Nations turn to ICJ for clarity on climate accountability
16/12/2024: The International Court of Justice has concluded historic hearings with over 100 participants seeking legal clarity on states’ obligations to combat climate change and address its consequences. These clarifications could lead to new international legal obligations for climate action that emitting countries have to abide by.
Source: Devex
Q&A: US antipersonnel landmine transfers to Ukraine
13/12/2024: The administration of US President Joe Biden has announced the transfer of antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine, reversing a longstanding US prohibition. These transfers break years of incremental steps by the US government to align its policy and practice with the 1997 treaty banning antipersonnel mines.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Opportunities for finance for development at 2025 UN summit
13/12/2024: African policy experts advocate that the continent’s voice and participation should be enhanced at the UN's financing for development conference in Spain, at the end of June 2025. Progress on poverty reduction in Africa has stalled since the last FfD conference in Addis Ababa in 2015.
Source: Devex
Too many COPs spoil the planet
12/12/2024: In addition to the recent climate COP29, the final three months of this year have seen the UN Conference to Combat Desertification and the UN Biodiversity Conference. There have also been talks on a Plastics Treaty. Some countries feel that the planet would be better served by merging these environmental negotiations.
Source: PassBlue
Global efforts needed to curb rising malaria threat
11/12/2024: According to the World Health Organization’s latest World malaria report, there were an estimated 263 million cases and 597 000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2023, representing little change over 2022. Approximately 95% of the deaths occurred in the African Region.
Source: World Health Organization
Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup host puts many lives at risk
11/12/2024: Human rights organisations around the world have condemned FIFA’s confirmation of Saudi Arabia as hosts of the 2034 World Cup. Amnesty International had already criticized FIFA’s evaluation of Saudi Arabia’s bid as “an astonishing whitewash”, as well as its failure to compensate migrant workers involved in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Source: Amnesty International
International Court of Justice hears impact of climate inaction
11/12/2024: The climate hearings of the International Court have continued with submissions from the perspective of climate justice, the precautionary principle and conflict, from Seychelles, Senegal and Sudan, respectively. The Court will advise on the international legal obligations of states in relation to climate change.
Source: Inter Press Service
UN cautions European suspension of asylum processing for Syrians
10/12/2024: Following the collapse of the regime in Damascus, a number of European states have suspended asylum decision-making on Syrian claims for international protection. The UN Refugee Agency has reminded governments that Syrians should continue to be granted the same rights as all other asylum-seekers, and that no asylum-seeker should be forcibly returned.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
Iran’s new veiling law intensifies oppression of women and girls
10/12/2024: Amnesty has condemned Iran for further erasing the human rights of women and girls through severe penalties relating to compulsory veiling. The new law was drafted in May 2023 in response to widespread defiance of compulsory veiling by women and girls in protest at the death in custody of Jina Mahsa Amini.
Source: Amnesty International
World Bank secures record pledges for international development
9/12/2024: World Bank officials have announced $23.7 billion in contributions promised to the International Development Association, which provides grants and low-interest loans to 78 low-income countries. Experts are particularly concerned whether the $4 billion pledge by the US will survive the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Source: Devex