Category Archives: J.J. Messner

New Guidance Released: Use of Security Forces: Assessing and Managing Risks and Impacts

BY J.J. MESSNER*   Cet article est aussi disponible en français The Fund for Peace is delighted to announce the release of a new guidance handbook on Use of Security Forces: Assessing and Managing Risks and Impacts, published by the International Finance Corporation and co-authored with The Fund for Peace and Monkey Forest Consulting. This […]

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“To the American People” – Why Foreign Aid and Development Spending is Good for America

BY J.J. MESSNER Mick Mulvaney, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, commented in a March 19 interview on Meet the Press,

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Human Rights & Business Roundtable Annual Report 2016

BY J.J. MESSNER AND HANNAH BLYTH* The mission of The Human Rights & Business Roundtable is to promote the rule of law and open societies. Launched in 1996, the Roundtable was the first forum designed for multinational businesses and mainstream human rights organizations to discuss issues of common concern in an atmosphere of mutual respect, […]

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Voluntary Principles in Ghana Update: July-September 2016

BY J.J. MESSNER AND HANNAH BLYTH Using the information shared in the local dialogues, the July 2016 roundtable provided a forum for representatives from the four regions to voice concerns and issues at a national level. It also represented an important opportunity for different communities, government stakeholders and mining, oil and gas companies to connect […]

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Voluntary Principles in Ghana National Roundtable: July 2016

BY J.J. MESSNER AND HANNAH BLYTH* On the 28th July, 2016 the Fund For Peace (FFP) in partnership with the West Africa Network for Peace Building-Ghana (WANEP-Ghana), staged the first national VPs Roundtable in Accra. Staged as part of a program funded by the U.S. Department of State, this roundtable follows a series of local […]

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Voluntary Principles in Ghana Update: April-June 2016

BY J.J. MESSNER AND HANNAH BLYTH FFP and WANEP-Ghana delivered local dialogues to discuss VPs-related issues in mining, and oil/gas affected communities. A total of 73 participants took part across the four regions including the Minerals Commission, the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Navy, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), traditional leadership, companies, […]

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Fragile States Index 2016: The Book

BY J.J. MESSNER, NATE HAKEN ET AL. The Fragile States Index, produced by The Fund for Peace, is a critical tool in highlighting not only the normal pressures that all states experience, but also in identifying when those pressures are pushing a state towards the brink of failure. By highlighting pertinent issues in weak and […]

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Europe’s Refugee Crisis Underscores Global Interconnectedness

BY J.J. MESSNER As the civil war in Syria enters its sixth year, its effects continue to wreak havoc not only on its own war-ravaged population, but also upon countries farther afield. In the 2016 Fragile States Index, Syria was again one of the most worsened countries year-on-year, catapulting them into the list of the […]

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Underlying Concerns Create a Worrying Outlook for Britain Beyond Brexit

BY J.J. MESSNER As the dust settles on the historic Brexit vote and its effects, it is easy to focus on the near term, visible side effects. Even in the unlikely event that Britain manages to negotiate an association deal that is as good as being in the European Union, it will now no longer […]

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Voluntary Principles in Ghana Update: January-March 2016

BY J.J. MESSNER AND HANNAH BLYTH* The first local dialogue was held on February 22 in Bolgatanga, Upper East region. The dialogue, led by WANEP-Ghana, was attended by stakeholders including the Ghana Police Service, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Traditional leadership, the Shanxii Mining Company, small scale mining groups, the Talensi […]

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