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Research and Policy Series |
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| Promoting Local Election Management as Part of an Electoral Cycle Approach (2013)
This paper examines different modalities used by various countries in the Asia-Pacific region to administer local elections and demonstrates the impact of management practices on electoral cycle approaches, the delivery of elections, and the provision of assistance. The paper also makes broad policy recommendations for contexts where assistance providers may choose to target programs and where election management bodies may decide to focus local level capacity strengthening initiatives.
The paper targets countries in the Asia-Pacific region that are planning for local elections. It has relevance for a number of stakeholders including electoral management bodies, political parties, parliament, government ministries, civil society and international organizations.
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| APHDR Technical Background Paper 2012/07 - Climate Change and Pacific Island Countries (2013)
This paper presents the effects of increased temperatures and sea-level rise, together with other climate-linked changes to the Pacific Islands. It examines past responses to climate changes and barriers in driving adaptation to climate change at the community level. It also presents a set of fundamental challenges to livelihoods in the Pacific Islands region posed by future climate change and recommendattions to reduce the impacts of such changes.
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| APHDR Technical Background Paper 2012/12 - Climate Change Fuelling Resource-Based Conflicts in the Asia-Pacific (2013)
This paper aims to present a background to resource-based conflicts and how they may be influenced by climate change in the Asia Pacific region. In so doing, this paper first examines the relationship between security, natural resources, and climate change. Second, this paper looks specifically at this issue in the Asia-Pacific region, presenting case studies from South and West Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific. The paper also presents an appraisal of existing address of this issue and explores options for future action that may underpin peace and security in a climate change context at local and international levels.
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| Intellectual Property Rights and Access to Affordable ARVs in China (2013)
This paper documents the recent developments, opportunities and challenges in intellectual property rights and access to affordable medicines in China. In particular, the paper finds that there have been impressive achievements in the national response to the HIV epidemic in China. Examples include the rapid expansion of government-supported antiretroviral (ARV) schemes and the development of a legal framework on intellectual property to address access to affordable pharmaceutical products in China. Adoption of the National Intellectual Property Strategy by the State Council in June 2008, and the revisions to the Patent Law and the Implementing Regulations with strong focus on public health protection are among the most prominent legal and policy achievements over the recent years, founding an enabling environment for action. However, there is still a great need for coordination among relevant ministries and agencies to explore options to increase access to affordable pharmaceutical products. The recognition that domestic civil society is a part of the solution is an important starting point to forge broader partnerships necessary to ensure access to affordable medicines and successful treatment uptake.
Intellectual Property Rights and Access to Affordable ARVs in China originates from a study commissioned by UNDP to the Third World Network, who conducted the research in consultation with the members of the UN Technical Working Group on Care and Treatment, Access to Medicines Sub-Group in 2007/2008. It was subsequently updated in 2012 with special thanks to UNAIDS, MSF, Hu Yuanqiong and Tenu Avafia, Policy Specialist from UNDP Bureau for Development Policy. The final report was edited by Professor Carlos Correa from the University of Buenos Aires.
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| APHDR Technical Background Paper 2012/18 - Nuclear Energy in Combating Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific (2013)
This background paper explores the possible role of nuclear energy in climate change mitigation and in resolving supply security and environmental issues. It concludes with a summary of the main points and recommendations for the way forward.
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| Sex Work and the Law in Asia and the Pacific (2012)
The report is intended to provide an evidence-base for: policy makers working in government, regional and multilateral organizations; parliamentarians; members of the judiciary; civil society organizations; donor agencies; and sex workers and their organizations engaged in advocacy to improve the legal and policy enabling environment for HIV responses. The study focuses on 48 countries of the Asia-Pacific region, with an emphasis on low and middle-income countries.
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| Gender Equality in Elected Office in Asia Pacific: Six Actions to Expand Women’s Empowerment (2012)
This publication provides an overview of women’s political representation in Asia-Pacific member states, and reviews the impact of series of six fast-track institutional reforms which can contribute towards the attainment of gender equality in elected office. These six “windows or opportunity” include an examination of legally binding quotas, constitutional rights, political party recruitment, capacity building initiatives, parliamentary reform and political party recruitment.
The six-step action plan is structured so national policy makers and practitioners working to increase women’s political involvement can select one window of opportunity to expanding women’s political participation most relevant to their specific context.
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| Accelerating Achievement of MDGs by Ways and Means of Economic and Social Rights (2012)
This publication is the result of more than a year of discussions and exchanges on a variety of themes centered on what UNDP regards as its core mandate: the human development agenda. As the 2015 target date for the MDGs is rapidly approaching, and as efforts are underway to “accelerate” progress on various targets and indicators around the world, the debate about global development goals has already moved towards looking beyond 2015.
This collection of essays is aimed at offering insights into innovative and practical ways and means of realizing human rights, linked as they are to the MDGs primarily through social and economic rights, but also through the broader human rights context where the Millennium Declaration set development goals which later became known as the MDGs. The publication contributes to the debates among those thinking ahead of a future set of development goals and to also offer concrete guidance and inspiration to development practitioners in the field, in particular those working in areas related to the MDGs. The document is targeted at national government and non-governmental development experts equally as to those working in UN agencies, or other governmental or non-governmental organizations.
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| Indigenous Voices in Asia-Pacific (2012)
This report presents the highlights of five country assessments that were undertaken between 2009-2011 to identify the communication and information needs of indigenous peoples. In identifying the main challenges and opportunities for indigenous peoples and their development, the assessments provided a basis for recommendations on priority interventions for each participating country and for a regional strategy.
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| APHDR Technical Background Paper 2010/04 - Gender and socio-cultural factors in Afghanistan: Barriers and opportunities in promoting equality (2012)
Category: Overall
Author: Michaela A. Prokop
This report explores the interconnections between social and cultural practices and other factors, which aggravate and perpetuate the vulnerability of girls and women. It shows that gender-based disadvantages continue to be shaped by a confluence of socio-cultural factors, customary practices, religious forces, the impact of a protracted conflict and experience of displacement and exile, the erosion of livelihoods and poverty and the predominance of an illegal economy.
The report concludes with an analysis of recent efforts by the Government and the international community to promote women's rights and participation and provides some general suggestions for policy makers.
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