Author Archives: Alanna Shaikh 
The Five Things People Say to Aid Critics
AIDS Prevention Is More Than Condoms
When we talk about HIV, we don’t call it a sexually transmitted disease. That’s not an obscure technicality – it’s because HIV is spread through blood as often as it is through sex – specifically via shared needles.
Economic Recovery for Africa?
The news today brings us two optimistic articles on the African economy.
US Congress Discovers Urbanization
Urbanization is going to be the next great challenge of international development. Over a billion people now live in cities, and most of those people live in slums. City dwellers face higher rates of obesity, malnutrition, communicable diseases, and chronic illness like high blood pressure and diabetes. Moving from a rural area to a city puts the migrant at an increased risk of violent crime and poverty.
Counting the Cost of Supporting Women
I love the UNFPA Technical Division. They consistently produce fascinating, under-reported documents on women and women’s health. Most recently, they have developed an up-to-date cost estimate for implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). These numbers were actually presented to the UN in March 2009, but the comprehensive report that explains methodology was just released.
Binding Aid Commitments from the EU?
At a time when many European Union member states are cutting foreign aid budgets, the EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs suggested a binding mechanism to enforce foreign assistance targets. EU members have committed to a soft target of 0.7% of their Gross National Income, but not all members are achieving that target. In a recent interview with Reuters, Piebalgs stated “”If member states cannot keep to the soft-target guidance, then we will think of a binding scheme that would enforce the 0.7 percent target.
-
-
The SC; HRC; DPRK; South Sudan
The SC: The Security Council today held its last consultations under the Council Presidency of ROK. Tomorrow, Russia will take over the rotating Presidency of the Security Council for March under Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
-
-
The SG; Mali; Middle East; Palestine
The SG: At the Fifth Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in Vienna, Austria today, the SG emphasized the role of youth in ensuring a “prosperous, equitable and peaceful future.”
-
The SG; DRC; HRC; Palestinian Prisoner
The SG: In Ethiopia over the weekend, the SG is now in the United Arab Emirates. Today he met with Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, where the two discussed developments in the region, including Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan, and in the Middle East Peace Process.
-
