To achieve human rights, start with food
7/`12/2022: The right to food became a legal obligation for countries in 1966 and is recognised in the Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger by 2030. Recent projections that more than 670 million people could still not have enough to eat in 2030 raise serious concerns for human rights.
Source: Inter Press Service
World Bank warns of debt crisis for poorest nations
6/12/2022: International debt repayments have risen to levels not seen in two decades, with about 60% of low-income countries at risk. The rapid increase in loans from China is undermining established mechanisms for debt relief.
Source: Devex
Africa’s free trade agreement takes baby steps
5/12/2022: A handful of African companies have finally started shipping goods under the long-delayed AfCFTA free trade agreement. Intra-African trade is only around 15% of total trade, much lower than in other world regions, such as Europe, where it's 67%.
Source: DW
Ukraine war is not all good news for arms industry
5/12/2022: The world's top 100 arms producers continued to increase sales in 2021, according to a new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. While both Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the West's response have driven up demand for weapons, they also have left producers facing challenges in sourcing raw materials and components.
Source: DW
The decline and fall of democracy worldwide
5/12/2022: A report released by International IDEA finds that the number of countries moving towards authoritarianism is more than double the number moving towards democracy. Problems range from restrictions on freedom of expression to distrust in the legitimacy of elections.
Source: Inter Press Service
Conflicts remain major bottlenecks to achieving UN global goals
2/12/2022: Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, countries in or recovering from conflict were “gravely off track” from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN has convened a high-level meeting to discuss approaches to sustaining peace and stepping up development.
Source: UN News
Women fight too, so stop ignoring them in peacebuilding
28/11/2022: Progress has been slow since the adoption of the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. Governments and multilateral agencies are increasingly calling for women to be able to exercise equal roles as active agents in peacebuilding.
Source: The New Humanitarian
UN agencies appeal for $1.72 billion for Venezuelan exodus
1/12/2022: Nearly 6 million refugees and migrants from Venezuela are living in 17 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration are appealing for funds to support the efforts of host governments.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
Six key issues at stake for biodiversity COP15
2/12/2022: The 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is expected to adopt a plan to reverse the alarming trend of global biodiversity loss. Preparatory negotiations on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework have achieved some consensus on its overall approach to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030.
Source: China Dialogue
COP27 was a mirage in the Sinai deserts
29/11/2022: Sunita Narain argues that the outcome of COP27 was the worst in the history of these negotiations. Decisions were either no-decisions or regressive. There is no meaningful approach to loss and damage unless it is framed in terms of liability and compensation.
Source: Down to Earth