Seal of the EMMPE. (Source: EACPE)

Despite the previous reservations, the first round of the Egyptian presidential elections held last week “can be described as fair and very close to conforming to international standards of transparency,” according to a broad alliance of civil society organizations and individuals that observed the polls, reported the Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement (EACPE), national focal point of Social Watch in that Arab country.

Can poverty be measured as the World Bank does? (Photo: WB)

The World Bank has calculated that extreme poverty in the developing South fell by half in the period 1981 to 2008, but according to the Social Watch Coordinator Roberto Bissio, in an interview with Radio Nederland, this overall perspective conceals a worsening situation in many regions that is counterbalanced by data showing an improvement in China. Bissio explained that these studies, in which extreme poverty is defined as earning less than USD 1.25 per day, do not take account of the impact of recent disasters like rising food prices or the effects of the world economic crisis. 

Photo: EquityBD

Fifteen Bangladeshi civil society organizations urged the government to integrate climate adaptation measures in the national budget and to give thrust on self finance or local resource mobilization. In a press conference, the groups warned that it would be unwise to expect or depend on foreign aid in this regard.

Photo: HRITC

The Human Rights Information & Training Center (HRITC), focal point of Social Watch in Yemen, held this month a panel discussion in Aden about the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1325, which focuses on putting an end to discrimination against women and promoting an agenda of peace and security.

Magdy Abdel Hamid, from EACPE. (Photo: European Partnership for Democracy)

The first round vote for Egypt's next president has been criticized last week by international and local election observers who say that restricted access for monitors and minor violations have undermined the overall transparency of the process, reported journalist Nadine Marroushi for the Egypt Independent news portal.