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Photo: Afro-Latinos. Source: World Bank.

Fulfil the Rights of Afro-descendants in Latin America and the Caribbean

Viewpoint by Natalia Kanem

Following are extensive extracts from the Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem at the High-level Meeting on "Accelerating global action for the fulfilment of rights for Afro-descendant people in Latin America and the Caribbean", San José, Costa Rica, in October 2019.

NEW YORK (IDN-INPS) – Leave no one behind – that is the global community’s ambitious pledge. And the Sustainable Development Goals call on us to reach those furthest behind first.

How do we accelerate global action to fulfil the rights of Afro-descendants, who are often among those furthest behind in Latin America and the Caribbean?

How do we combat discrimination, inequalities and the root causes of exclusion?

: Phil Harris; THE WORLD; Latin America & the Caribbean; 11 November 2019

Photo: Agnès Callamard, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, OHCHR. Source: UN News.

The UN Experts Shining a Light on Human Rights Violations

By Sean Buchanan

NEW YORK (IDN) – The experts who fan out across the world to research, hold consultations and gather information on a vast range of human rights violations often find themselves caught in the crosshairs of international and domestic politics. Independent of governments and institutions – including the UN’s Human Rights Council which appoints them.

They occupy a unique investigative role that allows them to shine a light on alleged violations perpetrated across the world, with mandates to “report and advise”, both as specialists focusing on specific forms of abuse of international human rights law such as torture, human trafficking or the right to privacy, but also to carry out country-specific investigations.

: Phil Harris; SUSTAINABILITY; Peace & Justice; 10 November 2019

Photo: U.S. political scientist Francis Fukuyama (left) and DW's Simon Young at the Berlin Wall Memorial. Source: SDYoung Twitter

Fukuyama Expects People to Still Mark 1989 in 100 Years

Deutsche Welle Interview

BERLIN (IDN-INPS) – "I think democracy has got a lot of strengths that may not be evident in the short run, but will play out over the longer run because the ability to change your leaders, ability to hold them accountable is really important," American political scientist and writer Francis Fukuyama, author of the much debated 1989 "The End of History" article, told Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW).

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 10 November 2019

Photo: CSO Roundtable with Executive Directors at 2019 Annual Meetings. © World Bank.

Four Reasons the World Bank Should Engage More with Civil Society

Viewpoint by Patricia Moreira

Patricia Moreira is Managing Director of Transparency International, the global civil society organisation at the forefront of the fight against corruption. This viewpoint originally appeared on the World Bank blog.

BERLIN (IDN) - In recent years, we have witnessed a significant shift in approach of both the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to addressing the concerns of civil society and recognising their contribution to development outcomes.

: Phil Harris; OPINION; 10 November 2019

India To Host the UN Conference on Migratory Species

By Rita Joshi

BONN (IDN) – Based on an ancient Sanskrit saying, the theme ‘Migratory species connect the planet and together we welcome them home’ will guide the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS COP13) in Gandhinagar, a planned city in the western Indian state of Gujarat.

Some 1,500 representatives of national governments, international organizations, scientists, conservation groups and other wildlife experts – together with the associated meetings of the Standing Committee – will discuss the topic from February 15 to 22, 2020.

: Rita Joshi; SUSTAINABILITY; Forests, desertification, land degradation & biodiversity; 09 November 2019

Photo: Secretary-General António Guterres delivers a keynote address at the 81st Anniversary Commemoration of Kristallnacht at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, in New York. Credit: UN/Antonio Ferrari.

Holocaust Is Not Long Ago and Not Far Away

Viewpoint by António Guterres

Following are extensive extracts from UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ speech on 7 November 2019 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York which was marking the 81st anniversary of the Kristallnacht pogrom carried out by the Nazi regime. Underlining his continued fight to stamp out antisemitism, racism and other forms of hatred, he accentuated that since nobody is born to hate, intolerance can be prevented and unlearned.

NEW YORK (IDN-INPS) – Kristallnacht was not just the night of broken glass; it was the night of broken lives, broken families, broken societies, broken dreams.

: UN Bureau; OPINION; 08 November 2019

Photo: Enthronement Ceremony of Emperor Naruhito, the 126th Emperor of Japan. Prime minister Abe made congratulatory speeches on 22 October 2019. CC BY 4.0.

Japan Between Cosmopolitanism and Ritualised Tradition

Viewpoint by Siegfried Knittel

The writer studied German literature and political science. He now works as a freelance journalist and, since 2011, lives in Japan. This article first appeared on the website of International Politics and Society on 5 November 2019.

TOKYO (IDN-INPS) – In Japan, harmony lies at the heart of everything, from politics to society in general. The recent change on the imperial throne, however, has brought to the fore how much Japan searches for its core identity beneath the harmonious surface.

: Asia Editor; OPINION; 08 November 2019

Photo credit: Roscongress | Vyacheslav Viktorov

Russia and Africa Resolved on Concrete Actions in Trade and Investment

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

MOSCOW (IDN) – After the first Russia-Africa Summit in the Black Sea city Sochi on October 23-24, Russia and Africa have resolved to move from mere intentions to concrete actions in raising the current bilateral trade and investment to appreciably higher levels in the coming years.

As a first step, Russia plans to offer trade subsidies and investment guarantees as an emergency support for Russian companies to penetrate into African market, part of the strategy for strengthening economic ties between Russia and Africa, according to a report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; THE WORLD; Russia; 07 November 2019

Photo: The campus of Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. © 2019 Oryem Nyeko for Human Rights Watch

Military Attack Striking Students at Famed Ugandan University

By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) - As shocking images were viewed around the world of Ugandan police and soldiers beating and gassing students at the renowned Makerere University, President Yoweri Museveni was forced to acknowledge that his security forces were out of control.

“The military is not trained to quell demonstrations,” he began. “They are trained to kill. Those students are not enemies. They are young children, grandchildren who need to be guided to do the right thing.”

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 07 November 2019

Photo: U.S: President Barack Obama and Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev after signing the "New START" treaty on 8 April 2010 in Prague. CC BY 4.0.

New START Vital to Halt Unconstrained Nuclear Arms Race

Viewpoint by Daryl G. Kimball

The writer is Executive Director of the Arms Control Association. The following is the text of his article published in Arms Control Today.

WASHINGTON, DC (IDN | Arms Control Association) – Since 2017, the Trump administration has sought to expand the role and capability of the U.S. nuclear arsenal while withdrawing the United States from key agreements designed to reduce nuclear dangers.