[South Asia MDG Watch] Fortnightly newsletter no 50, 1-15 May, 2009

e-bulletin no. 50
May 1-15, 2009

In this issue:

Pakistan braces up to meet refugee crisis
Countries need to lift those at the bottom of the pyramid
Workers losing $20 billion due to forced labour
Sri Lankan refugee in India aids displaced Tamils

Welcome to Asia and the Pacific MDG Watch.

This fortnightly electronic newsletter brings to you news and information on the progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Asia and the Pacific.
The MDGs are a global initiative taken by the worlds governments to improve the lives of their people.

Flight of no return

Nearly 1.5 million people have fled their homes as intense fighting against the Taliban grips Swat. Almost rivalling the displacement caused by the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the mass exodus brings a colossal humanitarian challenge for Pakistan. Read more…

Gear shift

In an interview to ATN Bangla, Minar Pimple, Deputy Director Asia, UN Millennium Campaign, talks of broadening social sector outreach to those at the bottom of
the pyramid. Watch the video

Meanwhile the Campaign in Bangladesh called upon the government to make special budgetary allocation for youth and create more employment opportunities.
Read more…

Cost of coercion

The International Labour Organization’s latest report claims forced labour is costing workers worldwide over US $20 billion annually in terms of unpaid wages and other deductions Read more…

Forced labour is the antithesis of decent work
Photo credit: Google /Business World

Compassion

Forced to leave her conflict ridden homeland, a Sri Lankan refugee has devoted herself to rehabilitating Tamil refugees in southern India. Empowering women has been the most satisfying part of her work, she says.
Read more…

News

New turf

Indonesia‘s newly elected female legislators lack
political experience on women’s issues.

Killer disease

Diarrhoea is killing many
more children than
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

Green drive

The UNEP Billion Tree campaign goes on Twitter to push a target of seven billion by year end.

Citizen Forum on MDGs

With elections heralding in new governments in many countries in Asia this year, do you think strong steps will be taken towards attainment of the MDGs?

To caste your vote click here

Resources

Risk and poverty

The 2009 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction identifies unplanned urban development, vulnerable livelihoods and climate change as drivers for exposing more people to the risk of natural hazards.

Nurture

State of the World’s Mothers 2009, the annual report of Save the Children makes a strong case for investing in well-being of mothers to support early childhood development. It calls for assisting women in providing quality care to
their children.

This newsletter is brought to you by OWSA, in partnership with the UN Millennium Campaign.

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