Archive for ‘Asia’

14/10/2024

Catastrophic 73% Decline in the Average Size of Global Wildlife Populations in Just 50 Years Reveals a ‘System in Peril’

Human Wrongs Watch

By World Wildlife Fund‘s (WWF)*

WWF’s flagship Living Planet Report details sharp declines in monitored wildlife populations with the steepest drops recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean (95%), Africa (76%) and Asia–Pacific (60%), followed by North America (39%) and Europe and Central Asia (35%).

The giant panda has been the WWF’s symbol for more than 60 years © Sharon Fisher

Washington, DC (October 9, 2024)There has been a catastrophic 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations* in just 50 years (1970-2020), according to World Wildlife Fund‘s (WWF) Living Planet Report 2024.

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14/10/2024

Lebanon: ‘Desperate People on the Move, Fleeing Skies Turned Orange-Red from Bombings…’

Human Wrongs Watch

By Elizabeth Bryant

‘De-escalation now’ – WFP warns against spreading Middle East crisis

As conflict hopscotches from Gaza to Lebanon, WFP’s Lebanon Country Director describes the grim fallout and growing humanitarian needs
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WFP Lebanon Country Director Matthew Hollingworth (R) helps transport our food assistance for conflict-hit people in southern Lebanon. Photo: WFP/Mohammed Awadh
WFP Lebanon Country Director Matthew Hollingworth (R) helps transport our food assistance for conflict-hit people in southern Lebanon. Photo: WFP/Mohammed Awadh

1(WFP)* —  Matthew Hollingworth has seen this all before.

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14/10/2024

Meet the Super Pollutants

Human Wrongs Watch

(UNEP)* — They pollute the air. They warm the planet. They prevent crops from growing. Overall, super pollutants are a pretty nasty group of chemical compounds – and unfortunately, they’re all around us.

Photo by UNEP

A new video from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) looks at some of the most problematic of these creepy critters, including black carbon, which contributes to 4 million deaths a year, and methane, which warms the planet 86 times faster than carbon dioxide.

Despite the pervasiveness of super pollutants, experts say humanity doesn’t have to put up with them. To learn more about what you can do to help, check out this interactive story after you’ve watched the video below.

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14/10/2024

Waiting for the ‘Big One’ – Natural Hazards in the Philippines

Human Wrongs Watch

 A UN Resident Coordinator blog

The Philippines is preparing for the possibility of either a super typhoon or a significant earthquake, often referred to by Filipinos as the “big one.”

Typhoons have caused widespread damage in the Philippines. (file)
© UNICEF/David Hogsholt | Typhoons have caused widespread damage in the Philippines. (file)
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The Southeast Asian country is the most prone to natural hazards in the world, and these hazards are becoming more intense due to climate change.
12/10/2024

300 Million Children Have Been Affected by Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse over the Past 12 Months

Human Wrongs Watch

Growth in online child sexual exploitation and abuse must be urgently addressed

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(UN News)* — 300 million children have been affected by online sexual exploitation and abuse over the past 12 months. 

.© UNICEF

That’s one shocking revelation from a new report being launched by the UN’s Special Representative working to end violence against children, marking the beginning of the mandate 15 years ago.

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12/10/2024

‘Today’s Generation of Girls Is Disproportionately Affected by Global Crises of Climate, Conflict and Poverty…’

Human Wrongs Watch

(UN News)* — As the world marked the International Day of the Girl Child on , a town hall held at UN Headquarters provided an opportunity for young women activists to engage directly with policymakers and offer recommendations on what they need to fully realise their rights. 

Young girls fetch water in Jampur, South Punjab, Pakistan.
© UNICEF/Juan Haro | Young girls fetch water in Jampur, South Punjab, Pakistan.
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“The importance of insisting on completely equal rights of women and young girls is an official commitment of the United Nations, but it is also a personal commitment for which we must wage a combat,” the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSCOC), Bob Rae, who hosted the meeting, stated.
12/10/2024

Over 370 Million Girls and Women Globally Subjected to Rape or Sexual Assault as Children – UNICEF

Human Wrongs Watch

First-ever estimates on sexual violence in childhood reveal alarming prevalence, with devastating impact on children.

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Silueta de una niña
UNICEF/UNI229285/Vincent Tremeau

NEW YORK (UNICEF)* – More than 370 million girls and women alive today – or 1 in 8 – experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18, according to new UNICEF estimates released on 10 October 2024.

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11/10/2024

‘Pivotal Moment’ as Violence against Children Reaches ‘Unprecedented Levels Worldwide,’ with Up to a Billion Vulnerable to Abuse

Human Wrongs Watch

(UN News)* — Violence against children remains a pervasive global issue, with up to a billion children vulnerable to various forms of abuse, according to United Nations  Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children.  

Poverty caused by factors including climate change can make children more vulnerable to Violence.
© UNICEF/Sukhum Preechapanich | Poverty caused by factors including climate change can make children more vulnerable to Violence.
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In a report released on Thursday [], Najat Maalla M’Jid said that violence against children had reached unprecedented levels.
10/10/2024

With Climate Change, Government Apathy, Who Should Kerala’s Fishworkers Turn To?

Human Wrongs Watch

Fishworkers are often invisible in discussions about climate change, yet they are at the heart of food security, feeding millions while struggling to feed their own families. Their fight for survival is not just about tradition or livelihood—it’s about justice. Shouldn’t their futures be at the forefront of climate justice debates?

The iconic Chinese fishing nets along the Kerala coast offer a picturesque scene that draws tourists from around the world. However, the fishworkers that have used them for centuries livelihoods are in peril. Credit: Aishwarya Bajpai/IPS

The iconic Chinese fishing nets along the Kerala coast offer a picturesque scene that draws tourists from around the world. However, the fishworkers that have used them for centuries livelihoods are in peril. Credit: Aishwarya Bajpai/IPS

KOCHI, India, Oct 10 2024 (IPS)* Every morning before dawn, fishworkers along the shores of Kochi, Kerala, head out to sea, casting their nets in the shadow of the iconic Cheenavala—the Chinese fishing nets that have become a symbol of their community.

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10/10/2024

Six Shocking Facts You Didn’t Know about Extreme Weather

Human Wrongs Watch