Using birthing kits to promote clean birth practices in Ethiopia

This article explores three NGO projects that assemble and distribute clean birthing kits in Ethiopia. It contrasts the government's health strategy that aims to increase skilled birth attendance, with local realities as most women in rural and remote settings give birth at home, often in unhygienic conditions, and without skilled assistance. Many health facilities are also unable to provide hygienic conditions for birthing women. The findings indicate that clean birth kits have assisted the NGOs to effectively promote clean delivery at home or in health facilities, and to encourage antenatal care, and early referral to emergency obstetric and new-born care.     

Building civil society in Lao PDR: the Decree on Associations

Since 2006, international organisations in Lao PDR have worked closely with local actors in order to foster the creation of an enabling environment for civil society. By conceiving of civil society development as a system involving a number of closely-connected actors and levels, international actors have been able to contribute to both the adoption of a Decree on Associations, which for the first time in Lao history regulates the civil society sector, and to the organisational strengthening of the few existing domestic organisations. This paper evaluates the impact of international actors' initiatives and assesses civil society's prospects for engaging in human rights work.     

Measuring the success of HIV/AIDS NGOs among Nairobi's youth

NGOs receive praise and criticism for their international development efforts, but more work is needed to measure their contributions. This article lays out the contributions of local NGOs to HIV-prevention efforts. It draws on data from a survey of young people's experiences with NGOs to demonstrate the reach of several local HIV-prevention NGOs in Nairobi, Kenya. It argues that even small NGOs are capable of making measurable contributions to development in their fields. It also shows how factors such as education levels, religiosity, and discussions about HIV/AIDS can support NGO efforts by encouraging youth to participate in HIV-prevention programming.     

Climate resilient planning in Bangladesh: a review of progress and early experiences of moving from planning to implementation

Bangladesh is one of the first least developed countries (LDCs) to develop a long-term climate change strategy, the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP). Two funds were set up after developing the BCCSAP, one using government resources (BCCTF) and the other using donor resources (BCCRF). This paper uses the “building blocks” framework to analyse changes that occur when progressing from planning to finance and implementation by comparing the BCCRF and BCCTF. This analysis reveals how governance enablers are influenced by political economy dynamics that steer funding decisions and implementation outcomes, and provides lessons for countries pursuing climate resilience.     

The Paung Ku model: encouraging change through learning

It is well known within international development practice that the terms “capacity building” or “capacity development” are often used but infrequently (and inconsistently) defined; whether in funding applications, program strategies, staff training programmes, or field work. This article outlines the way in which one development organisation working in Burma/Myanmar wrestled with the issue of meaning, and practice, in relation to capacity development; it also reports on the resulting “Paung Ku model: encouraging change through learning.”     

European national news

The regular article tracking developments at the national level in key European countries in the area of IT and communications – co-ordinated by Herbert Smith LLP and contributed to by firms across Europe. This column provides a concise alerting service of important national developments in key European countries. Part of its purpose is to compliment the Journal’s feature articles and briefing notes by keeping readers abreast of what is currently happening “on the ground” at a national level in implementing EU level legislation and international conventions and treaties. Where an item of European National News is of particular significance, CLSR may also cover it in more detail in the current or a subsequent edition.     

大数据技术在刑事定罪中的运用

近年来,在金融创新特别是互联网金融创新大旗的指引下,网络现货投资交易平台迅速增长,因缺乏有效金融监管,现货投资交易平台引发的违法犯罪数量也随之暴增。由于网络现货投资交易行为的复杂性和专业性,司法机关查处网络现货投资交易平台中的犯罪时,在罪与非罪、此罪与彼罪判定方面分歧较大,传统的定罪方法和标准已经显得力不从心。大数据技术的出现为此类复杂犯罪定罪提供了方法与标准。大数据技术不仅能提高定罪准确性,也能提高定罪效率。针对当前出现的诸如网络虚拟投资交易案等网络犯罪特征,运用数据挖掘、决策树CHAID算法等数据技术对新型网络犯罪判决进行定量分析,我们可以将大数据技术作为司法定罪裁判的辅助工具,加以推广运用。     

生物识别技术在警务工作中的应用

为了维护社会治安的正常秩序,警务工作要建立有效社会控制机制,应用生物识别技术防范及处置影响社会稳定的案件和事件。生物识别技术发展迅速,在警务工作应用广泛。     

论犯罪心理测试技术的科学编题

犯罪心理测试技术的科学编题是犯罪心理测试能够取得成功的可靠保障,要实现犯罪心理测试技术的科学编题,就必须在犯罪心理动态分析的基础上全面深入地了解犯罪案情,同时也要遵循犯罪心理的规律,准确把握作案人大脑中存储的独特犯罪心理痕迹,犯罪心理痕迹是区别作案人、知情者和无辜者的唯一可靠指标。     

“科技强警”战略下的公安装备管理创新研究

"科技强警"战略实施以来,公安装备管理工作积极向科技化进程迈进。但是在创新的过程中出现了创新的举措和现实需求之间的偏差,影响了公安装备整体效能的发挥。通过对公安装备管理发展的简单归纳,分析总结出目前公安装备管理亟待解决的问题,进而探讨"科技强警"战略下的公安装备管理创新的必然路径。