The evolution of International Human Rights protection instruments : how indivisibly and universally are Human Rights implemented around the world

Paper presented at the Conference on Christian Perspectives on Human Dignity and Humans Rights held in Wuppertal (Germany) online from 9–12 April 202

Water for food: a human rights obligation: How states can manage conflicts between the human right to water and the human right to adequate food

While the right to water is a universal human right, water resources are limited. The single largest consumer of water globally is agriculture with its function to safeguard the right to adequate food. At the same time, water resources available for human consumption are decreasing, and more and more countries face water shortages. Conflicts related to water will become a serious issue. Local authorities as well as state governments need to develop mechanisms and criteria that allow them to decide which claims for water have priority and to settle disputes over access to, and availability of, water before conflicts escalate. This study argues and describes a human rights-based approach for defining priorities both at national and local levels

Safeguarding human rights in land related investments: Comparison of the Voluntary Guidelines Land with the IFC Performance Standards and the World Bank environmental and social safeguard framework

Die Freiwilligen Leitlinien Land der Ernährungs- und Landwirtschaftsorganisation der Vereinten Nationen sollten vor allem bei der Prüfung von Hochrisikoprojekten und bei der Bewertung von größeren agrarpolitischen Trends angewendet werden. So lautet das zentrale Ergebnis der neuen englischsprachigen Studie "Safeguarding Human Rights in Land Related Investments" des Deutschen Instituts für Menschenrechte. Sie vergleicht bestehende internationale Prüfungsstandards der finanziellen Zusammenarbeit mit den Freiwilligen Leitlinien Land aus dem Jahr 2012

National Baseline Assessment: Contribution to the update of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights

The German Institute for Human Rights (Institute) was commissioned by the Federal Foreign Office in 2021 to prepare a National Baseline Assessment (NBA) for the update of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP) and, to develop proposals in connection with this for the update of the NAP. The first NAP was presented by the Federal Government on 21 December 2016. In doing so, the Federal Government complied with the request of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and the EU Commission to develop an implementation plan for Germany for the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) adopted by the Human Rights Council in 2011. In this first NAP, the German government explained how it intends to fulfil its obligations under international law in the context of economic activities and what it expects from German companies with regard to their responsibility to respect human rights

Assessment and Management of Suicide Risk in Primary Care

Abstract Background Risk assessment and management of suicidal patients is emphasized as a key component of care in specialist mental health services, but these issues are relatively unexplored in primary care services. Aim To examine risk assessment and management in primary and secondary care in a clinical sample of individuals who were in contact with mental health services and died by suicide. Method Data collection from clinical proformas, case records, and semi-structured face–to-face interviews with general practitioners. Results Primary and secondary care data was available for 198 of the 336 cases (59%). The overall agreement in the rating of risk between services was poor (overall kappa = 0.127; p = 0.10). Depression, care setting (post discharge), suicidal ideation at last contact and a history of self-harm were associated with a rating of higher risk. Suicide prevention policies were available in 25% of primary care practices and 33% of staff received training in suicide risk assessments. Conclusion Risk is difficult to predict, but the variation in risk assessment between professional groups may reflect poor communication. Further research is required to understand this. There appears to be a relative lack of suicide risk assessment training in primary care

Suicide in deaf populations: a literature review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies have found that deaf individuals have higher rates of psychiatric disorder than those who are hearing, while at the same time encountering difficulties in accessing mental health services. These factors might increase the risk of suicide. However, the burden of suicidal behaviour in deaf people is currently unknown.</p> <p>The aim of the present review was to provide a summary of literature on suicidal behaviour with specific reference to deaf individuals. The objectives of the review were to establish the incidence and prevalence of suicidal behaviour in deaf populations; describe risk factors for suicidal behaviour in deaf populations; describe approaches to intervention and suicide prevention that have been used in deaf populations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A number of electronic databases (e.g. Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Dissertation Abstracts International, Web of Science, ComDisDome, ASSIA, Education Sage Full Text, Google Scholar, and the grey literature databases FADE and SIGLE) were explored using a combination of key words and medical subject headings as search terms. Reference lists of papers were also searched. The Science and Social Sciences Citation Index electronic databases were used to identify studies that had cited key papers. We also contacted experts and organisations with an interest in the field.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Very few studies focussed specifically on suicide in deaf populations. Those studies that were included (n = 13) generally involved small and unrepresentative samples. There were limited data on the rate of suicidal behaviour in deaf people. One study reported evidence of hearing impairment in 0.2% of all suicide deaths. Another found that individuals with tinnitus seen in specialist clinics had an elevated rate of suicide compared to the general population. The rates of attempted suicide in deaf school and college students during the previous year ranged from 1.7% to 18%, with lifetime rates as high as 30%. Little evidence was found to suggest that risk factors for suicide in deaf people differed systematically from those in the general population. However, studies did report higher levels of depression and higher levels of perceived risk among deaf individuals than hearing control groups. No firm evidence was found regarding the effectiveness of suicide prevention strategies in deaf people, but suggested strategies include developing specific screening tools, training clinical staff, promoting deaf awareness, increasing the availability of specialist mental health services for deaf people.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There is a significant gap in our understanding of suicide in deaf populations. Clinicians should be aware of the possible association between suicide and deafness. Specialist mental health services should be readily accessible to deaf individuals and specific preventative strategies may be of benefit. However, further research using a variety of study designs is needed to increase our understanding of this issue.</p

Studien zur Aufklärung von Struktur-Funktionsbeziehungen der eukaryontischen Polysialyltransferasen

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