Weekly Roundup May 23 to 29
For a summary of the World Humanitarian Summit that took place in Istanbul May 23-24 please see my previous post!
This week I found the following articles and reports on children and conflict.
UN experts urge final push for universal ratification of Optional Protocols to Convention on the Rights of the Child
Universal ratification of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OPSC) and on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC) is closer than ever, UN experts have said.
https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/press-release/un-experts-urge-final-push-for-universal-ratification-of-optional-protocols/
The Art of Healing: Post-conflict recovery at the community level
EXCERPT: “Healing from a traumatic experience fascinates me. I was born to be a psychotherapist — but in a day and age when one in seven people live in extreme poverty, and the reality of inequality is a video-click away, I knew I’d be more fulfilled working at the macro level. So I entered the sustainable development field, where instead of assisting people one-on-one with their individual healing, I work with institutions, policies, and organizations to assist systemic healing.”
http://unsdsn.org/news/2016/05/23/the-art-of-healing-post-conflict-recovery-at-the-community-level/
It’s Time the World Included Women and Children in the Peace Process
Can there be a better illustration of the threat to women and children in conflict than the current Syria crisis?
Women and children are often the main casualties of conflict and have been deliberately targeted by militant groups. They endure suffering from violence and intimidation long after conflict ends. Girls are being abused as sex slaves, beaten and raped, and trafficked across borders.
Such brutality is not limited to Syria. Systematic violence against women and children is a tactic of war across the globe. Rape is used as a weapon to terrorize and control populations. Children are kidnapped, forced to become soldiers and increasingly used in suicide missions.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/grete-faremo/its-time-the-world-includ_b_10109860.html
Conflict Trends, Issue 1, 2016
Peacebuilding in the Great Lakes Region of Africa
http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ct_2016-1.pdf
The Canadian Refugee Child, Youth and Family Research Coalition
The Children and Youth in Challenging Contexts (CYCC) Network has led a national effort to create the Canadian Refugee Child, Youth and Family Research Coalition. With over 60 researchers from across the country, dozens of resettlement organizations, and the support of federal and provincial government departments, the Coalition is working hard to secure the funding necessary to research the experiences of young refugees. Our goal is to understand the factors that facilitate children’s success in four areas of their lives: (1) language acquisition, literacy and engagement in learning; (2) social integration and countering violent extremism; (3) mental and physical well being; and (4) economic success.
http://www.cyccnetwork.org/blog/2016/05/26/coalition/
A interesting article that looks at Who tells the story of war and peace: international actors, national elites or local actors?
Whose version of the war and peace story wins out? The version created by international actors, by national elites or by the local actors who experienced the violence (and possibly the making of peace) on the ground?
http://politicsblog.ac.uk/2016/05/09/everyday-peace/
And a well deserved accomplishment! Burundi: Humanitarian worker Marguerite Barankitse presented $1.1m prize by George Clooney
A Burundian activist credited with saving the lives of 30,000 children has called for the president of her country to be tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC), after she was awarded the inaugural international humanitarian Aurora Prize in Armenia.
Marguerite Barankitse received a $1.1m (£760,000, €1m) cheque from the Hollywood star George Clooney, who is co-chair of the prize, during a ceremony in Yerevan in conjunction with commemorations for the Armenian genocide.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/burundi-humanitarian-worker-marguerite-barankitse-presented-1-1m-prize-by-george-clooney-1556505
Some elephant news too.
Together we can end wildlife crime
Today the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is hosting a high level dialogue on wildlife crime at the UN Environmental Assembly (UNEA) which is taking place in Nairobi. The session will open with the launch of the UN Wild for Life campaign that is calling on citizens, governments and corporations to pledge to act on this issue. Participants at the event are expected to announce initiatives to take forward the implementation of resolutions made by UNEA-1 and the UN General Assembly on illegal trade in wildlife.
These resolutions, and the incorporation of specific targets to end poaching and trafficking of wildlife in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, have helped raise this issue to the top of the international agenda.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/africa-wild/2016/may/25/together-we-can-end-wildlife?CMP=share_btn_fb
Don’t Step in It. Swab It!
Analyzing elephant dung has more in common with a crime scene investigation than you might think. “You swab it like in CSI,” says Jackson Frechette, referring to the popular police procedural TV show. “You swab the edge of fresh dung and hope that you get some skin cells.”
With the DNA from these skin cells, researchers plan to statistically model the number of elephants left in the Cardamom Mountains – one of the last bastions of Cambodia’s elephants. Frechette, the flagship species manager for Fauna and Flora International (FFI), said the population estimates should be finished by December.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/25443/don---t-step-in-it--swab-it-/
What Elephant Calls Mean: A User's Guide
From powerful roars to low-frequency rumbles, elephants use a variety of vocalizations to communicate. Their sounds also include snorts, barks, grunts, trumpets, cries, and even imitated sounds. These calls are essential cues for the survival of an elephant family. Elephant biologist and National Geographic Explorer Joyce Poole, along with ElephantVoices co-director Petter Granli, have recorded thousands of elephant calls.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140412-what-elephant-calls-mean/