Equity Rights Research Articles

Liability of the Parties to the Estate Trust Agreement

The estate, which includes equity rights, securities, intellectual property rights, real estate, is often requires the introduction of trust administration until the heirs inherit. The rules on estate trust administration refer the enforcer to the general provisions of Chapter 53 of the RF Civil Code, designed primarily for business relations. However, the specific nature of the trust administration does not allow us to apply general provisions on the liability of the parties to the trust agreement, which leads to insecurity of the participants to the estate trust agreement. Due to the nature of the estate trust agreement, the notary, as a trustor, must not and cannot be liable for the debts arising in connection with the performance of their obligations under the estate trust agreement. At the same time, in practice, it would be difficult to find a citizen willing to perform trust agreement for a stranger's estate within several months, provided that often he is not a professional but still bears unlimited liability for the debts arising out of the trust agreement to third parties and beneficiaries. The absence of opportunities to lay risks of loss on the estate directly enshrined in the legislation, as well as providing the beneficiaries only with a right to bring a claim against the trustee and an opportunity to offer and sometimes insist on the candidature of the trustee, excludes the efficient estate trust. Irrational decisions laid down in legislative regulation of rules on liability for the obligations of the trustee that arose under the trust agreement does not allow direct and reliable protection of the interests of beneficiaries and the provision of the protection of the notary's estate. In our view, there is a need to bring the law into conformity with the actual circumstances of judicial and notarial practice, to protect the interests of beneficiaries and ensure the protection of the estate of the scope of the notary.

Incorporating gender, equity, and human rights into the action planning process: moving from rhetoric to action

BackgroundMainstreaming of gender, equity, and human rights (GER) is an important focus of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other UN organizations. This paper explores the role of action plans in mainstreaming GER. This paper is informed by a theory-driven evaluation lens.DesignA theory of change framework explored the following seven dimensions of how action plans can implement mainstreaming of GER: awareness of the foundations of GER; understanding of context; planning to impact GER; implementation for GER; monitoring, evaluation, and learning; planning for sustainability; agenda setting and buy-in. The seven dimensions were used to analyze the action plans. Reviewers also explored innovations within each of the action plans for the seven dimensions.ResultsGER mainstreaming is more prominent in the foundation, background, and planning components of the plan but becomes less so along the theory of change including implementation; monitoring and evaluation; sustainability; and agenda setting and buy-in.ConclusionsOur analysis demonstrates that much more can be done to incorporate GER considerations into the action planning process. Nine specific recommendations are identified for WHO and other organizations. A theory-driven approach as described in the paper is potentially helpful for developing clarity by which action plans can help with mainstreaming GER considerations.

The feasibility of measuring and monitoring social determinants of health and the relevance for policy and programme – a qualitative assessment of four countries

BackgroundSince the publication of the reports by the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH), many research papers have documented inequities, explaining causal pathways in order to inform policy and programmatic decision-making. At the international level, the sustainable development goals (SDGs) reflect an attempt to bring together these themes and the complexities involved in defining a comprehensive development framework. However, to date, much less has been done to address the monitoring challenges, that is, how data generation, analysis and use are to become routine tasks.ObjectiveTo test proposed indicators of social determinants of health (SDH), gender, equity, and human rights with respect to their relevance in tracking progress in universal health coverage and population health (level and distribution).DesignIn an attempt to explore these monitoring challenges, indicators covering a wide range of social determinants were tested in four country case studies (Bangladesh, Brazil, South Africa, and Vietnam) for their technical feasibility, reliability, and validity, and their communicability and usefulness to policy-makers. Twelve thematic domains with 20 core indicators covering different aspects of equity, human rights, gender, and SDH were tested through a review of data sources, descriptive analyses, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. To test the communicability and usefulness of the domains, domain narratives that explained the causal pathways were presented to policy-makers, managers, the media, and civil society leaders.ResultsFor most countries, monitoring is possible, as some data were available for most of the core indicators. However, a qualitative assessment showed that technical feasibility, reliability, and validity varied across indicators and countries. Producing understandable and useful information proved challenging, and particularly so in translating indicator definitions and data into meaningful lay and managerial narratives, and effectively communicating links to health and ways in which the information could improve decision-making.ConclusionsThis exercise revealed that for monitoring to produce reliable data collection, analysis, and discourse, it will need to be adapted to each national context and institutionalised into national systems. This will require that capacities and resources for this and subsequent communication of results are increased across countries for both national and international monitoring, including the successful implementation of the SDGs.

Costly Self-Insurance of Rights Offerings

We study how the underwriting decision of an equity rights offering is affected by the risk of offering failure. Firms can reduce failure risk by getting underwriting or by self-insuring through subscription price discounts and subscription precommitments. Self-insurance is generally regarded to be relatively costless, but we provide evidence from Singapore that is consistent with the existence of implicit costs. In particular, the existence of self-insurance costs implies that firms with better projects will have larger discounts and that firms with higher ownership concentration will have more precommitments. Hence, our results support costly self-insurance against issue failure as a factor in explaining the rights issue paradox.

Beyond Braille on Toilet Doors: Museum Curators and Audiences with Vision Impairment

Beyond Braille on Toilet Doors: Museum Curators and Audiences with Vision Impairment

Practical Considerations for Monitoring and Responding to Bottlenecks in Real Time

This handbook summarizes the main findings and takeaways from a review of real time monitoring (RTM) methods and practices as well as an assessment of selected initiatives supported by UNICEF. It is intended to offer practical guidance: to help identify the most appropriate RTM method for a given purpose and in a given context, and to discuss an initial set of proposed guiding principles when considering undertaking a RTM initiative. UNICEF undertook a learning agenda under the name “RTM: Equity in Action” during 2011-12 to inform ongoing investments in RTM. The main takeaway from the learning is that, if implemented properly, RTM is an effective tool to advance social inclusion, equity and child rights. What drives the value added of RTM is linking RTM data to speedy use and responsive action. As such, it is important to take a systemic approach to RTM, one that goes beyond data collection to give sufficient attention to each of the distinct components — data analysis, reporting and, most importantly, response capability — and treats them in an integrated manner.The learning yielded further insights on performance issues that may arise when implementing RTM. Overall, this handbook proposes eight guiding principles to maximize the equity potential of RTM initiatives. It also details each of the main methodological approaches for implementing RTM, which include: (i) routine data systems; (ii) sentinel site surveillance; (iii) rapid surveys and assessments; (iv) community-based monitoring; and (v) citizen-based monitoring. Both the overview of the methods and guiding principles are illustrated with recent examples from UNICEF case studies and the existing literature. The handbook concludes by presenting several tools to help practitioners get started.

From 'What Happened?' to 'What's Happening?' Equity in Action Through Real Time Monitoring

The use of real time monitoring (RTM) of key social services and socio-economic conditions is growing exponentially in rich and poor countries alike as a tool for better and faster decision-making. Service providers, development actors and civil society activists have recognised its potential for identifying emerging priorities, pinpointing bottlenecks in service delivery, increasing accountability and providing a voice for marginalised populations. UNICEF country offices are part of this trend, increasingly supporting initiatives that aim to harness the potential of RTM for children.This report presents evidence and proposes ideas on how RTM can be utilised to advance social inclusion, equity and child rights. The information is the result of a UNICEF learning initiative which sought to better understand how RTM could make a difference for the most vulnerable. The learning initiative assessed selected UNICEF-supported RTM initiatives, conducted an extensive literature review related to RTM experiences and consulted with key practitioners both within UNICEF and beyond.The main finding is that RTM is making a difference in the design of policies and programmes for children: empowering vulnerable populations, improving local planning and service delivery, strengthening crisis or emergency preparedness, and enhancing equity-focused policies, plans and budgets. Preliminary evidence also indicates that RTM is contributing to concrete results for children, including saving lives by improving supply chain management, preventing infant and maternal deaths by strengthening demand for health services, and providing better support to children who are most at risk of violence by speedier entry and sharing of case management information. Such RTM results occur when initiatives go beyond rapid data collection to speedy use and responsive action. Ensuring that RTM initiatives are guided by a systemic approach (e.g. paying attention to each of the distinct components that define effective RTM — data analysis, reporting and response capacity) is crucial to maximize the potential of future initiatives.

NHS doctors face racism, exclusion, and discrimination, report finds

The NHS, with its highly ethnically diverse workforce and a specific focus on people’s health, ought to be an exemplar for staff wellbeing, but this is far from the case, a study has found.1 Experiences of racism, exclusion, and discrimination contribute to low levels of wellbeing among black and other minority ethnic (BME) groups, including staff in the NHS, the study report said. A decade on since the NHS Race Equality Plan, “there is little evidence of progress in achieving its goals,” the report said. Far from being an exemplar, “the NHS helps to illuminate the impact and consequences of lower wellbeing as well as specific drivers for differences in wellbeing between different ethnic groups.” The report, published last month, was written by Mala Rao, professor of international health at East London University, and Jacqui Stevenson, an expert in gender equity and human rights. “The need to address racism and discrimination within the NHS is incontrovertible,” they said. Their research examined a range of literature on ethnic disparities in wellbeing and included interviews with NHS staff, clinicians, and senior leaders and a summary of a roundtable discussion. It highlighted ethnic discrimination in the NHS recruitment process and cited research by BMJ Careers showing that white doctors were almost three times as likely to be successful in applying for hospital jobs as doctors from ethnic minorities.2 The research by BMJ Careers showed that black or black British applicants were the ethnic group least likely to …

ASEAN Health in the post-2015 development agenda

The health sector has led the development success of the MDG era and created an unprecedented opportunity to achieve more health and social development after 2015. The health-related MDGs have raised the profile of global health to the highest political level, mobilized civil society, increased development assistance for health, and contributed to considerable improvements in health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Achievements of health-related MDGs among ASEAN countries are remarkable, and it is crucial to keep the momentum for accelerating progress toward the MDG and sustainable development. Member states of WHO-SEAR proposed that “human well-being and happiness” must be the overarching goal for the post-2015 development agenda. It is recognized that equity and human rights are at the center of development, and well-being is the core contributor for individual and social happiness. The four pillars of well-being and happiness are identified as 1) sustainable and equitable socio-economic development, 2) good and responsible governance, 3) environmental sustainability, and 4) community and cultural participation. A key component of “well-being and happiness” is universal health coverage which implies equitable access to essential health services with financial and social protection. In addition, to achieve the unfinished MDG agenda and tackling the growing problems of NCDs, a life-course approach comprising continuum of care with balance of the preventive, promotive, curative and palliative aspects of health care has been recommended. Health systems based on the primary health care need to be strengthened to improve efficiency in service delivery, mobilize adequate resources and equitable financing through good governance. Indicators and targets for each dimension of human well-being must be identified and focused on equity analysis through disaggregated data covering income, age, gender, rural/urban and vulnerable groups. Ownership, intersectoral collaboration, wider involvement of stakeholders, and more partnerships must be leveraged to achieve the post-2015 development agenda.

10.5937/zrpfns48-5831 = New concept of equity and human rights as a factor of efficiency of global fight against the climate change

Climate change, caused by anthropogenic factor, is one of the biggest global challenges. Universal interest for slowing climate change by adequate reduction of global emission of greenhouse gases and universal interest that all nations become capable to overcome effects of global change is beyond dispute. Global and local allocation of expenses of realization of the mentioned interests is a matter of global and local disputes. The Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is searching for new formula of equitable distribution of the expenses that would be acceptable for all. The formula should reconcile efficient reduction of global emissions and securing sustainable development for all. International protection of human rights offers a possibility to turn attention to interests of individuals in the context of climate change.

Barricades to Gender Equity in the International Financial Architecture

Two areas in the international economic and financial architecture that impede the realization of developmental objectives and gender equity are briefly focused on, and include the contractionary macroeconomic policy framework espoused by the International Monetary Fund, the trend of financial liberalization and the volatility of capital flows and problems caused by it. The international financial architecture's exclusive concern with the monetized financial and commodity economy overlooks numerous adverse impacts on women and girls, in large part because it is based on fundamental gender biases. Bhumika Muchhala recalls from feminist economics literature three systemic gender biases in a liberalized and financialized world economy, which work against the goals of gender equity and women's rights. These three biases are the ‘deflationary bias’, the ‘male breadwinner bias’ and the ‘commodification or privatization bias’. She argues that a feminist discourse of global capitalism challenges the rigidity of boundaries segregating productive and reproductive activities.

Co-operative governance and management control systems: an agency costs theoretical approach

Co-operative organizations have a unique property and decision rights distribution system that involve management problems and transaction costs. Such structure creates equity rights and risk transfers that directly affect these organizations' self-management efficiency. This paper analyses those costs and sources of inefficiency to explain their problems in two complementary and different ways. First it discusses main governance aspects that generate agency conflicts; second it analyses the characteristics of managerial systems which generate informational asymmetry and monitoring problems. An analysis regarding both property rights distribution among members and decision rights distribution between elected members and hired professional executives indicates that equity rights and risk sharing in co-operative's contractual relations leads to a typology on the kind of governance, the management model and the managerial information system characteristics which could reduce agency problems. The methodology used was theoretical discussion, and comparison of the management models and systems of rural credit and agricultural co-operatives in Brazil. A questionnaire was applied in five co-operatives to compare management models and systems. Our final considerations show that better co-operative's management model organization, as well as management systems, could reduce their agency costs.

Is rooted cosmopolitanism bad for women?

Assuming similarities between the domestic and global spheres of justice, I consider how lessons from the debate over women's rights and multiculturalism can be applied to global justice. In doing so, I focus on one strain of thinking on global justice, current moderations and modifications to cosmopolitanism. Discussions of global justice tend to approach the question of gender equity in one of two distinct ways: through articulations a cosmopolitanism ethic, advancing women's rights with the discourse of universal human rights or through the lens of Care Ethics. The former approach emphasizes a universal core shared by all human beings, the latter the specific relationships we each are situated within. Recently, the discourse of global justice has moved away from this universal/particular dichotomy, with a range of theories, call them rooted cosmopolitanisms. My goal in this paper is to consider how these rooted versions of cosmopolitanism might respond to issues of gender equity and women's rights. (1) In pursuit of this aim, I first outline the parameters that define rooted cosmopolitanism. (2) I then assume, for the sake of argument, a continuity between domestic and global domains of justice, a continuity which allows for a translation of insights gained in domestic debates over multiculturalism into the global domain. (3) Finally, offering an answer to my leading question, I claim that rooted cosmopolitanism might assist in the struggle to protect the well-being of women as it endeavors to advance global justice.

Implementation of the higher education accessibility principle in Latvia: Current situation and its development possibilities

Accessibility of higher education system is an important term of higher education development, providing equity rights and possibilities to study for each person. Therefore the understanding of accessibility is important issue for each state higher education policy. The understanding of higher education accessibility in Latvia is discussed in the topic, analyzing this term in comparison with situation in other states, identifying the most important aspects of higher education accessibility and marking the problems connected with the accessibility in Latvia.

Institutional investors' holdings surrounding equity rights offerings

We examine shareholding surrounding Swedish rights offerings using detailed information on the ownership in firms. We analyze shareholding levels and their changes for domestic and foreign institutional investors. As institutional holdings change, domestic institutions increase their holdings more than foreign institutions. Our examination of low and high buying activities by institutional investors surrounding rights offerings shows no stock picking ability, thus not supporting the “smart-money hypothesis” (Gibson et al., 2004). We also find that investor domicile influences firm value following the offering. Overall, foreign investors exhibit a strong and opposite directional reaction to adverse selection costs than domestic investors.

Health Equity, Social Justice and Human Rights, Ann Taket, Routledge/Taylor and Francis Group, London and New York, 2012 (224pp), ISBN: 978-0-415-61375-0

Health Equity, Social Justice and Human Rights, Ann Taket, Routledge/Taylor and Francis Group, London and New York, 2012 (224pp), ISBN: 978-0-415-61375-0

Highly regulated but can’t be certified as sustainable. Responsible use principles are bridging the gap for biotech trees

Biotech trees are some of the most heavily regulated plants in the world, yet no forest management system certifies the use of them as sustainable. The Responsible Use: Biotech Tree Principles are the first, and only, set of practices designed specifically for the long-term stewardship of biotech trees. These Principles may serve as a framework that certification systems can use when considering whether biotech trees meet their certification standards. Responsible use principles were developed to guide the long-term stewardship of biotech trees. As forest biotechnology has taken root and genetically modified trees are being field-tested for biofuels, species restoration, and disease resistance, the need for a set of global guiding principles for responsible use of these trees became apparent. Since this need was not being met by the international forestry certification schemes, the Institute of Forest Biotechnology (IFB) developed the Responsible Use: Biotech Tree Principles in a transparent, stakeholder driven process over nearly three years. A broad set of stakeholders have set aside the issues of whether biotech trees should be used and created these stewardship principles. The Principles are in recognition that responsibly used biotech trees have the potential to benefit society, economies, and the environment in ways that other trees cannot. Central to these Principles are core beliefs that: • Biotech trees should benefit people, the environment, or both • Risks and benefits of biotech trees must be assessed • Transparency is vital and stakeholders must be engaged • Social equity and indigenous rights are important and must be respected • Biotech tree use must follow regulations of the appropriate country Regulations for biotech trees are stringent in most parts of the world. From product inception in the lab, to seedlings grown by tree farmers, it can take years and cost millions of dollars – and the biotech tree may never get deregulated. Long growth cycles make gathering scientific information necessary for deregulation difficult in many countries. However, regulations vary widely in practice from one country to another. We will discuss the regulatory frameworks of biotech trees in Brazil, Chile, U.S., Canada, South Africa, China, and New Zealand. Certification systems have yet to address biotech tree use in a holistic, scientific manner. We will discuss how the top certification systems in Brazil, Chile, U.S., Canada, South Africa, China, and New Zealand address biotech trees. Along with the regulatory review of these countries, a framework will be developed that shows where regulations and certification systems overlap, diverge, or have significant gaps. This framework will be a tool to begin a dialogue with certification systems on how to best bridge these gaps using the Responsible Use: Biotech Tree Principles. People have highly disparate opinions about using biotech trees. The reality is that biotech trees are already in use today, and they will be put to use even more in the future. It is important that we engage society, assess environmental risks and benefits, and follow best practices for the stewardship of biotech trees and their products. The IFB, through the Responsible Use Initiative, will work with relevant forest certification systems to provide science-based, stakeholder driven assessments that will help meet the requirements of their own sustainable forestry mechanisms. The IFB is the only organization to address the sustainability of forest biotechnology on a global scale. The IFB has been in operation for 10 years as a non-profit organization. In December 2010 the IFB published the Responsible Use: Biotech Tree Principles. The Principles along with a comprehensive Biotech Tree Primer are available at http://www.responsibleuse.org. Learn more at IFB’s main website, http://www.forestbiotech.org.

Building primary health care capacity to address addiction and mental health inequities: lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean

PurposeSince 2002, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Ontario, Canada, has been working closely with partners in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to implement mental health capacity‐building focused on primary health care. From an equity perspective, this article seeks to critically analyze the process and key results of this capacity‐building effort and to identify various implications for the future.Design/methodology/approachThis analysis of capacity‐building approaches is based on a critical review of existing documents such as needs assessments and evaluation reports, as well as reflective discussion. Previous health equity literature is used as a framework for analysis.FindingsMore than 1,000 professionals have been engaged in various kinds of training in Chile, Peru, Brazil, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago. These capacity‐building initiatives have had an impact on primary health care from both an equity and systems perspective because participants were engaged at all stages of the process and implementation lessons incorporated into the final efforts. Stigma was also reduced through the collaborations.Originality/valueUsing concrete examples of capacity‐building in mental primary healthcare in LAC, as well as evidence gathered from the literature, this article demonstrates how primary healthcare can play a strong role in addressing health equity and human rights protection for people with mental health and/or substance abuse problems.

The Impact Of Employee Stock Bonus On Equity Market Value

This paper explores the relation between equity market value and the expense of employee stock bonus that is disclosed but not recognized under Taiwans law. Employing the regression analyses, and to investigate the effects of employee stock bonus on the firms share price. We find that the market value of employee stock bonus has a negative effect on the firms share price. The result indicates the negative side of employee stock bonus is its dilution of the existing shareholders equity rights.

Social conditions, health equity, and human rights.

The fields of health equity and human rights have different languages, perspectives, and tools for action, yet they share several foundational concepts. This paper explores connections between human rights and health equity, focusing particularly on the implications of current knowledge of how social conditions may influence health and health inequalities, the metric by which health equity is assessed. The role of social conditions in health is explicitly addressed by both 1) the concept that health equity requires equity in social conditions, as well as in other modifiable determinants, of health; and 2) the right to a standard of living adequate for health. The indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights--civil and political as well as economic and social--together with the right to education, implicitly but unambiguously support the need to address the social (including political) determinants of health, thus contributing to the conceptual basis for health equity. The right to the highest attainable standard of health strengthens the concept and guides the measurement of health equity by implying that the reference group for equity comparisons should be one that has optimal conditions for health. The human rights principles of non-discrimination and equality also strengthen the conceptual foundation for health equity by identifying groups among whom inequalities in health status and health determinants (including social conditions) reflect a lack of health equity; and by construing discrimination to include not only intentional bias, but also actions with unintentionally discriminatory effects. In turn, health equity can make substantial contributions to human rights 1) insofar as research on health inequalities provides increasing understanding and empiric evidence of the importance of social conditions as determinants of health; and, more concretely, 2) by indicating how to operationalize the concept of the right to health for the purposes of measurement and accountability, which have been elusive. Human rights laws and principles and health equity concepts and technical approaches can be powerful tools for mutual strengthening, not only by contributing toward building awareness and consensus around shared values, but also by guiding analysis and strengthening measurement of both human rights and health equity.