Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, announced €21.5 million in funding to the United Nations to support rapid humanitarian responses worldwide. The contribution includes €16 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for 2026 and an additional €5.5 million to the CERF Climate Action Account. This funding comes amid… [Read More]
Transparency in Action: Papua New Guinea Leads the Region with VNR and Data Portal
The Government of Papua New Guinea has launched its second Voluntary National Review (VNR) alongside a national SDG data portal, marking a major step toward transparency and evidence-based planning. Supported by the Joint SDG Fund, these initiatives aim to strengthen data-driven decision-making and enhance accountability across government agencies. The 2025 VNR, presented at the United… [Read More]
IOM Receives 30,000 Tents from Türkiye to Assist Displaced Families in Sudan
As humanitarian needs escalate across Sudan, the Republic of Türkiye, through its Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), has donated 30,000 family tents to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to support communities displaced by ongoing conflict. This represents the largest in-kind shelter contribution IOM has received for Sudan to date. IOM Director General Amy… [Read More]
Advancing ASEAN Workforce: ILO and China Renew Partnership on Skills and Decent Work
The Government of China and the International Labour Organization (ILO) signed an amendment to a long-standing South–South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) agreement on 9 December in Beijing. Originally established in 2008 with a total contribution of $5 million from China, the partnership highlights China’s leadership in advancing SSTC and its ongoing support for promoting decent… [Read More]
Building Effective Unemployment Protection: ILO Releases Rights-Based Guidance
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a new Social Protection Spotlight Brief highlighting the critical role of unemployment protection in ensuring income security and supporting full, productive, and freely chosen employment. Titled Building Rights-Based Unemployment Protection Schemes, the brief provides practical guidance for countries confronting increasingly frequent and complex crises. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated… [Read More]
IDB Supports Peru in Enhancing Early Childhood Development Initiatives
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $50 million loan to enhance early childhood development services for children under 36 months from low-income households in Peru. The funding aims to strengthen the National Cuna Más Program by improving its governance, information systems, technological infrastructure, and staff training to ensure operational capacity and high-quality service… [Read More]
Strengthening Governance: IDB Introduces Digital Tools for Transparency in Latin America and Caribbean
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to lead efforts to strengthen transparency, integrity, and anti-corruption measures in Latin America and the Caribbean by improving public access to information and accountability. Through its InvestmentMap initiative, the IDB supports national and subnational governments in building digital ecosystems that allow citizens to monitor and oversee public budgets, investments,… [Read More]
Bulgaria Railways Upgrade: World Bank to Boost Efficiency, Governance, and Workforce Skills
The National Railway Infrastructure Company of Bulgaria and the World Bank have signed a Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) Agreement aimed at enhancing the financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and governance of Bulgaria’s railway infrastructure. This partnership represents a major step toward modernizing the rail sector and supporting the country’s broader economic and employment goals. Under the… [Read More]
Driving Philippine Economic Growth: Investment and Reforms Key to Job Creation
The Philippine economy experienced a slowdown in 2025 due to domestic shocks, weaker investment, and soft global demand, though a modest recovery is projected for 2026–2027, supported by resilient consumption and easing inflation, according to the World Bank’s latest Philippines Economic Update. The report emphasizes that sustaining growth in the coming years will require stronger… [Read More]
Driving Malawi’s Economic Growth: Public Finance Reforms and Strong Governance Needed
Malawi has the potential to restore confidence in its public finances, protect vulnerable populations, and attract private capital investment to support the ambitions of “Malawi Vision 2063” through a credible reform package focused on fiscal consolidation, according to a recent Public Finance Review report by the World Bank Group. The report, titled Restoring Stability, Rebuilding… [Read More]
Amnesty International Empowers Investigators and Activists with New AI Accountability Toolkit
Amnesty International has launched an Algorithmic Accountability toolkit to empower rights defenders, activists, and communities to investigate and hold accountable AI and automated decision-making systems (ADMs) that impact human rights. The toolkit draws on Amnesty’s investigations, campaigns, media work, and advocacy across countries including Denmark, Sweden, Serbia, France, India, the United Kingdom, the United States,… [Read More]
Online Harms Won’t End with Australia’s Social Media Ban for Children
Australia has introduced a new law prohibiting children and young people under 16 from using social media, prompting criticism from digital rights experts. Damini Satija, Programme Director at Amnesty Tech, described the ban as an “ineffective quick fix” that does not reflect the realities of a generation that lives both online and offline. She emphasized… [Read More]
Amnesty International Campaign 2025: How Letter-Writing Can Make a Global Impact
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. This year, the campaign highlights individuals whose rights have been violated across the globe, including Indigenous land defenders in Norway, a photojournalist imprisoned in Myanmar,… [Read More]
Over $3 Million Awarded by Gilead Foundation for Metastatic Breast Cancer Care
Gilead Foundation has announced over $3 million in new grants to support people affected by metastatic breast cancer (mBC), addressing critical gaps in education, care delivery, and support services. This funding builds on more than $21 million committed since 2021 and aligns with Gilead Sciences’ broader mission to improve access to breast cancer education and… [Read More]
Disability Rights at Risk: Armenia Court Decision Criticized
Armenia’s appeals court on November 19 weakened protections against disability-based discrimination, limiting legal safeguards for people undergoing disability assessments. The court overturned a lower court ruling and determined that discrimination “on the basis of disability” only applies to individuals already formally recognized as having a disability. This leaves those applying for disability status—arguably the most… [Read More]
Japanese Espionage Legislation Must Uphold Fundamental Rights
During a parliamentary session on November 26, 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) government would soon consider drafting new legislation aimed at “spy prevention.” While the government framed the initiative as a measure to strengthen national security, critics have raised concerns that such a law could threaten free… [Read More]
Climate Solutions in Technology: Meet the Innovators Driving Change
ClimaTech Connect is a European programme supporting start-ups with networking, mentoring, training, and financing opportunities, focusing on digital solutions that address climate change. The initiative has already supported 35 early-stage innovators across the EU, with four winning teams receiving grants of up to €25,000. Data centres, which power global digital activity, consume enormous amounts of… [Read More]
A Human Rights Day Call to End Gender-Based Violence Globally
International Human Rights Day is a moment to reflect on the commitments made to uphold the rights and dignity of all people, acknowledge progress, and recognize injustices that still demand urgent attention. Among the most pressing of these issues is female genital mutilation (FGM/C), a harmful practice affecting 230 million girls and women worldwide, violating… [Read More]
How Women Human Rights Defenders Are Driving Climate Action
Across the globe, women environmental defenders play a pivotal role in advancing climate justice, protecting forests and ecosystems, challenging extractive industries, and advocating for policies that prioritize people and the planet. Their leadership, however, comes with significant risks, including heightened exposure to digital violence, discrimination, and limited access to justice, funding, and decision-making spaces. These… [Read More]
Empowering Women and Youth Against Online Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a widespread and urgent issue worldwide, fueled by inequality, silence, and systemic underinvestment. Globally, nearly one in three women—approximately 736 million—have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, with little progress over the past decade. In Turkmenistan, 12% of women aged 18–59 report experiencing violence from a spouse or partner,… [Read More]
Empowering Rural Afghanistan: How Awaaz Brings Back Essential Services
In western Afghanistan, a woman named Fatima (name changed for confidentiality) experienced both relief and loss when she received urgent cash assistance in March 2025. The support, totaling approximately 14,700 AFN ($200), provided a critical lifeline for her and other vulnerable families struggling under economic pressures. However, within a day, two self-appointed community leaders forcibly… [Read More]
Key Actions by Slovakia’s Government on Media, NGOs, and Rule of Law
Slovakia’s parliament has recently approved the elimination of the country’s whistleblower protection office, a move by Prime Minister Robert Fico’s leftist-nationalist government that has raised concerns about the state of the rule of law in the EU member country. Critics argue that these measures, while framed as improving accountability and correcting previous government abuses, are… [Read More]
Child Poverty Strategy and Food Security: Will It Deliver Results?
The UK Government’s newly-published Child Poverty Strategy consolidates a range of measures aimed at supporting children and families facing food insecurity, combining previously announced initiatives with the continuation of existing policies. The strategy places nutritional safety nets at its core, showing potential to improve conditions for the 15% of households with children currently experiencing food… [Read More]
