News / Stories

Lisa Shannon receives a doctorate of humane letters, Georgetown University

Georgetown University held its commencement festivities this past weekend, and this year’s commencement speakers included women’s rights activist Lisa Shannon. We’ve been supporting Lisa Shannon (she is mentioned in our Inspirational People and committed individuals section) for...

Message on the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula

United Nations Population Fund is teaming up with partners to spearhead the Global Campaign to End Fistula. Below is the message on the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula by the Secretary-General: Pregnant women have a great deal to look forward to: the miracle of birth, meeting...

Trading Conflict for Coffee in DRC, Darfur is -not- over, Oslo Freedom Forum

Our weekly round-up of must-read stories you might have missed. In focus this week: Trading Conflict for Coffee in DRC; Current media focus on conflicts such as Syria means people can be forgiven for assuming "Darfur is over". It's not, says Olivia Warham, Director of Waging Peace; 2013...

Free Ethiopian Journalist Eskinder Nega!

Eskinder Nega is a Prisoner of Conscience, recipient of the 2012 PEN/American Center Freedom to Write/Barbara Goldsmith Award. Nega is a prominent Ethiopian journalist and dissident blogger sentenced to 18 years in prison July 13, 2012 under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Proclamation of...

With some electoral gains in Iraq, women candidates work towards change

UN Women published an interesting article on women candidates in Iraq: To run as a political candidate in Iraq demands courage and determination – even more so for a woman. Fourteen candidates, including one woman, were murdered in the run-up to local elections held in April – the...

DR Congo toughest place for mothers, Dhaka, Rios Montt, TEDxKhartoum

Our weekly round-up of must-read stories you might have missed. In focus this week: DR Congo toughest place for mothers, Dhaka, Bangladesh's worst industrial accident; Former leader of Guatemala, Rios Montt convicted of genocide; Sudan shuts TEDx community forum. - DR Congo toughest...

Kofi Annan appointed Chair of The Elders

The first important action of the MagkaSama Project was when Max Dana launched the “60 Signers for the 60th Anniversary” Initiative to support the Every Human Has Rights Campaign (The Elders / CIVICUS) on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human...

The Dark Side of Darfur’s Gold Rush

Akshaya Kumar, Sudan and South Sudan Policy Analyst for the Enough Project, writes about Darfur’s gold mines as exposed in a new report. Darfur is suffering its worst humanitarian crisis in years. Since the beginning of 2013, over 200,000 people have been displaced by what the...

Polar Bear Trophy Hunters: Kill Now, Get Permission Later

In an article by David Kirby published on TakePart, we learn that despite being a threatened species, some still view polar bears as a means for a carpet… Most people don’t know it, but polar bears are officially classified as marine mammals, and as such are included under the...

DRC peace plan, Atrocity Prevention Board, Kual Deng Majok

Our weekly round-up of must-read stories you might have missed. In focus this week: U.N. envoy says she sees 'political will' for eastern DRC peace plan; Humanity United, NGOs celebrate first year of Atrocity Prevention Board; Kual Deng Majok killed. - U.N. envoy says she sees...