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Female genital mutilation (FGM) continues to violate the rights of women and girls, causing lasting physical and psychological harm. Yet progress is being made through community-driven initiatives, mentoring, safe spaces, and survivor-led advocacy. Over the past decade, the global prevalence of FGM among girls has dropped from one in two to one in three, though… [Read More]

For decades, kidnapping was a weapon of war in Colombia, used by both guerrilla groups and criminal mafias, with over 50,000 abductions recorded between 1990 and 2018. Victims were reduced to hostages, moved between camps, and treated as bargaining tools. Today, many of these survivors are playing a central role in redefining justice and peace… [Read More]

Save the Children is responding urgently to the impacts of Winter Storm Fern, which left hundreds of thousands of families in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee without power amid freezing conditions. The nonprofit’s emergency response team and local staff are providing critical funding assistance to help families cover immediate needs, including food, water, heating supplies, and… [Read More]

Save the Children and its advocacy arm, Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), have welcomed the congressional passage of full-year appropriations for the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and key foreign assistance accounts through the end of fiscal year 2026. The approval of these funds underscores the national priority of supporting children’s… [Read More]

In Sudan, the hunger crisis is worsening, with two additional areas—Um Baru and Kernoi—now classified at famine levels of malnutrition, according to Save the Children. Global acute malnutrition rates in these localities have reached nearly 53% and 34%, respectively, and access limitations make it difficult to assess the full extent of the crisis in surrounding… [Read More]

Reliable and affordable electricity is set to reach a kura (school) and five marae north of Kaitaia through a grant of up to $1.26 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, announced by Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The initiative, named Whiti Mai Te Rā, will provide solar power to these six essential community hubs, enhancing… [Read More]

Around 30 representatives from political parties, auditors, and the Central Electoral Commission attended an explanatory session on the newly adopted Methodology on agreed-upon procedures for the financial management of political parties. This methodology, developed in 2025 with support from the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, aims to enhance transparency and accountability in political party… [Read More]

Addressing participants in a discussion on relations with the United Nations, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, pledged to reinforce cooperation with UN agencies and other international actors to address the challenges faced by these children. Gylfadóttir outlined two priority areas guiding her work… [Read More]

A new report by GRETA, the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking expert body, evaluates Latvia’s measures to prevent human trafficking, support vulnerable victims, and prosecute offenders. The report highlights both the risks posed by information and communication technology (ICT) in trafficking and the potential of technological innovations to protect victims and strengthen investigations. The report commends… [Read More]

For thousands of Palestine Refugee families across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, daily life is marked by fear and the risk of sudden displacement. In response, the European Union (EU), through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), has provided €5 million in emergency funding to UNRWA to support protection and… [Read More]

The Ghana Heritage Fund (GHF) posted a strong financial performance in the 2025 fiscal year, closing with a book value of US$1.376 billion, according to the latest Petroleum Funds report released by the Bank of Ghana. Established under the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815) as an endowment for future generations, the Fund generated… [Read More]

Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, has pledged increased government support for local manufacturers, emphasizing their essential role in strengthening the national economy. On Friday, February 6, 2026, Ofosu-Adjare, accompanied by Deputy Minister Sampson Ahi, visited Kasapreko PLC and Guinness Ghana Ltd to meet management teams and gain firsthand insight into the… [Read More]

As Africa advances economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) continue to face systemic barriers that make cross-border trade costly and complex. At the 2026 Africa Prosperity Dialogues, business leader Daniel McKorley emphasized that addressing these challenges is essential for the continent’s SME sector to reach its… [Read More]

In a statement issued by his Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over escalating violence in South Sudan, where nearly 10 million people—more than two-thirds of the population—now require life-saving humanitarian assistance and continue to suffer the consequences of ongoing conflict. Guterres highlighted that fighting, attacks, looting, movement restrictions,… [Read More]

Geneva – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, will visit Egypt from 8 to 17 February 2026 at the invitation of the Government. The visit aims to assess the enjoyment of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation in the country. During… [Read More]

Two newly released World Bank Group reports warn that South Sudan is facing a critical moment, where urgent climate-smart action and stronger public financial management are essential to reversing economic decline and setting the country on a sustainable development path. The Public Finance Review and the Country Climate and Development Report highlight how intensifying climate… [Read More]

Geneva – Mexico has shown political commitment to combat and prevent torture, and significant progress has been acknowledged by the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) following their third visit to the country. However, experts highlighted ongoing gaps between the legal frameworks and policies in place and their practical implementation. Since the SPT’s previous… [Read More]

The World Bank Group has approved a US$200 million loan to support Bolivia’s efforts to protect households most affected by the ongoing economic crisis and to strengthen the country’s social protection system. The financing aims to make social assistance more effective, efficient, and resilient, while improving preparedness for future shocks and emergencies. The operation supports… [Read More]

As global attention focuses on ending female genital mutilation (FGM), The Gambia faces a pivotal legal battle that could reverse its 2015 ban on the practice. The Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments that, if successful, would strip women and girls of their legal protection from FGM. The urgency of this moment is underscored by… [Read More]

The World Bank has approved US$150 million in financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to support Gabon’s Access to Basic Services and Performance Improvement Project. The operation aims to modernize water and electricity services, expand universal access, and strengthen the financial sustainability of service providers, while contributing to climate adaptation and mitigation… [Read More]

The World Bank has approved a US$95 million operation to help expand access to finance for more than 100,000 small and medium enterprises in Nepal, supporting job-led growth and strengthening financial inclusion. Approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, the financing aims to address key barriers faced by underserved businesses while promoting private… [Read More]

As Uganda pursues long-term economic transformation, any major changes—such as modernizing or greening its transport systems—must be implemented in a way that safeguards livelihoods and expands opportunities for all. The Uganda Just Transition Framework (2025) provides the national blueprint for achieving this goal, outlining how government, communities, and development partners can ensure that no one… [Read More]

The World Bank has approved US$350 million in new financing to support Lebanon’s economic and financial recovery by strengthening social protection systems, promoting economic inclusion, and accelerating the digital transformation of public services. The financing package, approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors, aims to help the country meet the urgent needs of… [Read More]