#whsummit

Rawdanur Cuma, a Syrian refugee living in Turkey, delivered a powerful message yesterday to world leaders at the first ever World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul: “No child should be without education because her country goes to war.”

As the only young person to speak in the Education in Emergencies session, Rawdanur speaks on behalf of the tens of millions of young people whose lives are disrupted by conflict and tragedy.

The World Humanitarian Summit, organised by the United Nations, comes at a critical point in our world’s history. More people than ever before are in need of humanitarian aid, an estimated 125 million around the world. 75 million youth are missing out on their education.

Happy Sunday everybody!

Seems like the weather finally got the memo that it’s almost summer already (at least in Hungary). I hope you are having a great weekend too. Here’s some reading to add to it...

The World Humanitarian Summit: A Preview

It was about time for a summit like this. As I often like to emphasize, I am a firm believer that the majority of the world’s problems could be solved with the financial resources we do have. All it would take is proper coordination and transparency of the utilization of these resources. I hope that the summit can be a first step in this direction.

Leap Ahead or More of the Same? The European Commission’s Proposed Revisions to the Dublin System

My guess is more problems to come. Even if there weren’t quite a few member states not on board with the plans of Brussels, the success of such a notion would still be questionable.

The humanitarian quest for accountability: Examining the role of UNHCR

Still on the topic of refugees, this one is acutally a book recommendation, but also a good review of the UNHCR’s role (actual and desirable) in the refugee crisis.

The State of Play on the Crime of Aggression

Monday, the 23rd, kicks off the first ever World Humanitarian Summit! Be sure to follow all the news with #sharehumanity and I’ll share updates following the summit in my next weekly roundup. 

“The challenges and demands of the 21st century are global issues that require global solutions. The World Humanitarian Summit will set an agenda for change to make humanitarian action fit for the great challenges we face now and in the future. “

https://www.worldhumanitariansummit.org/

Take action #impossiblechoices

http://impossiblechoices.org/en/countries/

And follow on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/WHSummit

https://twitter.com/WHSummit

World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul: What is it and what will it achieve? 

The summit is an initiative first proposed by UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, in January 2012 to ensure countries, organisations and relief workers come together to address global humanitarian crises.

The two-day event is the first of its kind hoping to improve how aid is given and how the world reacts to crises better.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/21/world-humanitarian-summit-in-istanbul-what-is-it-and-what-will-i/

Some good elephant news!

Famed Ringling circus elephants arrive in Florida for retirement 

In they lumbered, up to a 100-foot-long table piled high with hay, celery, carrots, and lettuce.  Then, they munched.  It was a welcome home brunch on Friday for Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus' biggest performers, its famed elephants who will no longer be performing in the ring.

They will now be living out their days at Ringling's Center for Elephant Conservation in a rural part of Polk  County. They joined 28 other elephants already living at the farm.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/138117245-story

In other news:

Female chief in Malawi breaks up 850 child marriages and sends girls back to school

Theresa Kachindamoto, the senior chief in the Dedza District of Central Malawi, wields power over close to 900,000 people… and she’s not afraid to use her authority to help the women and girls in her district. In the past three years, she has annulled more than 850 child marriages, sent hundreds of young women back to school to continue their education, and made strides to abolish cleansing rituals that require girls as young as seven to go to sexual initiation camps.

http://www.inhabitots.com/female-chief-in-malawi-breaks-up-850-child-marriages-and-sends-girls-back-to-school/

Art against the odds: new book showcases Sudan's isolated creatives 

In a time of war and economic austerity, when making art has become deemed a luxury, a new book is showcasing Sudan’s artists in a bid to celebrate this struggling community.

Launched in Khartoum, Art in Times of Adversity presents the work of 30 artists and documents how the country’s increased isolation has contributed to Sudan’s vibrant and distinctive style.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/18/art-against-the-odds-new-book-showcases-sudans-isolated-creatives

Mark it in you calendars! May 30th, PBS

TED TALKS | War and Peace | Samantha Nutt on the Proliferation of Arms

In this excerpt from TED Talks: War and Peace, author and humanitarian Samantha Nutt examines the proliferation and supply of small arms to countries at war. She describes the rather stunning statistics about war-torn countries, and the wealthier nations that arm them Premiering Monday, May 30, 2016 http://www.pbs.org/program/ted-talks/

There doesn’t appear to be much to report on with Dominic Ongwen’s trial yet, but here is the ICC page to follow any developments in his case.

Ongwen Case, The Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen ICC-02/04-01/15