Desk-based Research Research Articles

Human rights in a sea of market-based approaches: Evaluation of market-based tools integrating social responsibility in the Sustainable Seafood Movement

Social responsibility in the Sustainable Seafood Movement has accelerated in the past several years, as human rights and labor issues are increasingly being integrated into market-based approaches such as certifications, fishery improvement projects (FIPs), and buyer sourcing commitments. There is skepticism around the ability to adequately address human rights within the context of market-based approaches originally designed for environmental sustainability. Experts have raised concerns about the voluntary nature, reliance on social audits, poor enforcement mechanisms, and limited worker representation of these interventions. Using desk-based research and key informant interviews, this study presents a critical evaluation of the market-based interventions integrating elements of human and labor rights. The overarching purpose of this study is to characterize how various initiatives in the Sustainable Seafood Movement are embedding human rights and social issues, in addition to challenges in doing so, and specific areas for improvement. Results suggest that while certifications can be a useful intervention in establishing a minimum level of compliance for the sector, they require improved accountability systems and continuous, internal monitoring led by workers. The FIP model, requiring continuous reporting of progress over time, could potentially be an alternative to the certification model contingent on the adoption of strong enforcement mechanisms. Finally, buyer sourcing commitments have the potential to hold businesses accountable, but voluntary commitments often lack tangible action, like embedding comprehensive processes of human rights due diligence, to protect fishers and workers. It is critical to address the current limitations of voluntary, market-based approaches and move towards mandatory human rights due diligence, better practices for worker engagement, and stricter mechanisms to ensure accountability.

Towards an Appropriate Legal Framework for Sustainable Management and Disposal of Plastic Waste in Nigeria: Lessons from Other Jurisdictions

Plastic pollution from unsustainable management and disposal of plastic waste on land and in the marine environment is a very serious problem. Statistics indicate that more than one million plastic bags are used every minute, and approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used annually worldwide. This phenomenon has raised global concern leading to the adoption of measures by countries, including legislation to mitigate plastic waste pollution in the environment. Employing desk-based research methodologies, this paper examines the problems associated with the indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste in Nigeria. The paper argues that the extant legal framework on the management of solid wastes is ineffective, too general and does not take cognisance of the peculiarities and environmental hazards associated with plastic waste. The paper concludes that an appropriate legal framework complemented by effective enforcement mechanisms that target plastic waste management and sustainable disposal are required to address the problem. This paper, therefore, calls for the passage of the Plastic Bag (Prohibition) Bill of 2018 before the National Assembly and the effective implementation of the recommended measures aimed at ensuring environmentally-friendly disposal of plastic waste in Nigeria.

Recovering Sustainable Settlements for People Affected by Disaster: An Inclusive-Participatory Approach

Typhoon Damrey struck Vietnam in November 2017 and was the strongest storm to hit the country in over 15 years. It impacted 13 central coastal provinces. Many domestic and international organisations provided timely support to affected populations. These projects were successful in recovering settlements and rebuilding houses for affected people through the application of a participatory-inclusive approach. This paper evaluates the restoration of settlements and rebuilding of homes in international projects using a participatory approach. The Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance guide to the Development Assistance Committee criteria in Evaluations of Humanitarian Action was used to assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability and replicability. Data collection included desk-based research and semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from central to local authorities and beneficiary communities. The results showed that a transformation towards a participatory bottom-up approach is crucial for effective recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Sex Change (Sex-Reassignment Surgery) without Medical Grounds in Indonesia: Conflict between Pancasila and Human Rights

As a state that upholds the Pancasila as the nation's direction, Indonesia adjusts the values of human rights norms as the character of its country. Revealing divinity value as the first point in Pancasila Principle affects Indonesia's national policies and political views. However, this action is unsuitable for some court decisions granting sex-change cases. Some of the legal reasoning used in these decisions is considering human rights grounds by not considering the value of Pancasila principles. This article's purpose is to elaborate on the legal reasoning behind some court decisions that granted sex-change cases without medical grounds.

Risk-Based Auditing, Quality Assurance and Improvement Program in the Practices of Internal Auditing

The purpose of this article is to outline internal auditing approaches' risk-based audits, quality assurance, and improvement programs. This paper provides a comprehensive review of risk-based auditing, quality assurance, and improvement initiatives for internal audit practitioners, audit committees, and senior management in organizations. Internal audits are designed to find flaws in a firm's operational procedures and internal controls so they may be quickly remedied to avoid harm to the company or its stakeholders. To identify the functional areas where a corporation is most exposed, the internal audit plan should be risk-driven. The internal audit plan ought to consider the organization's strategic needs. Similarly, each internal audit purpose should be in line with the audit strategy. The researcher combed through a vast number of academic publications. This study was created using desk-based research and secondary data. The study's findings will be of interest to academics and policymakers.

Current Scenario of Tea Garden Workers in Bangladesh: Time Demands to Stop the Zero-sum Game

The objective of this article is to highlight the latest phenomenon of tea garden laborers by outlining a dire picture of Bangladesh's tea industry. This article uses desk-based research and secondary data analysis to illustrate the current situation of Bangladeshi tea garden workers in the agro-business industry. To determine the real circumstances, the researchers studied several public interview quotes. It describes the current phenomenon of tea garden laborers to illustrate the inequality and injustice that exist in Bangladesh's agro-business sector. Researchers have discovered that because of their poor pay, the standard of living, and other rights, workers in tea gardens are less happy in the inflationary situation of Bangladesh. Researchers also discovered that both sides lacked accurate information. Researchers may get knowledge about the labor shortage in the tea sector, and professionals can gain knowledge about tea garden-related agro-business in Bangladesh. It is past time to go from a zero-sum game to a non-zero-sum game where everyone wins. For academics and practitioners, the results have significant implications.

Sustainability Reporting Practices: Evidence from Bangladeshi Financial Sector

The objective of this article is to present the Bangladeshi financial sector's sustainability reporting practices. Bangladesh has unique social, political, and environmental issues. The goal of this study is to present the current state of sustainability reporting practices in the financial industry of Bangladesh. This paper examines the practices of sustainability reporting in Bangladesh's financial industry utilizing a variety of scholarly sources and a desk-based research approach with secondary data analysis. This article interprets the sustainability reporting practices of Bangladesh's financial sector. Researchers discovered that global organizations, focusing on the big picture, may take certain essential activities to increase the standard of sustainability reporting standards in Bangladesh's financial industry. Bangladesh's sustainability reporting practices are still new. The findings have far-reaching ramifications for both academics and policymakers.

Putting the foot down: Accelerating EV uptake in Kyrgyzstan

Road transport accounts for around 12% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As many high-income countries are moving to decarbonise their road vehicle fleets, Kyrgyzstan – with rapid growth in passenger car ownership – is seeing a significant increase in transport-related GHG emissions and air pollution in urban areas. Whilst a transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is a key part of Kyrgyzstan’s Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement, the potential for successful EV deployment in the region is under-researched. To fill this research gap, this paper presents an assessment of the potential for EV deployment in Kyrgyzstan. Firstly, we present an investigation of the policy and institutional landscape relating to transport and the promotion of EVs in Kyrgyzstan. Secondly, based on research of 50,000 car sales and interviews with 23 key stakeholders in the country, we present analysis of the existing Kyrgyz vehicle fleet. Thirdly, using information ascertained from the interviews and desk-based research, we conduct a Total Cost of Ownership assessment of EVs versus internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) in the Kyrgyz context. We find that under the current conditions, EVs can have a lower total cost of ownership against similar ICEVs in Kyrgyzstan. However, it is evident that this is not typically the case: the analysis in this paper suggests that cost-competitiveness between EVs and ICEVs is more likely for larger and higher-powered vehicles, for which the ICEV version has a higher retail price. Finally, combining analysis of these results and analysis of the current conditions in Kyrgyzstan, trajectories for EV adoption in geographically and economically similar nations, and data from expert stakeholder interviews, we propose a set of policy recommendations to accelerate EV uptake in Kyrgyzstan.

A Race and Rage for Order: Judge James Crawford’s Legacy at the International Court of Justice

Abstract The objective of this article is to attempt to provide some response to what is a rather impossible question to answer: what is Judge James Crawford’s legacy at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)? In their attempt to distil an answer, the authors interviewed nine of Crawford’s judicial colleagues. These interviews built on desk-based research, particularly oral histories. What emerged were valuable insights into Crawford’s tangible contributions to the Court as a judge, even though his time on the bench was cut short and he was conflicted out of hearing many cases (having been so active as counsel before the Court in the preceding years). However, it also became clear that it was essential to assess Crawford’s legacy at the ICJ by considering a ‘broad view’ of his contribution to the Court, as well as his earlier career. In that regard, those interviewed consistently cited Crawford’s extraordinary stewardship and delivery in 2001 of the International Law Commission’s Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (‘ARSIWA’). The authors explore the influence on the Court of Crawford’s work on the ARSIWA, specifically Article 48 and the notion of ‘communitarian norms’. This serves to highlight just one example of how Crawford was in a ‘race’ and ‘rage for order’, on a journey to cement his vision for international law, including at the ICJ.

Application of PDCA as A Tool for Improving Managerial Performance

This study aims to demonstrate how PDCA may be utilized to improve managerial performance. A management system is defined as a strategic organizational process that is based on a comprehensive set of guidelines and well formulated guiding principles for carrying out organizational activities in order to accomplish organizational goals. The guidelines in this article focus on the key components of properly carrying out organizational operational responsibilities. The PDCA's essential elements are emphasized in the study's conclusion. This paper examines numerous academic sources and using a desk-based research technique with secondary data analysis to show how the use of PDCA as a tool for enhancing managerial performance may be demonstrated. The result has broad ramifications for academia. Global firms may need to take three crucial steps in order to implement PDCA as a technique for enhancing management performance. By demonstrating how to use PDCA as a tool, the findings can assist both academics and practitioners in improving managerial performance. In contrast to other studies on the subject, this one show how to use the PDCA method to increase managerial effectiveness. It explains how to improve managerial performance using the PDCA method.

Effective Management Strategies for Success: A Focus from the Ingredients of Management System

With an emphasis on the elements of a management system, this study seeks to provide effective management solutions. A management system is used by an organization as a tactical plan to complete tasks and meet goals. It is based on a thorough set of regulations and laws that have been carefully analyzed. The essential components needed to successfully complete organizational operational operations are listed in the paper's instructions. Effective management entails achieving both long-term and short-term goals while guiding everyone toward the organization's vision. However, it is easier said than done. Making a management system that accomplishes the goals and preserves the equilibrium required to keep the workforce happy can be difficult for a manager. Different management strategies can be employed by organizations, but ultimately, their level of performance determines what works best. Careful planning and a framework that manages task flow are necessary for these systems. With an emphasis on the management system's components, this article analyzes a variety of academic sources utilizing a desk-based research approach and secondary data analysis to provide successful management strategies for success. It describes effective management methods by putting a focus on a management system's components. The conclusion has important ramifications for academics. International organizations can adopt some effective management techniques by concentrating on the parts of a management system. The results can aid both academics and practitioners in learning more about effective management techniques by concentrating on the elements of management systems.

Aktotwórca, archiwotwórca i użytkownik informacji archiwalnej: wzajemne relacje w świetle rozwoju nowoczesnych technologii informacyjno-komunikacyjnych

Records creator, archive creator and archive information user: mutual relations in view of the development of modern information and communication technologies The aim of this article is to examine the mutual relations between the records creator, the archive creator and the information user in light of contemporary developments in information and communication technologies. The study was carried out in form of desk-based research, analysis of the literature, analysis of legal regulations and reports of the Head Office of the State Archives for the years 2011–2020. The analyses have revealed a very dynamic progress of digitisation in archives, which has a direct impact on the relations between all participants of information processes in archives. The phenomenon of prosumption of archival knowledge, not yet described in archival science literature, was also pointed out. The article concludes that it is necessary to make wider use of the knowledge possessed by archivists and archive users in order to design new tools and methods for creating, developing and sharing archival resources in digital form.

Safeguarding Personal Data: Meta Consent as a Remedy to Section 28(2)(c) of Kenya’s Data Protection Act

Biometric identity systems have been adopted in the Global South, following the Global North’s lead. The greatest discrepancy, however, is the existence of legal frameworks that govern the use, storage and processing of the data collected. The Kenyan government’s roll-out of the Huduma Namba registration exercise in April 2019 with no existing data protection law in Kenya exemplifies this. Thereafter, Parliament passed the Data Protection Act. Unfortunately, parts of this law are not keen enough to protect personal data. Deviating from the requirement for personal data to be directly collected from the data subject, section 28(2)(c) of the referenced Act permits indirect collection of personal data from a source other than the data subject themselves. Relying on desk-based research and using the Huduma Namba exercise as a case study, this paper examines this permission and the imminent danger it poses to privacy of the personal data of Kenyans. Finding that section 28(2)(c) exposes personal data to the privacy violations of secondary use and exclusion threatens the right to privacy, this research suggests that the meta consent model as embraced by the healthcare sector emerges as a feasible solution. This model allows data subjects to determine their consent preferences i.e., how and when they wish their consent to be sought for further collection and use, at the point of primary collection of personal data. Additionally, this paper recommends that the model should be embraced by the judiciary in its adjudication of matters and finally, that an amendment incorporating the solution should be made.

Analysis of the world experience in countering the spread of hepatitis C among the population as a component of developing programs to increase the availability of pharmaceutical care

Aim. To analyze the world experience in countering viral hepatitis C as a component of developing programs to increase the availability of pharmaceutical care grouping countries by their level of economic development and belonging to the WHO region.
 Materials and methods. The study materials were statistical reports of the WHO, national reports of countries on the prevalence, morbidity, and measures to counteract hepatitis C, as well as reports of the Polaris global study. Desk-based research methods, such as content analysis, systematic, logical, as well as methods of comparative analysis and generalization, were used.

The visual communication of Brexit in Northern Ireland: decoding public imagery on identity, politics and Europe

ABSTRACT The specific historical and political context of Northern Ireland has contributed to the development of an expansive visual landscape conveying symbolic meanings and messaging through words, pictures and colours. Murals, posters and graffiti are common ways in which this is seen, drawing a link between the past and the present, with real-time political developments not only inspiring new additions to this landscape but also shaping how existing images are understood in a contemporary context. Brexit, in interacting so intimately with matters of identity, economics, politics and the ‘constitutional question’ in Northern Ireland, has been one such development. This paper presents key findings from a study in which Brexit’s impact on the visual landscape in Northern Ireland was traced between March 2019 and June 2020. Through close analysis of images gathered from across Northern Ireland, alongside consideration of political developments during this time and desk-based research, we examine not only the emergence of Brexit in such imagery, but also what this unveils about the interaction between Brexit and localized perspectives on its impact with regard to politics across the spectrum, and across different parts of Northern Ireland.

City diplomacy and public policy in the era of COVID-19: networked responses from the Greek Capital

In recent decades, more and more young actors at the international level have been claiming and aspiring to play a significant role in managing public policy issues with global reach. The recent pandemic highlighted the asymmetry of nation-state responses in managing this health threat. At a time that the return-of-the-state scenario sounded familiar, it was misleading as well. Although each national government was focusing on its own people, and each claimed to have been better prepared to fight the crisis than its neighbors, governance gaps were filled by networks of sub-national authorities, whose partnerships provided a wider geographical perspective of policy decisions. In this framework, this article assesses the role of the city diplomacy, focusing on the pandemic initiatives of the city of Athens that, due to its international affiliations, managed to fill the gaps of the measures taken for the most vulnerable groups by the central government during the pandemic of COVID-19. Desk-based research and the use of secondary sources provide the scope for our analysis.

‘Imitate or Incubate?’ Evaluating the Current State of University-Based Business Incubators in the United Arab Emirates

Although there has been extensive research on business incubators (BIs) in the private sector, relatively little is known about university-based business incubators (UBIs) in the context of emerging markets such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study explores the current state of UBIs in the UAE by analysing secondary and primary data obtained through desk-based research and qualitative semi-structured interviews with UBI managers, academics and support staff. Informed by this study comprising nine cases of UBIs in the UAE, the data were collected through Voice over Internet Protocol and telephone during March 2021–February 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the analysis of data using Template Analysis, the findings illustrate that UAE universities’ BIs are relatively young and characterized by eight key themes, which were identified as (a) attracting new students, (b) improving communication skills, (c) curriculum development, (d) extra-curricular development, (e) industry engagement, (f) innovation/spinoffs, (g) research skills and (h) strategic thinking. As per the UAE Vision 2031, UBIs will play a crucial role in innovation and entrepreneurship, and therefore there are implications for academics, entrepreneurs and policymakers.

Parliamentary engagement in fighting corruption: a discourse on the Parliament of Tanzania

PurposeThis study aims to examine the participation of the Parliament of Tanzania in the fight against corruption in the country.Design/methodology/approachA desk-based research approach based on the review of documents and legal instruments was used.FindingsThe results of this study show that the Parliament of Tanzania has a chequered performance in fighting corruption. While it has passed several anti-corruption-related laws and in some respects succeeded to hold a few government officials accountable for the abuse of public office, there is little evidence to demonstrate its contribution at fighting this conundrum. Factors contributing to this deficiency include irresponsiveness to corruption allegations involving Members of Parliament, parliament’s remote oversight of the anti-corruption agency and shrinking democratic space in the parliament.Practical implicationsTanzania has relatively high corruption levels. The country’s Development Vision 2025 envisages a nation free of corruption. Hence, efforts are needed from public and private sectors to overcome this conundrum. The parliament holds a special place in that fight. Through its representation, legislative and oversight roles and powers, parliament has a wider opportunity to strengthen anti-corruption in the country. This study shows that the Parliament of Tanzania has not been very effective in that regard. It offers suggestions to strengthen the parliament’s position and engagement to fight corruption.Originality/valueThere is scanty literature on the role of the Parliament of Tanzania in fighting corruption. This study is seminal, as it investigates the Tanzanian anti-corruption arsenal from a crucial organ that is vested with constitutional powers to make laws and oversee the executive and its agencies.

Democracy Crisis in South-East Asia: Media Control, Censorship, and Disinformation during the 2019 Presidential and General Elections in Indonesia, Thailand and 2019 Local Election in the Philippines

South-East Asia is suffering a rapid deterioration of the free press and Freedom of expression. According to the last report of Freedom in the World 2021, in the last few years, almost all the South-East Asian countries have experienced a reduction in Freedom of expression, and in certain cases, their rights have been restricted. What kind of effects do the media have on public opinion? How can disinformation, censorship, and media control manipulate public opinion? Is social media promoting the anti-democracy establishment? Does social media reduce the democratic quality of a country by limiting its expression through control? This paper is based on desk-based research, where literature on political history and the political history of using media has been reviewed and analyzed—with a comparative analysis, focusing on the data available on the three countries of interest: Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, taking a comparative study the last election in 2019 in those countries. As a method, this study conducts a critical literature review with a historical approach. This study found that all the countries analyzed utilized the media to spread disinformation, war propaganda, and control. Borrowing from the Gramscian theory of hegemony, the paper argues that the theory of media and control can be used as a theoretical framework to examine the rule of media to manipulate and control the opinion public.

RISK ASSESSMENT ON THE DECOMMISSIONING STAGE OF INDONESIAN TRIGA 2000 RESEARCH REACTOR

Decommissioning is the final stage of a nuclear reactor. In preparing the decommissioning plan, one of the important elements that need to be considered is safety assessment. During decommissioning, there are many complex tasks to be done where the radiological and non-radiological hazards arise and can significantly affect not only the workers but also the general public and the environment. Indonesia has no experience with nuclear reactor decommissioning, so it is necessary to study various experiences of decommissioning activities in the world. This study proposes a framework to implement the safety assessment on the decommissioning of the TRIGA 2000 research reactor. The framework was developed on desk-based research and analysis. The proposed framework involves the facility and decommissioning activities, hazard identification, hazard analysis, hazard evaluation, hazard or risk control, and independent review.