Academic literature on the topic 'Sub-committee on housing'

In August 1997, the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities adopted a resolution entitled ‘Women and the right to adequate housing and to land and property’. This resolution was the first of its kind, recognising the specific problems that women encounter when pursuing their right to adequate housing. This article deals with the legal foundations of the right to adequate housing in United Nations instruments. Since women face particular problems with regard to this right – direct violations such as discrimination but also problems as a result of poverty and their social position – these difficulties will be addressed. An overview is given of action that has been taken by various UN organs and bodies, especially the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. The adopted Sub-Commission resolution is dealt with in detail.

Records of 1943 Congressional sub-committee hearings in Long Beach, California, provide insight into the impact of World War II on a West Coast port city. Local officials testified to the sudden, overwhelming needs in housing and city services and to the impact of the rapid growth of shipyards, aircraft industry, and naval facilities.

Amidst growing concern about the sustainability of human society, architecture studies are focusing increasingly on the means to achieve sustainable buildings. While various forward-looking studies are ongoing in this field, it is also important to realize that critical lessons may be learned from historical buildings that have withstood the test of time. Many traditional wooden buildings in Japan provide excellent examples of sustainable building design and production practices that are inherently flexible and therefore highly resistant to obsolescence. This paper first summarizes a recent lecture by Utida outlining his research into the flexibility and durability of modern buildings, which is based on comparisons with Japan's traditional wooden buildings. It is based on the results of Open Building researches in Japan, especially works in Utida laboratory of Tokyo University (1970-1986) and in AIJ Open Building Sub Committee. This is followed by an overview of the flexibility and material/social lifespan of buildings, and of the developmental trends seen in builders' organizations. And lastly, the future direction of the Japanese detached housing industry is explored. Specifically, the paper traces the changes in the Japanese detached housing industry between 1970 and 2010, and shows how the industry has been shifting toward a sustainable business model. Problems arising from these changes and possible solutions are discussed with concrete examples, and one specific business model is singled out and defined as a promising solution.

Effective and efficient water resources management is unquestionably required to meet the high demand of water to support rapid population growth and socio-economic expansion. The water supply availability is slowly decreased due to plantation land clearing, construction projects, and land-change activities in the watershed area. This study aimed to analyze the sustainability of irrigation management in Bali and outside of Bali (Bolaang Mongondow Regency, North Sulawesi). Primary and secondary data were employed in this study. In-depth interview and focus group discussion sessions conducted to collect the primary data. The literature review technique applied to gather secondary data to support the study result and discussion. We recruited the committee of subak, farmers, and stakeholders or policymakers from the Local Board of Agriculture and Public Works and Public Housing (sub-irrigation division) to participate in this study. Multi-Dimensional Scaling method employed to analyze the study data. Results revealed that the sustainability prospective of the irrigation system management in Mongondow was relatively weak, especially on the physical-ecological, infrastructure-technology, and policy-institutional dimensions. However, we noticed that the economy and social dimension of the watershed area was relatively sustainable. Contrary situations were found on Saba Watershed in Buleleng Regency, Bali Province. We found that the sustainability prospective on the physical-ecological and infrastructure-technology dimension was relatively weak. But the dimension of the economy, socio-cultural, and policy-institutional was adequately sustainable.

Background: In India, women in the reproductive age group (15-44 years) comprise 53% of women population (according to 2011 census). In spite of continuous evolution to improve reproductive health services in India, there is insufficient progress in decline of maternal mortality rate at 2 percent per annuum. One of the innovative strategies identified in reproductive and child health (RCH) II program and UN millennium declaration was establishment of women self-help groups (SHG’s) particularly in rural regions with high levels of poverty. So this study is aimed to assess the current role of women SHG’s in, maternal health, Family welfare and associated maternity benefit schemes. And also, to find out the constraints in involvement of women SHG’s and to assess the feasibility of enhancing their role in reproductive health services.Methods: It is a population based cross sectional study carried out at Nemam sub centre area of Nemam primary health care centre under Thiruvallur housing and urban development. Women who have been a SHG member for more than 6 months were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively after obtaining informed consent which was approved by institutional ethics committee. Data was compiled and analyzed using SPSS 15.0. Qualitative data was analyzed using coding techniques.Results: A total of 56 self-help groups from 10 villages resulted in a total study population of 392 individuals. Before identifying their role, their awareness was also evaluated. Ninety percent of the SHG women were aware of most of the components of maternal health services. But the role was good among 58% of the SHG women. This study brings forth the gap in knowledge and their role which is because they were not confident of their knowledge.Conclusions: In a developing country like India, involving the well organized and available grass root volunteers like women SHG’s in reproductive health services will have a great bearing on the maternal health and consequently on health of children and community at large.

Community justice initiatives are now common in Canada, both for young offenders and in adult criminal cases; there are only a few examples of alternative methods for dealing with justice issues in the area of mandated child welfare services. The initiative outlined in this paper represents one of the most comprehensive family justice initiatives in First Nations Child and Family Services in Canada. Meenoostahtan Minisiwin: First Nations Family Justice offers a new way of addressing conflict in child and family matters, outside of the regular Child and Family Services (CFS) and court systems. It incorporates the traditional peacemaking role that has existed for centuries in Northern Manitoba Cree communities, alongside contemporary family mediation. The program brings together family, extended family, community members, Elders, social workers and community service providers in the resolution of child protection concerns through the use of properly trained Okweskimowewak (family mediators). The Okweskimowewak’s role involves assisting participants to articulate their personal ‘truth’ (dabwe) and to hear and respect the dabwe of others; to create a safe and nurturing context by addressing inherent power imbalances; to explore the root causes of family conflict in order to address the long term best interests of children; and to facilitate innovative and collaborative planning outcomes for families. The program was developed by the Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba, a mandated First Nations Child and Family Services agency, although it receives its services mandate from the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Exectuive. It is jointly funded by the Aboriginal Justice Strategy of Justice Canada and the Manitoba Department of Family Services and Housing. Overall direction for the program is provided by the First Nations Family Justice Committee, a sub-committee of the MKO Exectuive Director of Awasis Agency, and representative chiefs of the MKO region. The program currently employs a Program Coordinator, two full time regional Okweskimowewak, two full time community-based Okweskimowewak and an administrative assistant. Since its inception in 1999, the program has received referrals involving more than seven hundred families, including well over 1900 children and 1500 volunteer participants. Services have been provided in seventeen First Nation communities in Northern Manitoba as well as in Thompson, Winnipeg, The Pas, and Gillam. The Meenoostahtan Minisiwin program responds to all aspects of mandated child welfare, as well as other situations where the best interests of children are in jeopardy. These have included mediating care placement arrangements; child-parent conflicts; family-agency or family-agency-system conflicts; assisting in the development of service plans in neglect and abuse cases; advocating on behalf of families attempting to access services; family violence; larger community-wide conflicts; and working to address systemic problems which impact the lives of First Nations children and families. We believe that by establishing processes which focus on restoring balance and harmony within families and communities, we are working towards an overall increase in the health and wellness of community members. And you who would understand justice, How shall you, unless you Look upon all deeds In the fullness of light? Only then shall you know that the erect And the fallen are but one man standing in The twilight between the Night of his pigmy-self And the day of his god-self. K. Gibran

This special issue of JDR is centered on the theme of “Building Local Capacity for Long-term Disaster Resilience.” Eight papers and one commentary describe challenges in various countries of promoting disaster resilience at local, sub-national, and national levels. Resilience is broadly defined here as the capacity of a community to: 1) survive amajor disaster; 2) retain essential structure and functions; and 3) adapt to post-disaster opportunities for transforming community structure and functions to meet new challenges. This working definition is similar to others put forward in the growing literature on resilience. Resilience can also be seen as an element of sustainability. Initially referring only to environmental conditions, the concept of sustainable development was defined as that which meets the needs of present generations while not compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Bruntland Commission, Our Common Future, 1987). Now, the term sustainability has come to mean the need to preserve all resources for future use, including social, physical, economic, cultural and historical, as well as environmental resources. Disasters destroy resources, making communities less sustainable or even unsustainable. Resilience helps to protect resources, among other things, through coordination of all four disaster management functions: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Mitigation commonly involves reduction of risks and prevention of disaster losses through long-term sustained actions modifying the environment. Preparedness involves specific preparations for what to do and how to respond during a disaster at the personal, household, and community level. Response means actions taken immediately after a disaster to rescue survivors, conduct evacuation, feed and shelter victims, and restore communications. Recovery involves restoring lives, infrastructure, services, and economic activity, while seeking long-term community improvement. When possible, emphasis should be placed on building local resilience before a disaster when opportunities are greater for fostering sustainable physical, social, economic, and environmental structures and functions. Waiting until after a disaster to pursue sustainability invites preventable losses and reduces post-disaster resilience and opportunities for improvement. Community resilience involves both “soft” strategies which optimize disaster preparedness and response, and “hard” strategies which mitigate natural and human-caused hazards, thereby reducing disaster losses. Both “soft” and “hard” strategies are undertaken during disaster recovery. In many countries “soft” and “hard” resilience approaches coexist as uncoordinated activities. However, experience suggests that disaster outcomes are better when “soft” and “hard” strategies are purposely coordinated. Thus, “smart” resilience involves coordination of both “soft” and “hard” resilience strategies, i.e., “smart ” resilience = “soft ” resilience + “hard ” resilience. This concept is reflected in papers in Part 1 of this special issue, based on case studies from India, Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, and the US. Additional resilience studies from Japan, the US, and Venezuela will be featured in Part 2 of this special issue. The first group of papers in Part 1 review resilience issues in regional and community recovery. Chandrasekahr (1) uses a case study to illustrate varying effects of formal stakeholder participatory framework on capacity building following the 2004 Southeast Asia Tsunami from post-disaster recovery in southern India. Chen and Wang (2) examine multiple resiliency factors reflected in community recovery case studies from the Taiwan 1999 Chi Chi Earthquake and debris flow evacuation after Typhoon Markot of 2009. Kamel (3) compares factors affecting housing recovery following the US Northridge Earthquake and Hurricane Katrina. The second group of papers examines challenges of addressing resiliency at national and sub-national scales. Velazquez (4) examines national factors affecting disaster resilience in Mexico. Topping (5) provides an overview of the U.S. Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, a nationwide experiment in local resilience capacity building through federal financial incentives encouraging local hazard mitigation planning. Boswell, Siembieda, and Topping (6) describe a new method to evaluate effectiveness of federally funded hazard mitigation projects in the US through California’s State Mitigation Assessment Review Team (SMART) loss reduction tracking system. The final group of papers explores methods of analysis, information dissemination, and pre-event planning. Siembieda (7) presents a model which can be deployed at any geographic level involving timely access to assets in order to reduce pre- and post-disaster vulnerability, as illustrated by community disaster recovery experiences in Central America. Hayashi (8) outlines a new information dissemination system useable at all levels called “micromedia” which provides individuals with real time disaster information regardless of their location. Finally, Poland (9) concludes with an invited special commentary addressing the challenges of creating more complete earthquake disaster resilience through pre-event evaluation of post-event needs at the community level, using San Francisco as the laboratory. The Editorial Committee extends its sincere appreciation to both the contributors and the JDR staff for their patience and determination in making this special issue possible. Thanks also to the reviewers for their insightful analytic comments and suggestions. Finally, the Committee wishes to thank Bayete Henderson for his keen and thorough editorial assistance and copy editing support.

The Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand in July 1993 requested the Sub-Committee on Animal Welfare to undertake a review process in relation to an Australian policy for the housing of laying hens. This request was driven by a need to address the issue and its animal welfare aspects at the national level, and to consider community views as well as the scientific and commercial aspects of the problem. A working group was set up with members from a wide range of interests. There were animal welfarists, animal scientists, behaviourists, veterinarians and representatives of the Australian egg industry. The lengthy and detailed report was published in December 1994. It is essentially a critically argued account of the interplay of the various scientific, ethical, social and economic factors which impinge on the real and perceived welfare of laying hens. It does largely take account of Australian conditions but the approaches to the welfare of layer hens elsewhere in the world are considered in detail. The conclusions which are numerous and in most cases realistic, are applicable to most situations under which egg laying poultry are kept and used. This authoritative report is essential background reading for all who are seriously interested in the welfare of the layer hen.

Unacceptable housing conditions prevalent in Indian urban slums adversely affect the health of residents. The Government of India initiated the Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) as a sub-mission under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), to provide basic services to the urban poor. As per the available scientific literature, the health effects of such improved housing schemes for the poor have not been studied so far in India, especially in under-five children (0–5 years old) who spend most of their time indoors. The present paper describes the protocol for a follow-up research study proposed to fill this gap. This study, funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (Sanction No. 5/8-4/9/Env/2020-NCD-II dated 21.09.2021), will be conducted in Bhopal in the central Indian province of Madhya Pradesh for over 2 years. We will recruit 320 under-five children each from Group 1 (Beneficiary families residing in the houses constructed under BSUP) and Group 2 (Slum dwelling families eligible for improved housing but who did not avail of benefit). Eligible children will be recruited in the first household visit. During the same visit, we will record clinical history, examination findings and take anthropometric measurements of participants. We will also collect data regarding socio-economic-environmental parameters of the house. During subsequent monthly follow-up visits, we will collect primary data on morbidity profile, anthropometric details and medical history over 1 year. Approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of the National Institute for Research in Environmental Health (No: NIREH/BPL/IEC/2020-21/198, dated 22/06/2020). This study will evaluate the impact of different housing conditions on the health of under-five children. Finding of this research will be beneficial in guiding future housing-related policy decisions in low- and middle-income countries.

Aims: The study aims to find out the Socio-Economic changes occurred in the livelihoods of agricultural migrants in Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu. Study Design: Ex-post facto research design. Place and Duration of Study: Tiruppur district were purposively selected for this study since it is stands third place in Tamil Nadu receiving the migrants. This study was conducted during May 2021. Methodology: Migrants with agricultural background was selected as respondents for this study. Total sample size of 120 respondents were selected by using snow ball sampling method. To measure socio-economic changes of migrants, socio-economic indicators were identified based on the literature review, discussion with advisory committee members and senior social scientists. The socio-economic indicators identified for measuring socio-economic changes are socio-psychological factors, education, health maintenance and nutrition, housing, occupation, cultural factors, economic changes, social participation and material possession. The primary data was collected with the help of a well-structured and pre-tested interview schedule. Percentage analysis and cumulative frequency method were used to analyse the data. Results: In this context, the Socio-Economic changes of agricultural migrants were analysed and discussed with nine sub-headings. The results reveals that majority of the migrants (84.16%) expenditure on education were increased, All the respondents (100%) were able to take balanced diet, Vast majority of the respondents (91.66%) expenditure towards the improvement of the house were changed, Cent per cent of the respondent’s occupation were changed, Most of the respondents (90.00%) expenditure on celebration of festivals were increased, There was a vast change in the income of the majority of the respondents (89.16%), Cent per cent of respondents possess mobile phone and television, The outside contact was increased for most of the migrants (93.33%).Overall more than half (54.70%) of the respondents had medium level of overall socio economic changes. Conclusion: The majority of the respondents were inter-district rural migrants and the cost of living is high in the urban areas. It might be the reasons for medium level of socio-economic changes.