Checklists and Technical Guidelines to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing

The purpose of this document is to aggregate the coastal, flag and port State responsibilities to combat IUU fishing contained in select international fisheries instruments within a single reference document. The responsibilities are presented as a checklist, in questionnaire format. The document aims to serve both as a reference document for professionals as well as an assessment tool for practitioners, in order to facilitate the identification of legal, policy, institutional and operational weaknesses at the national level when implementing coastal, flag and port State responsibilities to combat IUU fishing. This is the first volume in the series of “Checklists and technical guidelines to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing”

Final report of the United Nation technical mission on the security situation in the Rwandese refugees camps in Zaire

Document collected by the University of Texas Libraries from the web-site of the Reseau Documentaire International Sur La Region Des Grands Lacs Africains (International Documentation Network on the Great African Lakes Region). The Reseau distributes "gray literature", non-published or limited distribution government or NGO documents regarding the Great Lakes area of central Africa including Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.UT Librarie

The analytical framework of water and armed conflict: a focus on the 2006 Summer War between Israel and Lebanon

This paper develops an analytical framework to investigate the relationship between water and armed conflict, and applies it to the ‘Summer War’ of 2006 between Israel and Lebanon (Hezbollah). The framework broadens and deepens existing classifications by assessing the impact of acts of war as indiscriminate or targeted, and evaluating them in terms of international norms and law, in particular International Humanitarian Law (IHL). In the case at hand, the relationship is characterised by extensive damage in Lebanon to drinking water infrastructure and resources. This is seen as a clear violation of the letter and the spirit of IHL, while the partial destruction of more than 50 public water towers compromises water rights and national development goals. The absence of pre-war environmental baselines makes it difficult to gauge the impact on water resources, suggesting a role for those with first-hand knowledge of the hostilities to develop a more effective response before, during, and after armed conflict

Pro-poor urban climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific : quick guide for policy makers

The “Quick Guide for Policy Makers on Pro-Poor Urban Climate Resilience in Asia and the Pacific” focuses on the need to enhance understanding of the region’s key urban stakeholders on climate change, discusses how it affects efforts to realize sustainable urban development, and explores what actions can be taken to synergize continued commitments to poverty reduction alongside urban climate resilience. It is argued that there are significant overlaps between climate change vulnerability and urban poverty, and that climate change resilience and poverty reduction efforts need not be a trade-off. Through examples which span the region, the Quick Guide illustrates pro-poor approaches to urban climate resilience that are holistic, flexible and participatory and that can be effective tools to foster inclusive and sustainable development - an essential task for policy makers in meeting the key urban challenges in the Asia-Pacific region in the twenty-first century. Earlier Quick Guides for Policy Makers: [No.1] [No. 2] [No. 3] [No. 4] [No. 5] [No. 6] [No. 7]</a

SDG 1: No poverty

The concept of poverty evolved over time. It encompasses not only low income and consumption but also low achievement in various non-income dimensions including education, health, nutrition, and other areas of human development. The preparation of profile of SDG1 – No Poverty – is an attempt to briefly assess the progress on poverty eradication, and look into how poverty can be eradicated so that no one is left behind – the pledge of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The profile is organised into four sections. Following this, Section two presents current status of income and multidimensional poverty as well as other targets and indicators of SDG1. This provides a basis for outlining the areas where good progress is made, and the areas which require further attention. The section is complemented with the much-needed information and analysis on integration of human rights and gender considerations. Section three is a brief account of few promising interventions in the region. The profile ends with a proposal of some priority actions necessary for achieving the Goal in Section four. These actions range from income generating activities to investment in building capabilities and resilience as well as enhancing climate and disaster risks reduction, to protecting human rights, fostering women’s participation and building the capacity of developing countries in the areas of disaggregated data collection and analysis. The concept of poverty evolved over time. It encompasses not only low income and consumption but also low achievement in various non-income dimensions including education, health, nutrition, and other areas of human development. The preparation of profile of SDG1 – No Poverty – is an attempt to briefly assess the progress on poverty eradication, and look into how poverty can be eradicated so that no one is left behind – the pledge of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The profile is organised into four sections. Following this, Section two presents current status of income and multidimensional poverty as well as other targets and indicators of SDG1. This provides a basis for outlining the areas where good progress is made, and the areas which require further attention. The section is complemented with the much-needed information and analysis on integration of human rights and gender considerations. Section three is a brief account of few promising interventions in the region. The profile ends with a proposal of some priority actions necessary for achieving the Goal in Section four. These actions range from income generating activities to investment in building capabilities and resilience as well as enhancing climate and disaster risks reduction, to protecting human rights, fostering women’s participation and building the capacity of developing countries in the areas of disaggregated data collection and analysis. </p

The future of Asian and Pacific cities : transformative pathways towards sustainable urban development

The cities of 2030, 2050 and 2100 will be very different from today. They will be cities transformed in their demographic composition, in their implementation of technology and in their wider ecological contexts. The challenges of building cities sustainable enough to meet the chang ing needs of the future will require new ways of thinking and working, as well as new kinds of multi-stakeholder initiatives and partnerships. The Future of Asian and Pacific Cities report 2019 makes the case for four priorities and four approaches to realize a sustainable urban future in Asia and the Pacific. A sustainable future occurs when urban and territorial planning lays a foundation; resilience guards against future risk; smart cities deploy the best technology for the job; and financing tools help pay for it all. Getting these essentials right in Asian and Pacific cities today is vital in order to adapt to the demands of tomorrow and to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda. The Future of Asian and Pacific Cities report 2019 was jointly developed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, Centre for Livable Cities Singapore, the European Union, The Rockefeller Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme.</p

Charting new paths for gender equality and empowerment : Asia-Pacific regional report on Beijing+30 review

This report has been prepared to inform the Asia-Pacific regional intergovernmental review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review in November 2024. It presents key progress, remaining challenges, good practices and lessons learned by member States and stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in Asia and the Pacific. Based on a synthesis of latest data and evidence, it proposes strategies to guide the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in Asia and the Pacific in the context of evolving global and regional megatrends, such as the just green transition, digital and technological transformation, and demographic shifts. The intersectional challenges related to gender, age, ethnicity, disability and other socioeconomic factors are reflected in the analysis. The report aims to identify opportunities to address gender inequalities and inform the development of future policies and programmes that can bring about gender-transformative changes for all women and girls of diverse background in Asia and the Pacific

Pathways to influence : promoting the role of women's transformative leadership to achieve the SDGs in Asia and the Pacific

A key driver for progress is Sustainable Development Goal target 5.5 on promoting and strengthening equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. Women leaders are making an impact across Asia Pacific. Women’s presence in local, state and national levels of government has influenced higher female voter turnout, increased gender sensitive policies and a stronger focus on improving social, health and safety services. In business, evidence is emerging to show that a higher proportion of women managers is significantly associated with an increase in profit. Nevertheless, leadership also remains out of reach for too many women across Asia and the Pacific.ESCAP, under the auspices of the UN Regional Coordination Mechanism Thematic Working Group on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, prepared a report on critical enablers for women’s leadership with a focus on its transformative impact on the societies. The report “Pathways to Influence: Promoting the Role of Women’s Transformative Leadership to Achieve the SDGs in Asia and the Pacific” highlights four key pathways to women’s transformative leadership, including growing consciousness and capabilities; accessing resources and opportunities; shaping and leveraging formal policies, laws and rules; transforming social norms and exclusionary practices. The report draws on research and data, as well as the journeys of 17 women leaders from 14 countries across the region to identify key factors that have enabled women leaders to inspire change in their diverse areas, ranging from disability, economic empowerment, grassroots community development, human rights and law, labour rights and trade unions, local governance, peace and security, public health, public sector reform, rural development and livelihoods, urban development and housing, women’s empowerment and youth

The long road to equality : taking stock of the situation of women and girls in Asia and the Pacific for Beijing+25

With the clarion call of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind, addressing gender inequality is fundamental for achieving a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable future for all. 2020 marks a series of converging global milestones: the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security; and the five-year milestone of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs. Together, these offer an opportunity to take stock of progress and persisting challenges and identify and accelerate actions to make gender equality and the empowerment of women a reality for all women and girls in Asia and the Pacific. The Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+25 Review was convened by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) in late 2019 to review progress on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Sustainable Development Goals. More than 600 participants from 54 countries and 166 civil society organizations attended the conference, which culminated in the adoption of the Asia-Pacific Declaration on Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. It offers a comprehensive set of commitments and actions on region-specific issues to move forward the gender equality agenda over the next five years. Within this context, ESCAP and UN Women conducted a study of the progress made and gaps that remain in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This synthesis report is the result of an analytical review drawing from national review reports of ESCAP members and associate members on Beijing+25, SDG data and secondary literature. Asia and the Pacific has made good progress in terms of the empowerment of women and girls over the last 25 years, but much work remains. Gains are currently threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic, with gendered effects that are in large part attributable to the social and economic inequalities women have long faced. At the regional level, governments highlighted progress in some key areas, including the expansion of social protection programmes that put resources into women’s hands, women’s greater educational attainment, increased economic empowerment and participation in public life, and improvements in health outcomes, including the halving of the region’s maternal mortality rate since 2000. Alongside these achievements, governments also identified common challenges. These comprised limited government coordination and collaboration, and weak or insufficient implementation of relevant laws and initiatives. Discriminatory social norms continue to limit women’s and girls’ abilities to exercise and enjoy the full scope of their rights and available protections. Persistent gaps in gender data hinder effective policies and programmes. Governments also noted that, in spite of progress, further efforts will be needed to end violence against women and girls; increase women’s political participation and leadership; enhance women’s economic participation; improve women’s and girls’ health; and address environmental issues, such as climate change and natural resource management, as ongoing challenges to the realization of gender equality and women’s empowerment. To further advance gender equality in the region in the coming five years, governments indicated that eliminating violence against women and girls, promoting women’s political participation and enhancing women’s access to decent work are top priorities. Additional investments are needed in key areas as diverse as social protection, inclusive digital access and skills building, and sustainable infrastructure

Asia-Pacific migration report 2024 : assessing implementation of the global compact for migration

This report aims to assess the state of GCM implementation in the region, its progress and its challenges since the first Asia-Pacific Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Migration in 2021, in which a Chair’s summary was adopted. Chapters 2 to 5 each consider clusters of GCM objectives, as presented in General Assembly resolution 73/326 and following the same groupings as in the Asia-Pacific Migration Report (APMR) 2020. These chapters open with a summary of the discussions from the first regional review of the GCM, held in 2021, drawing from the Chair’s summary. Chapter 6 provides overarching recommendations to support and accelerate GCM implementation in Asia and the Pacific. At the end of the report are annexes with information on the GCM objectives and guiding principles, references to migration in Voluntary National Reviews to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, and GCM pledges at the level of the State or City, Municipality and Local Authority