UN Peacebuilding Watch -APPA

05/27/2019

-이스턴 메노나이트 대학 출신 노벨 평화상 수상자​ 대부분의 사람들은 레이마 그보위(Leymah Gbowee)와...

07/14/2017

A Tide of Opioid-Dependent Newborns Forces Doctors to Rethink Treatment

During the time period between 2003 and 2012, the number of the supposed crack babies in the United States increased nearly five times. In Kentucky, 15 of every 1000 infants are dependent on opioids. In the name of treatment, the infants are separated from their mothers and transferred to hospitals, usually hours away. Many mothers, poor still struggling with addiction, cannot afford to visit the hospital. Even if they end up making it to the hospital, many of the local charities do not offer housing to the addicts. Thus, mothers end up sleeping in the car or in worse cases, on the street.
However, the fact is that these babies need a mother. It has been found that newborns in withdrawal would slow the infants' recovery when their mothers are present. Infants in withdrawal require less medication and fewer costly days in intensive care with their mothers' presence. Yet, mothers who are still drug addicts have a great chance of losing their custody - which means they are no longer allowed to make legal decisions for their own babies.
While I totally agree that drug addicts are not the most fit to make best decisions, I still believe that parents are best at taking care of their own children. Not only that studies support it, but also based on personal experiences, I feel most relaxed eating my mom's food, talking to her and just spending time with her.

APPA UN NGO intern
Cornell University Information Science major
Jungwon Shin

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/13/health/opioid-addiction-babies.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fus&action=click&contentCollection=us®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront

Infants born dependent on opioids are routinely removed from their mothers and sent to big hospitals. But keeping mother and baby together may be the best treatment.

07/13/2017

Saudi Arabia to Offer Physical Education Classes for Girls

Recently, the Saudi education ministry announced that public schools will offer physical education for girls with this coming academic year. This remarkable change is shocking at the same time as Saudi Arabia has been one of the world's most restrictive environments for women. Women in Saudi Arabia are required to cover their hair and bodies in public. This kind of restriction is applied for medical treatments as women cannot make their own decision - they have to get permission from a male guardian. Thus, this announcement has been a shock to the nation and other countries. Women's sports were opposed for various reasons. (1) Getting used to wearing sportswear would make women lose modesty. (2) Sports are against the supposed womanliness. (3) Women who play sports would become muscular and masculine. With these concerns, women's sports will have to be developed carefully, making sure women's femininity. Given that girls' schools opened only about fifty years ago and schools are still segregated by gender, this change is radical. Also, it will take some time as girls' schools do not generally have sports facilities. However, it is undeniable that this change will spur more equality in one of the most restrictive kingdom for women.

APPA UN NGO intern
Cornell University Information Science major
Jungwon Shin

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-girls-islam-physical-education.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld

The education ministry is debating what activities will be allowed when girls in public schools are allowed to take fitness classes in the coming academic year.

07/10/2017

Mennonite Central Committee - Doug Hostetter

It was a great pleasure to meet Doug Hostetter, the director of the UN Office Mennonite Central Committee. Based on his explanation and the MCC website, the MCC UN Office strives to serve the global communities by advocating peace and actively informing them of the current news. The MCC focuses on five main areas. Hostetter explained its purposes: (1) caring for the lives and futures of uprooted and other vulnerable people, (2) providing water, food and shelter first in times of hunger, disaster and conflict, then education and ways to earn income, (3) working with churches and communities to prevent violence and promote peace and justice, (4) investing in opportunities for young people to serve in Canada, the U.S. and around the world, and (5) serving with humility and in partnership to meet local needs with local solutions. He emphasized the importance of cooperation, consideration, and understanding for peacebuilding. Hostetter shared an anecdote in which he became friends with a North Korea ambassador. While the ambassador was staying in the New York City for foreign affairs, Hostetter invited the ambassador and his wife to his house for dinner. When the ambassador went back to North Korea after his stay, they were not able to keep in contact for three years. However, few months earlier, the ambassador had to come back to attend the UN Conference and contacted Hostetter for reunion. Based on this instance, he explained how communication and genuine friendship should be the basis of peacebuilding. I agree that sincere caring for each other is the foundation of any relationship building.

APPA UN NGO intern
Cornell University Information Science major
Jungwon Shin

https://mcc.org/learn/about/mission

07/02/2017

Women scientists and youth take centre stage at UN-backed technology forum

The 2017 international conference on science and technology ended in Vienna on Friday 30 June. During this conference, the nuclear test monitoring technologies and their various applications were mainly discussed. The Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTTBO), Lassina Zerbo firmly asserted the importance of representation of women in the global scientific community for development and advancement of the community. He emphasized that the presence of women is required to build a global community that is "just," "fair" and "peaceful".
One thing to note on this conference is the newly created CTBTO Youth Group. Last year, when it was first launched, it had only 9 members; however, this year it grew to approximately 200 members. They not only have seized opportunities to get involved in non-proliferation and disarmament but are the key resource to spread the message on social media. This is especially essential at this point of time as the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adopted by the General Assembly in September 1996, still has not been signed and ratified by the Annex II countries.
I believe that this is an important milestone - in this modern times, social media is incomparably the best in reaching more people. Even small fundraising events at my school requires the strong social media presence. Thus, it makes sense to involve younger generation. Also, not only that youth is better at employing social media into platform, but also they are the future - one day they will be leading this conference and many others. Therefore, it is logical to give them opportunities now so they can grow as future leaders.

APPA UN NGO intern
Cornell University Information Science major
Jungwon Shin

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=57102 #.WVj2GdPyuM4

As an international conference on science and technology wrapped up in Vienna, the head of a United Nations partner organization that works to end nuclear testing stressed that women have a

06/29/2017

Civilians must not be sacrificed for military victories – UN rights chief, as thousands trapped in Raqqa

On 28 June 2017, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein expressed concern regarding civilians caught in the Syria's Raqqa governorate. He emphasized that "civilians must not be sacrificed for the sake of rapid military victories." It is important for all forces, both local and international, to be aware of the civilians in the area and work to reduce the casualty effectively. Since June 1, it is estimated that more than 173 civilians have been killed by fighting forces, based on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) data. Another rising problem is that smugglers and traffickers are taking advantage of these vulnerable refugees as civilian death continues to increase and escape rate is getting steeper.

Bombs do not pick and choose people. Infants, children, teenagers, adults and elderly - all are affected regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity and religion. It is tragic that these people are killed instantly whether they have nothing to do with the war. It will be ideal if the world is at peace and there is no war. There are places in the world where bombings and wars are still going on; however, the very least, the fighting parties should respect the civilians and try their best to not engage the innocent. I would like the United Nations to take an initiative as a mediator between parties to ensure the safety of the civilian. It is a responsibility of us all, who are living on this earth today, to help when one can, ask for help when one needs help and most importantly, be respectful of each other.

APPA UN NGO intern
Cornell University Information Science major
Jungwon Shin

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=57077 #.WVTxvtMrKM4

Voicing grave concern over the fate of as many as 100,000 civilians “effectively trapped” in Syria's Raqqa governorate amid the ongoing offensive against Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant fighters, the top United Nations rights official urged all parties to the conflict to enact measures to allow...

06/28/2017

Scientific collaboration 'essential' to achieving world free from nuclear threat, UN-backed forum told

The Science and Technology Conference 2017 was held in Vienna on 27 June 2017. This conference focused on strengthening the relationship between the scientific community and authorities for compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the CTBTO emphasized the importance of science in "making progress on other global challenges, such as disaster risk reduction and mitigation, climate change, and sustainable development." Moving forward, Mr. Zerbo encouraged to make the CTBT into law, taking a substantial action. Having been opened for signature and ratifications 21 years ago, the CTBT is currently signed by 183 countries and ratified by 166 countries.
Due to the fact that the CTBT is not yet in force, the treaty is called the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization. Mr. Zerbo expects the scientific community to inspire diplomatic actors to engage and bring the CTBT into force.
I agree with Mr. Zerbo that science is essential for any kind of global change, especially in modern times. However, the connection between advancements in science and the compliance with the CTBT was not clear to me. Obviously, in developing and utilizing nuclear power, the science communities should be extra-careful with the materials. Yet, I was not sure how this scientific development would help advancing the CTBT. Had it been difficult for countries to sign and ratify the CTBT for past 21 years, it will still be difficult now. Thus, in order to make the CTBT into law, the action of diplomatic actors is required. As global community, we should educate the public, the government officials and the companies that develop nuclear power on the importance of the CTBT and the possible consequences that can result when we do not enforce it.

APPA UN NGO intern
Cornell University Information Science major
Jungwon Shin

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=57074 #.WVOwRBMrKM4

Scientific collaboration is essential to achieving a world free from the nuclear threat, the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) told a United Nations-backed science and technology forum in Vienna today.