Türkiye has taken a major step in combating brucellosis, a disease affecting both humans and animals, by hosting a national workshop from 26 to 28 November at the Pendik Veterinary Control Institute in Istanbul. The event brought together experts from animal and public health sectors to jointly assess Türkiye’s capacities for brucellosis control, emphasizing a… [Read More]
cat
Rising HIV Epidemic in Fiji: Urgent Need for Safe Injecting Supplies and HIV Prevention Services
A new rapid assessment in Fiji has revealed that unsafe injecting practices, caused by the lack of harm reduction services such as needle and syringe programmes (NSPs), are significantly increasing the risk of HIV transmission among people who inject drugs. This comes amid one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the Pacific island nation, highlighting… [Read More]
PAHO Assists Jamaica with Rapid Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Deployment Following Hurricane Melissa
Hurricane Melissa caused severe damage to health service infrastructure in Jamaica, disrupting the lives of thousands of families, health workers, children, and people with chronic illnesses. The storm’s psychosocial impacts include acute stress, grief, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion, with displaced individuals and those in overcrowded shelters experiencing feelings of helplessness and uncertainty. Older adults and… [Read More]
WHO & Health Ministry Unveil ‘BcozSheMatters’ Campaign to Promote Women and Girls’ Well-being
The World Health Organization, in partnership with India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, launched a month-long campaign focused on women’s and girls’ health and well-being at a Delhi metro station. The campaign, titled Healthy Women = Healthy Nations and promoted under the hashtag #BcozSheMatters, was flagged off by Dr. Catharina Boehme, WHO Officer-in-Charge for… [Read More]
Universal Health Coverage: Key to Health Equity in Angola and Beyond
The story of Mr. Figueira, who struggles to balance the cost of food, his children’s schooling, and life-saving medications for high blood pressure and diabetes, highlights the harsh reality that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) seeks to address. UHC aims to guarantee access to essential health services without exposing families to financial risk, ensuring that no… [Read More]
Seychelles intensifies measures to combat tropical and vector-borne diseases
Seychelles has endorsed a comprehensive strategic plan for 2025–2030 aimed at protecting public health by tackling tropical and vector-borne diseases. The plan outlines measures to prevent, control, and eliminate illnesses such as leprosy, rabies, dengue, and leptospirosis, while also addressing emerging health threats linked to climate change and increased movement of people and goods. Despite… [Read More]
2026 Fishing Quotas: UK Gains £840m in Valuable Opportunities
The UK has successfully reached agreements with the EU, Norway, and other coastal states on fishing opportunities for 2026, securing access to over 520,000 tonnes of shared stocks, particularly for popular whitefish in the North Sea. These opportunities are valued at approximately £830 million, with additional multilateral consultations bringing the total UK fishing opportunities to… [Read More]
Empowering Disability Inclusion in Culture and Sport with Enhanced Communications Support
The Ministers for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, and Charlie McConalogue TD, have welcomed the launch of the new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030, aimed at promoting greater inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in culture, sport, and media. The strategy is designed to support independent living and enable… [Read More]
Mongolia’s Cashmere Sector Must Improve Job Quality to Attract Young Workers
A recent survey conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights that improving job quality, rather than merely increasing wages, is crucial for attracting youth to Mongolia’s cashmere sector. Carried out by the Korea Labor and Employment Service (KLES) between March and November 2025 under the Youth Employment Promotion Project (YEPP) funded by the ILO-Korea… [Read More]
Labour Rights and Human Rights: Why Protection Matters – ILO and UN Statement
The ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, alongside the Chairs of UN human rights Treaty Bodies and the Chair of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, held a historic joint meeting to affirm the central role of labour rights within the broader framework of universal human rights…. [Read More]
UN Decade of Sustainable Transport: Transforming Mobility for a Sustainable Future
The UN Decade of Sustainable Transport highlights the crucial role of transport in achieving the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the need for coordinated, cross-sector action. To support this initiative, organizations were invited to submit voluntary Sustainable Transport Action Commitments—practical measures aimed at transforming global transport practices. WWF, in collaboration with the Asian Development… [Read More]
Exploring Human Rights Online: UNDP Launches Digital Rights Dashboard
Within a generation, digital systems have transformed learning, work, and civic participation, especially in well-connected regions. While developing countries experience this shift at varying speeds, the key challenge is no longer whether digital development should occur but how to ensure it empowers individuals and communities while safeguarding human rights. As digital transitions accelerate, protecting rights… [Read More]
UNDP Asia-Pacific Launches Digital Activism Initiative to Combat Online Violence
Digital violence is increasingly affecting women and girls across the Asia-Pacific region, with harmful online terms and harassment creating hostile digital spaces. Despite technology’s potential to empower, 44% of women and girls worldwide lack legal protection from online abuse, while many incidents go unreported due to shame, social stigma, and fear of retaliation. UN Women… [Read More]
Global: How Amnesty International’s Annual Letter-Writing Campaign Shows Humanity Can Prevail
Amid rising authoritarianism, climate crises, and the erosion of international law, Amnesty International has launched its annual Write for Rights campaign on Human Rights Day (10 December) to support victims of human rights violations and demonstrate the power of collective action. The campaign unites people globally to advocate for justice, dignity, and a shared future,… [Read More]
Ensuring International Justice for All Crimes Key to Lasting Peace in Israel and the OPT
Amnesty International has called on states to demonstrate their commitment to international justice to ensure accountability for victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Following the ICC Assembly of States Parties in The Hague, Amnesty emphasized that supporting institutions such as the ICC is critical… [Read More]
National Programmes’ Guide to Reaching Untreated Populations for NTD Elimination
This toolkit provides comprehensive guidance for national and district neglected tropical disease (NTD) programmes, partner organizations, researchers, and communities to identify and respond to “never treatment”—individuals who have never ingested NTD medicines during mass drug administration (MDA). It covers defining never treatment, understanding its role in persistent low coverage or ongoing transmission, estimating levels using… [Read More]
Building Stronger Communities: Youth Leadership Programme 11 Promotes Social Enterprise
The Youth Leadership Programme (YLP) is a regional initiative under UNDP’s Bureau of Arab States (RBAS), launched in 2015 to foster a dynamic network at the intersection of youth, innovation, and sustainable development. As part of the broader UNDP SHABABEEK – Youth Empowerment, Engagement and Knowledge Project, YLP provides holistic support to young people by… [Read More]
Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh: Overcoming Gender-Specific Investment Hurdles
Women entrepreneurs are increasingly contributing to Bangladesh’s economy, leading around 2.8 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and employing an estimated 8.4 million people. Despite this progress, women own only 7.2% of all registered businesses, and many operate as micro-enterprises with limited access to finance and formal support systems. Persistent gender-specific investment barriers continue to… [Read More]
Aid Workers Targeted: Controversial Trial in Greece Raises Alarm
On December 4 and 5, after a seven-year wait, two dozen humanitarian workers on the Greek island of Lesbos finally faced trial, with potential sentences of up to 20 years. The defendants, associated with the search and rescue group Emergency Response Center International, work to save the lives of asylum seekers, migrants, and refugees crossing… [Read More]
Albania Prepares to Combat Online Abuse Recognized as Real Violence
Zhaklin Lekatari, a 43-year-old journalist and feminist activist from Albania, began experiencing the limitations placed on girls at an early age. These experiences shaped her later activism on women’s rights, economic autonomy, sexual education, and online violence. Her advocacy has come at a personal cost, including harsh scrutiny, threats, and violent comments, but she has… [Read More]
Transforming Rural India: IFAD and India Boost Livelihoods and Food Security
The Government of India and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) celebrated their long-standing partnership in Rome, highlighting successful models of rural transformation that can be scaled across the Global South. IFAD President Alvaro Lario emphasized that joint investments in India demonstrate what scalable, sustainable development looks like, particularly in women’s empowerment, food systems… [Read More]
Global Humanitarian Needs Soar: UNICEF Calls for Urgent Investment in Children’s Services
Humanitarian needs for children worldwide are reaching unprecedented levels due to surging conflicts, rising hunger, global funding cuts, and collapsing essential services. UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children 2026 appeal has been launched, calling for US$7.66 billion to provide life-saving assistance to 73 million children, including 37 million girls and over 9 million children with disabilities,… [Read More]
Country Spotlight: Joint SDG Fund Initiatives in Colombia and Niger
In Colombia, small-scale farmers in rural areas have historically struggled with subsistence farming and limited access to capital, which has constrained their growth. Through the Joint SDG Fund, the United Nations is supporting programmes that link sustainable finance with food systems, while digital platforms connect farmers to social protection and private capital flows into nature-positive… [Read More]
