Issue: 96
Photo: Halim Diker
“Save Myomimus roachi” project is implemented by Wildlife Research Association with the support of GEF SGP (Small Grants Programme).
The project aims to support the sustainability of Ground Dormouse’s life.
The photos of Ground Dormouse taken by Halim Diker in 2012 granted the awards of overall winner and new discoveries winner in BBC Wildlife camera-trap competition 2013.
Rare rodent species: Ground Dormouse
The Ground Dormouse (Mouse Tailed dormouse, Myomimus roachi) is a rare endangered rodent species.
Once the Ground Dormouse was living in the bushes of oak forests of Europe and Asia.
However, because of intensive farming and forestry activities he lost nearly all the natural habitats until today.
The last records of the Ground Dormouse were taken from the bushes and oak woodlands near cultivated lands of Edirne region.
He will be extinct if urgent precautions are not taken.
The Ground Dormouse has a difficult life cycle; has a very long hibernation, breeds only once a year, cannot overcome the hibernation because of inanition, predation.
Over these he encounters the loss of habitat problem.
Wildlife Research Association’s “Save Myomimus roachi” project started its activities on September 2013 with the support of GEF SGP (Small Grants Programme).
The project was also supported by WWF Turkey the previous year.
Within the context of the project, habitat improvements will be developed to increase the population in these lands. The photos and documentary films will be produced in the natural habitats of the species to be used in the presentations.
To reduce the factors that threatens the life-cycle of the species and to ensure the sustainability of his life in the last habitats of the Ground Dormouse, proper precautions will be taken in collaboration with local people.
For this purpose conservation activities and necessary information will also be given to the farmers.
The “Responsible Fishing” project, conducted by the Underwater Research Society (SAD) and supported by the Strengthening the System of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas of Turkey Project and GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) – COMDEKS, comes to end.
Certificates draw attention
Many implementations encouraging the individuals to take role in marine protection efforts are being conducted within the context of the project, which is going on in Datça-Bozburun Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA).
The “Responsible Fishing Certificates”, which will be distributed especially in touristic locations, draw attention in these terms.
Public opinion is determinant
The local residents’ choices are determinant for distributing the certificates, which will be given to fishermen, fish selling points and restaurants.
The certificates, which have important role in determining the consumers’ choices, are accepted as a sign of prestige for the enterprises which own them.
The third and the last of the training series of Marine Protection Areas Sustainable Tourism Training (DKA 201), which is conducted under the context of the Strengthening the System of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas of Turkey Project, was completed in Akyaka.
The training was organized by WWF Mediterranean and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Protection Areas Capacity Building Programme.
Wide scale of themes
Concepts of sustainable tourism, assessments for these areas, management and monitoring of visitors’ impact, working with tourism industry to minimize these impacts, tourism based education and support and certification were the main themes addressed in the training.
Participation from various institutions
24 representatives from Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Ministry of Forest and Water, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Livestock, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, İzmir and Muğla Provincial Directorates of Environment and Urbanization, universities, chambers of commerce and NGOs, which are key stakeholders for the marine and coastal protected areas in Turkey, participated in the training.
Within the context of “Promoting Energy Efficiency in Buildings Project” the design of five demo buildings which are designed with integrated building design approach have been completed.
5 service buildings which will be an example for public and private sector regarding to “sustainable and environment friendly buildings” with the aim of actualizing the most suitable design depending on cost and performance of the building through integrated building design methodology and modeling the building energy performance and its improvement process beginning from the initial phase of design.
Renewable Energy Technical Vocational High School
Four of the demo buildings will be constructed in Eryaman region of Ankara and will be used as a "Renewable Energy Technical Vocational High School" by the Ministry of National Education.
The school buildings will be consisting of building of the class rooms, an atelier building, sports hall and dormitory.
The 5th building, on the other hand, is designing as Sincan-Etimesgut Region Service Building of the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre.
Integrated building design approach
In general, the method being followed is; defining the aims of sustainable design, defining buildings’ passive, mechanical and electrical system and integrating with the architectural whole, conducting the energy analyses and relevant modeling studies for the structural and mechanical solutions of buildings and the investigation of cost and benefits of the designs for the buildings.
In addition to design methods; maintaining indoor air quality and comfort at maximum level, reflecting the results of the analyses for providing productivity related with functionality on design decisions are ensured.
In addition, designing aesthetic buildings while ensuring harmony with native land pattern, supporting the design phases with conducting economic analyses to ensure cost effectiveness, safe architectural design decisions against earthquake, fire or other natural disasters were important elements of design approach.
Also, use of recycling and green materials and use of natural resources make demonstration buildings harmonized with the parameters of high performance and sustainable building design.
At the same time within these demonstration buildings; understanding the relationship between material, system and mass and designing accordingly is an important element of the design approach.
Architectural, structural, mechanical and environmental features are all taken into consideration during the architectural design phases.
From different disciplines; designers, engineers and experts (experts are authorized depending on necessity through determined scopes) are worked together as a team.
The design works are completed by Ekodenge Ltd, Atelier Ten and Willen Associates Joint Venture.
5 demonstration buildings support and come into prominence with giving importance to; healthy environments, using energy in the most efficient way and achieving the maximum level in energy performance of buildings, increasing the sensitivity about recycling of materials and waste management in buildings in order to support the recycling of grey water and rain water with regarding the concepts of energy, sustainability, atmosphere, material/waste water and social sensitivity.
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UNDP is one of over 5,600 groups and organizations from all parts of society that have joined #GivingTuesday in support of charitable giving.
Opportunities to donate time, knowledge and energy on #GivingTuesday are sheer endless.
Actions speak louder
UNDP staff members will also be volunteering their time in their local communities on 3 December.
So far twelve UNDP country offices have joined the movement, showing enormous enthusiasm for this day of giving back.
Wide range of opportunities
UNDP’s country offices have not wasted a minute in coming up with creative endeavours for 3 December.
UNDP’s Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific, for example, is partnering with the NGO Second Chance to collect donations for people living in Bangkok’s slum area.
The people from the Klong Toey slum will receive “home treasures” (clothing and house appliances) that they can sell in their thrift shops.
In Bujumbura, Burundi, the hospitals have been sorely lacking in blood, so our #GivingTuesday there will be all about giving them precious lifeblood – figuratively and literally.
Experts, local people, UN Volunteers and UNDP are all meeting to increase our understanding of what philanthropy really means.
#UNSelfie
#UNselfie movement is another way to show support for #GivingTuesday.
You may highlight selflessness and unselfish acts of giving by taking a photo, tagging it #UNselfie and #GivingTuesday, and upload it to your Instagram, Twitter or Facebook account.
#UNSelfie also aims to raise awareness and donations for UNDP’s recovery work in the Philippines.
Local communities started clearing rubble and medical waste, earning much needed income to get back on track after the destruction from the typhoon, while also easing access routes for humanitarian supplies.
“The debris removal is an important part of the relief operation as streets without rubble are a precondition for aid distribution,” said Haoliang Xu, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific during his visit to the storm ravaged city of Tacloban.
Over the past weekend, an initial 180 men and women started removing rubble and medical waste in two hospitals, two schools and streets in three severely damaged neighborhoods (barangays) in Tacloban and in Palo through the UNDP organized cash-for-work programme.
They received basic equipment and tools such as generators, shovels, and wheelbarrows to begin the early recovery process.
With the assistance of the Australian aid agency, AusAid, 50 workers per day receive vaccinations against tetanus.
“In addition to contributing to the humanitarian effort, the debris removal is also a critical component of economic recovery,” added Haoliang Xu. “We’re going to create 200,000 temporary jobs in debris removal in the most affected municipalities over the next six months.”
The debris removal and waste management are part of a US$20 million early recovery plan which has building resilience of these communities at its core.
The programmes under the plan will help, among other things, rehabilitate local businesses, restore community infrastructure and will contribute to restarting the provision of services of the local government structures.
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The importance of transparency in the judicial process was discussed in Istanbul at the Second International Summit of High Courts which was held at the end of November.
The Second International Summit of High Courts, hosted by the Presidency of the Court of Cassation in Turkey in cooperation with UNDP Turkey, was organized with the theme of judicial transparency.
The Summit brought thirteen justices and chief justices of the Asian countries together.
Therefore, it served as an important platform for sharing national and international knowledge, experiences, best practices and lessons learned on securing transparency in the judicial process.
The participants identified the essential elements of the multi-faceted concept of judicial transparency during the Summit.
The outcome: İstanbul Declaration
The Summit invited the justices and chief justices to review draft declaration on judicial transparency and as a result, thirteen chief justices and justices in Asia endorsed the Istanbul Declaration.
The Declaration as being first of its kind in international level includes fifteen principles and commentaries addressing judicial transparency.
It is expected that the process for the adoption of the Declaration at a UN Social and Economic Council as well as Human Right Council will be initiated in early 2014.
Judicial transparency as a way of enhancing credibility
Speaking at the Summit, UN Special Rapporteur on Independence of Judges and Lawyers Gabriela Knaul noted that Istanbul Declaration on judicial transparency as the outcome of the Summit could be regarded as useful document for the on-going reform initiatives embarked upon by the judiciary in several countries of the world in which the participation of the public in such processes should also be strengthened.
Strong partnership on judicial transparency
Court of Cassation of Turkey and UNDP Turkey has a strong partnership since 2009 with the aim of improving the institutional and administrative capacity of the high courts in Turkey to conform to the international standards.
The series of International Summit of the High Courts, whose first edition was organized in Istanbul in 2010, was a part of this effort and aims to enhance the efforts for accountable, transparent and responsive judiciary at both national and global level.
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Photo: Kamil Şan
For three days, more than 350 representatives of government, civil society, private sector, academia and the United Nations, from over 40 countries, discussed ways to tackle the most urgent global challenges of the 21st century: lifting people out of poverty in ways that respect the planet's ecological boundaries and advance social inclusion.
The aim was to bring stakeholders from across the Europe and Central Asia together to provide a regional perspective on priorities that should be contained in the post-2015 agenda.
Regional consultations kicked off with civil society consultations on 6 November with the participation of 80 civil society representatives.
Participants agreed that to achieve development targets, universal goals and commitments are needed and the new agenda should be developed in a participatory manner.
Sultanoğlu: “So far, over 1 million people have engaged in the global conversation”
On 7 November, official opening of the event, titled “Perspectives from Europe and Central Asia on the Post-2015 Development Agenda”, took place.
Cevdet Yılmaz, Minister of Development of Republic of Turkey, said that it is the responsibility of the governments and international development organizations to secure the social and economic development of people, increase social welfare and protect the environment.
Mr. Yılmaz reiterated Turkey's commitment for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals and said that Turkey has already reached the internationally set targets.
Minister Yılmaz also said that Turkey's official development assistance reached 2.5 billion US Dollars in 2012.
Minister Yılmaz said that international community has to work more to harmonize economic and social development and protection of environment, three main elements of sustainable development.
He said that justice should also be the fourth element of sustainable development because without justice a peaceful world cannot be established.
''This event is an important milestone on the road to the creation of a new development agenda'', said Cihan Sultanoğlu, UN Development Group Chair for Europe and Central Asia adding that the road we are on is unfolding in an unprecedented way and so far, over 1 million people have engaged in the global conversation.
“The global conversation thus far contains two important messages: First, people around the world are asking us to finish the job and secondly, they want us to be more ambitious'', Ms. Sultanoğlu said.
Outcome: Inclusion and equality must be at the center of sustainable development
Several panels on the most challenging development topics were held during the consultations.
Participants attended six panels under three themes, 'Equality of Opportunity and Outcome', 'Putting Planet and People First' and 'Making the New Agenda Work' and discussed issues including human rights, education, health, population dynamics, migration, decent jobs, social protection and environment.
One of the main outcomes of the panel discussions was that inclusion and equality must be at the center of sustainable development, because inequalities and exclusion persist or have raised in a number of interlinked areas including, accountability, employment, health, education, gender equality and environment.
Another emphasis was on the youth participation in determining the Post 2015 development agenda, and Youth Representatives made their voices heard by actively participating in debates and reaching out to the government officials during the event.
The Regional Consultation is a cooperative effort organized and supported by the Turkish government and about a dozen UN entities active in the region, with the core team consisting of UNECE, UNEP, UNDP, UNICEF, ILO, WHO, UNFPA and IOM.
Regional consultations ended with the closing remarks by Mr. Kamal Malhotra, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Turkey, and Mr. Yilmaz Tuna, General Director of Social Sectors and Coordination, Ministry of Development, Turkey.
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Civil Climate Summit is organized with the partnership of Global Balance Association and Consumer and Climate Protection Association and it is supported by GEF Small Grants Programme.
Representatives from plenty of civil society organizations participated to the Summit held in Ankara between 22-23 November.
As a result of workshops organized throughout the Summit, a declaration was published to draw public attention to the actions that must be taken for the climate on a national scale.
In the declaration, it is emphasized that the greenhouse gas emission in Turkey increased by 124 % between 1990 and 2011 and Turkey must reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global climate change, by at least 15 % until 2020, as compared to year 2011.
Declaration reiterated that the climate-friendly solutions are possible.
For this purpose, according to declaration, renewable energy rate should be enhanced, means of “carbon neutral” implementations in transportation and in houses should be increased and recycling, reduction and reuse policies in the waste sector should be realized rapidly.
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The meeting was organized just before the ‘the Power of the Future g3 Forum’ with the participation of 42 representatives from 34 entrepreneurship clubs.
The International Entrepreneurship Initiative (IEI) hosted representatives of university entrepreneurship clubs between 19 to 20 November in Istanbul.
The meeting brought the opportunity to develop cooperation with IEI and with other university entrepreneurship clubs around Turkey.
Forum, held on 20 November, hosted 750 entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs in cooperation with International Entrepreneurship Initiative, TOBB and GATE Turkey and under the sponsorship of Vodafone.
Entrepreneurs had an opportunity to make round table meetings with names such as Ali Babacan, Gülden Yılmaz, Erhan Erkut, Adil Oran, Alpman Manas, Alemşah Öztürk, Göktekin Dinçerler, Didem Altop under the titles ' I have an idea , but no money , ' I have an idea, but don’t know how to do it' and ‘I have no idea, I want to be an entrepreneur’ topics.
International Entrepreneurship Initiative signed a cooperation protocol with seven cities with the goal of supporting local entrepreneurship.
Forum's closing speech was made by Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Global Entrepreneurship Week Global President Jonathan Ortmans, Vodafone Turkey Foundation President Hasan Süel and g3 Forum Executive Chairman Gülden Yılmaz.
National IT Summit was organized between 8-10 November with the cooperation of Turkish Ministry of Development, Microsoft, Habitat Center for Development and Governance and UNDP.
The concept of the summit was “Design Your Future”.
200 young people from 56 cities and 125 youth NGOs and also representatives from Microsoft, Habitat Center for Development and Governance, UNDP and Turkish Ministry of Development attended the Summit.
Opportunities about IT and development provided by project partners have been presented during the Summit.
Capacity development trainings and workshops were organized about Design Your Future Portal during summit.
This year, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, it is emphasized that violence against women is a violation of human rights.
Every year, at least two million women and girls are trafficked into prostitution, forced slavery, and servitude.
Up to 60 percent of women experience some form of physical or sexual abuse during their lifetime.
Gender-based violence hurts women, their families and their countries, and it reinforces inequalities between men and women throughout the world.
Marital rape is still not considered a criminal offense in more than 35 countries. More than 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence is not considered a crime.
“This is not acceptable: better laws and their enforcement are needed,” said Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme.
She called for law enforcement and judicial systems to work together with governments, civil society and international partners to tackle the root causes of violence against women, support victims, and bring perpetrators to justice.
Gender-based discrimination remains the single most widespread driver of inequalities in today’s world.
While the evidence linking gender-based violence and poverty grows, so does a global call to include men's voices in the solution to violence against women.
A recent UN study carried out in the Asia Pacific region found that of the 10,000 men surveyed, nearly half reported using physical and/or sexual violence against a female partner.
Although the study's dire findings reaffirm how widespread the problem remains, it also identified that the majority of factors associated with men's use of violence against women can be changed.
The study recommends that development interventions should address social norms related to the acceptability of violence and dominant gender stereotypes, as well as focusing on ending impunity for perpetrators.
UNDP works with countries around the world on initiatives to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
It reaffirms its commitment to end gender-based violence and calls for increased efforts to tackle specific patterns of violence in development and crisis contexts, working with women’s organizations as well as men and boys.
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Editor: Faik Uyanık
Assistant: Nazife Ece
Intern: Nihan Cabbaroğlu
Contributors to this issue: Deniz Tapan, Gökmen Argun, İdil Şerifoğlu, Leyla Şen
© 2013 UNDP Turkey
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