A Special Report by Aurora Weiss VIENNA (IDN) — The flow of refugees is unceasing. According to the European border agency Frontex, between January and September this year, 228,000 people “arrived illegally” in the Schengen area, which is 70 per cent more than last year. The vast majority still come from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. […]
Community-Driven Decentralization and Reconciliation in Palestine
By Yossef Ben-Meir The writer Dr Yossef Ben-Meir is a sociologist and President of the High Atlas Foundation in Morocco. MARRAKESCH (IDN) — A decentralized governance administration, whose procedures and functioning are defined from implementing a wide range of local development projects across a country, generates results that appeal to a broad spectrum of social […]
Prince Charles Critical of Planned Deportation of Rwandans
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | LONDON (IDN) — As the United Kingdom moves ahead with the planned deportation of asylum seekers to the faraway nation of Rwanda, Prince Charles has privately described the plans as “appalling”, according to two media reports. The first flight taking refugees to the East African country […]
UN Chief Joins Rwandese to Denounce ‘Deliberate, Systematic’ Use of Genocide
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Speaking by video on the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the world community to choose humanity over hatred; compassion over cruelty; courage over complacency and reconciliation over rage. If anyone missed the […]
A Journey to the World’s Largest Camp for Syrian Refugees
By H.D. Wright The writer was recently elected to serve as Global Youth Representative at Education Cannot Wait, the UN fund for education in emergencies, marking the first example of a young person being democratically elected to the governing body of a global humanitarian fund. Now, he represents over 100 youth-led NGOs from across Africa, […]
Australia: Failed Anti-Religious Discrimination Bill Criticized for Promoting Discrimination
By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — A controversial Anti-Religious Discrimination Bill that was strongly supported by conservative Christian groups, an important vote bank for Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s ruling coalition, failed to pass the lower house of parliament when five government backbenchers crossed the floor to vote against the government, by supporting an amendment to […]
Growing Crises at Borders and Key Elections Signal EU Migration Pivot in 2022
By Jaya Ramachandran VIENNA (IDN) — 2022 will be another challenging year for EU migration. The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Outlook lists key issues that will be high on the agenda of decision-makers and analysts alike. Founded in 1993, ICMPD holds UN observer status and cooperates with more than 240 partners including […]
Toddler’s Death Highlights Perils of Crossing the Atlantic
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — The sight of refugees clinging to leaking boats, barely floating in frigid waters, or worse, washing up lifelessly on sandy shores, almost fails to shock after these images repeat over and over, year after year. But consciences were re-awakened when a two-year toddler from Mali […]
The Forgotten Victims of COVID-19 Amid Migration Crisis
By Jacqueline Skalski-Fouts As the Coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe, closing cities and shutting borders, migrants fleeing violence, persecution, and seeking a new life are stuck in the midst of a health and economic crisis. In this article, Jacqueline Skalski-Fouts investigates how current conditions could affect the future of migrants impacted by the pandemic and […]
US Protests Unmask The ‘Torch-Bearer’ Of Human Rights
By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) – “The United States (US) has always taken pride in calling itself the ‘Land of the Free’ and appointed itself to be the global cop to punish others who violate human rights. … It has poked its nose in the affairs of almost all countries, all the time presenting itself […]