Civil society must raise ambition of Summit for the Future
29/5/2024: Civil society leaders have called for a more ambitious Pact for the Future to be presented to the UN Summit in September. They share an overwhelming sense that the global response to the gravity and scale of current world crises is fundamentally ineffective.
Source: Amnesty International
Executions soar to highest number in almost a decade
29/5/2024: A total of 1,153 executions took place in 2023, marking an increase of more than 30% from 2022. The five countries with the highest number of executions in 2023 were China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and the USA. Iran alone accounted for 74% of all recorded executions.
Source: Amnesty International
Rich nations meet $100bn climate finance goal – two years late
29/5/2024: According to new data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, developed countries provided $115.9 billion in climate finance for low income countries in 2022, up from $89.6 billion in 2021. Climate finance analysts criticised the way the OECD calculates the figures.
Source: Climate Home News
UNDP calls for reform to support small island states
27/5/2024: A new policy brief by the UN Development Programme highlights a pressing need to massively invest in climate change adaptation in Small Island Developing States. These islands are acutely vulnerable to floods, sea level rise, hurricanes and other climate emergencies.
Source: UN Development Programme
Syrian refugees at risk as Lebanon steps up crackdown
27/5/2024: Lebanon has announced sweeping new measures against Syrian refugees, raising awkward questions about a one billion Euro aid package to Lebanon granted by the European Commission. Reports by the UN and EU have all concluded that Syria remains unsafe for return of refugees.
Source: Amnesty International
WHO seeks four-year funding commitments from donors
28/5/2024: The World Health Organization has officially kicked off its latest investment round by asking for $11.1 billion over the next four years. For decades, the organization has been at the mercy of donor funds flowing unpredictably and tied to certain projects. More than half the world’s population lacks essential health services and 2 billion people face financial hardship from out-of-pocket spending on health.
Source: Devex
Pandemic Fund eyes funding target to kick-start strategic plan
27/5/2024: The Pandemic Fund hopes to raise an additional $2 billion over the next two years, as it launches a new five-year, medium-term strategic plan. Established in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the Pandemic Fund is a dedicated financing mechanism to strengthen countries’ pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
Source: Devex
Nations agree landmark treaty on genetic resources, protecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights
24/5/2024: Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization have agreed to a groundbreaking new treaty addressing genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. Patent applications must disclose the country of origin and the Indigenous Peoples or local community that provided relevant knowledge.
Source: UN News
World court orders Israel to halt military operations in Rafah
24/5/2024: The International Court of Justice has issued new provisional measures that order Israel to immediately end military operations in Rafah in southern Gaza and to open the governate’s border crossing for urgent aid deliveries.
Source: UN News
Biden should oppose US sanctions on ICC
23/5/2024: Over 100 human rights and civil society groups have signed a letter to the US President calling on him to oppose threats of punitive actions against the International Criminal Court. Although the US is not a member of the ICC, Republican and Democratic administrations have supported the Court in specific cases. The Court is seeking arrest warrants for three leaders of Hamas and two senior Israeli officials.
Source: Human Rights Watch