Europe is struggling to diagnose HIV early enough, with more than half of all cases in 2024 detected at a late stage when treatment is less effective and health risks are significantly higher. New data from ECDC and WHO/Europe show that this persistent testing gap, together with a growing number of undiagnosed infections, is threatening… [Read More]
WHO
Global Measles Update: Deaths Drop Sharply, Cases on the Rise
Global immunization efforts have driven an 88% reduction in measles deaths between 2000 and 2024, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with nearly 59 million lives saved by vaccination over this period. Despite this progress, an estimated 95,000 people—mostly children under five—died from measles in 2024. While this is among the lowest annual death… [Read More]
Global Infertility Care Transformed: WHO Issues Landmark Guidelines
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first-ever global guideline on infertility, urging countries to make fertility care safer, fairer, and more affordable. Infertility affects approximately one in six people of reproductive age, yet access to care remains limited, with treatments often paid out-of-pocket. In many settings, the cost of procedures such as in… [Read More]
Algeria Launches National Polio Vaccination Days to Protect Children
The Minister of Health, Professor Mohamed Seddik Aït Messaoudène, alongside key officials from the National Body for the Protection and Promotion of Children, WHO, and UNICEF, officially launched the National Polio Vaccination Days on December 30, 2025. The initiative marks a significant step in combating the circulation of type 2 poliovirus (cVDPV2) in Algeria and… [Read More]
West Bank Violence: UN Denounces Apparent Extrajudicial Killing of Two Men
On Thursday in Jenin, two Palestinian men were reportedly shot, with the incident apparently captured on film by a TV channel, according to OHCHR Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence. An internal review was announced, but statements from a senior Israeli official attempting to absolve security forces raised serious concerns about the credibility of any investigation not fully… [Read More]
UN Health Agency Alerts to Surge in Measles Cases Affecting Millions of Children
Global measles outbreaks are accelerating as millions of children remain under-immunized due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Measles, one of the most contagious respiratory viruses, can infect up to 18 people from a single case and is potentially deadly, with one in five infected children requiring hospitalization. Last year, around 11 million people… [Read More]
Myanmar Polls Risk Deepening Repression, UN Says
Civilians in Myanmar are facing extreme pressures as the country prepares for elections under the military junta. James Rodehaver, head of OHCHR’s Myanmar team, highlighted that citizens are caught between coercive efforts by the military to secure votes and aggressive campaigns by armed opposition groups to block participation. The junta claims to have issued roughly… [Read More]
Sri Lanka Faces Worst Flooding in Decades as Cyclone Ditwah Strikes
Cyclone Ditwah has caused catastrophic flooding across Sri Lanka, affecting nearly one million people in all 25 districts. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 212 people have died, 218 remain missing, and over 180,000 individuals from more than 51,000 families are taking shelter in 1,094 government-run safety centres as… [Read More]
From Nature Lover to Rural Business Owner: A Success Story in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Biljana Topić, a biologist and ornithologist from Šipovo in western Bosnia and Herzegovina, transformed her passion for nature into a viable enterprise after completing the ILO “Start and Improve Your Business” (SIYB) training this year. She developed a business plan, launched her own company, and brought to market a line of natural, cold-pressed fruit juices… [Read More]
November 2025 Rainbow Digest: Insights on Advocacy, Community, and Social Change
The EU Court of Justice has ruled that Poland must recognise same-sex marriages conducted abroad, specifically in the case of two Polish citizens married in Germany. The decision establishes that refusing recognition of such marriages violates EU law, particularly the fundamental right of freedom of movement for EU citizens. This ruling is a significant step… [Read More]
World AIDS Day – 1 December 2025: Fighting Stigma, Supporting Communities
As the world marks World AIDS Day 2025 under the theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” the global community faces both opportunities and challenges in ending AIDS as a public health threat. Despite decades of progress, gains are being threatened by tightening financing, conflict, climate shocks, and growing inequalities. Persistent issues such as underinvestment… [Read More]
Russian Government Labels Human Rights Watch as “Undesirable”
On November 28, 2025, Russia officially designated Human Rights Watch as an “undesirable” foreign organization, effectively banning its operations in the country. The announcement, made public by the Ministry of Justice, reflects a continuing pattern of repression by the Kremlin, according to Human Rights Watch. Philippe Bolopion, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, emphasized that… [Read More]
Wales to Receive £16 Billion Investment Boost, Thousands of Jobs Expected
Since the launch of the Summit, new investments in Wales have reached a total of £16 billion, spanning multiple sectors and creating thousands of jobs. Major international companies contributing to this investment include Vodafone, GE Aerospace Wales, Associated British Ports, RWE, Eni, Bad Wolf, and Vantage Data Centers, reflecting strong confidence in the Welsh economy…. [Read More]
WFP Provides Emergency Food Assistance to Households Affected by Karail Fire
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered emergency food assistance to families affected by the 25 November fire that swept through the Karail slum in Dhaka. Many families who lost their homes and belongings are now taking temporary shelter at a nearby Girls’ High School. Working closely with the Department of Disaster Management,… [Read More]
Strengthening Health Innovation: PAHO Advances mRNA Vaccine Production in Latin America and the Caribbean
In Brasilia on November 18, 2025, the Second Regional Meeting on mRNA Research and Development in the Americas brought together R&D institutions, manufacturers, regulatory authorities, and international partners to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the development and production of vaccines and health technologies based on messenger RNA (mRNA). Organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO),… [Read More]
Kenya’s GBV Protection Failing Ahead of 2026 Target: A Deep Dive
Kenya’s pledged efforts to end gender-based violence (GBV) by 2026 are faltering, as shelters collapse under budget cuts, key reforms stall, and misreporting of GBV data persists. Survivors, activists, and shelter managers warn that the protection system is failing, leaving women and children vulnerable even as femicide rates rise and digital violence intensifies. Cases like… [Read More]
Ethiopia Launches Hepatitis B Birth Dose Vaccine to Protect Newborns
Ethiopia has officially launched the national introduction of the Hepatitis B Birth Dose (HepB BD) vaccine, marking a significant advancement in newborn immunization and efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the Hepatitis B virus. The initiative is supported technically and financially by the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and other immunization… [Read More]
Democratic Republic of the Congo Vaccinates 62 Million Kids Against Measles and Rubella
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has launched a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting approximately 62 million children aged 6 months to 14 years against measles and rubella. This initiative precedes the introduction of the combined measles-rubella (MR) vaccine into the country’s routine immunization schedule, which will replace the single measles vaccine. The catch-up campaign… [Read More]
U.S. Cuts Funding for World AIDS Day Commemorations for the First Time in 37 Years
The U.S. State Department will no longer commemorate World AIDS Day with public messaging, ending a long-standing tradition of recognizing those who have died from the disease and raising awareness on December 1. According to reports, employees and grantees have been instructed not to use federal funding for World AIDS Day activities or to publicly… [Read More]
Inspiring Stories from Yemen: Humanitarian Efforts Driving Hope and Resilience
More than a decade of conflict in Yemen has pushed civilians into increasingly desperate living conditions, with communities heavily dependent on humanitarian assistance for survival. Climate shocks, mass displacement and a deepening economic crisis have further eroded access to essential services, leaving families with limited resources and few sustainable options. In response, Concern is working… [Read More]
Nations Unite to Strengthen Fundamental Labour Rights Across the Coffee Industry
Representatives from Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Peru, Tanzania, and Uganda gathered in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2 to 7 November 2025 to exchange experiences and develop practical strategies for strengthening Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in the global coffee supply chain. The event, organized by the International Labour Organization through its Vision Zero Fund with… [Read More]
Lebanese Cooperatives Step Up Action to Combat Child Labour in Agriculture
The ILO, together with Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture’s General Directorate of Cooperatives, concluded a two-day training focused on strengthening the role of cooperatives in eliminating child labour in the agricultural sector. Held from 20–21 November 2025, the training brought together cooperative leaders, union representatives, business associations and government officials to help them better identify, prevent… [Read More]
Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Limits Aid Delivery and Hospital Functioning
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric briefed reporters in New York, reporting that ongoing hostilities in parts of the Gaza Strip continue to cause casualties and repeatedly disrupt humanitarian operations. On Tuesday, the UN and its partners coordinated eight planned humanitarian movements with Israeli authorities, but only one was facilitated, while the remaining seven were impeded, denied,… [Read More]
