Ireland’s Taoiseach, Michael Martin TD, has published the Budget 2026: Spotlight on Disability report, marking a renewed government focus on disability issues. The report was prepared by the newly established Disability Unit within the Department of the Taoiseach, which was created to bring greater urgency, coordination, and accountability to disability policy across government. The report… [Read More]
UN Marks 10 Years of Progress on Youth, Peace and Security Agenda
Nila Ibrahimi’s story reflects both the challenges and resilience of young people working for peace and human rights in crisis settings. After the Taliban takeover in 2021, she and her family fled Afghanistan due to the risks she faced as a prominent youth rights advocate. Known internationally for leading a successful campaign as a teenager… [Read More]
Central African Republic Prepares for Historic Vote Amid UN Appeal for Peace
Ahead of the 28 December elections in the Central African Republic, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on citizens to participate peacefully in what he described as a critical moment for the country’s democratic and peacebuilding process. He urged national authorities to ensure that the polls are conducted in a peaceful, orderly, inclusive, and credible… [Read More]
Aid Efforts in Gaza Persist Amid Access and Supply Constraints
Humanitarian operations in Gaza are continuing despite ongoing access restrictions and coordination challenges. The United Nations and its partners are offloading essential supplies at border crossings around the enclave on a daily basis, aiming to meet urgent civilian needs. On Monday alone, nearly 4,000 pallets of aid were delivered through the Kerem Shalom crossing in… [Read More]
How the UN Is Promoting Industrialisation Without Environmental Destruction
The UN Industrial Development Organization is advancing a vision of industrialisation that supports economic growth while safeguarding the environment and promoting social inclusion. Established in 1966 to help countries in the Global South develop their industrial capacity, UNIDO has evolved from a time when industry was widely viewed as inherently polluting to an approach that… [Read More]
The Growing Human Rights Crisis Caused by Climate Change
Climate change is increasingly being recognised not only as an environmental emergency but also as a profound human rights crisis. Speaking before the Human Rights Council in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk questioned whether governments are doing enough to protect people from climate chaos and safeguard their futures. His conclusion was… [Read More]
New Development Cooperation Agreement Deepens UN–Iraq Partnership
The United Nations and the Government of Iraq have signed a new Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework covering the period from 2025 to 2029, marking a significant step in advancing Iraq’s national development priorities in line with the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The agreement is designed to support Iraq’s progress toward long-term social, economic,… [Read More]
Iran Faces Deepening Water Crisis as Severe Drought and Mismanagement Force Water Imports
Iran is facing one of the most severe water crises in its modern history, driven by a combination of prolonged drought, climate change, and decades of mismanagement of water resources. While declining rainfall has played a significant role, experts argue that policy failures such as unchecked groundwater extraction, inefficient irrigation systems, and extensive dam construction… [Read More]
Ireland’s Fiscal Journey: Insights from Public Investment Successes and Challenges
The Irish experience of public investment and fiscal policy over the last 25 years offers valuable lessons for managing capital and promoting sustainable economic growth. Ireland’s journey through rapid economic expansion, a severe financial crisis, and subsequent recovery demonstrates the importance of adapting investment strategies to both short-term fiscal pressures and long-term structural challenges. The… [Read More]
Urban Resilience Through Community Assets: Leveraging What Works
Cities today face the dual challenge of economic regeneration and cultural recovery, prompting questions about how urban spaces can be rebuilt to preserve identity, foster social well-being, and support emotional durability. Liverpool exemplifies this approach, demonstrating how post-industrial cities can leverage local culture, community pride, and collective memory to navigate change. Its rich history—from a… [Read More]
What Madagascar Teaches Us About Climate Change: 5 Lessons
Madagascar, often described as a “curious wonderland” by Sir David Attenborough, is home to unique biodiversity that has evolved in isolation for over 60 million years. Beyond its natural wonders, the island is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. With a largely rural population dependent on agriculture and a GDP per capita of just USD… [Read More]
Lessons from Zagreb: Enhancing Social Services in Central and Eastern Europe
Cities across Central and Eastern Europe are grappling with growing social needs while facing limited resources, making the strengthening of social services a critical priority. In Zagreb, the city’s approach has been to modernize services based on actual needs and inclusivity, while investing in delivery capacity. Lora Vidović, Head of the Office for Social Protection,… [Read More]
Algorithmic Justice and Human Rights: Ensuring Fairness and Judicial Independence
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in court systems offers opportunities for greater efficiency and improved access to justice, yet it carries significant risks. Errors, bias, or overreliance on algorithmic outputs may undermine judicial independence and human rights. On 15 December 2025, experts including Margaret Satterthwaite, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges… [Read More]
Human Rights Abuses in Russia: EU Sanctions Two More Individuals
The European Union has imposed restrictive measures on two Russian judiciary officials, Dmitry Gordeev and Lyudmila Balandina, for their roles in serious human rights violations, the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia. Dmitry Gordeev, a judge of the Moscow City Court, has repeatedly issued… [Read More]
South Sudan Hunger Relief Receives Increased Backing from Norway
Norway is significantly increasing its support to the World Food Programme (WFP) in South Sudan, allocating an additional NOK 128.6 million (approximately USD 12.7 million) to bolster emergency assistance and initiatives aimed at strengthening community resilience. Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that six million people in the… [Read More]
Securing Peace and Stability in Syria: Pathways from Crisis to Recovery
During a visit to seven of Syria’s 14 governorates last October, Syrians expressed that their greatest needs were access to health, education, housing, and above all, jobs. Over a decade of conflict has left around 7.4 million people internally displaced, while 1.2 million returnees struggle to sustain livelihoods. Support from the international community, complementing national… [Read More]
Iraq Launches First Public Innovation Hub in the South from a Youth Center
In Thi-Qar, southern Iraq, a public Youth Center has been transformed into the Souq Al-Shoyukh Community and Climate Hub (SSCH), the country’s first government-based community innovation hub in the south. The initiative was co-designed, co-financed, and implemented by UNDP-Iraq, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Bahr Al-Uloom Foundation, creating a locally owned platform… [Read More]
How Women Are Challenging Gender Norms in the Footwear Industry
In rural Bangladesh, shoe repairing and manufacturing have traditionally been considered men’s work—physically demanding, socially stigmatized, and far removed from women’s expected roles. Shilpi Rani Das, a 35-year-old from Laksham, Cumilla, is challenging this perception. She spends her days at a local footwear workshop as an apprentice, learning the craft of shoe repairing and manufacturing,… [Read More]
Montreal and Singapore Lead the Way in Smart Underground Access
Urban development is increasingly looking underground as cities strive to enhance resilience, sustainability, and equitable growth. Rising population density, climate pressures, and limited natural resources are driving planners to explore subterranean infrastructure as a solution. Underground spaces can support housing, transport networks, parking facilities, and energy-efficient solutions like geothermal systems, while freeing surface land for… [Read More]
Sri Lanka Flood Crisis: More Than a Million Affected by Cyclone Ditwah Await Relief
Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast on 28 November, causing widespread flooding and deadly landslides across all 25 districts. While some displaced families have returned home, recent heavy rains have triggered fresh flooding, landslides, and road closures, particularly in the central districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Polonnaruwa. UN assessments indicate that… [Read More]
Sudan Civil War Pushes Health System to the Verge of Collapse
The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted a dire health crisis in Sudan, revealing alarming figures on attacks against healthcare facilities. The country currently records the highest global percentage of deaths linked to targeting of the health sector, in blatant violation of international humanitarian law. Since the war began in April 2023, Sudan has faced… [Read More]
United Nations Pushes for Ceasefire Renewal in Sudan
The United Nations has renewed its appeal for a ceasefire in Sudan following a peace initiative presented by the country’s Transitional Prime Minister during a recent Security Council meeting. UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that achieving lasting and inclusive peace is critical as the conflict enters a new year. He called on… [Read More]
Developing a Roadmap for Decent Jobs and Social Protection in Viet Nam
Viet Nam is advancing efforts to develop a national roadmap for decent jobs and universal social protection under the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, with technical and financial support from the Joint SDG Fund and United Nations partners. This initiative seeks to translate global commitments on just transitions into a… [Read More]
