 2015 :: 137 pages
Pdf: http://unsdsn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/151112-SDG-Financing-Needs.pdf
Abstract
In September 2015, governments adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030 in order to guide international cooperation in pursuit of ambitious quantitative goals. This paper reviews the role that global needs assessments play in supporting the SDGs and discusses common criticisms. The paper proposes an analytical framework for SDG needs assessments that translates the 17 SDGs into eight investment areas. It also integrates investment needs for climate change adaptation and mitigation with the development needs for each investment area and introduces a preliminary score to assess the quality and suitability of needs assessment studies. Using this framework, published sector needs assessments are harmonized and consolidated, paying careful attention to differences in methodologies and assumptions. The share of private financing is estimated for each investment area, and overall investment needs are aggregated.

The paper then explores the implications of economy-wide studies on synergies and trade-offs in financing the SDGs and outlines priorities and directions for future research. This preliminary analysis of available sector studies shows that incremental spending needs in low- and lower-middle-income countries may amount to at least $20131.4 trillion per year ($343-360 billion for low-income countries and $900-944 billion for lower-middle-income countries). Over the period this corresponds to some 4% of these countries’ GDP measured in $ PPP and 11.5% of GDP in US dollars at market exchange rates. Approximately half of these investments in the SDGs can be privately financed. Domestic resource mobilization can increase significantly leaving an external financing gap of perhaps $152-163 billion per year (equivalent to 0.22-0.26% of high-income countries’ GDP) that must be met through international public finance, including Official Development Assistance.

Globally an incremental 1.5-2.5% of world GDP needs to be invested each year by the public and private sectors to achieve the SDGs in every country. These results are preliminary and meant for discussion and improvement.

Comments on this revised draft are welcomed and should be addressed to info@unsdsn.org. The SDSN may issue periodic updates of this analysis.

United Nations – Secretary General, Security Council, General Assembly  [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.un.org/en/unpress/
Selected Press Releases/Meetings Coverage

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20 November 2015
SG/SM/17343-OBV/1553
On Universal Children’s Day, Secretary-General Stresses Reaffirming Commitment That No Child Is ‘Deprived of Their Liberty’

20 November 2015
GA/11729
Speakers in General Assembly Call for Comprehensive, Long-Term Approach to Tackle Unprecedented Refugee Crisis in Mediterranean Basin, Aid Syrian Asylum Seekers
A comprehensive new approach requiring the efforts of the entire international community was needed to tackle the dramatic and unprecedented refugee crisis in the Mediterranean basin, the General Assembly heard today, as it held a day-long debate on the subject, with a particular focus on the plight of Syrian asylum seekers.

20 November 2015
SC/12132
Security Council ‘Unequivocally’ Condemns ISIL Terrorist Attacks, Unanimously Adopting Text that Determines Extremist Group Poses ‘Unprecedented’ Threat
The Security Council determined today that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham (ISIL/ISIS) constituted an “unprecedented” threat to international peace and security, calling upon Member States with the requisite capacity to take “all necessary measures” to prevent and suppress its terrorist acts on territory under its control in Syria and Iraq.

18 November 2015
GA/11726
General Assembly Elects Filippo Grandi of Italy as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Fills Vacancies in Tribunals
The General Assembly today elected the Secretary-General’s proposed candidate, Filippo Grandi (Italy), as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), while filling vacancies in the United Nations tribunals that address internal grievances and disciplinary matters.

16 November 2015
SC/12123
Protecting Civilians, Providing Unimpeded Humanitarian Aid Must Remain Focus of International Efforts, Security Council Told during Briefings on Syria
As the international community approached a critical juncture in the five-year-long Syrian crisis, its focus must remain on protecting civilians and ensuring they enjoyed unimpeded access to humanitarian aid, senior United Nations officials emphasized as they briefed the Security Council today.

SRSG/CAAC Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict [to 21 November 2015]
https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/virtual-library/press-release-archive/

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20 Nov 2015
Universal Children’s Day: Our Commitment to Better Protect Children Affected by War

16 Nov 2015
Syria: Conflict Takes Unacceptable Toll on Lives of Children

SRSG/SVC Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/media/press-releases/

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United Nations Special Representative calls on Security Council for political, financial support for MENA response strategy on conflict-related sexual violence
(New York, 16 November 2015) Sexual violence has been a characteristic of the Syrian conflict, and has been perpetrated by most of the belligerent parties as a tactic of war and a tactic of terrorism, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Zainab Hawa Bangura, today told the UN Security Council, calling for political and financial support to strengthen the current response for communities affected by conflict-related sexual violence.

“Our response has to be beyond security and military considerations,” Special Representative Bangura said in her briefing to the Council.

In seven key points, she highlighted a range of interventions that will be required to aid survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and aim to prevent new attacks:
1. Mobilize political commitment, support and resources;
2. Ensure that protection and empowerment of women is consistently included as a central consideration in all efforts to prevent violent extremism and countering terrorism;
3. Enhance protection, early-warning and risk mitigation;
4. Strengthen the support and services to survivors of sexual violence;
5. Invest in deepening information, analysis and documentation on sexual violence;
6. Pursue accountability through investigation and prosecution of sexual violence crimes;
7. Ensure women’s participation in peace and mediation processes and the explicit inclusion of conflict-related sexual violence concerns.

UN OCHA [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.unocha.org/media-resources/press-releases
[We generally do not include OCHA Flash Updates on humanitarian crises in this digest]

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20 Nov 2015
Somalia: Somalia: Flash Update 4 Humanitarian Impact of Heavy Rains | 20 November 2015
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Somalia Situation overview During the past week, there has been a reduction in the amount of rainfall and floods in most areas of Juba and Shabelle basins inside Somalia as well as the Ethiopian highlands, according to the FAO-Managed Somalia Land and Water and Information Network (SWALIM). However, the risk of flooding remains high should the rains continue. The recent floods led to the destruction of main supply roads…

20 Nov 2015
Syrian Arab Republic: Statement to the press attributable to Mr. Kevin M. Kennedy, Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria crisis

19 Nov 2015
Yemen: Yemen: Health and education on the brink of collapse
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Yemen (New York, 19 November 2015): The Head of Operations for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, John Ging, warned that the health and education systems in Yemen are on the brink of collapse. “Eight months of conflict have had a devastating effect on all aspects of life in Yemen, with the health and education sectors the hardest hit,” Mr. Ging warned as he finished a three-day visit…

18 Nov 2015
Yemen: Statement to the Press: Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Johannes van der Klauuw

17 Nov 2015
Central African Republic: Central African Republic: Humanitarian Coordinator strongly condemns repeated attacks on sites for internally displaced people

16 Nov 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, 16 November 2015
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Syrian Arab Republic

16 Nov 2015
Syrian Arab Republic: Syria Crisis Conference 2016: Joint Announcement
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Syrian Arab Republic
New York, 16 November 2015 We – the leaders of the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Kuwait and the United Nations – are increasingly concerned about the plight of the Syrian people. We have been at the forefront of global efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to those displaced by the conflict. The international community has a responsibility to help the 13.5 million vulnerable and displaced…

UNICEF [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_78364.html
Selected press releases

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Statement attributable to Peter Salama, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa on Universal Children’s Day
AMMAN, 20 November 2015 – “Twenty-six years ago today, the world made a solemn promise to the children of the world, to protect and promote their rights to survive and thrive, to learn and grow, to make their voices heard and to reach their full potential.

Universal Children’s Day: Why fair matters
NEW YORK, 20 November 2015 – The world remains a deeply unfair place for the poorest and most disadvantaged children despite major advances since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, according to a UNICEF report released today.

UNICEF: Without toilets, childhood is even riskier due to malnutrition
NEW YORK, 19 November 2015 – Lack of access to toilets is endangering millions of the world’s poorest children, UNICEF said today, pointing to emerging evidence of links between inadequate sanitation and malnutrition

Children’s futures being compromised as violence escalates in Burundi, says UNICEF
NAIROBI, Kenya, 18 November 2015 – Children risk bearing the brunt of an escalation in violence in Burundi, UNICEF warned today, noting that the crisis has already left 17 children dead and many more injured.

Tech companies and governments pledge to protect millions of children from sexual exploitation online – UNICEF
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, 17 November, 2015 – Leading technology companies, governments and international organizations have committed to protecting millions of children from online sexual exploitation at the #WeProtect Children Online Global Summit hosted by the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom in Abu Dhabi, said UNICEF.

UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/search?page=&comid=4a0950336&cid=49aea93a7d&scid=49aea93a40

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Secretary-General welcomes election of his nominee, Filippo Grandi of Italy as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
18 November 2015

IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases
Selected Press Releases

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IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF Joint Statement on New Border Restrictions in the Balkans
11/20/15
Switzerland – In the last couple of days, Governments instituted a range of restrictions against movements of refugees and migrants from Greece.

Resettlement of Refugees from Bhutan Tops 100,000
11/20/15
Nepal – Over 100,000 Bhutanese refugees have been resettled from Nepal to third countries since the start of a resettlement programme launched in 2007.

Displacement Continues in Iraq, Amid Return Movements: IOM
11/20/15
Iraq – The IOM Iraq Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), published yesterday (19/11), identified 3,181,176 internally displaced Iraqis (530,196 families) from 1 January 2014 through 5 November 2015.

IOM Helps Togolese Girls Trafficked in Gabon to Return Home
11/20/15
Senegal – A group of 17 Togolese girls, aged between 16 and 21, including a single mother and her one-year-old baby, have been returned home from Gabon with IOM’s help.

IOM, Partners Conduct Joint Assessment Mission on Ivorian-Liberian Border
11/20/15
Cote d’Ivoire – IOM Cote d’Ivoire has led a week-long inter-agency assessment mission to the Ivorian-Liberian border to identify the challenges faced by border communities from local violence and a lack of border management.

IOM Aids Vulnerable Populations in Remote Areas of Jonglei, South Sudan
11/20/15
South Sudan – IOM is providing lifesaving aid to displaced and vulnerable host community households in remote areas of South Sudan’s Jonglei State. In the first half of November, it reached nearly 6,000 people with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance.

Ghana Builds National Migration Policy Capacity
11/20/15
Ghana – In April the Government of Ghana formally approved a National Migration Policy (NMP.) The policy was developed with support from IOM Ghana and the IOM Development Fund (IDF).

IOM El Salvador Works to Improve Living Conditions for Child Returnees
11/17/15
El Salvador – IOM has reconstructed and re-equipped facilities of the Salvadoran Institute for the Integral Development of Children and Adolescents (ISNA) designed to house unaccompanied migrant children and adolescent returnees.

UN Women [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.unwomen.org/news/stories
Selected Press Releases

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Statement by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Date: 20 November 2015
In her statement to mark this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka says “if we all work together: governments, civil society organizations, the UN system, businesses, schools, and individuals mobilizing through new solidarity movements, we will eventually achieve a more equal world—a Planet 50-50—where women and girls can and will live free from violence”.

Media advisory: Report launch: Progress for women in news media grinds to a halt
Date: 20 November 2015
Results of the fifth and largest study on the portrayal and representation of women in the news media will be released on 23 November.

“In Brazil, women will be at the forefront of ending racism” — Executive Director
Date: 18 November 2015
Speech by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the March of Black Women in Brazil on 18 November.

WHO & Regionals [to 21 November 2015]

WHO calls on countries to protect health from climate change
WHO statement
17 November 2015
Climate change is the defining issue for the 21st century.
According to WHO estimates, climate change is already causing tens of thousands of deaths every year – from shifting patterns of disease, from extreme weather events, such as heat-waves and floods, and from the degradation of air quality, food and water supplies, and sanitation.
The upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-21) in Paris offers the world an important opportunity to not only reach a strong international climate agreement, but also to protect the health of current and future generations. WHO considers the Paris treaty to be a significant public health treaty – one that has the potential to save lives worldwide…

15 million babies are born prematurely every year
Complications of preterm births are the leading cause of death among children under 5 years of age. Without appropriate treatment, those who survive often face lifelong disabilities, including learning, visual and hearing problems and their quality of life is greatly affected.

Physical inactivity and diabetes
November 2015 — Worldwide, people are less physically active. As physical activity decreases, noncommunicable diseases like diabetes are increasing. In the WHO European Region, one third of adults and two thirds of adolescents are insufficiently active.

Clean water and building toilets improves nutrition in Mali
19 November 2015 — WHO, in collaboration with USAID and UNICEF, are calling for nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene programmes to work together to maximize nutrition gains. A new report recommends high-impact solutions such as improving access to latrines. Mali has already started implementing some of these recommendations with great success.

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:: WHO Regional Offices
WHO African Region AFRO
:: Dr Moeti lauds health development efforts in Chad
N’Djamena, 19 November 2015 – The World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, has commended ongoing efforts in Chad to improve the health and wellbeing of the people. Dr Moeti made the remarks during a courtesy call on the Chadian Prime Minister Kalzeubé Payimi Deubet.During the meeting, the Regional Director observed that the priority that the Chadian government has placed on health is making a difference despite the prevailing challenges. Since 2012 Chad has drastically reduced the occurrences of meningitis and cholera outbreaks. Polio transmission has been stopped as well. Furthermore maternal deaths have been reduced from…

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: PAHO to update its manuals on management of obstetric emergencies (11/18/2015)
:: Antibiotics should be ‘handled with care’ to preserve their life-saving qualities (11/18/2015)
:: MERCOSUR countries create a negotiating mechanism to procure high-cost medicines, with PAHO support (11/16/2015)

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
:: Antibiotics, handle with care 16 November 2015

WHO European Region EURO
:: Addressing the largest single cause of preventable deaths in Europe – cardiovascular disease 19-11-2015
:: Efforts must be scaled up in order to halve road traffic deaths by 2020 19-11-2015
:: New WHO report shows comparable antibiotic resistance in EU and non-EU countries in the European Region 16-11-2015

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: Launch of first World Antibiotics Awareness Week from 16 to 22 November 2015

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: World Health Organization launches World Antibiotic Awareness Week to promote best practices in the Western Pacific Region
MANILA, 16 November 2015