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Commonwealth People's Forum 2018 at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Conference Centre Westminster, London UK.
London April 18th 2018
Media Accountability
Photo©vickicouchman
vickicouchman.com
07957226911
Commonwealth People's Forum 2018 at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Conference Centre Westminster, London UK.
London April 18th 2018
Media Accountability
Photo©vickicouchman
vickicouchman.com
07957226911
UN at Reconciliation Meeting Urges Iraqis to Seize the Momentum of Victory over Daesh to Build a Better Future
Najaf, 13 December 2017 - Iraq’s victory over the Daesh terrorists provides an opportunity for the country to shed its painful past and confidently embark on the road to peace and development, the United Nations emphasised at a conference on national reconciliation in Najaf today, urging Iraqis of all affiliations to seize the momentum and build on it to ensure a prosperous future for the younger generation.
The call came at a roundtable discussion that brought together tribal, religious, academic, political party and civil society actors from the Najaf and Diwaniyah Governorates to gauge the opinion of Iraqis from all corners of the country and tackle challenges to the Iraqi national reconciliation in the post-Daesh phase.
This is the sixth and last of such regional roundtables to convene under the theme “National Settlement: Prospects and Challenges” since September. Their recommendations will enhance the process that will lead to an inclusive National Settlement to take Iraq into the future after years of conflict and divisions. The meetings were organised jointly by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the Implementation and Follow-up Committee for National Reconciliation at the Office of the Prime Minister, with funding from the Governments of Germany and the Netherlands.
The representative of the Implementation and Follow-up Committee for National Reconciliation at the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Ali Abbas, opened the meeting in Najaf with an overview of the National Settlement document, which he explained forms the basis for national reconciliation.
“There is no alternative to the settlement, or to reconciliation. It is a necessity. The other choices are: No stability, No security, No development.”
He said the National Settlement discussion should involve all components and groups and is open to ideas and proposals, but all should be in line with the Constitution.
Addressing the participants - 68 men and 28 women from Najaf and Diwaniyah Governorates - the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Political and Electoral Affairs, Ms. Alice Walpole, alluded to Najaf’s significance in reconciliation, a city she described as renowned for its spirit of tolerance and acceptance.
Ms. Walpole said the defeat of Daesh provides the opportunity to press forward on the course towards permanent peace, so that the country can focus all its energies and resources on reconstruction.
“Reconciliation is a long process. We need to work together to develop a clear vision for Iraq’s better future,” the Deputy Special Representative emphasised. “We believe that all Iraqis need to capitalise on this momentum and build a basis for peaceful coexistence.”
Participants highlighted post-Daesh challenges with regard to national reconciliation. Opinions were diverse, from diagnosing the ills of the country and ways to move forward, to calls to combat corruption, ensure justice, hold perpetrators of crimes accountable, enact political reforms and work towards economic development.
They called for robust engagement of the United Nations in the political and development fields, including on elections and education, as well as in capacity building, pointing to UN experience in other countries and how this can be applied to Iraq.
Ms. Walpole underlined that the United Nations is committed to assisting the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people in overcoming the many challenges.
“There is a real need for constructive dialogue at every level,” the Deputy Special Representative said. “I am certain that, with the concerted efforts of Iraq’s leaders, political forces and its people of all ethnic and religious groups and their patriotism, assisted by the continued support of the international community, Iraq will be able to surmount post-Daesh challenges and build a better future.”
Photos by UNAMI PIO.
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Jawaharlal Nehru University Studen.ts' Union (JNUSU)-.
School of Social Sciences (SSS) .
Convenor's Report 2014 .
In keeping with the best of the democratic traditions of transparency and accountability of the JNU student movement which we have collectively defended over the years, JNUSU-SSS presents its Convenor's report for the year 2013-14. It has indeed been a year of consistent struggles and advances against the entire gamut of anti-student, exclusionary policies. Throughout the year, as we waged battles against these policies, we have time and again envisioned, fought for and ensured the implementation of several crucial policy-level decisions for a more democratic and inclusive educational institution and society. These huge advances -such as the reversal of delinking of the BA/MA programme in SL, 24x7 opening of the Central library and the Stadium, enhancement of income cap of MCM scholarships, the establishment of .
an autonomous Open Access model JNU Press, struggle for hostels and workers' rights-assume all the more significance since they have been wrested from the JNU administration in an era of fee hikes, commercialization, and shrinking democratic spaces. .
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(well-known lackeys of US imperialism), serves the US's deeper agenda in the region in two ways: (a) as a counter force to Iran and Svria -which offer a far more sustained oooosition to U5; imn~>ri~lkm in thP rPqinn ~nrl (b\ bv nluneine lr<"~C\ in <'~ st<"~h~ of highly condemnable sectarian killings, conflict and chaos, allowing for US interference in Iraq to continue. In Egypt, after a spirited people's movement against Hosni Mubarak's dictatorial regime, now the US-controlled military regime that came in its .
wake in Egypt is brutally quelling any kind of dissent. Chile in particular has been seeing massive student protests against commercialisation and privatization of education, and now the Left has registered a victory in the Presidential elections. In Venezuela, following Chavez's unfortunate and untimely demise, his anti-imperialist legacy is being carried forward by newly elected President Maduro Moros and the people of Venezuela. Meanwhile, the Palestinian people's brave protests for liberation continues against all odds. US imperialism continues with its myriad machinations for domination as well as open killings, war and drone attacks in various parts of the world -including Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Julian Assange, Edward Snowden as well as Chelsea Manning (earlier called Bradley) are facing an unprecedented witch-hunt by the entire imperialist power lobby for exposing the underbelly of US imperialism and war-mongering. .
Closer home, in neighbouring Nepal, the fledgling democracy faces challenges as the Nepali Congress as well as the royalist forces gained some ground following the stalemate over formation of the Constituent Assembly, even as pro-Left forces and communists continue to enjoy considerable goodwill. Bangladesh has been witnessing a massive struggle to bring perpetrators of massacres and crimes against humanity to book. However, violence, state repression, horrific working conditions for workers and shrinking of democratic spaces continue to haunt the people of Bangladesh. In Sri Lanka, even today, the Tamilians live in inhuman conditions, subjected to humiliation and violations of their dignity and rights, while perpetrators of war crimes and atrocities go scot free. India's role in this crime against humanity is particularly shameful, with the Indian Government providing .
military aid and thus continuing to tacitly approve of the treatment of Tamils in Sri Lanka . .
/\nd in neighbouring Myanmar, even though the military dictatorship has been replaced by a democratically elected government, the project of establishing democracy is still unfinished. In disturbing developments, we are seeing both in MydlllflcJI cJIIU nei~hbuuring Pakistan, Increasing attacks on religious mmorities: whether it is the Rohingya Muslims in Burma, or Hindus in Pakistan, we are witnessing continuing prosecution of minorities. .
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Accountability .....Thursday? Ah well. Insanely busy here this week & my scale crapped out just as I grabbed the camera, so I know how much I weigh, but didn't get a shot of it.
What happened this week? Eating habits were mostly OK, but there were a couple of meals out, and one of them involved, well, let's just say 'a few' pomegranet martinis. Also, not even a whit of exercise, and that never ends well. I'm not especially concerned, though, and am still reveling in 'shopping' the old closet. I'm fitting into more and more things, and that will help keep me from being discouraged by one week's results.
Please also to note that the Girl Scout cookies came out this week, and...well.....that's just going to have be celebrated.
Photographs from IACL Conference: Accountability for Transnational Counter-terrorism Operations that took place under the auspices of the National Security Law Research & Policy Initiative (@nsl_rpi) at The Dickson Poon School of Law on 10-11 March 2016.
This evening, the Houses of the Oireachtas marked the centenary of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), celebrating 100 years of parliamentary scrutiny, transparency, and financial accountability since the Committee published its first full report in 1925 with the launch of an exhibition and commemorative poster.
The event, held in Leinster House, brought together the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy TD, current and former PAC Members, Accounting Officers, officials from the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, academic partners, and current and former Oireachtas staff.
The programme honours a century of public oversight and the PAC’s enduring role as a pillar of democratic governance, ensuring that public money is managed responsibly, transparently, and in the best interests of citizens.
Speaking on the event, the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy TD said: “For more than 100 years, the Committee of Public Accounts, more commonly referred to as PAC, has cast an impartial and forensic eye on how State money is spent.
Having served on the PAC in the previous Dáil, I know first-hand the rigour, independence and dedication that define its work. The Committee’s ability to rise above politics and focus squarely on the public interest is a hallmark of its strength.
Today’s centenary is a testament to generations of Members, Accounting Officers, and staff of both the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, all of whom contributed to building a culture of accountability that is widely respected at home and abroad. It is a legacy of service that continues to underpin public trust in our institutions.”
Cathaoirleach of the Committee of Public Accounts John Brady TD said: “I am very grateful, as Cathaoirleach of the PAC, to be a part of this history and this important feature in Irish democracy. For 100 years, the PAC has been a guardian of the public purse and a champion of transparency in our democracy. This centenary is not only a moment to honour the diligence of those who served before us, but a reminder of the values that still guide us today: integrity, independence and service to the public interest.
As we look to the future, our work is more important than ever. Citizens rightly expect high standards of accountability, and the PAC will continue to ask the hard questions, identify emerging risks, and ensure that public funds are used wisely and well.
As we celebrate this centenary, it is important to reflect not only on the Committee’s history but on its continuing relevance. Today, the challenges we face are as complex as ever: digital transformation in public services, climate commitments, and ever-growing expectations for transparency and accountability. Citizens rightly demand that their taxes are spent wisely, and the PAC must ensure that those expectations are met.
In this environment, the PAC’s responsibility is not simply to review expenditure, but to identify emerging risks before they become failures. To ensure that lessons are not just learned, but embedded..”
A dedicated website for PAC100 has been launched here: PAC | The watchdog at work – Houses of the Oireachtas
Hold Trump Accountable for his Crimes & Atrocities Against Humanity: GOP is Complicit: Reunite Immigrant Families. No Cages. No Camps. Restore Dignity
(130917RREI4399) About 100 community activists demonstrated in front of the Wilson Building on the day that a City Council vote was scheduled to attempt to override Mayor Vincent Grey's veto of the Large Retailer Accountability Act. One more Councilmember's vote was needed to override. Some protesters carried signs with the faces of the five Councilmembers who voted against the LRAA. Gail Todd, a Walmart worker who also is a member of Our Walmart.Washington DC Sept. 17, 2013 © Rick Reinhard 2013 email rick@rickreinhard.com
Accountability, Achievement, and Action: High School Education Reform in the New Era
Delia Pompa, vice president of education, National Council of La Raza
(February 12, 2009)
Building on the ‘Ecosystem Landscaping to advance the Accountability to implement the Women’s Empowerment Principles in ASEAN’, the WeEmpowerAsia programme, UN women jointly develops and will disseminate the Building Pathways to Gender Equality and Sustainability through the Women's Empowerment Principles: Thailand Policy Brief (hereafter referred as ‘Thailand Policy Brief’) with key partners, namely the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Office of SMEs Promotion (OSMEP).
Gender Responsive Procurement (GRP) is one of the initiatives recommended in the Thailand Policy Brief. GRP can identify, incorporate and support women business owners seeking to access government/corporate procurement contracts. In support of the initiative, UN Women and Kenan Foundation Asia will host the “IDEA to I do”, a business presentation competition for selected women entrepreneurs, to showcase the capacity of WOB and WLB developed under WeEmpowerAsia Programme as means to promote women’s participation in supply chain. Winners will receive the WeRise Awards and the prizes are comprised of one winner, one first runner-up and one second runner-up.
Photo: UN Women/Daydream Organizer Co., Ltd.
Building on the ‘Ecosystem Landscaping to advance the Accountability to implement the Women’s Empowerment Principles in ASEAN’, the WeEmpowerAsia programme, UN women jointly develops and will disseminate the Building Pathways to Gender Equality and Sustainability through the Women's Empowerment Principles: Thailand Policy Brief (hereafter referred as ‘Thailand Policy Brief’) with key partners, namely the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Office of SMEs Promotion (OSMEP).
Gender Responsive Procurement (GRP) is one of the initiatives recommended in the Thailand Policy Brief. GRP can identify, incorporate and support women business owners seeking to access government/corporate procurement contracts. In support of the initiative, UN Women and Kenan Foundation Asia will host the “IDEA to I do”, a business presentation competition for selected women entrepreneurs, to showcase the capacity of WOB and WLB developed under WeEmpowerAsia Programme as means to promote women’s participation in supply chain. Winners will receive the WeRise Awards and the prizes are comprised of one winner, one first runner-up and one second runner-up.
Photo: UN Women/Daydream Organizer Co., Ltd.
Over 25,000 Sikhs were disappeared by the Indian government during the 1980s and 1990s, but not a single perpetrator has been held accountable. Ensaaf is documenting every single case of disappearance, and drafting a report that covers every story. N-Map worked with Ensaaf’s local staff in Punjab to create videos featuring character-driven stories to bring the report to life.