We need women to end wars
8/3/2022: The war in Ukraine reminds us that women and girls are disproportionately affected by conflict. Despite the UN's Resolution 1325 adopted 22 years ago recognising the urgent need to mainstream a gender perspective into peacekeeping operations, women continue to be side-lined in peace negotiations.
Source: African Arguments
Dramatic deterioration in respect for women’s rights
7/3/2022: Amnesty International has warned that catastrophic attacks on human rights and gender equality over the past twelve months have lowered protection for and upped threats against women and girls across the globe. On International Women's Day the organization called for bold action to reverse erosions of human rights for women and girls.
Source: Amnesty International
Ukraine challenges legitimacy of Russia’s UN membership
7/3/2022: The overwhelming condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine has raised challenging questions about the legitimacy of UN memberships of both Russia and China which are permanent members of the Security Council.
Source: Inter Press Service
International courts to investigate Ukraine invasion
7/3/2022: The International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court have both embarked on the process of investigating cases against Russia's actions in Ukraine. The Criminal Court has the stronger foundation for progress.
Source: DW
The world’s hungry cannot afford another conflict
4/3/2022: As its emergency operation in Ukraine moved into high gear the World Food Programme expressed deep concern that the crisis could have consequences well beyond Ukraine's borders. The Russian Federation and Ukraine are responsible for 29% of the global wheat trade
Source: World Food Programme
The human rights situation in Russia
4/3/2022: The UN Human Rights Council has been alerted by campaign organisations to the intensified crackdown on human rights in Russia. A fully-fledged witch hunt against independent groups human rights defenders media outlets and political opposition is decimating civil society.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Just how far will Russian forces go in Ukraine?
3/3/2022: The executive director of Human Rights Watch draws on the evidence of Russian tactics in Syria to anticipate what happens next in Ukraine. Serious violations of the laws of war including cluster bombs and deliberately targeting civilians cannot be ruled out.
Source: The Guardian
UN General Assembly backs condemnation of Russia’s invasion
2/3/2022: 141 UN member states out of a total of 193 backed a UN General Assembly resolution to demand Russia withdraw its troops from Ukraine. It is only the 11th time such a meeting has been called in the UN's 77-year history. The resolution is not legally binding.
Source: DW
Countries request ICC inquiry into war cimes in Ukraine
2/3/2022: Thirty-eight governments have asked the International Criminal Court prosecutor to open an investigation into potential war crimes in Ukraine. Human Rights Watch and others have documented serious violations of the laws of war by Russian forces including the use of cluster munitions.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Historic day in the campaign to beat plastic pollution
2/3/2022: Governments have endorsed a historic resolution at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi to End Plastic Pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024. The resolution addresses the full lifecycle of plastic including its production design and disposal.
Source: UN Environment Programme