UN Human Rights Council puts abusers in guardian role
9/10/2023: Elections for new members of the UN Human Rights Council are anticipated in October. In 2023, only 30% of member countries were classified as "free" by the US think tank Freedom House. As the number of authoritarian regimes has grown globally, their presence on the Human Rights Council has increased.
Source: DW
Uganda charcoal ban ignites transition debate
2/10/2023: The Ugandan government's ban of commercial charcoal, whose burning releases high levels of carbon and other pollutants, has largely been welcomed by environmentalists. However, the policy has also highlighted the complexities of transitioning from dirty energies to cleaner sources. Only 45% of Ugandans, as of 2020, were connected to the domestic grid.
Source: African Arguments
Asian Development Bank to lend $100 billion more
2/10/2023: In response to the G20 call for multilateral development banks to find ways to stretch their resources, the Asian Development Bank has authorised a 40% increase in lending. The bank’s spending will still focus on ending poverty, but will also increase funding for climate work.
Source: Devex
Southeast Asia: Why is free speech not a priority?
2/10/2023: Southeast Asian countries are ranked among the worst in the world for standards of press freedom and media rights, according to a report by the Pew Research Center. A majority of respondents in three of the four surveyed Southeast Asian states agree with their governments that national "harmony" must come before free speech.
Source: DW
UNHCR welcomes US decision on refugee resettlement
30/9/2023: The UN Refugee Agency commends the United States for its decision to admit up to 125,000 refugees for resettlement over the fiscal year beginning October 2023, doubling the previous allocation. The Agency estimates that currently over 2 million refugees are in need of resettlement globally.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
Staggering cost of invasive species worldwide revealed
30/9/2023: Scientists estimate that each year sees another 200 invasive species become established worldwide, rising in their cost by 400% each decade. A new report has advised a shift in focus to prevention of the establishment of alien species, avoiding expensive eradication programmes.
Source: BirdGuides
EU Commission ignores Tunisia’s abuses against migrants
28/9/2023: The European Union Commission has announced it will go ahead with a controversial deal that pledges financial support to Tunisia, effectively in exchange for preventing boats carrying migrants and asylum seekers from departing for Europe. The release of 67 million euros has been agreed despite an absence of any specific human rights guarantees.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Ministers fail to progress loss and damage talks
28/9/2023: The creation of a loss and damage fund to help countries rebuild after climate disasters was agreed by world leaders at COP 27 last year. A high level meeting was held at the UN on Sept. 22, designed to encourage compromise on key differences around the fund’s design, resulted only in governments repeating their established positions.
Source: Devex
New map reveals state-sanctioned violence against protesters
19/9/2023: Authorities across the world are increasingly resorting to unlawful use of force and repressive legislation to crush protests, according to Amnesty International. Its new interactive map charts the numerous human rights violations perpetrated against protesters around the world.
Source: Amnesty International
Ratification of high seas treaty receives boost at UNGA
22/9/23: Seventy-six countries and the European Union have now signed the high seas treaty, a significant step forward to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. Once 60 nations have ratified it, the treaty will finally come into force.
Source: Mongabay