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

UNAIDS [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/

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UNAIDS Executive Director delivers his World AIDS Day 2015 message
19 November 2015 |

UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html
Selected Press Releases

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New Grant to Support Human Rights in 10 African Countries
Nov 19, 2015
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.

Helen Clark: Statement to the Informal Meeting of the General Assembly on Ways to Advance a Comprehensive Response to the Global Humanitarian & Refugee Crisis
Nov 19, 2015 Trusteeship Council – United Nations, New York

Sierra Leone launches first mobile financial services guidelines.
Nov 19, 2015
The Central Bank, Bank of Sierra Leone, in partnership with the UN Development Programme and the United Nations Capital Development Fund, launches the country’s first mobile money regulations to accelerate the delivery of financial services to the poor, including women and youth.

Indigenous Peoples take steps to have a voice in COP21
Nov 18, 2015
In partnership with UNDP, Indigenous Peoples from Brazilian Amazon to Pacific Islands hold urgent high-level dialogues with national governments to limit climate change, and ensure rights in new global climate agreement. Their involvement is fundamental in view of new research that highlights the enormous potential of Indigenous People’s solutions to climate change.

G20 Leaders: Call to Action on Inclusive Business
Nov 17, 2015
Leaders at the G20 Leaders Summit in Antalaya, Turkey issued a call to action to public and private sector representatives, international organizations and civil society to advance the ability of businesses around the world to integrate low-income people into their value chains.

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.unep.org/newscentre/?doctypeID=1
Selected Press Releases

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Biodegradable Plastics Are Not the Answer to Reducing Marine Litter, Says UN
Washington D.C., 17 November 2015 – Widespread adoption of products labelled ‘biodegradable’ will not significantly decrease the volume of plastic entering the ocean or the physical and chemical risks that plastics pose to marine environment, concluded a UN report released today.

The report, “Biodegradable Plastics and Marine Litter. Misconceptions, Concerns and Impacts on Marine Environments“, finds that complete biodegradation of plastics occurs in conditions that are rarely, if ever, met in marine environments, with some polymers requiring industrial composters and prolonged temperatures of above 50°C to disintegrate. evidence suggesting that labelling products as ‘biodegradable’ increases the public’s inclination to litter…

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Countries Commit to Tackling Multiple Threats to Migratory Waterbirds
New Action Plans for Seabirds, Eurasian Curlew, Grey Crowned Crane, Long-tailed Duck, Northern Bald Ibis, Shoebill and Taiga Bean Goose Adopted
16/11/2015 00:00:00

UNISDR UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.unisdr.org/archive
Selected Press Releases

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Understanding Risk Forum opens in Addis Ababa
18 Nov 2015
Delegates from over 30 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa along with development partners, academics and civil society are meeting at the launch of the Understanding Risk and Finance Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

UN DESA United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news.html
Selected Press Releases

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Special UN event stresses key role of water management in tackling challenges of climate change
18 November 2015, New York
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hosted a meeting on the links between water management and disaster risk reduction today, stressing that floods, droughts and cyclones have caused more than $1 trillion in damages and affected over 4 billion people since 1990.

UNESCO [to 21 November 2015]
http://en.unesco.org/news
Selected Press Releases

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20.11.2015 – Communication & Information Sector
UNESCO endorses new approach to Internet issues
In a groundbreaking decision on UNESCO’s role in the digital age, on Tuesday, 17 November 2015 the Organization’s 195 Member States endorsed options for action on Internet-related issues, including embracing the concept of Internet Universality.
The General Conference resolution endorsed the options proposed in the study Keystones to foster inclusive Knowledge Societies – Access to information and knowledge, Freedom of Expression, Privacy and Ethics on a Global Internet

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20.11.2015 – Education Sector
Universal Children’s Day and the Education 2030 agenda
Today, 20 November, the World celebrates the Universal Children’s Day. The Convention, which is the most widely ratified international human rights treaty, sets out a number of children’s rights, including the right to education.

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UNESCO Executive Board elects Michael Worbs of Germany as new Chairman
20 November 2015

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The new global recommendation on museums and collections adopted!
17 November 2015
Today, the UNESCO General Conference adopted the text of a new standard-setting instrument on the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, their Diversity and their Role in Society.
Member States have agreed on setting and implementing a set of global guidelines for the protection and promotion of museums and collections, which is to become the cornerstone of international museum policies. The adoption of this new recommendation reflects the international community’s strong commitment to assisting museums in fulfilling their roles in contemporary society to promote sustainable development and intercultural dialogue. They are one of the most prominent institutions for safeguarding heritage in its all forms, thus contributing to many of the Organization’s fundamental missions.

The elaboration of the Recommendation was supported by the financial contribution from Member States, namely Brazil, the Philippines, and the Czech Republic. It is worth recalling that the Zhi Zheng Art Museum in Shenzhen will partner with UNESCO to create a High-Level Forum on museums and to support the implementation and promotion of the Recommendation, as well as other museum-related activities.

For more information and related documents, please visit the dedicated webpage:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/museums/recommendation-on-the-protection-and-promotion-of-museums-and-collections/

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World Leaders to mark UNESCO’s 70th Anniversary standing for human rights and against violent extremism
16 November 2015

UN-HABITAT United Nations Human Settlements Programme [to 21 November 2015]
http://unhabitat.org/media-centre/news/
[Selected Announcements]

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UN-Habitat holds a collaborative planning session on the future of Haiti suburb
Port-au-Prince, 19 November 2015 – UN-Habitat this week held the first of a series of charrettes – an intensive collaborative planning session involving citizens and other stakeholders – to discuss the current situation and the future vision…
Posted November 19, 2015

Botswana delegation attend slum upgrading orientation workshop in Nairobi
Nairobi, 18 November 2015— An orientation workshop was held last week at the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi to train the Botswana Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP) country team on its various aspects. The workshop was well…
Posted November 18, 2015