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Global health consensus in recent years has highlighted 'decolonisation' as an important factor in the pursuit of equity. Initiatives such as the United Nations' sustainable development goals for 2030 have come amid talk of 'bottom up' programming, driven by the needs of people living and working in the world's most deprived regions. However, most high-level meetings still take place in wealthy countries where United Nations bodies, major donors and the biggest non-governmental organisations are headquartered. In midwifery, maternity experts from low- and middle-income countries may struggle to take part in discussions because of barriers such as visa restrictions, travel costs and the challenge of breaking into old-school networks. Meanwhile multimillion dollar programmes designed to save mothers' and babies' lives lose out on insights from the very people that they are intended to help. With this in mind, a wave of non-governmental organisations focused on women's health and gender equality are moving their conferences closer to the action. This article explores a dynamic field, where forces for change are responding directly to evidence on 'conference inequity'. Non-governmental organisations including WomenLift Health and the International Confederation of Midwives explain how and why they are shaking things up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Digital health technology is progressively transforming physiotherapy practice. Despite a maturing body of literature relating to physiotherapy digital health capability, research examining digital health physiotherapy competency standards is both lacking and lagging. Objective: Examine international professional practice competency standards for physiotherapists to identify themes common to digital health practice competency, published by international peak organizations governing physiotherapy practice. Methods: Systematic meta-synthesis of international peak organization physiotherapy practice competency standards. The study was undertaken over nine stages. Competency statements related to digital health were extracted, and further coded into resultant themes. Results: Eleven documents were analyzed. Fifty-two statements explicitly referenced digital health competency. Identified themes were as follows: 1) digital health data governance; 2) digital health data translation; and 3) digital health technologies. Where digital health-related competency statements do exist, they are skewed toward health information management activities. Conclusions: Digital health practice is currently under-represented in competency standards for physiotherapists. Workforce advancement in light of the burgeoning impact of digital health will prompt further updates to professional competency standards set by our peak organizations. This will have a flow on effect, whereby education providers (e.g. universities and other professional development providers) should consider curriculum and training that prepares individuals for digitally enabled practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While some of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) rely on the support of established international organizations and regimes, others lack strong institutions in their governance areas. This raises the question of whether the SDGs can contribute to strengthening these less institutionalized areas in global governance, which would make these goals important factors in advancing international institutionalization. We study this question with a focus on SDG 12, which targets sustainable consumption and production. By analysing in-depth 49 documents and 19 expert interviews, we trace institutional development (2012–2022) focusing on two initiatives, the 10-Year Framework of Programmes for Sustainable Consumption and Production and the later One Planet Network. We indicate mechanisms through which SDGs have influenced international institutionalization processes and some conditions for this impact. However, while the SDGs might offer a temporary impetus to further institutionalization, they do not provide a lasting solution to the challenge of advancing global institutionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute (EMRI) was founded in 1993. EMRI progressed step by step from inception and reached to its maturation during the past 25 years. EMRI has expanded and progressed in different aspects including human resources and infrastructures (laboratories and new technologies) and has obtained the first rank in the country in endocrinology research. It has also collaborated with regional and international organizations such as World Health Organization (WHO), International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). This article provides an overview of EMRI activities during a quarter of a century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the 30-year evolution of behavioral medicine and its international impact on health science. Topics include the development of interdisciplinary approaches in behavioral medicine, advancements in research on behavioral health interventions, and the global collaboration that has shaped the field's growth and future directions.

The article investigates the social making of counter-terrorism in international organizations (IOs). Discussing the literatures that emphasize the (in)coherence of multilateral counter-terrorism and the diversity of interests that interact and converge in these policies, the article highlights the determinants by which an object as vague and dissensual as post-9/11 counter-terrorism is ordered and stabilized within IOs. Therefore, the article provides an alternative sociological exploration of counter-terrorism in IOs by delving into the dynamics of frictions and power. Multilateral counter-terrorism is conceptualized as a socially grounded 'constructive ambiguity'; the catch-all category of counter-terrorism is both a patent source of conflict among IOs' players, who fight over its meaning, and a catalyser of minimal consensus. The article isolates two types of power structures in IOs that the ambiguity of counter-terrorism supports: domination and fragmentation. Additionally, the article demonstrates how ambiguities condition the conduct and evolution of IOs' risk management security agenda. To do so, the article takes NATO's post-9/11 trajectory as a case study and explores two different counter-terrorism policies related to counterinsurgency warfare in Afghanistan and maritime surveillance in the Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to assess how the European Union advances its role as a global security actor and how it deploys the military forces provided by the member states. Tracing the current debate of the identity and means of the European Union, we analyze the two maritime operations, EU NAVFOR Somalia (Operation Atalanta) and EUNAVFOR MED (Operation Sophia) from a naval diplomacy perspective. Naval diplomacy acknowledge a more versatile role for naval forces, not just military advancement and force projection. For this purpose, we need to go beyond mission descriptions and operational mandates in order to analyze and assess the two operations from within, relying on internal reports and interviews with senior officers who have participated in the operations. Results show that naval forces seeks cooperation with International organizations, NGOs, and third countries in order to facilitate security and good order of the global common of international water. Still, complex security problems are not resolved in this manner and EU maritime operations are highly political, thus facing an uncertain future as a tool of CSDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do international organizations (IOs) govern transnational challenges? Most theories maintain that IOs exercise authority to govern. What these authority-focused accounts tend to overlook, however, are instances of de facto governance. Especially in emerging, contested, and crisis-ridden issue areas, authority has often not been established or become unsettled. Yet, IOs govern here, too. Take the example of migration and asylum: This policy field is characterized by institutional and policy gaps. During the crisis at Europe's border in 2015–2016, IOs governed mixed movements nonetheless. Through organizing collective action on the ground, they not only created direct regulative impacts on the lives of people on the move (the final addressees of international politics) but also defined what mixed migration means as a global policy concern. I draw on practice theory and fieldwork at the European external border in Greece to draw attention to governing modes that operate at a very low institutional threshold. I propose a minimal conception of governance that shifts attention from authority sources to governing effects to account for such governance forms. This re-conceptualization makes the study of how IOs govern outside their established authority, in concrete geographical places, possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of the contestation of liberal international order relies on an intuitive dualism. Technocratic norms underpin the legitimation of international organizations (IOs) because IOs embody a functional and depoliticized mode of problem-solving based on expertise and non-majoritarianism. Populist norms challenge IO authority as IOs create constraints on the popular will of the "true people." We empirically examine whether this duality extends to the actors engaging in IO (de)legitimation by leveraging a novel and unprecedentedly fine-grained database on IO (de)legitimation by national governments. We find that (de)legitimation patterns of governments with technocratic or populist tendencies are far more dynamic and diverse than a dualistic account suggests. In particular, we find complex patterns of (de)legitimation that suggest challenges to and defenses of IO authority are driven more by a strategic, as opposed to an ideological, logic. We outline implications for the literatures on the international liberal order, technocracy, and populism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal groupings of states – either as stand-alone entities or as part of formal international organizations (IOs) – are playing an increasingly important role in sustaining multilateralism and global governance. But what is it about the informal nature of these groupings that makes them such a critical and increasingly popular fixture of international cooperation? To answer this question, the paper focuses on the role of informal groupings in European Union (EU) foreign policy negotiations. Within the EU, informal groupings provide a key venue for coordination, information-sharing, learning and consensus-building. As a result, these groupings are critical for the functioning of the formal decision-making process, providing necessary building blocks for the success of multilateral diplomacy. The proposed argument is explored in the case of two distinct instances of informal groupings, one extra- and one intra-EU grouping, by means of document analysis and elite interviews with national diplomats. First, the paper examines the role of the G7 contact group in the formulation of the Russian sanctions back in 2014. Second, it assesses the role of the PESCO 4 in driving the establishment of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). In both instances, informal groupings provided important venues for coordination, as well as information-sharing, learning and consensus-building, which, in turn, enable and sustain multilateral negotiations among 27 member states. Critically engaging with the role of informal groupings in formal IOs, the paper sheds light on the dynamic relationship between informality and minilateralism, on the one hand, and formal multilateral institutions, on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the promotion of policy coherence of migration and development policies that have figured high on the agenda of international organizations and the European Union but have been hardly explored in the context of Central and Eastern Europe. Based on in‐depth interviews with 40 Czech experts on migration and development, we identified three key contradictions: (i) The increasing prominence of a security perspective on both migration and development policies and the lack of coherence between these policies in practice; (ii) The tension between the national and transnational perspectives guiding migration policymaking and development policies; and (iii) The lack of reflection on crucial issues, such as remittances and brain drain, in the dominant paradigm of labour migration. We argue that the findings on (in)coherence between Czech migration and development policies help us understand policy responses of Central and Eastern European governments since the 2015 'migration crisis'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the global media environment now challenge relationships between and within states. To expand understandings of mediated public diplomacy, this study examined 13,500 Instagram posts distributed on RT's non-Russian accounts from September 2021–September 2022. It used LDA to identify RT topics across language accounts, explored the topics' relation to UN statehood, examined audience engagement levels, and compared their frequency before and after major bans on RT content. The study found that more than two-thirds of the top 30 topics had direct relevance to the statehood frame. RT's language accounts did employ unique audience-targeting strategies and situation-dependent emphases linked to the timing of their banned content, but the approaches varied according to which of the four statehood criteria were under discussion. High levels of audience engagement for statehood-related posts linked to each of the statehood definitional characteristics, but did not correspond to the frequency of the posted content. The study concludes with implications for mediated public diplomacy theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the 44th Annual Conference of the Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology (SRIP) held from September 16th to 18th, 2024, which focused on perinatal mental health and the experiences of parents and children during the transition to parenthood. Topics include the impact of parental psychopathology on child development, the effects of intimate partner violence on maternal mental health, and new insights into mother-infant bonding from longitudinal research.

The way in which international actors formulate proposals for reforming or establishing public social policies not only varies between different organisations but is also dependent on the policy field in question. This article compares the positions of two international organisations (IOs), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), on the two related social policy fields of health and long-term care in Latin America. We apply qualitative document analysis to reports and strategy articles published by ECLAC and PAHO between 2000 and 2015. The analysis finds that despite some similar proposals by both organisations, there are also clear differences between their positions depending on the policy areas. While both organisations see the need to establish healthcare and long-term care as a human right, they have different ideas on targeted and universal approaches. Moreover, with long-term care as a new and emerging policy field, there is still much more variation in how the IOs address the topic, while proposals on healthcare are shaped by previous debates at international and regional levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent work in the neoinstitutional tradition has sought to clarify the mechanisms by which global norms diffuse across the world system. Prior work highlights the role of organizational linkages between world society and the nation-state—especially international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs)—in the process of spreading policies, practices, and ideas cross-nationally. Although prior empirical studies ask whether diffusion occurs, this study examines the conditions under which such effects are stronger versus weak (or absent). To do so, we use the strategic case of norm articulation in the World Health Organization (WHO) and its relationship to infectious disease prevalence across the global South. Our research design leverages variation in the extent to which issues garner attention within this intergovernmental organization. We begin by identifying four infectious diseases with variable degrees of prominence on the WHO agenda. In the descending order, they are HIV, tuberculosis, leprosy, and Guinea-worm disease. We then estimate the impact of organizational links to world society (operationalized as health INGOs) on disease prevalence and compare results across each of the four outcomes. Results support the neoinstitutional argument that diffusion is conditional on the extent to which norms are articulated in the prevailing global institution. We find that, for the most part, world society links are associated with lower rates of infectious disease. However, the size and significance of the relationship depends on a disease's relative priority on the WHO agenda. In the absence of sufficient norm articulation, results show that integration into world society is unrelated to infectious disease prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a ceremony held in September, DMI celebrated the 2024 Design Value Award winners. These were teams that have delivered significant value through design or design management practices. The 13 winners fill out a distinguished list of international organizations including non‐profit agencies, government entities, large multinationals, and regional enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the development of public international law, including the concept of sustainable development, and the role played by international organizations in promoting world to pay attention to it in response to the demand for the right to optimal exploitation of wealth and resources. International organizations, therefore, should help member countries and other concerned parties to set common goals in all fields to achieve success in sustainable development plans in every area related to politics, economy, society, and the environment. This study used a descriptive methodology to examine how international organizations contribute to the advancement of the right to sustainable development. Through continuous cooperation and coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the multifaceted mechanisms driving the adoption of autonomous vehicle (AV) policy in the United States. Drawing from diffusion and network governance theories, it explores the intricate interplay between state governments, private industry, and shared mobility services in shaping AV policies. Several states like California, Nevada, and Texas have emerged as frontrunners in AV testing and innovation. However, policymakers grapple with unique challenges related to AV technology, including safety, liability, and infrastructure enhancement, necessitating innovative policy solutions. As AVs signify a transformative shift in transportation, state governments assume a pivotal role in policy innovation and experimentation. Using a blend of dyadic quantitative analysis and qualitative interviews, this study examines to what extent policy learning predominantly drives AV policy adoption. In doing so, we explore specific diffusion mechanisms, including policy learning and competitive dynamics, to understand how they shape the early adoption of AV policies across states. We find substantial evidence for interstate learning facilitated by intergovernmental organizations and the private sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding environmental correlates of sedentary behaviour (SB) among young people is important as such data can identify approaches to limit sedentary time. This paper estimates associations of parent-reported neighbourhood and adolescent-reported home environments with SB among adolescents aged 11–19 years from 14 countries. Methods: In the International Physical activity and the Environment Network (IPEN) Adolescent Study (an observational, cross-sectional multi-country study), adolescents wore a triaxial accelerometer for seven days that assessed sedentary time (ST). Adolescents completed survey measures of sedentary behaviour (SB) related to recreational screen time and sitting time in motor vehicles. Parents and adolescents completed surveys assessing neighbourhood and home environments. Accelerometer based ST was available in 3,982 adolescents while survey data were available for 6,302 dyads. We estimated the total and direct effects of each environmental attribute on ST and SB. Sex of the adolescent and city/country were examined as moderators. Results: The average ST in adolescents from 14 countries ranged from 7.8 to 10.5 h/day. Personal social media was the only significant correlate of total ST across both sexes. With respect to self-reported SB, adolescents accumulated an average of 3.8 h of non-school screen time per day and nearly 40 min of transport-related sitting time. Screen time was associated with all home environment variables, including social media account, as well as land use mix—diversity, traffic safety, and crime safety. Transport-related sitting time was related to land use mix—diversity, recreation facilities, walking facilities, and pedestrian infrastructure, but no home environment variables. City/country and sex were significant moderators of several associations. Conclusions: Both home and neighbourhood environment features were related to ST and SB. Having social media accounts emerged as a major contributor towards sedentarism in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Abdominal Compartment Society (WSACS) established consensus definitions and recommendations for the management of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in 2006, and they were last updated in 2013. The WSACS conducted an international survey between 2022 and 2023 to seek the agreement of healthcare practitioners (HCPs) worldwide on current and new candidate statements that may be used for future guidelines. Methods: A self-administered, online cross-sectional survey was conducted under the auspices of the WSACS to assess the level of agreement among HCPs over current and new candidate statements. The survey, distributed electronically worldwide, collected agreement or disagreement with statements on the measurement of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), pathophysiology, definitions, and management of IAH/ACS. Statistical analysis assessed agreement levels, expressed in percentages, on statements among respondents, and comparisons between groups were performed according to the respondent's education status, base specialty, duration of work experience, role (intensivist vs non-intensivist) and involvement in previous guidelines. Agreement was considered to be reached when 80% or more of the respondents agreed with a particular statement. Results: A total of 1042 respondents from 102 countries, predominantly physicians (73%), of whom 48% were intensivists, participated. Only 59% of HCPs were aware of the 2013 WSACS guidelines, and 41% incorporated them into practice. Despite agreement in most statements, significant variability existed. Notably, agreement was not reached on four new candidate statements: "normal intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is 10 mmHg in critically ill adults" (77%), "clinical assessment and estimation of IAP is inaccurate" (65.2%), "intragastric can be an alternative to the intravesical route for IAP measurement" (70.4%), and "measurement of IAP should be repeated in the resting position after measurement in a supine position" (71.9%). The survey elucidated nuances in clinical practice and highlighted areas for further education and standardization. Conclusion: More than ten years after the last published guidelines, this worldwide cross-sectional survey collected feedback and evaluated the level of agreement with current recommendations and new candidate statements. This will inform the consensus process for future guideline development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Research is key to the development of any nation, with health research being of high value to society. Research provides data that is useful for the generation and provision of knowledge needed for policy making, planning and strategic management to develop nations. Despite the African population accounting for nearly 14% of the world's population, little published research originates from African scholars. Purpose: The purpose of this article is to highlight the reasons for the lack of robust research by scientists from African low-and-middle-income countries and to emphasize the inequity experienced by African scientists in global health research. Possible solutions to the dearth in African global health research are equally explored. Findings: Insufficient research has led to poor growth, development and advancements in health in Africa. A significant gap in African-led and published research, lack of mentorship, inequitable access to research funding and grant eligibility, and increased dependency on foreign organizations have contributed to the lack of sustainability and failure of African research. Conclusion: Research is crucial for national development, especially in health. However, African researchers are underrepresented in global publications. To optimize research, local needs and African researchers must be prioritized, and research systems in African institutions must be strengthened. Additionally, the international community must respect, be transparent, and support research development in Africa. These efforts are essential for fostering a robust research environment, addressing global health challenges, and promoting sustainable development across Africa and LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the influential factors in attracting foreign patients is possible by evaluating and identifying hospitals' capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses. This study assessed Ahvaz hospitals' readiness to attract health tourists using International Joint Commission (IJC) standards. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study examined 21 hospitals in Ahvaz using IJC standard questionnaires with 76 questions across six fields. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney test in SPSS version 22. Results: The overall compliance rate with organization-oriented standards was 79.53%. Staff training and qualification standards scored highest at 81.79%, while information management standards scored lowest at 76.26%. Non-academic hospitals averaged higher scores than academic hospitals, though this difference was insignificant (p > 0.05). Bed occupancy rates ranged from 40.96% to 85.33%, with average lengths of stay between 1.33 and 64.31 days. Conclusion: Ahvaz hospitals demonstrated above-average readiness to attract medical tourists across most dimensions. To enhance their competitiveness, hospitals should prioritize improvements in information management systems, leverage strengths in staff training and qualifications, address disparities between academic and non-academic institutions, and invest in marketing their unique capabilities to potential health tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Isolated limb infusion and perfusion (ILI/ILP) has been a mainstay treatment for unresectable melanoma in‐transit metastases (ITM), but increased use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and intralesional therapy (talimogene laherparepvec [TVEC]) introduced several different management options. This study compares first‐line ILI/ILP, ICI, and TVEC.Retrospective review from 12 international institutions included patients treated from 1990 to 2022 with first‐line ILI/ILP, ICI, or TVEC for unresectable melanoma ITM.A total of 551 patients were treated, with ILI/ILP (n = 356), ICI (n = 125), and TVEC (n = 70) with median follow‐up of 5.5 years. Tumor burden was highest with ILI/ILP and lowest with TVEC (p = .002). Breslow thickness was lowest with TVEC (p = .007). TVEC was mostly used in stage IIIB disease versus IIIC for ILI/ILP and ICI (p = .01). Using ICI as the reference category, TVEC had the highest odds of a complete response (CR) (odds ratio, 1.96; p = .029) and a longer local progression‐free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.40; p = .003). ILI/ILP had shorter local PFS (HR, 1.72; p = .012), PFS (HR, 1.79; p < .001), distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS) (HR, 1.75; p = .014), overall survival (HR, 1.82; p = .009), and melanoma‐specific survival (HR, 2.29; p = .004). Stage IIIB disease had longer DMFS (HR, 0.24; p < .001) compared to IIIC/D.TVEC as first‐line therapy for unresectable melanoma ITM was associated with superior CR rates and local PFS. Notably, TVEC was used in patients with a lower Breslow thickness, disease stage, and tumor burden. Therefore, when compared to ILI/ILP and ICI, TVEC should be considered as first‐line therapy for unresectable stage IIIB melanoma ITM with minimal tumor burden and lower Breslow thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article advances a novel argument about the policy output of international organizations (IOs) by highlighting the role of individual staffers. We approach them as purposive actors carrying heterogeneous ideological biases that materially shape their policy choices on the job. Pursuing this argument with an empirical focus on the International Monetary Fund (IMF), we collected individual‐level information on the careers of 835 IMF “mission chiefs”—staffers with primary responsibility for a particular member state—and matched them to newly coded data on more than 15,000 IMF‐mandated policy conditions over the 1980–2016 period. Leveraging the appointment of the same mission chief to different countries throughout their career, we find that individual staffers influence the number, scope, and content of IMF conditions according to their personal ideological biases. These results contribute to our understanding of the microfoundations behind IO output and have implications for the accountability and legitimacy of IOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Safe and reliable implementation of complex study protocols in multisite clinical trials requires that all study personnel have 24/7 access to up-to-date study materials. Study websites can serve as an electronic manual of operations (eMOO) to support trial conduct. Objective: We describe the development, organization, and maintenance of a study website and eMOO to facilitate quick and efficient communication during conduct of a complex, multisite, international clinical trial. Methods: We worked closely with our information technology department to develop and maintain our study website, which includes a public home page, a section for parents and families, and three password-protected portals that serve as an eMOO for (a) study sites, (b) study site investigators, and (c) the operations team (e.g., clinical coordination center, data coordination center). Results: The public home page is helpful for families contemplating study participation and for nonparticipating sites considering joining our trial. The patient and family education section supports family participation in the study. The study site portal contains all information needed for local study teams to safely manage a study patient. The investigator portal provides access to research-specific materials needed to lead the study at each site. The operations team portal supports overall study management. For other scientists considering use of a study website for their multisite research, we recommend close collaboration with information technology for development and maintenance, limited and clearly defined roles for version control, and use of unmodifiable file formats to prevent unapproved alterations of study materials. Discussion: Although investment in development and maintenance has been significant, we have appreciated marked value to our operations team and study sites. Our study website development process is relevant to other scientists conducting multisite clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text discusses the global issue of food security, emphasizing its importance as a human right and a pressing environmental concern. It highlights the prevalence of hunger worldwide, with millions suffering from food insecurity, even in developed countries like the US. The document reviews two recent books that delve into the role of international organizations and NGOs in addressing food security, shedding light on the complex dynamics of global trade governance and the challenges faced in advocating for the right to food. The authors stress the need for continued research and advocacy efforts to combat malnutrition and hunger on a global scale. [Extracted from the article]

What shapes an individual's perception of domestic human rights conditions? Although scholars have begun to examine public perception of human rights in recent years, existing literature has not adequately considered that one's perception of human rights conditions is closely tied to one's lived experiences within society. We argue that individuals' perceptions of domestic human rights conditions are shaped by their relative socio-economic status within their society (status identity) and their self-assessment of well-being (evaluative identity). Using data from the World Value Survey Wave 7 (2017–2022), we find that individuals who are at a relatively higher standing in society are more likely to have a positive perception of domestic human rights conditions. This article contributes to the literature on human rights perceptions and improves our understanding of individuals' assessment of human rights. The article also has important policy implications for international institutions and nongovernmental organizations aiming to improve human rights situations. An example is to potentially differentiate strategies among different segments of the population for more effective advocacy and to create favorable public opinion toward human rights causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion that popular vigilance is central to safe-guarding democratic freedoms is a key pillar of republican political thought. Yet, this conception does not translate well to postcolonial contexts without some reconceptualization. In this article, I take up the ways in which two African statesmen and political theorists, Julius Nyerere and Thomas Sankara, reconceptualize the practice of vigilance in the postcolonial context. Both theorists demonstrate that the collective exercise of vigilance is a qualitatively different political practice in the postcolonial context because citizens must simultaneously target internal domination from elites and external domination from international institutions and former colonial powers. Furthermore, they underscore that a shared political vision in the form of a national ethic is crucial for generating and guiding mass practices of vigilance. Doing so, Nyerere and Sankara articulate a distinct tradition of postcolonial republicanism that better conceptualizes the challenges of stabilizing state–society relations in postcolonial Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After February 2022, it seemed that a breakdown of political, economic and scientific cooperation in the Arctic would be one of the many examples of collateral damage from Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. Two years on from the invasion, however, the Arctic 7 (the United States, Canada and the Nordic countries) have renewed their engagement with Russia on polar issues. The Arctic Council has emerged as the exceptional case of a regional body in which Russia and NATO nations continue to collaborate, albeit at a more limited level through the working groups. This article examines the dilemmas facing the Arctic 7 as they seek to balance a values-based policy and strong stance against Russia in solidarity with Ukraine, with a desire to ensure the continuing survival of the Arctic Council and its primacy in regional governance. We argue that Russia has sought to weaponize the Council—withholding vital climate data and threatening to bring China further into regional politics—as part of a wider strategy of coercive diplomacy and hybrid threats in the Arctic. The Arctic 7 should recognize that they ultimately stand to lose more from giving into Russian tactics than from freezing Moscow out of the Arctic Council while the war in Ukraine continues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheelchair provision training is essential to overcome barriers related to the lack of knowledge of health professionals on this topic. Appropriate knowledge of the service provision process may lead to higher quality service and products, and thus be more likely to help people with mobility impairments achieve the fundamental human right of personal mobility. This study aimed to describe a training intervention for two groups of future physiotherapists in Colombia, assess cohort differences in performance on a knowledge test, and explore their post-training perceptions. A quantitative retrospective study with a historical, descriptive-comparative design was conducted. 525 sixth-semester participants completed the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals Wheelchair Service Provision – Basic Test online in Spanish after curriculum modifications were implemented. The test assesses knowledge in seven domains: Assessment; Prescription; Products; Fitting; User training; Follow-up, maintenance, and repairs; and Process. The training intervention was successfully implemented with Physiotherapy students from two institutions, resulting in a 57% increase in test approval rates. Participants demonstrated increased knowledge, satisfaction with the course content, and application of learning to their current work. These results suggest implications for what pedagogical approach to employ, when curricular change may be warranted, and specific considerations for the Colombian context. Furthermore, identifying the minimal knowledge basis for undergraduate programs and facilitating its dissemination can support interprofessional education and enhance professionals' capacity to support wheelchair provision services. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Developing pedagogical materials and resources should address academic needs while also being adaptable to the healthcare system and cultural and economic resources. Establishing minimal knowledge bases for physiotherapists and facilitating their dissemination to support interprofessional education are crucial steps. Sharing pedagogical experiences that improve health workforce training promotes the quality of wheelchair service provision, benefiting the functional independence and well-being of people with disabilities. The use of international resources such as the ISWP test in the training of the health workforce contributes to the standardization of the training process regardless of the context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do informal international agreements without coercive mechanisms affect states' behavior? While scholars have long been interested in this question, answering it often poses empirical challenges, particularly in the arena of international security. By asking and answering a narrower question—Is NATO's Wales Pledge on defense spending working?—I can empirically test the extent to which states have adhered to a public agreement without formal or coercive enforcement mechanisms. I argue that the Wales Pledge has led to higher spending because NATO the organization uniquely enables allies to influence one another's defense planning, publicly and privately. I find support for this argument by interrogating disaggregated defense expenditures of NATO and EU members, and by comparing NATO allies Denmark and Norway with non-allies Finland and Sweden. Although the Wales Pledge has been maligned, it served its purpose by encouraging allies to spend more on defense, particularly on equipment modernization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the Grand Bargain, there has been increasing focus on aid localisation and partnerships between international and local aid agencies. Yet there has been less scholarly attention on how and why international agency policies and partnerships can cause unintended harm to civil society organisations and their staff. Drawing on James Scott's seminal work Seeing like a State, and interviews with Myanmar civil society organisation leaders in 2023, this article argues that international agencies often attempt to render civil society "legible" through processes of systematisation and codification. However, these processes can in turn sideline accrued experiential and contextual knowledge, or metis, which is necessary for local organisations' survival, especially in times of instability. The article highlights several instances in Myanmar where the marginalisation of this more contextual knowledge results in unintended harms. The article concludes that international agencies' acknowledgement of metis is a crucial and yet still under-recognised pillar of aid localisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the impact of nursing research on addressing violence against women and children. Topics include the role of nursing in understanding the physical and psychological outcomes of violence, the translation of research findings into healthcare practices and policies, and the ongoing need for interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce violence and support healing through evidence-based approaches.

This article uses ethnographic and interview methods to compare two international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) implementing public health programs in Cambodia. Both INGOs formally adopt the same policy, developing state partnership, but implement this policy very differently. One INGO successfully aligns the policy with on-the-ground practice, while the other organization is unable and unwilling to successfully cooperate with local state officials. I argue that previous research on international development organizations, policy convergence, and divergence in implementation needs to be expanded to analytically specify the process of policy alignment and misalignment. Drawing on the inhabited institutions perspective, I illustrate how global policies are made meaningful in intra- and inter-organizational interactions through a two-step process: (1) operationalization in which the broad policy is translated into specific programming and (2) implementation in which local actors do or do not align the policy with actual practice in Cambodia. This article offers a method for systematically theorizing policy alignment or misalignment with practice in international organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank, the two largest global actors in the education sector, in their capacity as knowledge brokers. For these actors, positioning themselves between research and policy and circulating their versions of evidence has become a popular governance instrument to amplify their impact at the national level. To compare the strategies and targets of the OECD and the World Bank, we analyze three publication series: the OECD's Education Policy Outlook and Reviews of National Policies for Education and the World Bank's Systems Approach for Better Education reports. The results reveal significant differences between the OECD's and the World Bank's approaches to producing evidence and brokering knowledge. We interpret the differences against the backdrop of the idiosyncrasies of the two organizations: The World Bank sees itself as a transnational actor, and its knowledge production and brokerage are highly decontextualized transcending national experiences. By contrast, the OECD is an intergovernmental organization that views itself as a facilitator of cross-national peer exchange. Situating the findings within the broader framework of the global–national nexus, we argue that the World Bank's approach promotes vertical policy learning, while the OECD's approach pursues horizontal policy learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates how and when the two first movers in knowledge-based regulation – the OECD and the World Bank – developed policy brokerage as an instrument of global governance in the education sector. We also examine how their target clientele – national governments – responds to this instrument. Given the surplus of research evidence in today's digital economy, intergovernmental organisations have the challenge of standing out as trusted and credible knowledge brokers in a crowded space. The authors make the case for a comparative research programme – tentatively labeled 'Governance by Numbers 2.0' – that is informed by a multidisciplinary (history, political science, interdisciplinary policy studies) interpretive framework and that advances a transnational, relational method of inquiry which draws attention to the global/national nexus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the discursive recontextualization of new public financial management (NPFM) in the context of peacebuilding, reshaping the dynamics among the donor community, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority. Utilizing Fairclough's dialectical relational version of Critical Discourse Analysis (2003, 2013) as a methodological framework, we extend the NPFM literature by broadening our understanding of how diverse discourses—particularly NPFM rooted in neoliberalism and peacebuilding—are brought together in a specific relationship for the purpose of transmission. In addition, this study advances our comprehension of the dialogic nature of NPFM, exploring the extent to which other voices are represented, excluded, or suppressed in the examined texts. The paper sheds light on the role of international agencies, exemplified by the World Bank, in transposing development discourses—a theme explored in previous research. Furthermore, we contribute to the literature by highlighting that the peacebuilding context serves as a space for influential actors, such as donor agencies, to exert their influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Although the pandemic is nearing its end, the question of whether COVID-19 infection will be considered a work-related or occupational disease remains a legal issue. Therefore, this study aims to provide clarification on this matter. OBJECTIVES: Since the International Labour Organization (ILO) serves as the primary authority on work-related matters, this study is focused on analyzing the ILO's policies regarding the acknowledgment of COVID-19 infections as occupational diseases. It also investigates how States can recognize COVID-19 as such a disease while delving into the connection between the disease or injury and the occupation itself. METHODOLOGY: This study utilizes a doctrinal methodology, focusing on legal research. This approach employs an applied (expository) research method and discusses the topic from a professional constituency perspective, as proposed by Arthurs in 1983. RESULT: The findings indicate that the ILO does not explicitly mention the pandemic or COVID-19 infection as an occupational disease in its list. However, it does include "infectious-related diseases" or "work that carries a particular risk of contamination" as occupational or work-related diseases, which can logically be interpreted as encompassing COVID-19 infection as an occupational or work-related disease. RECOMMENDATION: As the ILO sets guiding principles for its member States, this study recommends that the ILO should establish clear and comprehensive guidelines for member States to recognize COVID-19 infections or any future pandemics as occupational diseases. CONCLUSION: This study will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers who intend to enact or amend national legislation to align with the ILO. Furthermore, it will assist relevant stakeholders in taking necessary actions based on the study's findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and law enforcement (LE) frequently work as a team in encounters with individuals experiencing acute behavioral emergencies manifesting with severe agitation and aggression. The optimal management is a rehearsed, coordinated effort by law enforcement and EMS providing the necessary interventions to address behaviors that endanger the patient, the responders, and the public. The purpose of this document is to provide guidance and direction in the shared responsibility of managing and caring for a person displaying behavioral instability with irrational, agitated, and/or violent behavior. This is a discussion of the roles of law enforcement, 9-1-1 call centers (hereafter referred to as the Emergency Call Centers or "ECCs"), Fire, and EMS. A coordinated and unified response enhances the safety and effective management of potentially serious situations posed by individuals experiencing such acute behavioral emergencies. This paper provides the framework for an approach endorsed by NAEMSP, IACP, and the IAFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International organizations (IOs) are often criticized for insulated decision‐making processes that do not react to the preferences of key stakeholders that are directly affected by them. However, empirical studies probing the degree to which IOs' policies are aligned with the preferences of such key constituencies are scarce. This paper tackles the gap by studying the case of the World Bank. We argue that congruence with stakeholder preferences increases when recipients have institutional means of participation and decreases when donors restrict the purposes of their funds. We utilize survey data from 269 stakeholder surveys conducted in 114 countries between 2012 and 2022 for our empirical analysis. Our findings carry important implications for the responsiveness of IOs to stakeholders in low‐ and middle‐income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 2030 quickly approaching and hence the end of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) timeline, it is necessary to start the conversation as to what the post- 2030 international development goals, that will take over from the SDGs, will look like. Building on the experiences of implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and SDGs, there is the possibility of making the post-2030 goals the most efficient and successful to date. This perspective explores the lessons that have been learnt from the MDGs and SDGs, and together with a consideration of emerging global trends develops proposals for post-2030 goals and targets. In total seven goals are suggested: (1) Operate within planetary boundaries (2) Create growth within resource limits (3) Provide access to basic services for all (4) Eliminate poverty and hunger (5) Reduce inequality (6) Deliver good health and education for all (7) Build strong institutions and international partnerships. The goals are categorised as being: (i) Environmental and Economic (ii) Physical Assets (iii) Social, and (iv) Collaboration. System interdependencies and possible causal connections between the proposed post-2030 goals are also explored. A novel approach of five yearly assessments of the risks involved if the targets are not met, together with suggestions for corrective action is discussed, which will help inform governments and decision makers of the urgent actions needed. To avoid a disruptive future, careful formulation of the post SDG period beyond 2030 is urgently needed to provide a fair and consistent framework to hold both government and industry to account at local, national, and international levels. This will require the strengthening of existing international institutions and strategies for the financing of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Beyond-GDP" metrics are essential for understanding societal progress. Yet despite their importance, these metrics are scattered across various databases, hindering accessibility and interdisciplinary analysis. Addressing this gap, we present the 'WISE database' – the first extensive collection of important Beyond-GDP metrics organized by Wellbeing, Inclusion, and Sustainability (WISE) dimensions. The WISE database consolidates data from a variety of sources, including international institutions and academic publications. It encompasses over one million data points across 244 metrics, covering 218 countries and 61 country groupings, from specific social and environmental indicators to the main Beyond-GDP indexes, and is augmented by essential metadata. The data primarily spans from 1995 to 2015, with some metrics extending back to the 19th century. To improve accessibility and data interpretation, a user-friendly online visualization tool has been developed. The WISE database aims to foster a broader view of societal progress, facilitate research on synergies and trade-offs of wellbeing, inclusion, and sustainability, and provide a foundation for interdisciplinary research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life support technology is one of the most critical technologies in manned submersibles, acting for the pilots of the submersible and thus directly affecting its underwater safety. Due to its importance, many countries and international organizations have proposed standards and specifications for life support technology. This paper presents an overview of the life support technology of manned submersibles, comparing the standards proposed for it. Furthermore, it analyzes the specific data of oxygen supply and carbon dioxide absorption, both of which are critical aspects of life support technology in each standard, and identifies the data that is widely acknowledged and recognized as the basis for establishing ISO standard 22252:2020). Finally, ISO standard data such as oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration are further confirmed by the environmental parameters of manned submersibles such as the Fendouzhe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transboundary water management in the Sixaola basin, shared by Costa Rica and Panama, has historically involved significant contributions from third parties. This study investigates their evolving roles and the implications for governance in this context. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of non-State actors interventions over time, focusing on changes in strategies, priorities, and their impact on transboundary basin governance. Our findings indicate that while non-state actor initiatives have attracted attention and financial resources, they have also introduced significant governance challenges, leading to inconsistencies in basin development. The analysis reveals that limited governmental involvement and the technocratic turn in development strategies have raised questions about basin development and its tangible impacts. Additionally, reterritorialization efforts highlight a local tendency to better align existing functional spaces with local concerns. This study contributes to the literature on transboundary basin management by providing insights into the multifaceted role of non-state actors in the Sixaola basin. It explores a case where governments remain distant in defining governance systems, highlighting the added value of focusing on non-state actors to grasp the complexity of hydropolitics and discussing the politics of river basin development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that the international institutions in which negotiations have often taken place have been challenged by increased conflict among member states in the early 21st century. Multilateral international institutions function best when common interests are viewed as paramount by the state parties, because they allow the state parties to negotiate structures and processes that serve their shared interests and values. The paper analyzes the difficulties in managing international conflicts in the UN, osce, nato, and EU since 2000 due in part to the inability to achieve consensus within fractured and stalemated institutions. These problems have increasingly limited the role of these institutions in managing some of the most dangerous global conflicts, including on arms control and disarmament and managing the Russian war in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International governmental organizations have brought issues of forced labour, child labour, and human trafficking into the realm of corporate social responsibility with voluntary principles and guidelines for businesses to follow. Such efforts have been characterized differently by world society scholars, who see them as mechanisms for the diffusion of global norms, and critical scholars, who seem them as reflections of corporate power. I contribute to this debate by analyze framings of labour exploitation in the United Nations Global Compact’s written and verbal communication, exploring what is being conveyed. I find that the texts emphasize western businesses as the ‘real’ victims, threatened by human traffickers, suppliers, and consumers, while workers themselves are de-centered. The findings lend weight to critical scholars’ views, suggesting that the framings reflect business interests and support a status quo in which the political economy of labour exploitation can continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, grounded in an anticipatory approach and viewed from an agenda-building perspective, explores the role of the press as a key player, especially in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war. The central research question is: how can communication and the press play a role during war to break a reactive response cycle? The anticipatory approach has proven highly valuable in many fields, especially when addressing the urgency of several policy domains that require greater evidence and research. Communication, particularly the role of the press during a war, can be seen as the final layer perceived directly by the population. The agenda-building approach has been key in understanding news-making processes. From an anticipatory perspective, analyzing media coverage allows for the examination of the inter-influence between policymakers, decision-making outcomes, and various social and media agents. Methodologically, this study applies the content-analysis technique to a selection of Portuguese newspapers (daily and weekly) covering the period from 2014 to 2023. The criteria for selecting news articles included those providing political and strategic information regarding the Ukraine war, with references to international organizations, European Union actors, and Russian and Ukrainian actors. The expected results aim to provide empirical evidence of the relationship between different regimes and how policymakers and political processes are dynamically positioned for future actions, considering the role of the press. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]