Citizens for Justice and Peace
Climate change funding to developing nations falls short of Paris Agreement goals
04-May-2018
According to an Oxfam report, funding for poor nations to assist them in cutting greenhouse emissions and tackle climate change is falling short of pledges made by wealthier nations, the Guardian reported. The Paris climate agreement of 2015 reiterated the goal to supply $100 billion every year to developing countries by 2020 to tackle the issue.…
UN rights expert expresses concern over increased violence in Myanmar’s Kachin state
04-May-2018
Yanghee Lee, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, has “expressed grave concern” over an increase in violence in the country’s Kachin state, in which ten civilians have reportedly killed, and several others have been injured. Lee said she had received reports that Myanmar’s military had conducted aerial bombings…
Sharp increase in killings of journalists in 2012-2016: UNESCO
04-May-2018
According to a UNESCO report, the global number of journalists killed has risen sharply inthe period between 2012 and the end of 2016, the Hindustan Times reported. 530 deaths were reported in said period, a 67.72% increase over the 316 deaths documented in the previous period, between 2007 and the end of 2011. Syria saw the…
14 Indian cities among the world’s most polluted cities: WHO
02-May-2018
The World Health Organization (WHO) released a list of the world’s 20 most polluted cities, of which 14 are in India, NDTV reported. These included Varanasi, New Delhi, Kanpur, and Gwalior. Varanasi is the most polluted city in terms of levels of PM2.5, which includes pollutants like black carbon, nitrates and sulfates that pose the highest risk to…
UN staff pension fund has investments in companies accused of rights violations
02-May-2018
A Guardian investigation has found that the United Nations staff pension fund has about $1 billion dollars invested in companies engaged in actions that contradict the UN’s basic values and programmes. The fund was set up by the UN General Assembly in 1948, and supplies disability, retirement and death benefits to UN staff. It currently has more…
US acceptance of Muslim refugees has declined sharply
02-May-2018
In a piece titled ‘Trump Has Banned Muslim Refugees. These Numbers Prove It’, VICE News reported that US President Donald Trump’s administration, who once promised to implement a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims coming into the country seems to have delivered on this pledge, in spite of legal hurdles. Data from the US State Department, which…
Humanitarian groups unconvinced about Bangladesh’s plan to relocate Rohingya refugees to island
26-Apr-2018
Humanitarian groups are not convinced about Bangladesh’s plan to relocate 100,000 Rohingya refugees to a remote island in June, the Thomson Reuters Foundation reported. Bangladesh’s government has been working on the Bhasan Char island for four months, but has not given humanitarian agencies access. A briefing with aid groups took place on April 4, but it…
In 2018, Saudi Arabia has executed 48 people: HRW
26-Apr-2018
Human Rights Watch reported that Saudi Arabia has executed 48 people since 2018 began, with half of these executions punishments for “nonviolent drug crimes”. The organisation noted that many more people are also in death row in the country after being convicted of drug crimes. Calling the country’s criminal justice system “notoriously unfair,” HRW highlighted Crown Prince…
Latin America struggling with Homicide Crisis
26-Apr-2018
According to a report from the Igarapé Institute, a Brazilian think tank, 2.5 million murders have taken place in Latin American since the year 2000, the Guardian reported. “The sheer dimensions of homicidal violence are breathtaking,” the report says. Latin America is home to just 8% of the global population, but sees 33% of the world’s…
CO2 emitted by ships at sea to be controlled for first time following deal
24-Apr-2018
Carbon dioxide emissions from ships at sea will be controlled for the first time after a deal that was agreed upon following two weeks of discussion in London, the Guardian reported last week. The agreement was orchestrated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO); under it, shipping firms will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050. The…