Hong Kong: baseless convictions of activists
31/5/2024: Three judges handpicked by the Beijing-controlled Hong Kong chief executive have convicted 14 pro-democracy activists and former elected lawmakers under the draconian National Security Law. According to Human Rights Watch, many aspects of the detention and trial proceedings have violated international due process standards, including prolonged pretrial detention and denial of a jury trial.
Source: Human Rights Watch
‘Non-market’ solutions to deforestation need more support
31/5/2024: A new report calls for a shift in emphasis away from relying on carbon markets for forest protection, and toward a lesser-known provision of the Paris Climate Agreement that calls for “integrated, holistic and balanced non-market approaches.” These could include financing for indigenous groups, payment for ecosystem services, and debt relief.
Source: Mongabay
How do we defeat malaria in Africa and spur development?
30/05/2024: The first two decades of the 21st century were a golden era for malaria control. However, progress has slowed since 2015 and in 2022 Africa accounted for 94% of malaria cases (233 million) globally. History shows that malaria can quickly resurge when control measures are weakened and African countries will continue to depend on global financial support.
Source: Devex
Global pandemic treaty could be more than a year away
29/5/2024: Global health leaders have said an international treaty governing how the world should deal with future pandemics may not be agreed for another year or more. After two years of negotiations, countries failed to agree on the text by the deadline.
Source: The Guardian
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