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NTS Bulletin

NTS Bulletin November 2010 (Issue 2)

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MAIN HIGHLIGHT

Transparency International Releases Its Corruption Perceptions Index 2010

The 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index reveals that nearly three quarters of the 178 countries in the index have a score of below five, on a scale of 10 (highly clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore are tied at the top of the list with a score of 9.3, followed closely by Finland and Sweden at 9.2. Somalia has a score of 1.1, trailing Myanmar and Afghanistan at 1.4 and Iraq at 1.5.

Transparency International comments that governments need to integrate anti-corruption measures in all spheres: from their responses to the financial crisis and climate change, to commitments by the international community to eradicate poverty. It also advocates stricter implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption, the only global initiative that provides a framework for putting an end to corruption.




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MIGRATION

News & Commentaries

Selected Publications

The TBBC has been collaborating with ethnic community-based organisations to document conditions in eastern Burma since 2002. This report is based on the findings from such collaborations. It emphasises the urgency of addressing deteriorating socioeconomic conditions in the region, highlighting the situation through poverty assessments. The assessments, developed in consultation with humanitarian agencies, represent a contribution towards developing a credible nationwide database of indicators for household vulnerability.

This article considers the challenges facing female asylum seekers and their healthcare providers in dealing with pregnancy, childbirth and the care of their newborn. The aims of this study are to identify reproductive health issues in a population of women seeking asylum in Switzerland and to examine the care they received. It concludes that health policies should ensure access to adequate contraception and psychological care. It also notes that care of asylum seekers may be emotionally very challenging for health professionals.

This article documents the findings of a research project examining the impact of Australia’s border control cooperation with Indonesia on asylum seekers and refugees. A key finding is that the problem which overshadows all else in the lives of asylum seekers and refugees in Indonesia is the lack of a durable solution to their plight. After discussing the obstacles impeding progress on that front, the article makes some suggestions for the way forward.

Events & Announcements

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INTERNAL AND CROSS-BORDER CONFLICT

News & Commentaries

Latest Publications

This report analyses how the new institutions created in the European Union (EU) can provide a new start for Europe in international peacemaking. It examines EU engagement in international affairs and finds that the performance of the EU in peacemaking is below expectations. It then looks at EU involvement in particular conflict situations and evaluates the effectiveness of its activities in this regard.

This paper studies the relationship between community development and refugee protection. UNHCR began to highlight the importance of community participation in protecting refugees in the Executive Committee Conclusions on International Protection in 2001 and produced tools and manuals to support such an approach. This paper asserts that while communities can offer protection solutions, they can also cause protection problems.

This book analyses the Bougainville peace process which ended the protracted separatist conflicts in Papua New Guinea. The resolution of the conflict has significant implications for the peace and security of the country and the wider Pacific islands region. The book outlines the origins, features and impacts of the conflict. It examines the specific dynamics of the peace process, explaining why a light intervention was possible in this case. It offers an assessment of the approach and points out the limitations.

This report draws attention to the current situation in southern Thailand, where the population is predominantly Malay Muslim. The report highlights that the conflict in this part of Thailand remains on the margins of Thailand’s political agenda. It suggests that a genuine resolution of the conflict needs a paradigm shift: the ethno-religious identity of Malay Muslims in the region should be recognised and respected, the government should have dialogues with insurgents and there is a need for reform of governance structures.

Events & Announcements

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WATER SECURITY

News & Commentaries

Latest Publications

This document, prepared for the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS), presents key findings from a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of mainstream dams proposed for the Lower Mekong Basin. The report highlights that there are significant economic benefits for the regional energy sector but finds that the adverse effects on the basin’s riparian communities, as well as on its agricultural sector and ecosystem, outweigh the potential economic gains.

This publication provides a fresh perspective and new data on one of the most significant issues in urban development. Using the Integrated Sustainable Waste Management framework, the report presents research from 22 cities across 6 continents.

This policy brief presents a range of technical options for groundwater recharge. It notes that a managed recharge strategy implies a shift to integrated or ‘conjunctive’ management of surface water and groundwater.

Events & Announcements

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HUMAN TRAFFICKING

News & Commentaries

Selected Publications

This publication exposes cases of human trafficking, based on in-depth interviews with people on the front lines – police officers, social workers and the victims – and government records released under access-to-information laws. The book seeks to expose the problem and dramatically improve Canada’s response to this hidden national tragedy.

This handbook is designed to be a resource in the fight against people trafficking in the Asian region. It is aimed at improving cooperation among criminal justice officials involved in cross-border trafficking investigations.

This research explores and assesses the evaluation of anti-trafficking policies and programmes worldwide, encompassing three international, two regional and nine national anti-trafficking initiatives. It highlights common themes and emerging patterns in a range of approaches to evaluation in this sector and finds overwhelmingly that anti-trafficking initiatives are not being sufficiently evaluated, impeding the effectiveness of anti-trafficking responses and limiting progress in combating trafficking.

Events & Announcements

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TRANSNATIONAL CRIME

News & Commentaries

Selected Publications

The Global SMART Update (GSU), published twice a year, reports on emerging patterns and trends in the fast-changing global synthetic drugs situation. The current issue includes information on the use of synthetic drugs among university students in Brazil, significant seizures as well as the emergence of a new, uncontrolled chemical that could be used in the illicit manufacture of ecstasy.

The UNODC produced this compendium of services and tools to give States and other partners a concise overview of the specialised assistance and expertise available through the organisation. It outlines an integrated strategy with five clear lines of service, designed to encourage prevention of illicit activities, prosecution of perpetrators and protection of individuals and communities. Its service lines focus on putting a stop to organised crime and trafficking; building criminal justice systems; preventing illicit drug use and the spread of HIV among drug users, prisoners and other vulnerable groups; ending corruption; and preventing terrorism.

Events & Announcements

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Use of this article:

You are free to publish this article in its entirety or only in part in your newspapers, wire services, internet-based information networks and newsletters and you are also free to use the information in your radio-TV discussions or as a basis for discussion in different fora. We would, however, appreciate it if you could let us know when and where the article was used.

About the Centre:

The Centre for NTS Studies of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, was inaugurated by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan in May 2008. The Centre maintains research in the fields of Climate Change, Energy Security, Health Security, as well as Internal and Cross Border Conflict. It produces policy-relevant analyses aimed at furthering awareness and building capacity to address NTS issues and challenges in the Asia Pacific region and beyond. The Centre also provides a platform for scholars and policymakers within and outside Asia to discuss and analyse NTS issues in the region.

In 2009, the Centre was chosen by the MacArthur Foundation as a lead institution for the MacArthur Asia Security Initiative, to develop policy research capacity and recommend policies on the critical security challenges facing the Asia-Pacific.

The Centre is also a founding member and the Secretariat for the Consortium of Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies in Asia (NTS-Asia). More information on the Centre can be found at www.rsis.edu.sg/nts


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