'IFC and the United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, Professor John Ruggie of Harvard University, have released a consultation draft of the research paper they commissioned on foreign direct investment and human rights. Stabilization Clauses and Human Rights aims to raise awareness of the relationship between protecting investor rights and the host state's human rights obligations under international agreements.

The publication examines the imp more...

There are three basic approaches to assessing the impact of disaster and defining relief assistance requirements after a disaster: the damage done, the needs of the affected population or the rights which the survivors have to achieve life with dignity. Each approach has advantages in assessing post-disaster needs. Each approach overlaps with the other two, but each represents a different theoretical view of what should take place following a disaster. Further, each approach tends to be used by more...

'This paper sets out the case for the development of a soft law framework on the protection of vulnerable irregular migrants. It divides into four parts. Firstly, it sets out the problems with the status quo. Secondly, it outlines the case for a soft law framework. Thirdly, it outlines the case for a collaborative approach to the operational implementation of the framework. Fourthly, it outlines the process through which such a framework would be developed and facilitated at the international le more...

'This document, which focuses on international human rights law, is one of a series of self-study modules developed by UNHCR’s Division of International Protection Services in 2006. UNHCR first published a Human Rights and Refugee Protection training module in October 1995 (Volume I) and October 1996 (Volume II). That earlier module helped to create a greater awareness and understanding of human rights issues in the context of refugee protection. However, human rights law is constantly evolvin more...

U.S. policymakers have made securing and maintaining foreign contributions to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq a major priority since the preparation period for the launch of Operation Iraq Freedom in March 2003. This report highlights and discusses important changes its financial personnel contributions from foreign governments to Iraq since 2003. Full report in pdf format: Pages: 1 to 33)

Amateur Radio Disaster Services –when all normal means of communications fail! This website is dedicated to the disaster services. Since the beginning of radio, Amateur radio operators, 'HAM's' have been involved in sending life saving information in and out of disaster areas. During and after Earthquakes, Floods, Hurricanes and Tornadoes, HAM's have been there to assist local, state and federal agencies and relief organizations such as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army. The site pro more...

Action Against Hunger is an international, non-governmental, non-religious, non-profit making organization with programmes in 43 countries worldwide. Its vocation is to save lives, especially those of malnourished children, and to work with vulnerable populations to preserve and restore their livelihoods with dignity. The aim of Action Against Hunger is to save lives by combating hunger, diseases, and those crises threatening the lives of helpless men, women and children.

Humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger has published a report about the effects of rising food prices on people living in Monrovia, Liberia. Action Against Hunger is now raising the alarm about the seriousness of the situation. Urgent intervention is needed to prevent the situation from deteriorating any further.

The global food crisis, primarily caused by an increase in the price of food and fuel, has been widely reported in recent months, with all parties asserting the importance more...

The Humanitarian Action Report is UNICEF’s annual appeal for children and women affected by emergencies around the globe. Natural disasters across the Americas and Caribbean region, Colombia’s conflict and Haiti’s instability continue to be the causes of lost lives, lost means of living, internal displacement, uprooted basic infrastructure and, even more gravely, children, youth and women continuing to be the most vulnerable and the most affected by these situations.

In 2007, East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia regions faced an increased number of natural disasters, epidemics of infectious diseases, and renewed outbreaks of violence and conflicts. Avian influenza continued to circulate throughout East Asia and the Pacific and emerged as a greater danger in South Asia, threatening livelihoods of families and the health of children in some of the most vulnerable communities of both regions. Planned Humanitarian Action for 2008:
The chapter covers two UN more...