Global Issues

WASHINGTON DC, February 18 (IPS) - When Brazil’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 percent in November 2025—the lowest in a quarter century—it punctuated an impressive turnaround from the pandemic. Yet, while men’s participation in the labor market has returned to its pre-COVID trend, women have fallen behind significantly. Read the full story, “Brazil Can Boost Growth by Bringing More Women into the Labor Force”, on globalissues.org →

KARACHI, Pakistan, February 18 (IPS) - Fozia Shashani, 26, a member of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, said it was “most painful” to hear reports that two Baloch women – Hawa Baloch, 20, and Asifa Mengal, 24 – had taken part in active combat as suicide bombers. The path, she said, was in complete contrast to her belief in peaceful resistance. Yet, she added, such extreme choices were the result of a state that had “failed its people.” Read the full story, “From Grief to Guns: Baloch Women in Conflict”, on globalissues.org →

GENEVA, February 17 (IPS) - International humanitarian law is at a breaking point, as rampant impunity for serious violations is enabling even greater abuses against civilians and detainees. Read the full story, “International Humanitarian Law is at Breaking Point – but not Beyond Repair”, on globalissues.org →

PORTLAND, USA, February 17 (IPS) - The global struggle for equality for women and girls has been ongoing for centuries, with no single country having achieved full equality. In many countries, women and girls continue to face discrimination, harassment, unequal treatment, injustice, domestic violence, and a lack of security and safety. Read the full story, “The Global Struggle for Equality for Women and Girls”, on globalissues.org →

UNITED NATIONS, February 17 (IPS) - As the campaign for the next Secretary-General gathers momentum– at a relatively slow pace– there is widespread speculation that any candidate running for the post of UN chief will have to abide by the dictates of a politically-hostile White House or face a veto in the Security Council. Read the full story, “The Veto May be the Weapon of Elimination in the Election of Next UN Chief”, on globalissues.org →

ROME & DELHI, February 17 (IPS) - Governments convened in Rome on Monday (February 16) for a critical round of UN biodiversity negotiations, launching the world’s first global review of how countries are acting to protect nature. Read the full story, “From Pledges to Proof: UN Biodiversity Meeting Begins First Global Review of Nature Action”, on globalissues.org →

Civilian suffering shows no sign of letting up in Ukraine as the four-year-mark of Russia’s full-scale invasion nears amid attacks on energy infrastructure, blackouts and freezing temperatures, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday.Read the full story, “Four years of war in Ukraine: Childhood has ‘moved underground’, displacement continues – UN humanitarians”, on globalissues.org →

Nearly two thirds of all maternal deaths worldwide occur in countries marked by conflict or fragility, according to a report released on Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners.Read the full story, “Maternal deaths spike during war and instability, new report warns”, on globalissues.org →

As the war in Sudan approaches a fourth year, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and 123 partners appealed on Tuesday for $1.6 billion to support millions of people forced to flee the country in pursuit of safety. Read the full story, “Sudan crisis: UN agency launches $1.6 billion appeal to support refugees in seven countries”, on globalissues.org →

The large-scale disclosure of materials known as the “Epstein Files” has revealed “disturbing and credible evidence” of what independent human rights experts describe as a possible global criminal enterprise involving systematic sexual abuse, trafficking and exploitation of women and girls.Read the full story, “Epstein files: ‘No one is too wealthy or too powerful to be above the law’; rights experts demand accountability”, on globalissues.org →