Afghanistan: Surge in synthetic drugs could threaten public health
The Mapping of Facilities for Treatment of Substance Use Disorders in Afghanistan report, conducted in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), is the first comprehensive survey of the country’s treatment capacity. While services are operational in 32 of Afghanistan’s…
UN report reveals widespread restrictions on media freedom in Afghanistan
The joint report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN Human Rights Office, OHCHR, documented 336 cases of human rights violations against media professionals between August 2021 and September 2024. Threats to press freedom “Journalists and media…
Preparing for climate chaos in Timor-Leste, one of the world’s most vulnerable nations
In April 2021, catastrophic flash floods ravaged Timor-Leste, claiming the lives of more than 30 people and destroying over 4,000 homes. Among the worst-hit areas was Orlalan, a remote mountainous village with a population of nearly 6,000. Residents there had…
Children and amputees bear brunt of Myanmar’s deadly landmine epidemic
However, the grim statistic is just the surface of a larger crisis, independent human rights experts warned on Friday, as the military junta intensifies its attacks on civilians, including persons with disabilities. “The junta is doubling the impact of its…
‘Myanmar’s children cannot afford to wait,’ warns UNICEF
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban issued a stark call for urgent international action on Thursday, describing the situation as “dire” for children. Since February 2021 military coup, Myanmar has plunged into a deepening crisis. Fighting between military forces and…
Hong Kong: 45 activists sentenced under controversial National Security Law
Spokesperson for the UN human rights office Jeremy Laurence condemned the use of the National Security Law to criminalise activities which are protected under international human rights law, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. Most of the defendants…
Raising the roof: Building resilience through conserving historic homes in the Philippines
In July 2022, a magnitude-7.0 earthquake shook the northwestern Philippines, killing 11 people and injuring nearly 600 others. The quake and its aftershocks caused an estimated 1.6 billion pesos ($27.3 million) in damage to infrastructure and agriculture. Among the hardest hit…
Public execution in Afghanistan condemned as ‘clear human rights violation’
The latest incident comes amid growing international concern over the use of capital punishment in the country since 2021, when the Taliban swept back into power 20 years on from the allied invasion that ended their rule, in the wake…
The Philippines brace for more storms amid devastating typhoon season
Typhoons Kristine and Leon caused widespread damage in the Philippines, leaving thousands of families and children without access to safe water and sanitation facilities. The 11th and 12th tropical cyclones to hit the country this year affected at least 4.2…
Looming famine in Rakhine signals wider crisis in Myanmar
In a report released on Thursday, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) described the situation in the poverty-struck province as an “unprecedented disaster”. “A perfect storm is brewing,” it said, citing a combination of interlinked issues – restrictions on domestic and…