News headlines for “Human Rights Issues”
As Attacks on Women Defenders Intensify, so Must Our Support
- Inter Press Service

MANILA, Philippines, December 15 (IPS) - A global crackdown on civic freedoms is intensifying – and women are on the frontlines of the attack. CIVICUS’s 2025 People Power Under Attack report analyses the extent to which freedoms of association, expression and peaceful assembly are being respected or violated. The report reveals that people in 83 countries now live in conditions where their freedoms are routinely denied, compared to 67 in 2020. In 2020, 13 per cent of the world’s population lived in countries where civic freedoms were broadly respected; now it’s more like 7 per cent. Among the most documented violations in 2025 were detention of human rights defenders, journalists and protesters, and women human rights defenders (WHRDs) were among the most affected.
UNDP’s Digital Rights Dashboard: A Conversation Starter on Human Rights in the Digital Age
- Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, December 15 (IPS) - Within a generation, digital systems have changed much of how we learn, work and participate in civic life, especially in more connected regions. This shift is unfolding at different speeds in developing countries, but the direction of travel is unmistakable.
From farm to classroom: Feeding children and supporting farmers in Timor-Leste
- UN News

It’s a win-win recipe: schoolchildren eat a free, nutritious meal every day and local farmers gain reliable access to local markets.
UN marks first World Turkic Language Family Day
- UN News

The UN cultural agency, UNESCO, is preparing to celebrate the first ever World Turkic Language Family Day on Monday, following a decision by UNESCO’s General Conference in Samarkand to establish 15 December as an annual observance.
With skills and determination, Guatemalans embark on life-changing journey to Germany
- UN News

On the runway of Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport, ten men embraced their families before departing for Germany — the start of a bold new chapter.
UN Alliance of Civilizations urges youth to reaffirm peace as a global priority
- UN News

In a world shaped by conflict and digital noise, the High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) called for young people to make the 21st century the last century in which humanity witnesses war.
Sindh People’s Housing Redefines Post-Disaster Adaptation Success
- Inter Press Service

BELÉM, Brazil, December 12 (IPS) - By any comparison, the statistics for Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) are phenomenal.
From mud homes to joyful songs: Living heritage on the global stage
- UN News

Drums and celebration filled a hall in New Delhi, India, as communities from across the world saw their traditions recognised, from Panama’s Quincha homes built by collective hands, to Yemen’s Hadrami Dan gatherings where poetry and music are created in the moment.
Sudan war: Aid teams say deal struck to reach stricken El Fasher
- UN News

In Sudan, deep concerns persist for the many tens of thousands of people believed to still be trapped in El Fasher in the Darfur region, but UN aid agencies believe they may soon get access to the embattled city.
In Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan, a Young Woman Works in Disguise to Feed Her Family
- Inter Press Service

KABUL, December 11 (IPS) - Shabnam, a 26-year-old law graduate, manages her life and work by disguising herself as a boy. In the middle of a crowded market with the clatter of street sellers and the smell of nearby restaurants, a small, nondescript shop blends into the chaos. Inside, rusty shelves line the walls, empty soda cans hanging on the wall add a touch of color, and an old table covered with a worn-out cloth sits in the corner. To most passersby, the shopkeeper looks like a young man.
Global Issues