July 05, 2023
Africa: Recognising Human Rights Defenders As Remarkable Agents of Positive Change
In recent years, the global landscape for human rights defenders (HRDs) has become more difficult and complex, with both new and heightened challenges. With hundreds of defenders… Read more »
July 04, 2023
Africa: Climate Change and Development
There is little doubt that human activity is accelerating climate change. Our activities are causing global warming and potentially disastrous climate change. Read more »
June 30, 2023
Malawi: Land Beneficiaries Lament Worsening Poverty in Resettled Areas
Located between two heavily-deforested mountains, Nakadanga Trust in Machinga District in southern Malawi looks lifeless. Read more »
June 24, 2023
South Sudan: President Kiir, Education Cannot Wait Jointly Announce Extended Multi-Year Education Response for Crises-Impacted Sudanese Children
South Sudan is experiencing one of the most severe crises in the world today, causing fragility, instability, and economic stagnation. While a peace agreement was reached in 2018,… Read more »
June 22, 2023
Africa: Global Community Celebrates Medical Innovations and Milestones Since Defining Leprosy Discovery 150 Years Ago
The 1873 discovery of Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy by Norwegian doctor Gerhard Armauer Hansen, remains one of the greatest paradigm shifts in medical… Read more »
June 23, 2023
Africa: If Govts Have the Tools to Stop Fishing-Related Deaths, Why Aren't They Being Used?
Long before Hollywood highlighted the dangers of commercial fishing in The Perfect Storm, Deadliest Catch and other programming, governments around the world knew that this was one… Read more »
June 21, 2023
Africa: If Current Trends Continue, Low-Income Countries May Not Achieve a Single Development Goal By 2030
When the 193-member General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development back in September 2015., it was aimed at transforming the world into an idealistic state of… Read more »
June 20, 2023
Liberia: Palm Oil - Innovative Approach to Sustainable Development Policy and Investment
Oil palm has brought significant benefits and prosperity to Liberia. The export of crude palm oil is a major source of foreign exchange earnings for the government. The palm oil… Read more »
Africa: Safety of Human Rights Defenders in Exile Imperiled By Host Countries' Declining Civil Rights
Home Away From Home is the theme of World Refugee Day 2023. However, for many, including human rights activists who have fled their homes, a decline in civil rights in their host… Read more »
June 19, 2023
South Africa: Making the Impossible Possible, Chronicles of an Ambassador's Lifelong Frontline Battle to End Leprosy
In 1974, Yohei Sasakawa accompanied his father to a leprosy hospital he had funded. He saw leprosy patients inside the hospital still and expressionless. The smell of leprosy… Read more »
Africa: Negotiations Must Accelerate Climate Action and Save Vulnerable Countries #AfricaClimateHope
Vulnerable countries, banking on robust climate negotiations, want an inclusive funding package to help them with the devastating impacts of climate change. Read more »
June 15, 2023
Africa: A Climate Finance Goal That Works for Developing Countries #AfricaClimateHope
After years of failing to meet climate finance commitments, the new climate finance goal under discussion this week in Bonn is critical, but without supporting reforms of the… Read more »
June 06, 2023
Africa: Does Artificial Intelligence Need a Regulatory UN Watchdog?
The frighteningly rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have triggered the question: is there a UN role for monitoring and regulating it? Read more »
June 07, 2023
Africa: AI Genie Is Out of the Bottle - UN Should Take the Challenge to Make It Work for the Good of Humanity
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury is Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations and Founder of the Global Movement for The Culture of Peace. Read more »
April 17, 2023
Africa: We Can Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals but It Will Take Courage & Urgent Transformations
The world is at a crossroads. This week, the United Nations Secretary-General, government ministers and senior leaders are gathered in New York at the ECOSOC Financing for… Read more »
April 14, 2023
Africa: International Human Rights Law As a Tool to Stop Rising Homophobia in Africa
Imagine your government enacted a law where you and all people of your race or economic status were imprisoned for extended periods, with some facing the death penalty, simply for… Read more »
April 13, 2023
Africa: Should Internet Access Be Declared a Basic Human Right?
The United Nations defines human rights as "rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status". Read more »
April 14, 2023
Africa: Vulnerable Countries Need Action On Loss and Damage Today and Not At COPs to Come #AfricaClimateHope
In March 2023, more than 600 people died in Malawi after Tropical Cyclone Freddy dumped heavy rain, flooding the southern part of the country, displacing over half a million… Read more »
April 06, 2023
Africa: Transforming Education With Equitable Financing
With schools now reopened around the world, countries are called to take transformative action on education financing to recover and accelerate learning for all children,… Read more »
Egypt: Govt Moves Ahead with Privatising 32 State Entities to Cope with Economic Fallout
Egypt intends to sell shares in 32 state-owned businesses within a year, including three banks, two military-owned businesses, and numerous businesses in the energy and… Read more »
April 03, 2023
Africa: Ending Discrimination Against Women in Family Law Is Vital for Economic Progress
Discriminatory family laws and policies that restrict women's access to educational opportunities, employment, inheritance, property ownership and equal pay, are making women… Read more »
March 30, 2023
Mauritius: Quo Vadis Republic of Mauritius?
Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim is Former President of the Republic of Mauritius Read more »
March 13, 2023
Kenya: Solar Powered Freezer Improving Immunization Coverage in Hard-to-Reach Rural Villages
Up until 2019, nurses in three health facilities located in the semi-arid south-eastern Kenya region of Makueni County struggled to bring critical health services closer to a… Read more »
March 09, 2023
Africa: Breaking the Link Between 'Polycrisis' and Poverty
This year marks the halfway point-- eight years in and eight years out-- of the UN Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty and reduce inequalities. Read more »
March 08, 2023
Africa: International Women's Day, 2023 - Empowere Her
The following opinion piece is part of series to mark International Women's Day, March 8. Read more »