THE ACTIVIY OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN COVID-19 CRISIS MANAGEMENT

2021 ◽  
pp. 114-127
Author(s):  
Svetlana Cebotari ◽  

One of the most discussed issues in academia, but also in the discourse of polemologists, political scientists, economists and specialists in other fields is the issue regarding the impact of the COVID-19 virus on international security. Although all the attention of the international community has been focused on the emergence of the COVID-19 virus and its impact on the individual, societal, human and interpersonal relationships, it is worth paying attention to the involvement of international organizations in managing the COVID-19 crisis. This article aims to highlight the role and involvement of international organizations in managing the COVID-19 crisis. The involvement of the United Nations, specifically of the UN Security Council, in the management of issues related to the COVID-19 crisis will be examined. The activity of the World Health Organization, the European Union, the North Atlantic Alliance in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic will also be examined.

2021 ◽  
pp. 002085232098451
Author(s):  
Steven Van Hecke ◽  
Harald Fuhr ◽  
Wouter Wolfs

Despite new challenges like climate change and digitalization, global and regional organizations recently went through turbulent times due to a lack of support from several of their member states. Next to this crisis of multilateralism, the COVID-19 pandemic now seems to question the added value of international organizations for addressing global governance issues more specifically. This article analyses this double challenge that several organizations are facing and compares their ways of managing the crisis by looking at their institutional and political context, their governance structure, and their behaviour during the pandemic until June 2020. More specifically, it will explain the different and fragmented responses of the World Health Organization, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund/World Bank. With the aim of understanding the old and new problems that these international organizations are trying to solve, this article argues that the level of autonomy vis-a-vis the member states is crucial for understanding the politics of crisis management. Points for practitioners As intergovernmental bodies, international organizations require authorization by their member states. Since they also need funding for their operations, different degrees of autonomy also matter for reacting to emerging challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential for international organizations is limited, though through proactive and bold initiatives, they can seize the opportunity of the crisis and partly overcome institutional and political constraints.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
José Daniel Cáceres Pinto

Resumen: Organismos internacionales coinciden que el cambio climático representa una amenaza para el ser humano, particularmente para su salud. Entidades como la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y voces de la comunidad científica han venido advirtiendo sobre los efectos que las distor­siones climáticas están teniendo sobre la propagación de enfermedades cuyos vectores dependen de su entorno. Sectores vitales para el desarrollo social como la distribución del agua, la agricultu­ra, y la sanidad pública se están viendo cada vez más amenazados por la vorágine climatológica. Sin embargo, persiste una indiferencia silenciosa en diferentes segmentos sociales que consideran el Cambio Climático como un problema abstracto o simplemente algo muy sobre sus capacidades de resolución. Desactivar este desafecto, concienciar a la población general y movilizar a la toma de acción han sido unos de los retos que diversos actores sociales han asumido. Uno de los casos de éxito que más llama la atención ha sido el uso de encuadres de salud. El siguiente artículo di­secciona el impacto que el Cambio Climático tiene y presenta el caso sobre el uso de la promoción de la salud en EEUU para concienciar sobre la problemática ambiental.Palabras clave: Salud; Cambio Climático; encuadres; mensaje.Abstract: International organizations agree that climate change poses a threat to the human being, parti­cularly to his health. Entities such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and voices from the scientific community have been warning about the effects the climatic distortions are having on the propagation of illnesses which vectors depend on their surroundings. Vital sectors for social development such as water distribution, agriculture, and public health are progressively seeing themselves more threatened by the climatic maelstrom. Nevertheless, an indifferent silence per­sists in different social segments who consider Climate change as an abstract problem or simply something out of their reach to resolve. Deactivating this disaffection, raising awareness in the ge­neral population and mobilize to take action have been some of the challenges social actors have undertaken. One particular success story that grabs the attention is the use of health frames. The following article dissects the impact that Climate Change has and presents the case of the use of health promotion in the USA to raise awareness about the environmental problem.Keywords: Health; Climate Change; Frames; Message.


1999 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Chan

Abstract Fatigue is the most common symptom experienced by individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), regardless of their disability level or the severity of the disease. The Fatigue Severity Scale and the Fatigue Impact Scale are standardized tools designed to measure the impact of fatigue on an individual's life. In addition to the use of medications, other fatigue management strategies include education, modification of activities and environment, compensation, and participation in physical exercises. Because the patient is required to take an active role in the implementation of these fatigue management strategies, his or her sense of control in disease management is enhanced, resulting in empowerment of the individual. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), empowerment is a health-promotion strategy for the individual and for populations. Therefore, having options and control in fatigue management is empowering and promotes health for individuals with MS.


Author(s):  
Fleck Dieter ◽  
Newton Michael A ◽  
Grenfell Katarina

This chapter discusses the use of multinational military units. Some European States, such as Germany, have incorporated large, if not most, parts of their national military forces in permanent multinational units. Many other States including the US are forming ad hoc military units for specific operations. The UN, NATO, and other international organizations are pursuing standby arrangements and high readiness commitments to allow for rapid response. In all these situations command and control issues are to be considered. While there are many different forms of multinational military cooperation, and Sending States will avoid regulating these matters in status-of-forces agreements (SOFAs) with the Receiving State, they are nevertheless relevant for the law and practice of Visiting Forces. This chapter draws some conclusions on the concept of multinational military operations for the North Atlantic Alliance, the European Union, and beyond.


2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 88-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jozef Dragašek ◽  
Alexander Nawka

The Slovak Republic is a landlocked country in central Europe with a population of over 5 million. The Czech Republic and Austria lie to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. The largest city is the capital, Bratislava; the second largest city is Košnice. Slovakia is a member of the European Union, the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization, among other international organisations. The majority of the inhabitants of Slovakia are ethnically Slovak (85.8%). Hungarians are the largest ethnic minority (9.5%). With a gross domestic product (GDP) of €63.3 billion in 2009, Slovakia is classified as a middle-income country. In that year total health expenditure represented 6.7% of GDP (Pažitny, 2008), 34% of which went on pharmaceuticals, the highest share among all OECD countries (World Health Organization, 2010).


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-334
Author(s):  
Gian Luca Burci ◽  
Jennifer Hasselgård-Rowe

Abstract Transposing rule of law principles from the national to the international level, in particular to international organizations, still raises questions and can be problematic. However, rule of law considerations play an important role when international organizations exercise a substantial amount of public authority and may directly affect states as well as individuals. The World Health Organization (WHO), unlike other international organizations, has a constitutional mandate to prevent and respond to international acute emergencies in the form of disease outbreaks and pandemics. Its main normative tool is the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR), that represent a breakthrough from past instruments but also raise questions and challenges that can be effectively analyzed from a rule of law perspective. This approach applies in particular to ambiguities in important parts of the IHR affecting their relevance and effectiveness; lack of clarity for processes leading to sensitive executive decisions; the absence of compliance assessment mechanisms resulting in lack of accountability for states parties; and an inadequate inclusion of human rights guarantees. The analysis is extended beyond WHO’s functions, to the impact of COVID-19 on the organization’s governance as well as its internal management.


1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan E. Falk ◽  
Jan E. Juto ◽  
Göran Stridh ◽  
Gunnar Bylin

Despite great effort, it has been difficult to demonstrate in an objective way any impact of sick building environment on affected individuals. The aim of this study was to learn whether or not it is possible with rhinostereometry to register changes in the nasal mucosa swelling at exposure to formaldehyde in concentrations 0–0.174 mg/m3. Seven persons, non-allergic, otherwise healthy, and with a history of nasal distress in their homes, participated in the study. Six healthy persons, without nose problems, were controls. Each person was exposed to formaldehyde in different concentrations during two hours in a climate chamber. Increased swelling was recorded al the two highest concentrations (0.073 and 0.174 mg/m3) in the symptomatic group. The control group did not show any mucosal swelling. It was possible to demonstrate an increased mucosal swelling that must be attributed to exposure to formaldehyde. This was possible at formaldehyde concentrations close to the (0.125 mg/m3) upper limit for indoor climate recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The study model can be considered useful for further investigations of the impact on the individual from other airborne irritants connected to sick building environments.


Author(s):  
Benjamin Kienzle

European approaches to the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons—the so-called weapons of mass destruction (WMD)—have undergone a profound transformation during the last few decades. This chapter will trace the varying European policy responses to WMD proliferation over time and examine how European security doctrines have evolved more recently in this area. It will focus on processes of doctrinal convergence and divergence both in the three major powers in Europe—France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—and in other European states with a significant non-proliferation policy of their own, especially Austria, Ireland, and Sweden. In this context, it will also take into consideration the influence of relevant international organizations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-14
Author(s):  
Donald L. Buresh

This paper evaluates the effect of the Estonian cyber incident on Estonia, Russia, the United States, the European Union, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also known as NATO. The paper employs the Valeriano and Maness criteria for evaluating a cyber incident critically. The article asks how did the Estonian cyber incident come to pass, what were the foreign policy and international relationship effects, what was the impact on Estonia, and how did Estonia react to the attack. The essay concludes that the Estonian cyber incident was a catalyst, prompting the nations listed herein to address the effects of cyber-attacks, and then search for acceptable solutions.


1989 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 354-357
Author(s):  
IIIT - USA

The Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the World Health Organization,the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences, and the Royal Academyfor Islamic Civilization Research (the Aal Al-Bayt Foundation) jointly sponsoreda seminar on “Islamic Lifestyles and their Impact on Health and theGeneral Development of Mankind” in order to put this Islamic heritage inthe service of all human beings.The idea of.holding this Seminar was first conceived by the EasternMediterranean Regional Office of the World Health Organization becauseof its profound conviction that:1. Health constitutes the physical, psychological, and social wellbeingof the individual.2. Particular lifestyles have a major impact on the health ofthe individual and the society at large.3. Islam views the concept of well-being as a pre-requisite of‘Aqidah (creed) and Shari’ah which the Muslims fully appliedand implemented in their Golden Age -thus, providingliving proof of its success in real life.The first task undertaken by the participants involved the exhaustive listingand description of Islamic lifestyles in all spheres, and, the determiningof their Islamic roots on the basis of evidence from the Qur’an and Hadith.The second task focused on exploring the benefits to be acquired and theharms to be avoided through the adoption of these Islamic lifestyles by theindividual, the family, the society, and all human beings especially in thespheres of mental and physical health, and the well-being of social and humanrelationships. The third task involved devising plans of action for utilizingand applying all or part of the knowledge gained about Islamic lifestylesin order to demonstrate their beneficial influence as a means of reforminglife and setting mankind on the straight path.The Seminar participants also formed a smaller committee to exatninethe results of its research and deliberations so as to prepare, as soon as possible ...


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document