Social Policy Commons^™

Indigenous Political Participation: The Key To Rights Realization In The Andes, Stephanie Selekman

Human Rights & Human Welfare

"There is no way back, this is our time, the awakening of the indigenous people. We'll keep fighting till the end. Brother Evo Morales still has lots to do, one cannot think that four years are enough after 500 years of submission and oppression,” said Fidel Surco, a prominent indigenous leader, reflecting on Bolivia’s first indigenous president entering his second term (Carroll & Schipani 2009).

The Andean region is particularly appropriate for examining indigenous political rights because 34-40 million indigenous people reside mostly in this region. The actualization of human rights for Andean indigenous groups is an inherently complex issue, …

Introduction: Minority Rights, Joel R. Pruce

Human Rights & Human Welfare

The central thread woven through this Digest is the concept of vulnerability. Minority status, broadly construed, represents a core characteristic that carries with it particular human rights implications. Historically, minorities are frequently targeted for exploitation and scapegoated when things go badly. Without the capacity to protect themselves and without spokespersons to stand with them in solidarity, minority groups are specifically susceptible to gross exercises of power and abuse and too often denied access to channels through which to make claims and demand redress. Violations of minority rights are commonly structural in nature, as discriminatory practices are built into political and …

Lost In Translation: Linguistic Minorities In The European Union, Nirvana Bhatia

Human Rights & Human Welfare

“A nation without a language is a nation without a soul,” declares a Gaelic proverb. Indubitably, language is a product of national identity; it preserves heritage, reflects societal beliefs and values, and expresses a cultural spirit. The current international human rights regime, however, does not recognize an individual’s right to language choice; instead, it promises freedom from linguistic discrimination. The implications are not quite the same and, as a result, states have successfully repressed minority populations by controlling their language options. The European Union in particular—with its panoply of languages—demonstrates an inconsistent approach toward linguistic minorities; it attempts to promote …

Untouchability Today: The Rise Of Dalit Activism, Christine Hart

Human Rights & Human Welfare

On July 19, 2010, the Hindustan Times reported that a Dalit (“untouchable”) woman was gang-raped and murdered in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The crime was an act of revenge perpetrated by members of the Sharma family, incensed over the recent elopement of their daughter with a man from the lower-caste Singh family. Seeking retributive justice for the disgrace of the marriage, men from the Sharma family targeted a Dalit woman who, with her husband, worked in the Singh family fields. Her death was the result of her sub-caste status; while the crime cost the Singh family a valuable …

Combating Discrimination Against The Roma In Europe: Why Current Strategies Aren’T Working And What Can Be Done, Erica Rosenfield

Human Rights & Human Welfare

In the summer of 2010, the forced expulsion of many Roma from Western to Eastern Europe captured headlines and world attention, yet this practice simply represented the latest manifestation of anti-Roma sentiment in Europe. Indeed, the Roma—numbering over ten million across Europe, making them the continent’s largest minority—face discrimination in housing, education, healthcare, employment, and law enforcement; widespread prejudice against this group shows no evidence of receding. There is, however, certainly no shortage of national and supranational policies aiming to promote inclusion and equality for the Roma.

Inside The Border, Outside The Law: Undocumented Immigrants And The Fourth Amendment, D. Carolina Nuñez

Faculty Scholarship

As states enact immigration-related laws requiring local law enforcement officers to identify and detain undocumented immigrants, the Fourth Amendment rights of aliens are becoming critically important. In United States v. Verdugo-Urquidez, a divided Supreme Court suggested that aliens in the United States do not have Fourth Amendment rights unless they have established "substantial connections" to the United States. Lower courts have relied on Verdugo's holding to categorically deny Fourth Amendment rights to certain classes of undocumented immigrants. Commentators have criticized the "substantial connections" test as an isolated misinterpretation of Court precedent regarding the rights of aliens within the United States. …

Ddasaccident710, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

According to investigation report and the observation of accident point, the accident occurred in un-cleared area within the minefield. The deminer was returning back from the rest area to resume the work in his clearance lane, he entered into the minefield, stepped on PMN2 anti-personnel mine and accident happened. The worksite was well prepared and the area was clearly marked in accordance to the [Demining group] SOPs. The deminer did not consider and use the clear access lane to proceed to his working area while he was well aware about the cleared/un-cleared parts of the minefield. He was not stopped …

Ddasaccident719, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 22 December 2010 team arrived to the area on 06:30 and started operation on 07:00 working for 45 minutes and then 15 minutes break, the second round started on 08:00 for the same working and breaking period. The third round started on 09:00, [the Victim] worked in his clearance lane using metal detector and then stopped on 09:25 wanted to mark his clearance lane. He picked up marking material/equipment attempted to mark his clearance lane. On the way back he slipped out from his cleared lane to un-clear area, his right foot came on a mine and the accident …

Ddasaccident724, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 21 Dec 2011, the deminer [the Victim] started his work as usual in the assigned task for him to continue the clearance of the Mine Line (SML) which was laid as a cluster with one AT mine (M19) guarded by 3 APs M35 and after recovering and defusing one AT (19) and 2 APs (M35 / no defusing), the deminer started his work for the second period at 8:45 and he reported one signal to the team leader. The team leader left him to proceed with the proper procedures to recover and defuse the mine and at 8:55 hrs …

Ddasaccident740, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On the 13th Dec 2010 at 10:37, the deminer [Victim No.1] was operating in his clearance lane excavating a detected signal, his prodder touched on a subsurface tripwire of POMZ mine which caused it to explode. According to the investigation report the signal was not pinpointed correctly and the de-miner has used pick in contrary to set procedure, during the excavation, he pulled the subsurface tripwire connected with POMZ mine. The accident resulted in superficial injuries to deminer’s hands, left thigh and left side of abdomen.

Ddasaccident801, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The deminer was busy with clearance in M/F No3, Lane No1 and had an indication from his F3 mine detector. He then carried out the prodder drill investigating the signal and the mine detonated. It is unclear at present why the No4 A/P mine detonated. It appears that the mine was slightly outside the 10cm overlap of the basestick but this could not be confirmed due to the movement of the marking rocks and base stick when the blast occurred.

Administration Without Borders, Jonathan G.S. Koppell

Publications from President Jonathan G.S. Koppell

To thrive in 2020, we must conceive of the field of public administration in the broadest possible terms. Phenomena that typically have been treated peripherally in our literature are emerging center stage in recent years, confirming that the “old” boundaries of our discipline do not reflect contemporary reality. After reviewing three key developments—the rise of mixed and nongovernmental institutions in public policy, the increasing importance of market mechanisms, and the assertion of meaningful global regulation—an argument is made for a broader reconception of “publicness” that goes hand in hand with the embrace of governance in lieu of administration.

The Fiscal Impact Of The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program: 2010 – 2011 Update And Policy Options, Robert M. Costrell

School Choice Demonstration Project

In February 2008 and March 2009, the School Choice Demonstration Project (SCDP) issued its first report and subsequent update on the fiscal impact of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) on taxpayers in Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin. These reports covered the period 1993-2009, and addressed two distinct questions: 1. What is the net impact of the MPCP on state and local public funds? That is, what is the difference between the public funds expended on Wisconsin students, including MPCP students, and the amount that would have been spent without the MPCP? 2. How is the fiscal impact distributed …

Demographic Analysis Of Recovery Act Supported Jobs In Massachusetts, Quarters 1 And 2, 2010, David Sparks, Paige Ransford, Carol Hardy-Fanta, Christian Weller, Meryl Thomson, Robert Turner

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

Massachusetts policy makers decided to go beyond existing ARRA federal reporting requirements and collect additional data in order to gauge the effectiveness of ARRA’s fiscal policy by counting the number of individuals who have received an ARRA-funded paycheck. In addition, policy makers wanted to look at some of the demographic characteristics of this population. This report provides an in-depth analysis of the data that the MA Recovery Office collected during the first and second quarters of 2010, with a particular focus on job creation and retention by race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, and geographic location.

Highlights of the report include: …

Cultivating The Commons An Assessment Of The Potential For Urban Agriculture On Oakland’S Public Land, Nathan Mcclintock, Jenny Cooper

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

This is an inventory of open space with potential for agricultural production on land both owned by public agencies and within the city limits of Oakland, California. The inventory was conducted between the summer of 2008 and spring of 2009 and is part of an ongoing movement to develop a more resilient, sustainable, and just food system in Oakland. This project aims to locate Oakland’s "commons"—land that is owned by public agencies and therefore a public resource—and assess the potential for urban agriculture (UA) on this land. We hope that this assessment can be used 1) to inform policy decisions …

Milwaukee Independent Charter Schools Study: Report On One Year Of Student Growth, John F. Witte, Patrick J. Wolf, Alicia Dean, Deven Carlson

School Choice Demonstration Project

The general purpose of this evaluation is to assess the effectiveness of independent charter schools in promoting two desirable student outcomes: student achievement growth and educational attainment. Independent charter schools are authorized by non-district entities and are considered “independent” because they are not a part of the Milwaukee Public School District. We will estimate achievement growth of independent charter school students in grades 3-8 over four years in reading and math on the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (WKCE). Similarly, in later reports we will track student attainment, specifically whether uppergrade cohorts in our evaluation graduate from high school. Case …

Landmines And Land Rights In Conflict Affected Contexts, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Land rights in conflict and post-conflict contexts are an increasing area of concern within the humanitarian and development communities. Conflict can often result in dramatic changes to a country's land tenure regime and administration. Even when conflicts end, land rights may be threatened, especially for women, Internally Displaced People (IDPs), returning refugees, migrants and farm labourers. Secure land rights are, therefore, a critical issue for humanitarian response, sustainable peace-building and longer-term economic recovery, particularly in countries where a significant proportion of the population relies on agriculture as their main source of livelihood. The situation can be even more complex in …

Ddasaccident726, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The demolition team of [Demining group] arranged the smoke grenades in demolition pit in their CDS on 07:00 and then started Ordnance Disposal Operation, disposing of smoke grenades using electric demolition procedures. On 07:33 they conducted first fire by the exploder machine from their firing point. They waited for almost 18 minutes and then Technical Advisor started conducting Electric Misfire Procedures, he to correct misfire. On 08:10 the accident occurred and TA was killed immediately after accident.made manual approach

National Mine Action Strategy - Cambodia, The Royal Government Of Cambodia

Global CWD Repository

Cambodia’s landmine problem is the result of a protracted sequence of internal and regional conflicts that affected the country from the mid 1960s until the end of 1998. The nature of landmine and ERW contamination in Cambodia is highly complex. The northwestern regions bordering Thailand are heavily affected, while other parts of the country (mainly the East) are considered moderate to low impact, affected mainly by ERW. Mines and ERW have caused an unacceptable number of casualties, both military and civilian and have hindered national development. Mine clearance started along the Cambodia-Vietnam border by the company of women soldiers of …

European Identity Struggles In The Age Of Austerity, Par Engstrom

Human Rights & Human Welfare

The economic crisis has coincided with a discernible rise of right-wing populist parties in a number of European countries. This was most recently seen in elections in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Right-wing populist parties also hold parliamentary seats in Austria, Denmark, Finland, and Norway, and they have been part of coalition governments in Italy and Switzerland for some time. In France, Jean-Marie Le Pen’s National Front, although not represented in parliament, wields considerable political influence, and may receive an additional electoral boost should Le Pen’s daughter, Marine Le Pen, inherit the party leadership. True, these parties still enjoy only …

Multiculturalism And The Struggle Of National Normative Challenges, Marc Alexander C. Gionet

Human Rights & Human Welfare

Globalization has not translated into a set of universal monolithic values. As populations relocate for various reasons, increasingly less effort is required not only to stay connected, but to remain within the home community via satellite television, radio, telecommunications, and locally concentrated diaspora. Henryk M. Broder has described such a phenomenon as the development of “ parallel societies, ” which result from immigrants’ failure or lack of interest in integrating into a host community. The question that many commentators have attempted to answer is: does the development of parallel societies, or even additional cultural diversity, represent a threat or a …

November Roundtable: Multiculturalism And Integration Introduction

Human Rights & Human Welfare

An annotation of:

“Germany's Integration Blinkers. What's So Bad About Parallel Societies?” by Henryk M. Broder, Spiegel Online, November 20, 2010

and

“Angela Merkel: German Multiculturalism has Utterly Failed,” by Matthew Weaver, The Guardian, October 17, 2010

Citizenship, Rights, And Culture, Alison Brysk

Human Rights & Human Welfare

Shortly after German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s repudiation of multiculturalism, the Soros Foundation announced the winners of its Fellowships for New Americans—an award for graduate study for foreign-born students whose career paths show initiative, accomplishment, and “commitment to the values expressed in the U.S. Constitution.” Dozens of America’s best and brightest are pursuing degrees in law, medicine, public policy, business, and the arts that will immensely enrich our national and global communities.

A Protection Post-Mortem On The "Death" Of Multiculturalism In Germany, Erin Mooney

Human Rights & Human Welfare

Noticeably absent from the recent pronouncements of the “death” of multiculturalism in Germany, including Chancellor Angela Merkel’s own conclusion that the policy had “utterly failed,” has been any interest to seriously examine, let alone address, the reasons for such a failure.

Facing Up: Managing Diversity In Challenging Times, Carol Hardy-Fanta, Paige Ransford

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

Since its launch in 2008, Commonwealth Compact has grown steadily, employing several strategies to promote diversity statewide. The Benchmarks initiative has collected data, analyzed in this report, on a significant portion of the state workforce. Guided by Stephen Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at UMass Boston, Commonwealth Compact has conducted newsmaking surveys of public opinion and of boards of directors statewide. In addition, it has convened ongoing coalitions with its higher education partners, and established a collaborative of local business schools aimed specifically at increasing faculty diversity. The Compact has sponsored or co-sponsored …

The First Meeting Of States Parties To The Convention On Cluster Munitions (2010), Ccm

Global CWD Repository

The First Meeting of States Parties (1MSP) took place in Vientiane, Lao PDR, from 9 to 12 November 2010 and gathered some 1,200 delegates from 40 State Parties, 47 signatory States, 34 observer States and 20 international organizations (see list below).

The meeting was opened by Ambassador Gerard Corr of Ireland, Chairperson of the preparatory meeting for the 1MSP. During the first plenary meeting, the meeting confirmed by acclamation Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, as President of the 1MSP to the CCM.

National Mine Action Strategy Cambodia (2010-2019), Gichd

Global CWD Repository

The National Mine Action Strategy (NMAS) 2010-2019 responds to the challenges the RGC needs to address in order to promote development and provide security to Cambodian citizens. It builds on previous mine action strategies, as well as on the knowledge and experience that Cambodia has acquired over the last 18 years of intensive demining efforts. It also supports Cambodia’s request for a ten-year extension of its clearance deadline under Article 5 of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty to which Cambodia became a state party in early 2000. This strategy was developed under the leadership of the Cambodian Mine Action and …

Ddasaccident713, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

TYRE, Lebanon — A sapper was killed and at least four others were wounded on Monday when a cluster bomb exploded as their team cleared a mine-infested field in southern Lebanon, a security source said.

Ddasaccident714, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

I remember on the 25th of Oct. 2010 on the first part of work I cleared 3 AP mines from the first cluster as all the AT mines are cleared from the belt, then I headed to the next cluster following the team leader orders and started removing a 12 o’clock mine, when I was near its suggested location after making visual check and cleared the grass around it using the light rake I were no injuries thanks god, then the team leader came with deminer {name removed] and checked me and evacuated me walking to the ambulance which was …

Creating A Stable And Healthy Economy: Fresh Views From Emerging Leaders, Patricia Neilson

Emerging Leaders Program Team Projects

The forty-four Fellows in the 2010 Emerging Leaders Program worked in collaboration with the Center for Social Policy at UMass Boston on their “reshaping poverty policy” initiative. The Fellows used their professional skills to analyze data and create awareness campaigns, in turn getting a deeper view of how their civic engagement can make a difference in addressing social issues that affect both businesses and communities. The Fellows examined factors that affect housing and family homelessness, working closely with three organizations, whose participation was made possible by the Hyams Foundation: Boston Tenant Coalition, Greater Boston Fair Housing Center, Homes for Families.