By Dion De Vries* BRUSSELS (IDN) – A Dutch Foundation of Eritrean refugees, Foundation Human Rights for Eritreans, has filed a lawsuit in the Amsterdam court against the European Union (EU) for its role in financing a road building project in Eritrea that uses forced labour. The Netherlands is host to many Eritrean migrants and […]
Communities in Mozambique Inspired to Curb Deforestation
By Mariane Almeida and Sofia Barbeiro The two writers are part of a team of Young Environmental Journalists covering Africa. RIO de JANEIRO | LISBON (IDN) – In Mozambique’s province of Gaza, 9,240 tons of charcoal are produced every year placing pressure on the region’s natural resources. Wood burning for charcoal production has led to […]
COVID-19: Fake, Shocking & Good News Stalks Africa
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – A new fact-checking industry had its hands full recently in Senegal when a fake news post on social media claimed that children were “dying on the spot” from vaccines against the corona virus. The post, titled “Scandal in Senegal”, was shared thousands of times on […]
We Are Fighting Two Enemies at the Same Time: a Deadly Virus and a Deadlier Hunger
By Bea Cordia NEW YORK (IDN) – COVID-19 has shattered the entire world. As a result of what some people have called the ‘Great Lockdown’, economic activity has plummeted, borders have been closed, and national health systems are on the edge of collapse. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, more […]
COVID-19: Urgent Need for African Governments to Upgrade the Health Systems
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW (IDN) – Amid multifold theories and disinformation spreading around the COVID-19 in Africa, it is important for African governments to consider strengthening the existing health systems and infrastructures, and allocate substantial funds for health research and production of basic equipment, for attaining sustainable development goals set in the African Agenda […]
Fake News Is ‘Infodemic’ That Puts Lives at Risk
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – While Americans hotly debate the subject of “fake news,” Africans and others around the world marked a day for reflection on press freedoms in theory and in practice. The theme for this year’s event launched by the UN agency UNESCO was “Journalism without fear or […]
US Coercive Measures Against Iran Hurting Women
Viewpoint by Azadeh Moaveni and Ali Vaez The two writers are affiliated to the Crisis Group: Azadeh Moaveni is Project Director, Gender; and Ali Vaez is Iran Project Director. This commentary is being republished by courtesy of the Brussels-based Crisis Group which first carried it on 6 March 2020. BRUSELS (IDN) – On 21 May […]
UN Chief and German Chancellor Call for Rebuilding ‘Our World for the Better’
By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN (IDN) – German chancellor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary-General António Guterres have accentuated that any coronavirus recovery programme should have a clear focus on climate targets and rebuilding “our world for the better”. They were addressing a two-day video conference in Berlin co-organised by Germany and Britain, the latter as the […]
Women Leaders Rise in Solidarity to Save Lives and Protect Livelihoods
By UN Women “Rise for All” calls on all leaders to meet the human crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and fully fund the UN Response and Recovery Trust Fund NEW YORK (IDN) – Supporting the UN Secretary-General’s call for solidarity and urgent action in response to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, an initial group of […]
UN Chief Highlights the Virtues of Multilateralism & Diplomacy
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – “The COVID-19 pandemic is a tragic reminder of how deeply connected we are. The virus knows no borders and is a quintessential global challenge. Combatting it requires us to work together as one human family,” says UN Secretary-General António Guterres on International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy […]