The Sentinel

Human Rights Action :: Humanitarian Response :: Health ::
Holistic Development :: Sustainable Resilience
__________________________________________________
Week ending 4 July 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 4 July 2015

blog edition: comprised of the 35+ entries to be posted below on 6 July 2015

earlier pdf editions archived here

Ethical Principles of Health Care in Times of Armed Conflict and Other Emergencies
June 2015
Within the framework of the Health Care in Danger project, the World Medical Association (WMA), the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM), the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) were consulted by the ICRC with the aim of these organizations agreeing on a common denominator of ethical principles of health care applicable in times of armed conflict and other emergencies. The following document, which is the result of these consultations, is without prejudice to existing policy documents adopted by these organizations.

Civilian and military health-care organizations share the common goal of improving the safety of their personnel and other health assets and the delivery of impartial and efficient health care in armed conflicts and other emergencies,

Referring to the principles of humanity, whereby human suffering shall be prevented and alleviated wherever it may be found and impartiality, whereby health care shall be provided with no discrimination;

Bearing in mind the standards of international humanitarian law, in particular the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Additional Protocols, and of international human rights law, specifically the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966);

Considering the principles of professional ethics adopted by health-care professional associations, including the WMA Regulations in Times of Armed Conflict and Other Situations of Violence;

Endorse the following ethical principles of health care:

GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1. Ethical principles of health care do not change in times of armed conflict and other emergencies and are the same as the ethical principles of health care in times of peace.

2. Health-care personnel shall at all times act in accordance with relevant international and national law, ethical principles of health care and their conscience. In providing the best available care, they shall take into consideration the equitable use of resources.

3. The primary task of health-care personnel is to preserve human physical and mental health and to alleviate suffering. They shall provide the necessary care with humanity, while respecting the dignity of the person concerned, with no discrimination of any kind, whether in times of peace or of armed conflict or other emergencies.

4. Privileges and facilities afforded to health-care personnel in times of armed conflict and other emergencies are never to be used for purposes other than for health-care needs.

5. No matter what arguments may be put forward, health-care personnel never accept acts of torture or any other form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under any circumstances, including armed conflict or other emergencies. They must never be present at and may never take part in such acts.

RELATIONS WITH PATIENTS
6. Health-care personnel act in the best interest of their patients and whenever possible with their explicit consent. If, in performing their professional duties, they have conflicting loyalties, their primary obligation, in terms of their ethical principles, is to their patients.

7. In armed conflict or other emergencies, health-care personnel are required to render immediate attention and requisite care to the best of their ability. No distinction is made between patients, except in respect of decisions based upon clinical need and available resources.

8. Health-care personnel respect patients’ right to confidentiality. It is ethical for health-care personnel to disclose confidential information only with the patient’s consent or when there is a real and imminent threat of harm to the patient or to others

9. Health-care personnel make their best efforts to ensure respect for the privacy of the wounded, sick and deceased, including avoiding the use of health care for the wounded and sick, whether civilian or military, for publicity or political purposes.

PROTECTION OF HEALTH-CARE PERSONNEL
10. Health-care personnel, as well as health-care facilities and medical transports, whether military or civilian, must be respected by all. They are protected while performing their duties and the safest possible working environment shall be provided to them.

11. Safe access by health-care personnel to patients, health-care facilities and equipment shall not be unduly impeded, nor shall patients’ access to health-care facilities and health-care personnel be unduly impeded.

12. In fulfilling their duties and where they have the legal right, health-care personnel are identified by internationally recognized symbols such as the Red Cross, Red Crescent or Red Crystal as a visible manifestation of their protection under applicable international law.

13. Health-care personnel shall never be punished for executing their duties in compliance with legal and ethical norms.

FINAL
14. By endorsing these ethical principles of health care, the signatory organizations commit themselves to work for the promotion and implementation thereof wherever possible, including by appropriate dissemination amongst their members.

.
Press Release
Common ethical principles of health care in conflict and other emergencies
30 June 2015
The World Medical Association (WMA), the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM), the International Council of Nurses (ICN), and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), representing more than 30 million people from both the military and civilian realms, have adopted the “Ethical Principles of Health Care in Times of Armed Conflict and Other Emergencies”, a first-of-its-kind code of ethics that provides a common core for these major international health care organizations.
This document marks an important step towards the protection of health care, with the signatory’s organizations showing a cohesive front against all forms of disrespect of ethical principles affecting the access to and the delivery of health care in armed conflict and other emergencies.

Common code to protect health care workers from violence
Consistent information gathered by the ICRC through the Health Care in Danger initiative shows that, in armed conflict and other emergencies, health–care personnel are often coerced to act against health-care ethics, or are victims of threats and subjected to deprivation of liberty for acting in accordance with the ethical principles of their profession.
Within the framework of the HCiD project, WMA, ICMM, ICN and FIP were consulted by the ICRC with the aim of these organizations agreeing on a common denominator of ethical principles of health care applicable in times of armed conflict and other emergencies. The document is the result of these consultations.
With the adoption of the Ethical Principles of Health Care in Times of Armed Conflict and Other Emergencies, the five organizations reinstate the importance of respect of ethical principles of health care for the full implementation of International Humanitarian Law and the protection of health care.
The code enumerates the principles guiding the relationship between patients and health-care workers, and contemplates issues such as discrimination, abuse of privileges, confidentiality, and torture. The principles underlying this relationship apply in times of armed conflict and other emergencies, thereby facilitating the oft-arduous application of ethics in wartime. In this sense, these ethical principles of health care constitute a significant negotiation tool for health-care personnel (in and beyond the humanitarian domain) with the authorities and other relevant actors.

About
The International Pharmaceutical Federation is the global federation of national associations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, and is a non-governmental organisation in official relations with the World Health Organization. With 132 member organisations FIP represents more than three million experts in medicines, supporting the responsible use of medicines around the world.
The World Medical Association is the global federation of National Medical Associations representing the millions of physicians worldwide. Acting on behalf of patients and physicians, the WMA endeavors to achieve the highest possible standards of medical care, ethics, education and health-related human rights for all people.
The ICMM is an International and Intergovernmental organization created in 1921 whose primary mission is to maintain and strengthen the bonds of cooperation and knowledge between the Armed Forces Medical Services of all Member States.
The International Council of Nurses is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses and leading nursing internationally, ICN works to ensure quality nursing care for all and sound health
policies globally.

.
Peter Maurer on ethical principles of health care in conflict
30 June 2015
Speech given by Peter Maurer, President of the ICRC, at the launch of the “Ethical Principles of Health Care in Times of Armed Conflict and Other Emergencies.”
[Excerpts]

Dear colleagues, Dear friends,
The nature of humanitarian work often has me deliver speeches with words of warning and caution, and with descriptions of the particularly distressing situations in which victims of violence find themselves. I am glad to deviate from such patterns today, at the launch of our “Ethical principles of health care in times of armed conflict and other emergencies”.

Agreeing on these principles is indeed a substantive achievement and I would like to thank the World Medical Association (WMA), the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM), the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) for their participation and commitment to this process under the auspices of the ICRC.

The ethical principles we are launching today are a ground-breaking document because now, for the first time, our global associations have a common and concise set of shared principles. They will apply to more than 30 million professionals, civilian and military, who may face ethical dilemmas in times of armed conflict and other emergencies…

…This set of principles is a great achievement and demonstrates the capacity of a single sector to produce far-reaching ethical standards. The process through which we achieved this result is a perfect example of what I like to describe as principled pragmatism – where professional experience meets normative frameworks.

The endorsement of the ethical principles also demonstrates the outstanding commitment of health care professionals to preserve the integrity of health care staff and their resolve to lead without waiting for a governmental process – while it is critically relevant, it may take some more years to materialize.

Indeed, professional ethics transcend borders and political interests. The principles can therefore be seen as an articulation by individuals and civil society of what is acceptable and what is unacceptable behavior. Our common purpose today is to discuss how we are going to disseminate these rules and give them more leverage with different stakeholders.

We hope that you will use your own power, influence and your different networks to encourage the establishment of robust national legislations and accountability mechanisms…
Peter Maurer, President of the ICRC

Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water: 2015 Update and MDG Assessment
UNICEF and WHO
June 2015
ISBN: 978-92-4-150329-7 :: 90 pages
PDF: http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_82419.html#
Abstract
Looking back on 25 years of water, sanitation and hygiene monitoring, this report provides a comprehensive assessment of progress since 1990. The Millennium Development Goal target for drinking water was achieved in 2010, but, in 2015, 663 million people still lack improved drinking water sources. The world has missed the sanitation target by almost 700 million people, with 2.4 billion still lacking improved sanitation facilities and 946 million practicing open defecation.

Introduction [excerpts]
In 2000 the Member States of the United Nations signed the Millennium Declaration, which later gave rise to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Goal 7, to ensure environmental sustainability, included a target that challenged the global community to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP), which began monitoring the sector in 1990, has provided regular estimates of progress towards the MDG targets, tracking changes over the 25 years to 2015.

In 1990, global coverage of the use of improved drinking water sources and sanitation facilities stood at 76 per cent and 54 per cent, with respective MDG targets of 88 per cent and 77 per cent by 2015. The challenges were huge, as the global figures hid vast disparities in coverage between countries, many of which were battling poverty, instability and rapid population growth.

The JMP has monitored the changes in national, regional and global coverage, establishing a large and robust database and presenting analysis not only of the indicators detailed in the original framework for the MDGs, but also many other parameters. The analysis has helped shed light on the nature of progress and the extent to which the ambition and vision of the MDGs have been achieved. It has also helped to identify future priorities to be addressed in the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals.

Despite significant progress in water and sanitation, much still remains to be done. This report shows how the world has changed since 1990. It provides an assessment of progress towards the MDG target, and insight into the remaining challenges….

.
Joint press release
UNICEF, WHO: Lack of sanitation for 2.4 billion people undermining health improvements
Final MDG progress report on water and sanitation released

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

The Joint Monitoring Programme report, Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water: 2015 Update and MDG Assessment, says worldwide, 1 in 3 people, or 2.4 billion, are still without sanitation facilities – including 946 million people who defecate in the open.

“What the data really show is the need to focus on inequalities as the only way to achieve sustainable progress,” said Sanjay Wijesekera, head of UNICEF’s global water, sanitation and hygiene programmes. “The global model so far has been that the wealthiest move ahead first, and only when they have access do the poorest start catching up. If we are to reach universal access to sanitation by 2030, we need to ensure the poorest start making progress right away.”

Access to improved drinking water sources has been a major achievement for countries and the international community. With some 2.6 billion people having gained access since 1990, 91 per cent of the global population now have improved drinking water – and the number is still growing. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, 427 million people have gained access – an average of 47,000 people per day every day for 25 years.

The child survival gains have been substantial. Today, fewer than 1,000 children under five die each day from diarrhoea caused by inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene, compared to over 2,000 15 years ago.

On the other hand, the progress on sanitation has been hampered by inadequate investments in behaviour change campaigns, lack of affordable products for the poor, and social norms which accept or even encourage open defecation. Although some 2.1 billion people have gained access to improved sanitation since 1990, the world has missed the MDG target by nearly 700 million people. Today, only 68 per cent of the world’s population uses an improved sanitation facility – 9 percentage points below the MDG target of 77 per cent.

“Until everyone has access to adequate sanitation facilities, the quality of water supplies will be undermined and too many people will continue to die from waterborne and water-related diseases,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director of the WHO Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health.

Access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene is critical in the prevention and care of 16 of the 17 ‘neglected tropical diseases’ (NTDs), including trachoma, soil-transmitted helminths (intestinal worms) and schistosomiasis. NTDs affect more than 1.5 billion people in 149 countries, causing blindness, disfigurement, permanent disability and death.

The practice of open defecation is also linked to a higher risk of stunting – or chronic malnutrition – which affects 161 million children worldwide, leaving them with irreversible physical and cognitive damage.

“To benefit human health it is vital to further accelerate progress on sanitation, particularly in rural and underserved areas,” added Dr Neira.

Rural areas are home to 7 out of 10 people without access to improved sanitation and 9 out of 10 people who defecate in the open.

Plans for the new Sustainable Development Goals to be set by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015 include a target to eliminate open defecation by 2030. This would require a doubling of current rates of reduction, especially in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, WHO and UNICEF say.

WHO and UNICEF say it is vitally important to learn from the uneven progress of the 1990-2015 period to ensure that the SDGs close the inequality gaps and achieve universal access to water and sanitation. To do so, the world needs:
:: Disaggregated data to be able to pinpoint the populations and areas which are outliers from the national averages;
:: A robust and intentional focus on the hardest to reach, particularly the poor in rural areas;
:: Innovative technologies and approaches to bring sustainable sanitation solutions to poor communities at affordable prices;
:: Increased attention to improving hygiene in homes, schools and health care facilities.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reconstruction of Timbuktu mausoleums nears completion
1 July 2015

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

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

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

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