Human Rights Watch and Columbia Law School’s Prevention of Crimes Against Humanity Project have released a new briefing paper urging the development of a strong and effective International Convention to Prevent and Punish Crimes against Humanity. The document presents 25 recommendations for UN delegations as they prepare for formal treaty negotiations. Crimes against humanity—such as… [Read More]
It’s Not Just About Electricity — Why Energy Access Means Development, Equity, and Resilience
In Nepal’s remote Himalayan villages, access to electricity has long been a challenge, hindering economic growth and quality of life. Through the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) investment in micro-hydropower, communities that once lived without reliable power are now thriving. For residents like widow Pabitra Giri, electricity brought by the micro-hydropower plant in Kharbang, Baglung,… [Read More]
National Center for Youth Law Joins Coalition Against Harmful Federal Education Rule
The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) joined more than 30 civil rights and education organizations in urging the U.S. Department of Education to withdraw its proposed “Promoting Patriotic Education” initiative. The coalition, which submitted a joint comment letter on October 17, warned that the proposal represents a dangerous overreach by the federal government and… [Read More]
Record ZAR 188 Billion Climate Funding Boosts South Africa’s Green Transition Ahead of G20 Summit
South Africa is intensifying its efforts to finance a low-carbon and climate-resilient future, according to The South African Climate Finance Landscape 2025, a new technical report for the Presidential Climate Commission. Published by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and GreenCape, with support from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the report provides the most comprehensive… [Read More]
West African CSOs Collaborate to Boost Regional Cybersecurity and Resilience
Civil society organizations (CSOs) in West Africa are increasingly confronting challenges that extend beyond physical spaces, as the struggle for civic space moves into the digital realm. Facing a surge in cyberattacks, misinformation, and emerging threats from artificial intelligence, these groups are taking action to strengthen their online resilience. In September, organizations from Nigeria and… [Read More]
Wisconsin: Planned Parenthood Restarts Abortion Care Following Temporary Pause
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has resumed scheduling abortions after nearly a monthlong suspension caused by federal Medicaid funding cuts tied to President Donald Trump’s new tax and spending bill. The organization was able to restart services after dropping its “essential community provider” designation under the Affordable Care Act, a move that reclassified it under the… [Read More]
Regional Launch of SPECS 2030: Advancing Health Security and Preparedness in the Americas
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) held a regional webinar to officially launch the WHO SPECS 2030 Initiative (Services, Personnel, Education, Costs, and Surveillance for refractive error interventions) in the Region of the Americas. The event brought together health authorities, technical experts, and country representatives to discuss the regional context of eye health, share experiences,… [Read More]
Building Safer Health Systems: How the Americas Improve Medical Waste Management
Thirteen countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are taking significant steps to strengthen their capacity for safe and sustainable medical waste management. Supported by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and funded by the Government of Canada, the initiative aims to improve the handling and disposal of hazardous materials such as syringes, laboratory waste,… [Read More]
Mozambique to Vaccinate 3 Million Girls as Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF Boost Cervical Cancer Prevention
The Government of Mozambique, in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), has achieved a major milestone in cervical cancer prevention by expanding the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to adolescent girls aged 12–18 years across all 11 provinces. This accomplishment builds on the 2019 introduction of the HPV vaccine… [Read More]
Government Shutdown Forces Louisiana to Slash Support for Sexual Assault Survivors
Louisiana’s largest provider of aid for sexual assault survivors, Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response (STAR), has been forced to cut back on critical services due to a lack of federal funding caused by the recent government shutdown. The organization suspended its hospital accompaniment program, which provides support to survivors during evidence-gathering medical exams after an… [Read More]
Zimbabwe’s Emergency Food Production Project Enters New Phase with FAO-Led Sustainability Plan
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe and other stakeholders, has convened a four-day workshop in Kadoma to design an Exit and Sustainability Strategy for the Zimbabwe Emergency Food Production Project (ZEFPP). The initiative, implemented under the African Development Bank’s African Emergency Food Production Facility… [Read More]
Building a Sustainable Future: Ghana Invests in Youth for Livestock and Fisheries Development
Over 50 young agripreneurs, farmers, and stakeholders gathered in Ho for a two-day Multi-Stakeholder Youth Dialogue on Sustainable Livestock and Fisheries Development, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Ghana and the World Food Forum Ghana Chapter. The event aimed to enhance youth participation in livestock and fisheries value chains through practical training,… [Read More]
New National Action Plan Aims to Safeguard South Africans from Fake and Substandard Medicines
South Africa has launched its National Action Plan (NAP) to combat the growing threat of substandard and falsified medical products, a critical move to safeguard public health and strengthen regulatory systems across the country. Introduced on 30 September 2025 by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), in partnership with the National Department of… [Read More]
Protecting Public Health: South Africa Unveils National Plan Against Fake and Poor-Quality Medicines
South Africa has launched its National Action Plan (NAP) to tackle the ongoing threat of substandard and falsified medical products, a major step toward strengthening public health and regulatory collaboration. Introduced by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) in partnership with the National Department of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), the… [Read More]
Transforming Data into Action: Tanzania Unveils Innovative Health Information Portal
Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, has launched an upgraded National Health Portal aimed at improving access to quality health data and promoting evidence-based decision-making. This marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen its health information systems and enhance the use of real-time data… [Read More]
Tanzania Boosts Maritime Health Safety: Training Experts to Inspect and Certify Vessels
Tanzania has achieved a major milestone in strengthening regional health security by officially gaining the capacity to inspect ships and issue internationally recognized Ship Sanitation Certificates (SSCs) under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). This achievement enhances the nation’s ability to prevent the cross-border spread of infectious diseases via maritime routes and establishes Tanzania as… [Read More]
Over 500,000 Zambian Children to Benefit from New Malaria Vaccine Rollout
Zambia has officially launched the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine under its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), marking a major step in its fight against malaria. The rollout, led by the Ministry of Health, will initially target over 500,000 children aged 6–8 months in 83 districts, with the second phase planned for 2026. The country becomes the… [Read More]
Nigeria Strengthens Mpox Response with New Guidelines and Public Awareness Campaigns
Nigeria is intensifying efforts to strengthen its national response to mpox through updated clinical management guidelines, improved referral systems, and expanded public awareness campaigns. With mpox continuing to pose a public health threat since its re-emergence in 2017, the country has reported 389 confirmed cases and six deaths across 35 states and the Federal Capital… [Read More]
Kerala Secures $400 Million World Bank Support for Major Health Reform Initiative
The World Bank has approved a USD 400 million (approximately Rs 3,400 crore) financing package to support Kerala’s new health initiative aimed at strengthening the state’s public health systems and improving their efficiency. The package includes a USD 280 million loan from the World Bank, with the remaining funds provided by the state government. The… [Read More]
Building Trust in Climate Action: Government Unveils Plans for High-Integrity Carbon Markets
Singapore’s National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS), Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have announced new initiatives to boost the development of high-integrity carbon markets. These efforts include publishing voluntary carbon market (VCM) guidance for businesses, forming an industry-led buyers’ coalition to aggregate demand for high-quality… [Read More]
World News Update: Development Funding Declines, Human Rights in Belarus Under Pressure, Health Alerts in Africa
Sharp reductions in global aid are threatening to reverse decades of progress on human rights and development, warned UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al Nashif. Speaking in Geneva, she cautioned that the world is witnessing a decline in respect for human rights and multilateral cooperation as conflicts, debt, and shrinking development assistance… [Read More]
Desperate Gaza Families Move North Amid Severe Shortages of Water and Food
Despite limited improvements in aid delivery, Gaza remains in the grip of a severe humanitarian crisis as families return to devastated neighbourhoods where unstable buildings and unexploded ordnance pose lethal dangers. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that water, food, and essential services are still in desperate shortage, even… [Read More]
Hurricane Melissa Threatens Caribbean with Powerful Winds and Life-Threatening Floods
he United Nations has issued urgent warnings as Hurricane Melissa threatens to bring destructive winds, dangerous storm surges, and catastrophic rainfall across the Caribbean. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that the organization is working closely with Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams, deploying additional staff to Cuba and Jamaica to strengthen emergency preparedness and coordinate… [Read More]
