The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP) marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a joint event focused on strengthening women farmers’ access to justice, rights, and opportunities. This year’s theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” aligns with the global International… [Read More]
Bangladesh: How Goats Are Helping Reduce Child Marriage Rates
In Bangladesh, more than 1,000 girls—85% of 1,200 participants—have been able to avoid child marriage and continue their education after receiving income-generating support from Save the Children. The programme, which includes providing goats for rearing, has allowed girls to generate independent incomes, reducing financial pressures that often push families to marry off daughters at an… [Read More]
Call for Nominations: UNEP’s 2026 Champions of the Earth Award
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has opened nominations for the 2026 Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental honour, with a focus on ocean health. This year, the award seeks to recognize individuals, organizations, and governments leading efforts to protect and restore the ocean, a vital ecosystem critical to climate stability, biodiversity, food… [Read More]
EU Donates €1M to Boost Trade Capacity in Developing Countries and LDCs
The European Union has contributed €1 million to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Global Trust Fund (GTF) to support capacity-building initiatives for developing economies, including least developed countries (LDCs). The funding will help implement the WTO’s technical assistance plan, enabling government officials to deepen their understanding of the multilateral trading system and enhance compliance with… [Read More]
€1M Funding Boost for Wildlife and Habitat Protection in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s conservation efforts are set to receive a significant boost with a €1 million grant from the Postcode Lottery aimed at protecting wildlife and habitats in the Hwange-Matetsi-Zambezi landscape. The funding will support ongoing rescue and conservation work by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks)… [Read More]
Mission 300 Fellowship Program to Grow Across 18 African Nations
The Rockefeller Foundation announced the expansion of its Mission 300 Fellowship Program to at least 18 African countries to support efforts by the World Bank and African Development Bank to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. The initiative, launched during Mission 300 Day at the 2026 Africa Energy Indaba, will see additional fellows… [Read More]
Zimbabwe Halts $367M US Health Funding Over Data Sharing Concerns
Zimbabwe has withdrawn from negotiations on a $367 million bilateral health agreement with the United States, citing concerns over the sharing of sensitive health data. Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana described the proposed arrangement as “unequal,” noting that Zimbabwe would have been asked to provide its biological resources and health data without any guarantee of access… [Read More]
Germany Considers Bill That May Undermine Right to Social Security
The German government’s proposed legislation to replace the current basic income program for job seekers with a stricter, more punitive system has raised serious human rights concerns, Human Rights Watch said. The bill, scheduled for its second reading in the lower house of parliament, would tighten obligations for claimants and expand the scope and severity… [Read More]
Israeli Military Orders Mass Evacuation in Southern Lebanon as Conflict Escalates
The Israeli military’s recent call for the immediate evacuation of all residents south of the Litani River in Lebanon has raised serious legal and humanitarian concerns, according to Human Rights Watch. This region, covering about eight percent of Lebanon’s territory, is home to hundreds of thousands of people. The military’s announcement, made on March 4,… [Read More]
Angola Enacts New Civil Society Law Amid Human Rights Concerns
Angolan President João Lourenço has signed a new law regulating nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other civil society groups, raising serious concerns about the shrinking civic space in the country. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have warned that the legislation could be used to suppress dissent and restrict independent operations. The law, published on… [Read More]
From School to Work: Tackling Albinism Discrimination
Hilda Macheso, a Malawian disability rights advocate and recipient of the Human Rights Watch Marca Bristo Fellowship for Courageous Leadership in Disability Rights, welcomed the Independent Expert’s report highlighting the persistent structural discrimination faced by persons with albinism. People with albinism continue to encounter stigma, harmful stereotypes, and myths that limit their opportunities and safety…. [Read More]
Middle East Crisis: Australia and Canada Criticized Over Rights Protection
This week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Australia to meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East. The meeting presented an opportunity for the two middle-power nations to assert leadership in upholding human rights protections. While the visit was framed by welcoming messages emphasizing the close partnership and shared… [Read More]
El Salvador Human Rights Defender Faces Ongoing Criminalization
A year after the detention of Fidel Antonio Zavala Pérez, spokesperson for the Unidad de Defensa de Derechos Humanos y Comunitarios (UNIDEHC), Amnesty International has expressed serious concern over his prolonged pre-trial detention and the broader misuse of criminal law to target human rights defenders and community leaders in El Salvador. Ana Piquer, Americas director… [Read More]
War in the Middle East: Timeline, Impact, and Current Situation
Strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, followed by Iran’s retaliatory attacks across the region, have escalated the Middle East into its most serious open conflict in years. These developments stem from longstanding tensions between Iran and the US since the 1979 revolution, ongoing domestic unrest in Iran, and a deepening conflict with… [Read More]
Kosovo’s Forests: Protecting Nature, Boosting Communities and Livelihoods
Forests cover nearly half of Kosovo’s territory, playing a crucial role in shaping the country’s landscapes, livelihoods, and long-term development. They provide essential ecosystem services such as water regulation, climate buffering, biodiversity support, and soil protection. For rural communities, forests supply firewood, non-wood products, and employment opportunities, while also underpinning tourism and wood processing. Recognizing… [Read More]
FAO Launches 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer to Boost Gender Equality
The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, officially launched the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, a designation made by the United Nations General Assembly. The initiative was presented during the 39th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC39) in… [Read More]
UN Rome Agencies Spotlight Women Farmers’ Access to Justice and Support on IWD 2026
Rome-based UN agencies—the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP)—marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a joint event focused on strengthening women farmers’ access to justice, rights, and economic opportunities. The celebration highlighted the critical role women play in agrifood systems worldwide and emphasized… [Read More]
Africa’s Second Military Emergency Medical Team Set Up in Kenya
Kenya is taking a major step to enhance its emergency response capacity by developing Africa’s second military emergency medical team. The Kenya Defence Forces, the Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a two-day Governance Orientation Workshop to advance the creation of the country’s first Type 2 emergency medical team, a specialized… [Read More]
UN Urges Fair Competition in Global Critical Minerals Race
The global shift from a fossil-fuel-based economy to one powered by clean electrification is progressing despite geopolitical challenges. Demand for critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths has surged, driven by the rapid expansion of electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy technologies. Lithium demand alone grew by nearly 30 per cent… [Read More]
Global Update: Sudan Conflict, Rising Inequality, HIV Advances, Domicide Surge
In South Kordofan, Sudan, clashes between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces have intensified, including a recent drone strike on Dilling General Hospital that killed at least four patients and injured civilians. Violence has also escalated in North Kordofan, with continued drone attacks reported in the city of El Obeid over… [Read More]
Government of Canada Boosts Youth Jobs in Agriculture
Young Canadians represent the future of the agriculture and agri-food sector, and providing them with hands-on experience is essential for strengthening the workforce and supporting long-term food security. Recognizing this, the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced at the Atlantic Grains Council Cereals and Oilseeds 2026 conference that the federal government will… [Read More]
Canada Funds Agri-Food Projects in Montérégie
The Government of Canada has announced funding support to strengthen the growth of agri-food businesses in Quebec’s Montérégie region. Nathalie Provost, Member of Parliament for Châteauguay–Les Jardins-de-Napierville and Secretary of State (Nature), announced a total contribution of $1,649,000 on behalf of the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions… [Read More]
Federal Government Strengthens Safety and Gender Equality Efforts
Canada is preparing to mark International Women’s Day on March 8 while reinforcing its commitment to improving safety and advancing gender equality. Gender-based violence remains a major barrier to women’s full participation in society and continues to affect families, communities, workplaces, and public services across the country. Beyond its social consequences, it also carries significant… [Read More]
