Siddharth Chatterjee: Perspectives-My work in the United Nations, the Red Cross and the Indian Army

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j964XqRWfNI&feature=youtu.be The use of children as combatants in conflicts is amongst the most egregious violations of human and child rights and is a practice that continues unabated. I feel that it is a humanitarian imperative to persuade political and military leaders of both state and non state entities that the military is no place for a child and the use of humanitarian diplomacy is an important tool to help achieve that. In Sudan, a decade ago, it was possible to demobilize children during an armed conflict – rather than waiting for it to end and loss of a generation of children to war – through quiet and determined persuasion and advocacy as well as astute and decisive leadership at all levels. I was UNICEF’s, Chief of Field Office for Southern Sudan at the time of the negotiations and led the demobilization of nearly 3551 child soldiers during an ongoing conflict. I highlight the point that the world cannot afford to wait for co...

Battle for Water: Water scarcity compounds India's food insecurity This is a link to my opinion piece in the Reuters, on some of the challenges India faces. The harsh reality is that 1 in 4 malnourished child in the world is in India and India ranks 65th out of 79 countries in the Global Hunger Index recently published by IFPRI

Poverty and Insecurity Must Not Prevent an End to Polio We are at the last mile. Eradicating polio could be a fine legacy that we can leave for all children. A polio free world.

http://theglobalobservatory.org/component/myblog/flaws-in-indiaa-s-strategy-to-counter-the-maoist-insurgency/blogger/Siddharth%20Chatterjee/ My article in the Global Observatory on the Maoist insurgency. India must find a way to address the insurgency that rages through many parts of the country and could lead to increased instability and chaos. A solution is there, so long as there is political will and a strong desire to redress past grievances.

http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/10/op-ed-polio-eradication-a-reflection-on-the-darfur-campaign/ Dr. Sam Agbo and I reflect on our time together in Dafur in 2004. Eradicating polio is within our reach and it is critical that this disease that infects millions of children is stopped. Regardless of insecurity and logistical challenges it is possible to immunize all children. From 125 countries in 1988 we are now down to 3 countries. Now is the time to reach that last mile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fg-WkuwW9Y&feature=channel&list=UL My key note speech on humanitarian diplomacy. Its role in relief and development. It has a critical role on putting the spotlight on the most vulnerable.

http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/opinions-and-positions/speeches/2011/an-enabling-environment-for-early-warning-early-action-and-true-preparedness-for-resilient-communities-is-needed/ An enabling environment for early warning, early action and true preparedness for resilient communities is needed.

http://www.theglobalobservatory.org/interviews/316-interview-with-siddarth-chatterjee-chief-diplomat-ifrc.html I discuss Syria, the crisis in Sahel, and the role of humanitarian diplomacy.

http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/opinions-and-positions/speeches/2012/humanitarian-diplomacy-relief-to-sustainable-development-for-all/ The text of my key note speech.

http://www.theglobalobservatory.org/analysis/350-sexual-and-gender-based-violence-in-india-time-to-change-the-status-quo.html The tragedy of sexual and gender based violence. This is the original article. The one in the Hindu newspaper is an abridged version.

http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/Can_the_Kenyan_State_put_300K_Most_Vulnerable_Children_on_Cash%283%29.pdf The Republic of Kenya embarked on a cash transfer scheme for the most vulnerable children in 2004. Starting with 500 households in a first phase of the programme, they are now expanding to 30,000 by the end of the 2008 with a target of 300,000 by 2010. This paper reviews cash transfer programmes in Eastern and Southern Africa and particularly examines the question of why this intervention has not featured as a key element of development assistance in African countries since independence, describes lessons learned during the first phase of the scheme in Kenya and examines the affordability of reaching the 300,000 children by 2010 target versus alternatives such as universal scheme for all children.

http://wws.princeton.edu/research/pwreports_fy10/WWS591h.pdf The IFRC is keen to move forward on this important initiative. In the words of Professor Reinhardt, “One thinks of the Red Cross Red Crescent more in connection with earthquakes, tsunamis, and other spectacular and sudden natural disasters. I was surprised and encouraged to learn how much the organization is doing in response to another, albeit slowly developing, natural disaster, the growing burden of premature deaths due to NCDs, much of that burden the result of people’s inability or unwillingness, or both, to manage their own health better.” The actions, then, appear to be simple, and the outcomes desirable. But it will take a significant investment of time and money to strengthen the ties that bind the Sword above us. 

http://www.futuresearch.net/network/activities/special_features/sudan.cfm

http://www.futuresearch.net/method/applications/world/africa/child_soldiers.cfm

http://www.ifrc.org/en/noticias/noticias/international/ambassadors-from-africa-stress-the-need-for-action-on-food-security-57601/

http://wws14points.blogspot.ch/2011/11/non-communicable-diseases-sword-of.html?spref=tw

http://wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum12_e/art_pf12_e/article_e.htm?art=18