Funding cuts bring worldwide disruptions in tuberculosis services
20/3/2025: The World Health Organization is calling for urgent investment of resources to protect tuberculosis (TB) care. Reports reveal that severe disruptions in the TB response are seen across several of the highest-burden countries following recent funding cuts.
Source: World Health Organization
Peru: veto ‘anti-NGO’ law
20/3/2025: Human Rights Watch has called on Peruvian President Dina Boluarte to veto a bill approved by Congress that would severely restrict the work of independent journalists and civil society organizations. The bill’s vague language would, in practice, allow the government to arbitrarily penalize groups that criticize its policies.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Civil Society: the last line of defence in a world of crises
20/3/2025: In a world of compounding crises that threaten the foundations of human rights and democratic freedoms, civil society continues to prove its immense value, according to the 14th annual State of Civil Society Report publshed by Civicus.
Source: Inter Press Service
Israel ends ceasefire in Gaza as strikes resume
20/3/2025: On March 18, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched an attack on the Gaza Strip, effectively terminating the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. This comes after a pause in ceasefire operations when Israel continued its blockade on humanitarian aid in the enclave and demanded the release of additional hostages.
Source: Inter Press Service
UN Refugee Agency braces for thousands of job cuts
20/3/2025: The head of the UN Refugee Agency has warned staff that he is contemplating cuts of as many as 5,000 to 6,000 workers, primarily the result of “financial uncertainty” wrought by the US foreign aid freeze. The move comes as a number of UN agencies are bracing for deep cuts.
Source: Devex
Chilling verdict against Greenpeace sets damaging precedent
20/3/2025: A US jury in North Dakota has ordered Greenpeace to pay at least $660m to the fossil fuel company Energy Transfer for the actions of protesters opposed to the Dakota Access pipeline in 2016 and 2017. Amnesty International has warned that the verdict has severe implications for Indigenous Peoples, and other climate activists who tirelessly work to protect human rights.
Source: Amnesty International
US dismisses tariff complaints from Canada and China at WTO
20/3/2025: Canada and China have lodged complaints about US trade tariffs, following procedures laid down by the World Trade Organization. The US has responded with attempts to justify its unilateral actions.
Source: Third World Network
Judge finds DOGE’s shutdown of USAID ‘likely’ unconstitutional
19/3/2025: In a lawsuit brought by a group of anonymous USAID employees and contractors, a federal judge ordered employees access to USAID systems reinstated and barred Elon Musk and DOGE from taking further actions to shutter USAID. He stopped short of reinstating terminated programs or compelling payments.
Source: Devex
DOGE ‘breaks into’ the US Institute of Peace
18/3/2025: The US Institute of Peace has described itself as a nonpartisan, independent entity, focused on protecting American interests by preventing violence and promoting peace. Although not a U.S. government agency, it was one of three international aid organizations targeted by President Trump last month. Now, DOGE has made its way into USIP’s offices too.
Source: Devex
UN migration agency cuts more jobs
13/3/2025: The International Organization for Migration, which serves a global population of over 280 million migrants, has laid off 20% of its headquarters staff, ceasing lifesaving operations from Myanmar to Yemen. On his first day in office, President Donald Trump suspended the program which resettled more than 100,000 refugees in the US in 2024.
Source: Devex