Guterres launches plan to update the UN for the 21st century
12/3/2025: The UN80 Initiative aims to deliver tangible improvements in peace, development and humanitarian aid – all while ensuring that public funds are used wisely and transparently. The Secretary-General said: "the United Nations has never been more needed. Our values have never been more relevant."
Source: UN News
Return proposals a “new low” for Europe’s treatment of migrants
11/3/2025: The European Commission has introduced a proposed revision to the 2008 Return Directive which lays the ground for states to send people to countries to which they have no connection. Amnesty International describes this as an alarming departure from international law, likely to result in violations, including refoulement and arbitrary detention.
Source: Amnesty International
Duterte’s arrest is a monumental step for justice
11/3/2025: Amnesty International has welcomed news that former President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested by Philippine authorities on the basis of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for the crime against humanity of murder in relation to killings in the “war on drugs”.
Source: Amnesty International
Myanmar Junta’s farcical plans for elections
11/3/2025: Human Rights Watch says that Myanmar’s generals do not control enough of the country to hold credible elections in January 2026. A recent census obtained returns from less than half of the country. Countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are divided on whether to support the elections.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Ukrainians stress that a peace agreement must include justice
11/3/2025: After three years of bloodshed, the people of Ukraine are in limbo as peace negotiations to end the war, instigated by US President Donald Trump, remain unpredictable. Efforts so far have been plagued by disinformation, undiplomatic behavior, and erratic political signals.
Source: Inter Press Service
USAID cuts could create untreatable tuberculosis bug
10/3/2025: Dangerous new forms of tuberculosis for which there is no treatment could emerge as a result of cuts in US support to poorer countries which has historically provided between $200 million and $250 million a year for TB. In 2023, there were 10.8m new cases and 1.25 million deaths from the disease.
Source: The Guardian
Tensions undermine second phase of Gaza ceasefire
10/3/2025: The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire has enabled conditions for health, education and nutrition in Gaza to improve. Humanitarian progress is now impeded by the inability of all parties to secure agreement to Phase 2.
Source: Inter Press Service
Is the world ready for a woman at helm of the UN?
10/3/2025: In closed-door negotiations at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the US has proposed that a provision encouraging states to nominate qualified female candidates for the post of UN Secretary-General should be watered down. The current head of the UN has warned of an aggressive backlash against gender equality – threatening hard-won progress on women’s human rights.
Source: Devex
Gavi delays $9 billion replenishment event
10/3/2025: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has pushed back its high-level replenishment summit by three months. An already rough fundraising environment has become exponentially worse as the Trump administration has rapidly dismantled USAID. However, there are signs that the US government sees the importance of Gavi’s work.
Source: Devex
US Energy Secretary will support African energy needs, not climate
7/3/2025: Christopher Wright, the US Energy Secretary, said the US will support African nations in developing any type of energy they choose and set aside "paternalistic" practices and climate change demands. According to Wright, climate change is not among the top ten global problems.
Source: Devex