Press freedom increasingly under threat in Cambodia
3/8/2022: All of the 65 journalists interviewed for a report now published by the UN Human Rights Office said they had faced some form of interference in the course of their work. For years, Cambodian authorities have adopted legislation restricting civic space generally, and press freedom in particular.
Source: UN News
DRC loses faith with UN peacekeeping mission
3/8/2022: The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been in the DRC since 2010 but recent incidents have undermined confidence. Citizen protests may prompt greater involvement of East African peacekeeping resources.
Source: The East African
Senegal’s disputed elections test the country’s democracy
2/8/2022: Senegal's reputation as a stable democracy could suffer serious dents as its electoral commission prevented many opposition leaders from running in Senegal's recent parliamentary elections. Observers fear that disrespect of the rule of law and the constitution plays into the hands of extremists.
Source: DW
Punitive laws perpetuate the AIDS pandemic
2/8/2022: In countries that criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, the evidence is clear that the risk of acquiring HIV is higher. Removal of such laws is essential to ending AIDS as a public health crisis by 2030.
Source: Inter Press Service
Rich countries fall $17bn short of 2020 climate finance goal
29/7/2022: Rich nations mobilised $83.3 billion of climate finance in 2020, a 4% increase on the previous year but short of their $100bn target. The bulk of the funding was in the form of loans rather than grants and went to Asian and middle income countries.
Source: Climate Home News
The EU’s ‘racist’ refugee system, and how to fix it
26/7/2022: At around 3.7 million, the number of Ukrainians who have applied for protection in EU member states dwarfs the 1.3 million people who applied for asylum in the EU in 2015. Europe’s response in 2022, however, has been vastly different from that of 2015.
Source: The New Humanitarian
Water scarcity is biggest threat to food security
26/7/2022: Increased demand for water will be the biggest threat to food security in the next two decades, says a new report that identifies and ranks the top ten risks. It calls for collaboration between scientists and policymakers to boost resilience in global food systems.
Source: SciDev.Net
Myanmar Junta executes four
25/7/2022: Myanmar’s military junta has reported the execution of four men in the country’s first death sentences carried out in over 30 years. All were convicted after closed trials that fell far short of international standards.
Source: Human Rights Watch
300,000 teachers in DRC going unpaid
22/7/2022: Congolese families cheered in 2019 when President Félix Tshisékedi ordered the country’s schools to provide free and compulsory primary education. At least 3 million more children enrolled in school. But DRC’s schools depend on informal teachers reliant on parent donations which are no longer permitted.
Source: African Arguments
WHO updates global COVID-19 vaccination strategy
22/7/2022: Only 28% of older people and 37% of health care workers in low-income countries have received their primary course of Covid vaccine. The World Health Organization's latest strategy will seek greater priority for these at-risk groups within its overall 70% coverage target.
Source: World Health Organization