International News

Afghanistan: Despite the Taliban’s Pledge to Eradicate Opium, the Poppy Trade Still Flourishes in Afghanistan

Feb 7, 2023 | Daniel Simms, Conversation

The Taliban have always had a complicated relationship with the opium trade. As a narcotic, opium is haram, or forbidden under Islamic law. But at…

Bolivia: “We Will Fight Every Battle” – Two Women, One Mission Against Deforestation

Feb 7, 2023 | Nicole Vargas, Diálogo Chino

A pair of Indigenous leaders from opposite ends of Bolivia share the intimidation they’ve faced protecting their communities from projects which exploit their natural resources…

United States: Women Can Play Key Roles in Sustainable Fishing

Feb 7, 2023 | Tomas Hoppough, Denver 7

Two issues in the commercial fishing industry are in the spotlight: sustainable fishing and getting more women into the industry.

Canada: Climate Crisis and Women’s Rights- Mission Inclusion and IUCN Selected For a 3-year, $30 Million Project Under the Canadian Government’s Partnering for Climate

Feb 7, 2023 | IUCN

Quebec City, February 7, 2023 – Mission inclusion and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have been selected by Global Affairs Canada to conduct an…

The UAE and Israel Have a History of Strong Female Leadership. Women Must Take Substantial Roles in the Next Phase of the Abraham Accords.

Feb 7, 2023 | Marcy Grossman, Atlantic Council

It has been more than two years since the Abraham Accords normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.…

Colombia: Pink Dolphins and Reformed Colombian Rebels Turn No-Go Zone into Ecotourism Hit

Feb 6, 2023 | Dimitri Selibas, Guardian

Rural communities, former guerrillas of the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and endangered dolphins are unlikely allies in this near-forgotten corner of Colombia’s Amazon…

United States: She Grew Up Under Water Boil Advisories in Jackson. Now She’s Bringing Environmental Justice to the EPA

Feb 6, 2023 | Jessica Kutz, The 19th

In her community outreach role for the EPA, Rosemary Enobakhare is working to prioritize communities in need while “shining a light” on issues affecting them…

West Africa: Meet the People Safeguarding the Sacred Forests and Lagoons of West Africa

Feb 5, 2023 | Ricci Shryock, NPR

In areas throughout West African countries such as Liberia, Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, communities have designated biodiversity hotspots, including forests and lagoons, as sacred. They believe…

Iraq/Kurdistan: Iraq's Kurdish Region Warns against 'Unlawful' Stop to Funds

Jan 26, 2023 | Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Abby Sewell, Associated Press

Iraqi Kurdish authorities on Thursday pushed back against a decision by Iraq’s top court that blocked payments from state coffers funding the semi-autonomous region. Jutiar…

Sustainable Peace Cannot Be Built Where Rights of Women Are Ignored, Says Deputy Secretary-General at Security Council Open Debate

Jan 26, 2023 | UN

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks at the Security Council open debate on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, in New York today:

I would like…

Liberia: At a Rubber Plantation in Liberia, History Repeats in a Fight over Land

Jan 17, 2023 | Ashoka Mukpo, Mongabay

Sexual harassment of its workers isn’t the only charge that’s been leveled against Socfin here in Liberia: in 2019, 22 communities filed a complaint against…

Liberia: Gov’t Clears Export of US$4M ‘Illegal Logs’

Jan 17, 2023 | William Q. Harmon, Observer

The government of Liberia will finally give Renaissance Group Incorporated, a controversial logging company, the green light on January 28, to go ahead with the…

Aishwarya Sharma: First Indian Fashion Activist & Climate Advocate At COP27 Demands Global Collective Climate Action

Jan 13, 2023 | Outlook India

Aishwarya is also a global goals ambassador with the TogetherBand (United Nations) representing Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities of the 17 The Global Goals and a…

Uganda: Cultural Leaders Petition Alupo Over Emorimor

Jan 12, 2023 | Simon P. Emwamu, Monitor

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has started the mediation process between two warring factions of the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) over who…

Bolivia: Landmark Global Biodiversity Agreement Enshrines Rights of Indigenous Peoples—Providing Hope for Bolivia’s Guarani

Jan 11, 2023 | Juana Vera-Delgado

After more than four years of negotiations, on Dec.19, 2022, nearly 200 nations adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework—a binding agreement to protect at least 30…

This Month in ESG: COP15 and EU Gender Balance Laws

Jan 11, 2023 | Terence Jeyaretnam, Pro Bono Australia

Nothing slowed down in ESG during the last month of the year, with events, new laws and a raft of government announcements, write Terence Jeyaretnam.

Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s Extractives Industry Never Achieved Its Potential: SIGAR

Jan 10, 2023 | Nazir Shinwari, TOLOnews

The US Special Inspector for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) in a new report says that Afghanistan’s extractives industry never achieved its potential, despite years of US…

Sudan: Largest Unit of Indian Women Peacekeepers in Sudan Conflict Zone

Jan 7, 2023 | Amrita N. Dutta, Indian Express

The contingent has 25 women soldiers from the Corps of Military Police (CMP) and the Assam Rifles, senior Defence officials familiar with the matter said.

Liberia: Communities Affected by Commercial Logging in Liberia Demand Payment of Their Land Rental Fees

Jan 6, 2023 | Joel Cholo Brooks, Global News Network

Representatives of Communities affected by commercial logging in Liberia are calling on the Government of Liberia through the National Legislators to ensure that the communities’…

Ukraine’s Need for Women in War Conflicts With Nation’s Gender Norms, VCU Professor’s New Research Finds

Jan 6, 2023 | Mary K. Brogan, VCU News

“The Ukrainian military has tried to adopt more equal policies, but those have faced pushback from Ukrainian society, which largely sees women’s place in society…

Pakistan: Climate and Gender Responsive Readiness Program in Pakistan

Dec 29, 2022 | IUCN

IUCN launches Climate Change Gender Action Plan (ccGAP) with Fatima Jinnah Women University as part of its Academic- Climate and Gender responsive readiness program in…

Colombia: Land Titling Advances in Colombia

Dec 27, 2022 | Alina Ramos Martin, Prensa Latina

Colombia's Minister of Agriculture, Cecilia Lopez, confirmed that her Ministry will close this year with one million hectares titled to promote agrarian reform.

Liberia: Gov’t Revenue from Extractive Industries Reaches US$84.6M

Dec 22, 2022 | William Q. Harmon, Observer

Government revenue from the extractive industries in 2021 stood at US$84.6 million, a report from the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) has revealed. The…

International Women’s Day 2023: “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”

Dec 22, 2022 | UN Women

The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023 (IWD 2023) is, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. This theme is aligned with the…

South Sudan/Uganda: Security Heightened along Porous Border with South Sudan over Cattle Theft

Dec 21, 2022 | Julius Ocungi, Uganda Radio Network

According to security officials, the porous border point has aided the undetected influx of suspected criminals from the neighboring Nimule Township who loot cattle and…

Afghanistan: Statement on Afghanistan by Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director

Dec 21, 2022 | UN Women

The comprehensive onslaught on women’s rights in Afghanistan is unmatched in the world today. The Taliban’s latest announcement of the closure of universities for women, effectively…

South Sudan: As Cattle Migration Season Approaches, Farmers and Herders from Neighbouring States Meet at Joint UNMISS, UNDP Forum

Dec 16, 2022 | United Nations Mission in South Sudan

Every year between January and April, cattle herders from Tonj and Gogrial areas of Warrap, South Sudan move their animals to greener pastures near Wau,…

Indonesia: Ministry Seeks Gender-Responsive Climate Change Policies

Dec 16, 2022 | Antara

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) is seeking to make policies related to climate change gender-responsive.

Webinar Promotes Women’s Leadership in Chemicals, Waste Management in SIDS

Dec 8, 2022 | IISD

The Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in SIDS (ISLANDS) Programme hosted a webinar on women’s leadership in chemicals and waste management in…

Conflict Minerals: Industry Shows Zero Improvement on Conflict Minerals Sourcing

Dec 8, 2022 | Brendan Sinclair, GamesIndustry.biz

In the early days of conflict minerals reporting, it was in many cases impossible to tell how much of a company's supply chain was conformant…