July 2022 - Career Meaning

‘Moment for Nature’ essential to beat back threats, spur climate action |

The day-long event is being held to assess recent decisions on the global environment agenda and to present solutions to common bottlenecks, such as the gaps between commitments and actions, as well as the need for wider mobilization. “We know that we have backed ourselves into a corner with our recklessness. We know that this…

‘I will never stop telling my story’: Confronting victim-blaming for sexual assault |

“A blue dress, black tights and boots. That’s what I was wearing,” said Jessica Long, a sexual violence survivor who has been campaigning for the rights of survivors, for the past six years. “That’s what I was wearing the night I was drugged. I was raped. And I was left alone to die”. This and…

Cost of living crisis hits poorest the hardest, warns UNCTAD |

UNCTAD’s analysis shows that a 10 per cent increase in food prices will trigger a five per cent decrease in the incomes of the poorest families, roughly equivalent to the amount those families would normally spend on healthcare. Unsafe products have long been a threat across borders. But 60% of countries – many in the developing…

Best way to protect children caught in conflict is to ‘champion peace’ |

In presenting the Secretary-General’s report, Virginia Gamba, highlighted current trends, patterns of grave violations, and existing and emerging challenges in “the protection of children used and abused by, in and for armed conflict”. Prolific abuses From South Sudan to Afghanistan and elsewhere, last year the UN verified 23,982 grave violations – over 19,165 of which…

Kenya: UN expert hails historic reparations ruling in favour of indigenous peoples |

The historic ruling follows a landmark judgment delivered by the Court on 26 May 2017, finding that the Government of Kenya had violated the right to life, property, natural resources, development, religion and culture of the Ogiek, under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. ‘Important step’ “This judgment and award of reparations marks…

UN publishes new guidance on curbing child abduction and other ‘grave violations’ in war |

Special Representative Virginia Gamba, said the guidelines would aid monitoring and reporting on the abduction of children in armed conflict, and help “address this complex grave violation of children’s rights in times of war.” There are six grave violations identified by the UN which serve as the basis for gathering data and reporting, namely the…

UN and partners meet to address ‘critical’ state of global food crisis |

Factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and ongoing conflicts resulted in nearly a billion people going hungry last year, he said. Meanwhile, the World Bank has warned that the conflict in Ukraine will plunge an additional 95 million people into extreme poverty, and 50 million into severe hunger, this year. Already falling short …

UN commemorates Nelson Mandela’s ‘fight for a better world’ |

The first democratically-elected President of South Africa, and the country’s first Black leader, died in December 2013 at age 95. The annual commemoration on 18 July, his birthday, recognizes his contribution to the culture of peace and freedom. Mr. Mandela – affectionately known as “Madiba”, his Xhosa clan name – fought against the racist apartheid…

Philippines: Top rights expert appeals to President Marcos over Maria Ressa conviction |

Ms. Ressa, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for her work defending freedom of expression as a co-founder of independent news outlet Rappler, was convicted of “cyber libel” in 2020. It followed publication of an article on alleged corruption involving the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in the Philippines. The ruling…

From the Field: Afghan earthquake survivors look to rebuild their lives |

A boy walks up the hill to his former home, destroyed by the earthquake that hit Afghanistan in June 2022 ., by IOM/Léo Torréton ”I saw bodies being pulled out of the rubble, injured people, and maybe dead people”, says Krushnal, a survivor from Barmal. “I heard cries of pain everywhere I went”. He is…