Women Commuters Travel Safe in Innovative Bus Scheme in Pakistan — Global Issues

Women Commuters Travel Safe in Innovative Bus Scheme in Pakistan — Global Issues

Women students and workers travel free from harassment in the BRT buses, which reserves seats for them in the conservative region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. by Ashfaq Yusufzai Wednesday, January 04, 2023 Inter Press Service Jan 04 (IPS) – A bus rapid transport (BRT) system in Peshawar is benefiting female students…

UN and top aid officials slam Afghan rulers’ NGO ban for women — Global Issues

UN and top aid officials slam Afghan rulers’ NGO ban for women — Global Issues

“Banning women from humanitarian work has immediate life-threatening consequences for all Afghans,” they insisted. Some aid programmes have already had to stop temporarily, owing to a lack of female staff, at a time when more than 28 million people in Afghanistan need “assistance to survive” the brutal winter, economic collapse…

From Zero-Covid to Zero-Control — Global Issues

‘Unfathomable restrictions’ on women’s rights risk destabilizing Afghanistan — Global Issues

“No country can develop – indeed survive – socially and economically with half its population excluded”, said the High Commissioner for Human Rights. “These unfathomable restrictions placed on women and girls will not only increase the suffering of all Afghans but, I fear, pose a risk beyond Afghanistan’s borders”.  He…

UN refugee agency welcomes Indonesia’s ‘act of humanity’ in rescuing migrants adrift at sea — Global Issues

UN refugee agency welcomes Indonesia’s ‘act of humanity’ in rescuing migrants adrift at sea — Global Issues

UNHCR issued a statement explaining that two groups of survivors had been brought to shore off the coast of north-west Indonesia.  Believed to have been at sea for more than a month, the UN agency expressed relief that they are now safe in Indonesia.  After highlighting their plight, Ann Maymann,…

From Zero-Covid to Zero-Control — Global Issues

UN Secretary-General ‘deeply disturbed’ by Taliban’s reported ban on women working for NGOs in Afghanistan — Global Issues

A statement issued by Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said that Secretary-General António Guterres was “deeply disturbed by the reported order of the de facto Taliban authorities” and that the UN chief “reiterates the rights of all women to participate in the workforce thus contributing to the greater good.”  According to media reports, the Taliban ordered all…

From Zero-Covid to Zero-Control — Global Issues

UN refugee agency urges rescue of 190 desperate people adrift in Andaman Sea — Global Issues

However, its pleas continue to be ignored. “This shocking ordeal and tragedy must not continue”, said Indrika Ratwatte, UNHCR’s Director for Asia and the Pacific. “These are human beings – men, women and children”, he added. Unraveling the situation Reports indicate that they have been at sea in dire conditions for a month, lacking…

From Zero-Covid to Zero-Control — Global Issues

Millions of Afghan children inoculated against measles, polio in 1st Statewide drive since 2021 transition — Global Issues

Afghanistan has vaccinated 5.36 million nine- to 59-month old children against measles while 6.1 million infants to 59-month-olds received oral polio vaccine during the vaccination drive held from 26 November to 12 December. Based on the data from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health Expanded Programme on Immunization, the campaign covered…

From Zero-Covid to Zero-Control — Global Issues

UN condemns Taliban decision to bar women from universities, calls for ‘immediate’ revocation — Global Issues

In a statement, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also urged the de facto authorities to “reopen girls’ schools beyond the sixth grade and end all measures preventing women and girls from participating fully in daily public life”. Clear and present violation UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk described the…

From Zero-Covid to Zero-Control — Global Issues

UN envoy highlights need to continue dialogue with Taliban — Global Issues

Briefing ambassadors, the new UN Special Representative in Afghanistan and UNAMA chief, Roza Otunbayeva, highlighted ongoing political and human rights concerns – as well as several positive developments – since the Taliban’s seizure of power in August 2021. “We do not see eye to eye with the Taliban on a…