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Escaping the "Upside Down" – Halting Florida's Stop WOKE Act

Dionysia Johnson-Massie, Kelly Peña and Alan Persaud review the latest updates to Florida’s “Stop WOKE” Act and what they mean for employers in the state.

Westlaw Today

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ups

Littler Appoints New Leadership to Its Affinity Groups and Diversity & Inclusion Council

(March 22, 2021) – Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, is pleased to announce new leadership for its ‘Ohana and Reunión affinity groups. Additionally, the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Council added six new members.




ups

The Promise and Perils of Affinity Groups; Or, How Not to Bargain with your Employee Resource Group

A properly structured and implemented Affinity Group (AKA Employee Resource Group) is a powerful tool in an employer’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion tool belt. But, unwary employers may risk violating the National Labor Relations Act if they bargain with an Affinity Group. In this month’s podcast, Alyesha Asghar Dotson discusses the do’s and don’ts of interacting with an active Affinity Group within your organization.
  




ups

How ongoing worker shortages highlight an ‘urgent need’ for upskilling

Shannon Meade and Michael Lotito discuss key issues that employers are facing now, according to Littler’s Workplace Policy Institute’s 2024 Labor Day Report.

Human Resource Executive

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ups

Littler World Cup Matchups Part 5: Whistleblower Protections

Welcome back to our World Cup series, where we compare various aspects of labor and employment law in some of the participating countries.1  We kicked off Parts One and Two of this series with vacation and sick leave entitlements.




ups

ETSI TeraFlowSDN Winner of the Layer123 Network Transformation ‘Upstart of the Year’ Award

ETSI TeraFlowSDN Wins Layer123 Network Transformation ‘Upstart of the Year’ Award

Sophia Antipolis, 7 December 2022

The ETSI TeraFlowSDN group (ETSI TFS), launched only six months ago, has won the ‘Upstart of the Year’ award at the Layer123 Network Transformation Awards ceremony, held at the prestigious Berkley Hotel in Knightsbridge, London, last night. This award also recognizes the ETSI strategy to provide new software development tools and practices to an evolving standardization ecosystem.

Read More...




ups

ETSI to transform the standards development landscape with Software Development Groups

Sophia Antipolis, 2 February 2023

ETSI, the organization for globally applicable standards for information and communication technology (ICT), has adopted a new instrument, Software Development Groups (SDGs). This game-changing move will help ETSI adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of technology and standards development. Developing software to accompany standards will accelerate the standardization process, providing faster feedback loops and improving the quality of standards.

Read More...




ups

Cybersecurity Snapshot: Apply Zero Trust to Critical Infrastructure’s OT/ICS, CSA Advises, as Five Eyes Spotlight Tech Startups’ Security

Should critical infrastructure orgs boost OT/ICS systems’ security with zero trust? Absolutely, the CSA says. Meanwhile, the Five Eyes countries offer cyber advice to tech startups. Plus, a survey finds “shadow AI” weakening data governance. And get the latest on MFA methods, CISO trends and Uncle Sam’s AI strategy.

Dive into six things that are top of mind for the week ending Nov. 1.

1 - Securing OT/ICS in critical infrastructure with zero trust

As their operational technology (OT) computing environments become more digitized, converged with IT systems and cloud-based, critical infrastructure organizations should beef up their cybersecurity by adopting zero trust principles.

That’s the key message of the Cloud Security Alliance’s “Zero Trust Guidance for Critical Infrastructure,” which focuses on applying zero trust methods to OT and industrial control system (ICS) systems.

While OT/ICS environments were historically air gapped, that’s rarely the case anymore. “Modern systems are often interconnected via embedded wireless access, cloud and other internet-connected services, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications,” reads the 64-page white paper, which was published this week.

The CSA hopes the document will help cybersecurity teams and OT/ICS operators enhance the way they communicate and collaborate.

 

 

Among the topics covered are:

  • Critical infrastructure’s unique threat vectors
  • The convergence of IT/OT with digital transformation
  • Architecture and technology differences between OT and IT

The guide also outlines this five-step process for implementing zero trust in OT/ICS environments:

  • Define the surface to be protected
  • Map operational flows
  • Build a zero trust architecture
  • Draft a zero trust policy
  • Monitor and maintain the environment

A zero trust strategy boosts the security of critical OT/ICS systems by helping teams “keep pace with rapid technological advancements and the evolving threat landscape,” Jennifer Minella, the paper’s lead author, said in a statement.

To get more details, read:

For more information about OT systems cybersecurity, check out these Tenable resources: 

2 - Five Eyes publish cyber guidance for tech startups

Startup tech companies can be attractive targets for hackers, especially if they have weak cybersecurity and valuable intellectual property (IP).

To help startups prevent cyberattacks, the Five Eyes countries this week published cybersecurity guides tailored for these companies and their investors.

“This guidance is designed to help tech startups protect their innovation, reputation, and growth, while also helping tech investors fortify their portfolio companies against security risks," Mike Casey, U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center Director, said in a statement.

These are the top five cybersecurity recommendations from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S. and the U.K. for tech startups:

  • Be aware of threat vectors, including malicious insiders, insecure IT and supply chain risk.
  • Identify your most critical assets and conduct a risk assessment to pinpoint vulnerabilities.
  • Build security into your products by managing intellectual assets and IP; monitoring who has access to sensitive information; and ensuring this information’s protection.
  • Conduct due diligence when choosing partners and make sure they’re equipped to protect the data you share with them.
  • Before you expand abroad, prepare and become informed about these new markets by, for example, understanding local laws in areas such as IP protection and data protection.

 

 

“Sophisticated nation-state adversaries, like China, are working hard to steal the intellectual property held by some of our countries’ most innovative and exciting startups,” Ken McCallum, Director General of the U.K.’s MI5, said in a statement.

To get more details, check out these Five Eyes’ cybersecurity resources for tech startups:

3 - Survey: Unapproved AI use impacting data governance

Employees’ use of unauthorized AI tools is creating compliance issues in a majority of organizations. Specifically, it makes it harder to control data governance and compliance, according to almost 60% of organizations surveyed by market researcher Vanson Bourne.

“Amid all the investment and adoption enthusiasm, many organisations are struggling for control and visibility over its use,” reads the firm’s “AI Barometer: October 2024” publication. Vanson Bourne polls 100 IT and business executives each month about their AI investment plans.

To what extent do you think the unsanctioned use of AI tools is impacting your organisation's ability to maintain control over data governance and compliance?

(Source: Vanson Bourne’s “AI Barometer: October 2024”)

Close to half of organizations surveyed (44%) believe that at least 10% of their employees are using unapproved AI tools.

On a related front, organizations are also grappling with the issue of software vendors that unilaterally and silently add AI features to their products, especially to their SaaS applications.

While surveyed organizations say they’re reaping advantages from their AI usage, “such benefits are dependent on IT teams having the tools to address the control and visibility challenges they face,” the publication reads.

For more information about the use of unapproved AI tools, an issue also known as “shadow AI,” check out:

VIDEO

Shadow AI Risks in Your Company

 

4 - NCSC explains nuances of multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) comes in a variety of flavors, and understanding the differences is critical for choosing the right option for each use case in your organization.

To help cybersecurity teams better understand the different MFA types and their pluses and minuses, the U.K. National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has updated its MFA guidance.

“The new guidance explains the benefits that come with strong authentication, while also minimising the friction that some users associate with MFA,” reads an NCSC blog.

 

 

In other words, what type of MFA method to use depends on people’s roles, how they work, the devices they use, the applications or services they’re accessing and so on.

Topics covered include:

  • Recommended types of MFA, such as FIDO2 credentials, app-based and hardware-based code generators and message-based methods
  • The importance of using strong MFA to secure users’ access to sensitive data
  • The role of trusted devices in boosting and simplifying MFA
  • Bad practices that weaken MFA’s effectiveness, such as:
    • Retaining weaker, password-only authentication protocols for legacy services
    • Excluding certain accounts from MFA requirements because their users, usually high-ranking officials, find MFA inconvenient

To get more details, read:

For more information about MFA:

5 - U.S. gov’t outlines AI strategy, ties it to national security 

The White House has laid out its expectations for how the federal government ought to promote the development of AI in order to safeguard U.S. national security.

In the country’s first-ever National Security Memorandum (NSM) on AI, the Biden administration said the federal government must accomplish the following:

  • Ensure the U.S. is the leader in the development of safe, secure and trustworthy AI
  • Leverage advanced AI technologies to boost national security
  • Advance global AI consensus and governance

“The NSM’s fundamental premise is that advances at the frontier of AI will have significant implications for national security and foreign policy in the near future,” reads a White House statement.

 

 

The NSM’s directives to federal agencies include:

  • Help improve the security of chips and support the development of powerful supercomputers to be used by AI systems.
  • Help AI developers protect their work against foreign spies by providing them with cybersecurity and counterintelligence information.
  • Collaborate with international partners to create a governance framework for using AI in a way that is ethical, responsible and respects human rights. 

The White House also published a complementary document titled “Framework To Advance AI Governance and Risk Management in National Security,” which adds implementation details and guidance for the NSM.

6 - State CISOs on the frontlines of AI security

As the cybersecurity risks and benefits of AI multiply, most U.S. state CISOs find themselves at the center of their governments' efforts to craft AI security strategies and policies.

That’s according to the “2024 Deloitte-NASCIO Cybersecurity Study,” which surveyed CISOs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Specifically, 88% of state CISOs reported being involved in the development of a generative AI strategy, while 96% are involved with creating a generative AI security policy.

However, their involvement in AI cybersecurity matters isn’t necessarily making them optimistic about their states’ ability to fend off AI-boosted attacks.

None said they feel “extremely confident” that their state can prevent AI-boosted attacks, while only 10% reported feeling “very confident.” The majority (43%) said they feel “somewhat confident” while the rest said they are either “not very confident” or “not confident at all.”

 

 

Naturally, most state CISOs see AI-enabled cyberthreats as significant, with 71% categorizing them as either “very high threat” (18%) or “somewhat high threat” (53%).

At the same time, state CISOs see the potential for AI to help their cybersecurity efforts, as 41% are already using generative AI for cybersecurity, and another 43% have plans to do so by mid-2025.

Other findings from the "2024 Deloitte-NASCIO Cybersecurity Study" include:

  • 4 in 10 state CISOs feel their budget is insufficient.
  • Almost half of respondents rank cybersecurity staffing as one of the top challenges.
  • In the past two years, 23 states have hired new CISOs, as the median tenure of a state CISO has dropped to 23 months, down from 30 months in 2022.
  • More state CISOs are taking on privacy protection duties — 86% are responsible for privacy protection, up from 60% two years ago.

For more information about CISO trends:




ups

Investor Alert: Fraudulent social media “investment groups” take advantage of unsuspecting investors

TORONTO – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) warns Canadians about fraudulent “investment groups” promoted on social media like Facebook and Instagram. These groups could be running a scam called a “pump and dump.”How the scam works:





ups

CTA Joins Government Agencies and Nonprofit and Private Groups to Host A Second Citywide Career Fair

Following the success of the first Citywide Career Fair last Spring, where over 60 employers and more than 400 job seekers attended, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is joining local and state government agencies, nonprofits and private sector leaders to host a second joint hiring event next week.




ups

JLABS gives U of T startups a place to call home

Nanovista is one of the first 22 up-and-coming companies selected to be part of JLABS @ Toronto, an innovative research centre designed to advance bio/pharmaceutical, medical device, consumer and digital health programs. “Being a part of JLABS brings us one step closer to commercializing and delivering this product to market to help patients,” said Jinzi Zheng of […]



  • Health & Medicine
  • Media Releases
  • New Media & Technology
  • University of Toronto

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U of T Cities Podcast Ep. 2 The Future of Transit - Research and startups pushing transit beyond the simple subway-or-streetcar divide

Research and startups pushing transit beyond the simple subway-or-streetcar divideThis edition of U of T Cities features researchers and entrepreneurs working to build the future of transit. Reimagine the downtown and beyond with transit policy expert Prof. Eric Miller; Richard Sommer, dean of the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design; and alumnus Taylor Scollon, […]




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The Dangers of Startups

A bird chirps and I can hear the distant sound of a soft tropical rain. It's night there even though it's day here. One person is beginning their day and the other is exhausted. This is our morning/night meeting and we're on Skype. Later on, it's night on the other side of the world and apparently the mosquitoes are out in droves. And then the ...




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Kratos’ DeMarco Bullish On What Trump, With Help From Musk, Means For Startups And Non-Traditional Defense Companies

A second Trump administration committed to cutting federal spending could mean very good things for non-traditional defense companies and startups because of a focus on affordability, Eric DeMarco, the president […]




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Trade Groups Report Productive Meetings with Washington Lawmakers

The AHRI’s 2024 Policy Symposium brought more than 200 members, along with AHRI staffers and others in HVAC, to Washington for the lobbying effort, plus panel discussions, keynote speeches, and networking.




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West Virginia Ups Funding For HVAC, Capital Improvements at Schools

Seven of the awards include funding specifically for HVAC-related projects.




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Trade Groups File Challenge to DOE Furnace Rule

The final rule from the U.S. Department of Energy, issued recently, requires newly manufactured indoor residential gas furnaces to be at least 95% efficient starting in December 2028, meaning furnaces made after then will have to be condensing models.




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Episode 373: Joel Spolsky on Startups Growth, and Valuation

Joel Spolsky on founding Stack Overflow, “land grabs” vs. “bootstrapping with profitability”, raising more money using “proof points”, what developers and companies get massively wrong, choosing your next job, and how to ask and answer on Stack Over




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SE Radio 555: On Freund on Upskilling

On Freund, founder of Wilco and former VP of Engineering at WeWork, speaks with SE Radio’s Brijesh Ammanath about “upskilling” – going deeper or increasing the breadth of your skills. On has years of experience in helping developers master the skills needed to advance in their careers. This episode explores the importance of upskilling in a constantly evolving tech landscape. They focus particularly on how and why senior and expert developers should keep learning, upskilling, and reskilling throughout their careers. Freund offers suggestions on how to face some common challenges, especially for remote or distributed workers, and how and why engineering managers can help enable upskilling for their teams.




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Yahoo Groups Dropped RSS Feed Support

The RSS feeds of the RSS-Public and RSS-Board mailing lists are no longer available. Yahoo Groups used to offer feeds for each of its public lists, but Yahoo dropped support last year. A member of the service's product team said the feature was retired in July 2013.

To read the lists and subscribe to receive them in email, visit the Yahoo Groups pages for RSS-Public and RSS-Board.

We may move the lists to Google Groups, which does offer RSS feeds for each group.





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Sizing a Static UPS System In Data Center

Choosing the power of a static UPS system serving a data center is a decision that involves various elements and which cannot be made before, or independently from, the choice of distribution scheme. The main elements to consider can be summarised... Read more

The post Sizing a Static UPS System In Data Center appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.




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Albi Named One of LinkedIn’s Top 10 Most Successful Startups in Chicago

Chicago-based tech startup Albi has been named one of LinkedIn's Top 10 Most Successful Startups, recognizing the company’s transformative platform for restoration professionals. 




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Cannabis-Infused Fruit Strips Are Fruit Roll-Ups for Adults

Fruit Slabs start as a cannabis-infused fruit blend with no added sugar that is then dried into a bite-sized square. 




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Greiner Packaging presents new generation of injection-molded r-PET cups

Injection-molded cups that until now were made out of PP can now also be offered in up to 100% r-PET – an advantage of which is as much as a four-fold reduction in CO2e emissions compared to other materials.




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Think! Launches New Protein Oatmeal Cups and Cartons

The update to its line of Protein + Fiber Oatmeal Cups and Cartons follows a recent redesign to its High Protein Bars.




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A Year of Ups and Downs for the Packaging Industry

Looking ahead to 2022, digitalization will be the main driver for labels — converters will look for complete end-to-end digitalized solutions to optimize their production floor.




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German Chocolate Factory Gets Turned Upside Down

Colorful variety is what the most famous chocolate bar in the 100g format from Ritter Sport stands for. Its dimensions are just as varied as the many different types of chocolate offered.




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Reusable Sulapac cups introduced in selected Burger King restaurants in Finland

Restel, a Finnish restaurant and catering company, kicks off a pilot with reusable cups made of biobased and recyclable Sulapac® material in selected restaurants, including two Burger King outlets.




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Berry Global Introduces New Range of Reusable Plastic Cups for Foodservice Industry

The Berry Cup Range combines reusability with a premium quality feel and high-impact branding opportunities.




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US CPI data due Wednesday - possible upside surprise.

CPI data from the US due today, Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

Greg popped up a preview earlier:

In a recent note, BMO previewed the data also. Analysts at the bank suggest that any significant influence from recent storms on inflation data is likely limited, meaning market reactions to any deviation in core inflation—either upward or downward—may be pronounced.

The consensus forecast calls for a steady +0.3% rise in core CPI for the month, with expectations leaning toward a possible upside surprise.

A +0.4% reading or higher would make waves, particularly against the backdrop of the recent election results. The logic suggests that if inflation was already ticking up before the GOP’s victory, the added impact of tariffs and potential trade conflicts could fuel further inflationary momentum. However, BMO analysts also point out that while targeted tariffs may not universally drive up prices, this assumption currently shapes US rates market sentiment. With this market outlook in mind, BMO expects that an upside surprise in October’s inflation numbers could have a meaningful impact on yields, increasing their upward trajectory.

At present, actual inflation data is seen as the most direct factor that could push 10-year yields beyond the 4.50% threshold. A softer-than-expected core CPI reading could trigger a rally in the Treasury market, though there appears to be a limit to how much the market will temper expectations for inflation following Trump’s victory. Instead, BMO anticipates the market will continue to define a trading range in this post-election landscape, characterized by a mix of cautious optimism and prevailing skepticism.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.




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Television Network Affiliate Groups to Hold Meetings at 2021 NAB Show




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Application Window Open to Showcase Innovative Startups at 2022 NAB Show

Washington, D.C. -- NAB Show is currently accepting applications from startup companies to feature their innovative products and solutions on the industry’s largest stage for media, entertainment and technology at the 2022 NAB Show, held April 23–27 in Las Vegas, Nev.




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Television Network Affiliate Groups to Hold Meetings at 2022 NAB Show

Washington, D.C. -- The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today that the affiliate boards of directors of ABC, CBS, FOX Television and NBC will meet in-person during NAB Show, April 23 – 27, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nev.




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Television Network Affiliate Groups to Hold Meetings at 2023 NAB Show

Washington, D.C. -- The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today that the affiliate boards of directors of ABC, CBS, FOX Television and NBC will meet in-person during NAB Show, April 15 – 19, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nev.




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UPS to Use Drones for Hospital Deliveries




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Call for Applications to the Youth Contact Groups from Donetsk and Luhansk Regions

Training
Mon, 2016-08-01 (All day) - Sun, 2016-12-25 (All day)
Ukraine
OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine
OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine
Eastern Europe
Conflict prevention and resolution

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (OSCE PCU) is pleased to announce an open call for applications of the young activists from Donetsk and Luhansk regions to join the Youth Contact Group initiative, aimed at promoting inter-regional dialogue and bridge-building between youth. This dialogue initiative was launched by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine to 2015. Its main task is to equip the youth representatives from different regions of Ukraine with the necessary tools and skills as well as to support implementation of their ideas regarding promotion of dialogue on the today’s issues of concern among Ukrainian youth. The new groups will join efforts with the already selected similar teams in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv.

Profile of a successful applicant

At this opportunity the call targets representatives from young people in Donetsk and Luhansk regions who can demonstrate that they are strongly committed to building sustainable dialogue between youth of their regions and other parts of Ukraine.

Besides that, successful applicants must:

  • Be between the ages of 18 and 28 at the time of implementation of the activities;
  • Demonstrate frequent use of social media;
  • Have a strong interest in the fields of inter-culturalism, peace building, and regional co-operation;
  • Be able to commit to participating in all activities of the initiative

In addition, it is not obligatory but preferable that candidates can:

  • Be familiar with national and international youth policy;
  • Demonstrate previous experience in project implementation;
  • Demonstrate good English language skills.

An equal number of participants will be selected from each of the considered regions. All successful applicants will be notified of the results of the selection process. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply.

Costs

No fees apply to any phase of the initiative implementation. All costs related to logistics (boarding, lodging, transport, etc.) will be covered by the OSCE PCU.  

Participants are expected to use their own laptops and smart phones.

How to apply

If you are interested, we strongly encourage you to apply using the links below.

Applications for Donetsk region are now open and you can apply here.

Applications for Luhansk region are now open and you can apply here.

Deadline for applications is 29 July 2016

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Roma remain one of most vulnerable groups, continue to face difficult living conditions and discrimination in access to social protection, health, employment and adequate housing, as stated in reports by independent bodies

BELGRADE, 8 April 2016 - On the occasion of International Roma Day, the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, the United Nations Country Team in Serbia, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade reaffirm our strong commitment to equality and non-discrimination.

Today, the Romani community, Europe's largest ethnic minority, still experiences multiple discrimination and marginalisation in countries throughout Europe, including Serbia.  Roma remain one of the most vulnerable groups; they continue to face difficult living conditions and discrimination in access to social protection, health, employment and adequate housing, as stated in reports by both relevant international mechanisms and independent bodies of the Republic of Serbia.

Thousands of Roma represent the most vulnerable and marginalised among the population of internally displaced, still facing obstacles in accessing rights and durable solutions.

International and European human rights standards clearly provide for equality before the law and prohibit discrimination on all grounds, including ethnicity. The realisation of Roma inclusion will reinforce everyday democracy and the rule of law. It is the only way to reach a society based on the principle of equality of opportunity where everyone has the right to participate and to be heard.

On this day, we therefore call on all relevant stakeholders to pursue with determination 
Roma inclusion policies in Serbia, pursuant to the recent adoption of a new Strategy of Social Inclusion of Roma for the Period from 2015-2025 and the Action Plan for Realization of Rights of National Minorities by the Government of Serbia.

The Delegation of the European Union, the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the United Nations Country Team in Serbia remain committed to improving the lives of Roma in Serbia and  ensuring that their fundamental rights are respected, and to supporting our Serbian partners in this endeavour.

International Roma Day is celebrated annually on April 8, in commemoration of the 1971 founding of the International Romani Union, the first major international Romani civic initiative.

Statistical information on Roma in Serbia

  • 90% of children in Roma settlements are growing up in poverty. The infant and under-5 mortality rate is two times higher than that of the general population, 15% of Roma children are born with low birth weights, one fifth is malnourished and only 13% are fully immunized.
  • Romani children continue to face discrimination in the education system. Only 6% of children from Roma settlements attend early learning programs, only 64% finish primary school on time, and  only 22% attend secondary school (of whom only 15% are girls).
  • Romani women and girls face multi-sectoral discrimination, as well as heightened barriers of access to services, including services for victims of violence.    Early, arranged marriage remains an issue in some segments of Serbia’s Romani communities, with very destructive consequences for – in particular – the child bride.

For more information & media inquiries please contact:

Aleksandra Stamenkovic, United Nations Country Team Communications Expert, email: aleksandra.stamenkovic@one.un.org, Phone +381 11 415 5314

Nadezda Dramicanin, Delegation of the EU to Serbia Communications Officer, e-mail: Nadezda.DRAMICANIN@eeas.europa.eu, Phone: +381 11 3083 200

Ivana Milatovic, OSCE National Political and Press Affairs Officer, e-mail: ppiu-serbia@osce.org, Phone +381 11 3606 151

Mona Alghaith, Council of Europe Office, Assistant to the Head of Office, e-mail: mona.alghaith@coe.int, Phone. +381 11 71 555 00

 

Related Stories



  • OSCE Mission to Serbia
  • Roma and Sinti issues
  • Tolerance and non-discrimination
  • South-Eastern Europe
  • Press release

ups

Roma remain one of most vulnerable groups, continue to face difficult living conditions and discrimination in access to social protection, health, employment and adequate housing, as stated in reports by independent bodies

BELGRADE, 8 April 2016 - On the occasion of International Roma Day, the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, the United Nations Country Team in Serbia, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade reaffirm our strong commitment to equality and non-discrimination.

Today, the Romani community, Europe's largest ethnic minority, still experiences multiple discrimination and marginalisation in countries throughout Europe, including Serbia.  Roma remain one of the most vulnerable groups; they continue to face difficult living conditions and discrimination in access to social protection, health, employment and adequate housing, as stated in reports by both relevant international mechanisms and independent bodies of the Republic of Serbia.

Thousands of Roma represent the most vulnerable and marginalised among the population of internally displaced, still facing obstacles in accessing rights and durable solutions.

International and European human rights standards clearly provide for equality before the law and prohibit discrimination on all grounds, including ethnicity. The realisation of Roma inclusion will reinforce everyday democracy and the rule of law. It is the only way to reach a society based on the principle of equality of opportunity where everyone has the right to participate and to be heard.

On this day, we therefore call on all relevant stakeholders to pursue with determination 
Roma inclusion policies in Serbia, pursuant to the recent adoption of a new Strategy of Social Inclusion of Roma for the Period from 2015-2025 and the Action Plan for Realization of Rights of National Minorities by the Government of Serbia.

The Delegation of the European Union, the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the United Nations Country Team in Serbia remain committed to improving the lives of Roma in Serbia and  ensuring that their fundamental rights are respected, and to supporting our Serbian partners in this endeavour.

International Roma Day is celebrated annually on April 8, in commemoration of the 1971 founding of the International Romani Union, the first major international Romani civic initiative.

Statistical information on Roma in Serbia

  • 90% of children in Roma settlements are growing up in poverty. The infant and under-5 mortality rate is two times higher than that of the general population, 15% of Roma children are born with low birth weights, one fifth is malnourished and only 13% are fully immunized.
  • Romani children continue to face discrimination in the education system. Only 6% of children from Roma settlements attend early learning programs, only 64% finish primary school on time, and  only 22% attend secondary school (of whom only 15% are girls).
  • Romani women and girls face multi-sectoral discrimination, as well as heightened barriers of access to services, including services for victims of violence.    Early, arranged marriage remains an issue in some segments of Serbia’s Romani communities, with very destructive consequences for – in particular – the child bride.

For more information & media inquiries please contact:

Aleksandra Stamenkovic, United Nations Country Team Communications Expert, email: aleksandra.stamenkovic@one.un.org, Phone +381 11 415 5314

Nadezda Dramicanin, Delegation of the EU to Serbia Communications Officer, e-mail: Nadezda.DRAMICANIN@eeas.europa.eu, Phone: +381 11 3083 200

Ivana Milatovic, OSCE National Political and Press Affairs Officer, e-mail: ppiu-serbia@osce.org, Phone +381 11 3606 151

Mona Alghaith, Council of Europe Office, Assistant to the Head of Office, e-mail: mona.alghaith@coe.int, Phone. +381 11 71 555 00

 

Related Stories



  • OSCE Mission to Serbia
  • Roma and Sinti issues
  • Tolerance and non-discrimination
  • South-Eastern Europe
  • Press release

ups

True Digital Park lures startups

True Digital Park has opened its Work Space, a co-working and office zone with capacity for 4,500 workers, in a bid to provide an affordable area for startups to develop and attract venture capital funding.




ups

UN COP29 climate summit ups ‘climate finance’ target from 2009’s goal of $100 billion a year to ‘a more ambitious goal’ of ‘$1.8 trillion by 2030’ – Seeks ‘a just transition towards sustainability’

Last week, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) published its report on the quantitative and qualitative elements of the NCQG. It conveys a strong message that global climate finance needs a boost in both quantity and quality to address developing economies’ needs for a just transition towards sustainability and resilience. 

“Ultimately, the goal of the NCQG (New Collective Quantified Goal) on climate finance must be to transform the climate finance landscape and herald a new era of mutual trust, cooperation and climate action,” the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report urges. 




ups

Verhaeghe stuns Boston Bruins in OT as Florida Panthers pull off one of the biggest playoff upsets in NHL history

The Panthers will face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round.




ups

Resolution 54 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Creation of, and assistance to, regional groups

Resolution 54 - (Rev. Geneva, 2022) - Creation of, and assistance to, regional groups




ups

Resolution 99 - (Geneva, 2022) - Consideration of organizational reform of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector study groups

Resolution 99 - (Geneva, 2022) - Consideration of organizational reform of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector study groups








ups

Upfront Ventures Raises > $650 Million for Startups and Returns > $600 Million to LPs