The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) has issued an urgent call for international solidarity and increased funding to support frontline responders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Speaking at the Paris Conference on the Great Lakes Region, Caritas Congo Executive Secretary Abbé Edouard Makimba emphasized the commitment of local faith-based workers who continue… [Read More]
WHO
“The Church Is Dying”: Syrian Archbishop Raises Alarm Over Falling Religious Freedom
The Syriac Catholic Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs, Hama, and Al-Nabek has issued a stark warning that the “Church in Syria is dying,” as the number of Christians in the country continues to plummet. Speaking at the launch of Aid to the Church in Need’s Religious Freedom in the World 2025 report in Rome, Archbishop… [Read More]
Celebrating World Cities Day 2025: Advancing Sustainable Urban Development for All
World Cities Day, observed annually on 31 October, was established through UN General Assembly Resolution 68/239 to promote global awareness of urbanization and its challenges. The day aims to foster international cooperation in addressing urban issues and to advance sustainable urban development across the world. The 2025 theme, “People-Centered Smart Cities,” highlights the importance of… [Read More]
Pakistan Gears Up for Nationwide Measles and Rubella Drive with WHO Training 140,000 Health Workers
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Pakistan have launched a large-scale effort to train over 140,000 health workers ahead of a nationwide measles and rubella (MR) vaccination campaign. Scheduled from 17 to 29 November 2025, the drive aims to immunize 35.4 million children between six and 59 months of age. This preventive… [Read More]
WHO European Region Launches New 5-Year Vision for Health and System Resilience
All 53 Member States of the WHO European Region have unanimously adopted the second European Programme of Work 2026–2030 (EPW2) during the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC75). This new five-year strategy marks a significant step forward in building healthier, fairer, and more resilient societies by the end of the decade…. [Read More]
From outbreak to resilience: Bangladesh boosts cholera response in Rohingya camps
In January 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh and health partners, launched a large-scale Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign targeting Rohingya refugees and nearby host communities. The campaign successfully vaccinated 976,751 people, achieving an impressive 103.6% coverage rate, largely due to new refugee arrivals and denominator discrepancies. Children… [Read More]
New Poliovirus Sequencing Lab Boosts Cameroon’s Disease Surveillance and Response
For the first time, Cameroon has successfully completed the full sequencing of a circulating variant poliovirus type 3 (cVDPV3), marking a major achievement in Africa’s ongoing battle to eliminate polio. While wild poliovirus type 3 was declared eradicated in 2019, variant strains can still emerge in areas with low immunity, making rapid detection and response… [Read More]
Ontario Announces $7 Million Funding Boost for Literary Arts and Publishers
The Ontario government has announced more than $7 million in funding to protect and promote the province’s literary arts and publishing sector. This investment aims to strengthen Ontario’s creative industries by supporting local authors, publishers, and cultural producers to deliver events and programs that highlight the province’s diverse stories and voices. The initiative is part… [Read More]
£4.5 million funding boost provides housing for UK veterans and their families
The UK Government has announced £4.5 million in funding to provide veterans and their families with safe and secure homes. The funds will be distributed among 19 housing providers across the country to build 45 new homes and make vital refurbishments to existing properties. This initiative is part of the Government’s wider £20 million Capital… [Read More]
Minister Cummins announces €174,517 grant to empower rural women in politics
The Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, John Cummins TD, has announced new funding of €174,517 for See Her Elected (SHE), an initiative dedicated to increasing women’s participation in local politics, particularly from rural Ireland. The funding marks a significant increase—around 60%—since the programme’s original grant in 2019, underscoring the government’s continued commitment… [Read More]
Lebanon: ILO and Germany Partner to Restore Rachaya El Wadi’s Heritage and Create Jobs
The historic town of Rachaya El Wadi in Lebanon’s western Bekaa region has inaugurated its newly rehabilitated pedestrian network, marking a major milestone in preserving its cultural heritage and fostering inclusive development. The event was attended by representatives from Germany, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Mayor of Rachaya, and members of the municipal council…. [Read More]
Pakistan’s care economy needs greater support and funding, says ILO
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has emphasized that investing in Pakistan’s care economy is vital for promoting growth, equity, and gender equality. Marking the International Day of Care and Support, the ILO called for greater recognition of care work and stronger coordinated actions to ensure decent work, fair wages, and social protection for care workers…. [Read More]
UN Agencies Join Forces to Provide Critical Humanitarian Assistance in South Kordofan, Sudan
A joint United Nations convoy organized by UNHCR, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP) has successfully delivered humanitarian aid to the towns of Dilling and Kadugli in South Kordofan, Sudan. The convoy brought essential supplies to families who have been cut off for months amid conflict and severe food shortages. This marks the first… [Read More]
Innovative Solutions Take Center Stage at Africa Inclusive Finance Week 2025
More than one in four people in Sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to financial services, preventing them from overcoming persistent and emerging challenges such as conflict, climate disruptions, and migration. The 2025 Africa Inclusive Finance Week focused on addressing these critical gaps under the theme, “(Re)focusing on vulnerable people to meet upcoming challenges in inclusive… [Read More]
Secretary of State van Koeverden Unveils Funding to Celebrate Canada’s Sports Legacy
The Government of Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the nation’s cultural and sporting heritage with a major new investment. The Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), announced $10 million in funding over 10 years for Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, beginning in 2025–26. The announcement, made on behalf of Minister of… [Read More]
Yulia Svyrydenko Announces Expansion of Vlasna Sprava Grants to Empower Ukrainians and Veterans
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the expansion of the country’s largest grant programme for entrepreneurs, Vlasna Sprava (Own Business), under the Made in Ukraine initiative. Starting in 2026, the programme will offer increased grant amounts and wider opportunities for Ukrainians who wish to start or grow their own businesses, even amid wartime challenges. The… [Read More]
Global Human Rights Under Threat: Amnesty Meets Abortion Defenders Worldwide
Amnesty International has announced that its delegation will join abortion providers and defenders from around the world at two major gatherings in Bogotá, Colombia, to assess global progress on abortion access and strategize against mounting threats to human rights. The meetings will take place at the Latin American Consortium Against Unsafe Abortion (CLACAI) from October… [Read More]
Historic Win in Malawi: High Court Affirms Justice for Sexual Violence Survivors
The High Court of Malawi has issued a landmark ruling affirming the rights of sexual violence survivors to access safe abortion care. The court ruled that denying a 14-year-old rape survivor a safe termination of pregnancy violated her sexual and reproductive health rights under Sections 19 and 20 of the Gender Equality Act. Amnesty International… [Read More]
‘Historic Victory’: France Redefines Rape Law to Center on Consent
France has taken a historic step toward gender justice as the Senate voted to introduce a consent-based definition of rape into the country’s penal code. The move has been hailed by Amnesty International France as a landmark victory for survivors of sexual violence and a testament to the tireless efforts of feminist organizations, activists, and… [Read More]
Europe’s Schengen Visa Barriers Undermine Access for Human Rights Defenders
Amnesty International has revealed that visa systems in Europe’s Schengen area have become major barriers for human rights defenders (HRDs) from across the Global South, preventing many from participating in vital global forums. In its new report Closing the door? How visa policies in Europe’s Schengen area fail human rights defenders, the organization highlights how… [Read More]
No Accountability in Eswatini: Unresolved Abuses from June 2021 Protests
More than four years after Eswatini’s June 2021 pro-democracy protests, no member of the country’s security forces has been held accountable for the use of excessive and lethal force against demonstrators and civilians. During the unrest, tasers, teargas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition were deployed against protesters and bystanders, resulting in scores of deaths and… [Read More]
Empowering Women in Uniform: The Elsie Initiative Fund’s Role in Transforming Peacekeeping
In international peacekeeping, a transformative shift is unfolding—one that goes beyond simply increasing the number of women to fundamentally reimagining how security institutions function. At the forefront of this change is the Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF) at UN Women. Through a systemic and evidence-based approach, EIF tackles the structural barriers—laws, policies, institutional cultures, and social… [Read More]
Alcohol leaves a mark: WHO calls for tougher laws and public awareness on alcohol harm
Every drink of alcohol leaves a lasting mark on individuals, families, and societies. Beyond its social presence, alcohol contributes to a wide range of harms including cancers, liver disease, road accidents, violence, and family breakdowns. To address these issues, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific has launched the “Alcohol Leaves… [Read More]
