Social Policy Commons^™

Youth Migration And Poverty In Sub-Saharan Africa: Empowering The Rural Youth, Charlotte Min-Harris

Human Rights & Human Welfare

Sangaré, a poor young farmer from a village in southern Mali, leaves his wife and three children to find stable employment in the capital city of Bamako. What he finds is an unrewarding reality that leads him from small job to small job, only earning about US 22 cents per day. These jobs range from selling sunglasses, to shining shoes, to driving a rickshaw. Unfortunately, his income has not proved enough to provide for his family, as his aunt has since adopted his daughter, and his children cannot attend school. The inability to find stable employment in Bamako has forced …

The Continuing Struggle For Agrarian Reform In Brazil, Sarah Mogab

Human Rights & Human Welfare

Brazil is infamous for its enormously skewed distribution of income, wealth, and land. In a country where 4 percent of landowners own 79 percent of the land, an ongoing movement for land reform continues to be a source of conflict and violence in the countryside (Kay 2001: 755). Extreme poverty is highly concentrated in rural areas. Although rural workers comprise only 18 percent of the total population (Filho 2007), it is estimated that as many as 6 million families are in need of land (Thomas: 9). This struggle for land, in Brazil and elsewhere, is framed by its supporters as …

The Brazilian Paradox: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Battle For Human Rights, Adrienne Rosenberg

Human Rights & Human Welfare

With a rich religious history of Catholicism juxtaposed with a sexually liberal public, Brazil interacts with its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community in a very distinct and often conflicting manner. Although homosexuality has been legal in the state since 1823, save the armed forces, and civil unions are currently permitted in some areas, Brazil has functioned within this paradox as both worst transgressor, with a high record of hate crimes and discrimination, and as world leader, with a progressive domestic and global push for LGBT rights. In order to accurately assess these two opposing statuses, one must analyze the …

The Colonial Legacy And Human Rights In Mexico: Indigenous Rights And The Zapatista Movement, Alexander Karklins

Human Rights & Human Welfare

The current status of human rights in Latin America has been profoundly affected by the legacy of colonial institutions. Since the time of conquest, through colonialism, and after independence, the growth of the Latin American state has been challenged by the alternative discourse of indigenous rights. In Mexico, the dominance of mestizaje (or the quest for a single Mexican ethnic identity) in the formation of its modern state apparatus has left indigenous cultures out of the realm of political participation and exposed to human rights violations. With the Zapatista uprising of 1994-1996, the contradictions inherent in Mexico’s constitution were brought …

Violence Against Sex Workers In Latin America: Pervasiveness, Impunity, And Implications, Stephanie A. Bell

Human Rights & Human Welfare

On December 17, 2005, two transgendered sex workers in Guatemala City were shot in the head, one fatally. Witnesses—including the survivor—alleged that police forces shot the victims. Human rights advocates have argued that the attack was part of a broader social cleansing campaign that has targeted all sex workers.

Sex workers in Latin America are subjected to violence regularly. This violence varies greatly, but its pervasiveness and the impunity for perpetrators are two common themes. Violence against sex workers comes from many different sources: police, pimps, johns, serial killers, gang members and others. The violence also takes many forms, including …

Review Of The Cherokee Nation And The Trail Of Tears By Theda Perdue And Michael D. Green, Rowena Mcclinton

Great Plains Quarterly (through 2013)

Past chief of the Cherokee Nation (1985-1995) and social activist Wilma Mankiller remarked, "We are still here." Facing rampant racism, a fraudulent treaty, and then dislocation from their homelands in the southeast, Cherokees not only survived but prevailed. Reflectively, Theda Perdue and Michael Green have summarized the complexity and cunning complicity surrounding the 1838-9 infamous Cherokee displacement known as the Trail of Tears, adding to the scholarship of Tim Garrison, Gary Moulton, Walter Conser, Mary Young, and the late William G. McLoughlin.

They juxtapose the remarkable lives of two adversarial Cherokee figures, Major Ridge (along with his son John Ridge, …

When Does Might Make Right? Using Force For Regime Change, John Linarelli

Scholarly Works

Should states use force to bring about regime change? International law recognizes no such grounds. This paper seeks to provide guidance from moral theory. The aim of this paper is to identify the moral grounds for the use of armed force by one state or a group of states, against another state, when the intention of the intervening states is to achieve a fundamental change in the character of the political and legal institutions of the other state. Lawyers tend to place the argument for regime change intervention within putative humanitarian intervention doctrines. The moral justification for humanitarian intervention is …

Lack Of A Will Or Of A Way? Taking A Capability Approach For Analysing Disability Policy Shortcomings And Ensuring Programme Impact In Afghanistan, Jean-Francois Trani, Parul Bakhshi, Ayan A. Noor, Ashraf Mashkoor

Brown School Faculty Publications

The present paper attempts to analyse some of the shortcomings that have impeded efforts in the field of disability in Afghanistan. After an overview of recent disability initiatives, this article presents elements that have contributed to the limited impact. The context of a Conflict Affected Fragile State (CAFS) makes particularly intricate the development of state-capacity as well as the delivery of basic services for the population. To overcome identified gaps, it is argued that Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach (CA) constitutes a relevant framework for designing disability policy and implementation. While the definition of human development has evolved considerably over the …

Ddasaccident696, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigation team concluded that the contributing factor to this accident was carelessness of deminer in terms of started excavation on the top of the detected signal, and poor command and control by acting team leader.

Ddasaccident660, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary and secondary causes of this accident are listed as Other because the accident summary lacks enough detail to infer anything useful about the events surrounding the accident.

Ddasaccident637, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The incident involved [the Victim] detonating an anti-personnel mine whilst excavating a contact. The investigation report is to be submitted by 18 December 2008. In the event that the completed report is not able to be submitted on the date indicated an interim report outlining progress with the investigation and the reason for the delay is to be submitted on that date and further interim reports provided every (two) days until the completed investigation report is submitted.

Diplomatic Conference For The Adoption Of A Convention On Cluster Munitions, Un

Global CWD Repository

The Convention on Cluster Munitions bans all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. Cluster munitions do not distinguish between civilians and combatants and can leave behind unexploded ordnance which can harm civilians and be detrimental to economic and social development for decades after use. The Convention aids in clearance of contaminated areas in order to prevent future disasters. It also provides risk reduction education and establishes a framework for cooperation and assistance for survivors.

Opened for Signature: 3 December 2008

Ddasaccident607, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as Inadequate training because it seems that the Victim started excavating on top of the mine. He may not have known how to pinpoint the detector reading appropriately, or may not have been instructed in safe excavation techniques. The secondary cause is listed as a Field Control Inadequacy because the investigators found that the field supervisors did not give appropriate information about the task site and did not correct his errors.

Outcome Evaluation: United Nations Development Programme Support To "Strengthening And Further Expansion Of The Mine Action Capacity In Azerbaijan" Project, Alistair Craib

Global CWD Repository

The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) is a success story and is one of only five such agencies with comparable success. If the main stakeholders maintain their current support and approach to it, that success should continue.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) approach to the project with ANAMA has proven to be a large part of this success and although its impact is now less – given the increasing strength of ANAMA – its role is still very important.

All the Outcomes and Outputs assessed by this evaluation have been met.

Work-Based Social Support In The United States: Limits And New Possibilities, Heather Boushey, Chris Tilly

Center for Social Policy Publications

The U.S. social policy framework has always relied on private employers to fill in the gaps for workers, rather than the state. U.S. workers have neither a strong social safety net outside of the labor market, nor an extensive social welfare structure supporting the labor market. For the most part, adequate provision of social benefits depends critically on employers’ voluntary adoption of support policies. For example, the U.S. has neither a universal health plan nor a requirement that employers provide health insurance coverage; the U.S. public system of old-age pensions is work-based, and that public system falls short unless supplemented …

America’S Biggest Low-Wage Industry: Continuity And Change In Retail Jobs, Françoise Carré, Chris Tilly

Center for Social Policy Publications

For those concerned with job quality in the United States, the retail industry commands attention. Retail is not only the largest low-wage industry in the country’s economy; it is the largest industry, period. It generates numerous entry level jobs for those with limited formal training. Hourly wages of nonsupervisory workers in retail languish at about three-quarters the national average. Retail is a very important employer of young workers. Its workforce is also disproportionately female. Women are concentrated in particular retail sub-sectors and some minority groups seem to remain employed in retail over time. At the same time, retail jobs—at least, …

Hd R&D Field Evaluation: Rapid Area Preparation Tool (Raptor), U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research And Development

Global CWD Repository

In October 2007 and May 2008, the U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program (HD), located at Ft. Belvoir, VA., undertook the testing of the Rapid Area Preparation Tool (RAPTOR). RAPTOR is the latest of a series of area preparation systems on tractor platforms that HD has developed in the last decade. Systems, including the Severe Duty Tractor and Tools (SDTT) and Mantis, have undergone operational evaluations in Thailand, Nicaragua, and Afghanistan. The RAPTOR was developed by the HD program to handle all area-preparation tasks from vegetation cutting and removal (up to Category 3), to antipersonnel mine rolling, plowing, and …

Evaluation Of Regional Evaluation Of The Ec-Funded Mine Action In The Middle East, 2002-2008, Steinar Essen, Ralf Otto

Global CWD Repository

In 2001 the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament adopted two Regulations on the reinforcement of the EU response against Antipersonnel Landmines (APL). These (referred to collectively as “the Regulation”) laid the foundation of an integrated and focused European policy. The Regulation states the need to regularly assess operations financed by the Community
and that the European Commission (EC) shall submit to the European Parliament an overall assessment of all Community mine action. To implement these provisions, the EC commissioned a global assessment of EC mine policy and actions over the period 2002-2004 and entered into an agreement with …

Teach A Man: Proactively Battling Food Insecurity By Increasing Access To Local Foods, Christina Fox

Journal of Food Law & Policy

This Chinese proverb has broad application when addressing the issue of food insecurity. It transcends beyond national borders and gender categories. It applies to many men, women, and children who are confronted by food insecurity today in America. Food insecurity is the "limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.

Environmental Elitism Vs. Environmental Justice: How Egyptian Ngos Shape Environmental Injustices Between The Elite And The Rest, Sarah Sensamaust

Archived Theses and Dissertations

[abstract not provided]

Ddasaccident770, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On 30 December 2008 deminer de- miner [the Victim] was busy in excavation of a detected signal in his clearance lane, his scraper touched on the top of a mine and caused it to explode.

Ddasaccident634, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The accident occurred because of carelessness of the deminer as he used chisel directly on the detected signal instead of [Demining group] standard excavating tool (scraper). The poor command and control is another contributing factor for this accident as he was not stopped by command group.

Ddasaccident635, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as a Field Control Inadequacy because the Victim was a field supervisor who acted in breach of basic safety requirements by poking a mine with a stick, apparently as a joke. The secondary cause is listed as a Management Control Inadequacy because the demining group’s managers are responsible for the selection and training of appropriately responsible field supervisors.

Ddasaccident619, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as Victim Inattention because the investigators imply that the Victim deliberately walked into the uncleared area. The secondary cause is listed as a Field Control Inadequacy because the field supervisors did nothing to prevent him doing so.

Sudan Mine Action Programme Capacity Development Study, Cranfield University

Global CWD Repository

Currently most of the key mine action activities in the Sudan are managed by the UNMAO. However, the mandate of UNMAO expires in June 2011, by which time the national authorities should have assumed all necessary regulatory and coordination responsibilities. In order to accelerate the transfer of responsibilities to the national authorities, UNMAO is developing a Transition Plan. Clearly, successful transition will depend on a carefully designed and well resourced capacity development plan to reinforce and further develop the national mine action capacities. This study by UNDP, as the lead UN agency for mine action capacity development within UNMAO, is …

Ddasaccident612, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as Inadequate training because the investigators found that the Victim did not know how to excavate safely. The secondary cause is listed as a Management Control Inadequacy because it is a management responsibility to ensure that all deminers are appropriately trained.

Ddasaccident803, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The accident occurred in a hazardous area high in the mountains. The demining group involved was searching the area with two mine dog teams and collecting discovered devices, moving them to a collection area. When the field supervisors went to count the discovered mines, the last collected item exploded, resulting in minor injuries to both supervisors.

Ddasaccident605, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The primary cause of this accident is listed as a Field Control Inadequacy because the investigators concluded that there was poor command and control. The injury spread, including forehead and body, implies that PPE was not being worn at the time. The secondary cause is listed as Inadequate training because it seems that the deminer either did not know how to pinpoint a detector reading adequately or did not understand the risks of digging directly on top of the place where the detector signalled.

Report On Mineburner System Used And Trialled By Handicap International In Bosnia And Herzegovina In 2008, P. Mccullough

Global CWD Repository

The aim of this report is to:

• Report on MineBurner training for HI staff.

• Show cost comparison between MineBurner and sub-contracted demolitions

• Document all operational uses of MineBurner during the reporting period.

• List observations and make recommendations.

Fits & Starts: The Difficult Path For Working Single Parents, Rebecca Loya, Ruth J. Liberman, Randy Albelda, Elisabeth Babcock

Center for Social Policy Publications

With dramatic shifts in the economy in recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for families to move into or stay in the middle class without access to higher education and skills training. Government-sponsored work supports help by providing direct assistance to working families to meet basic needs, such as child care, food, and housing. Yet, many supports do not reach low-wage working families in Massachusetts because of low eligibility thresholds, inadequate funding, limited availability, limited awareness, and numerous barriers to accessing such supports. Even for low-wage workers who do receive key work supports, such as subsidized child care and …