News headlines for “Human Rights Issues”
Ahead of Brutal Winter Season, Intensified Attacks Cripple Basic Services Across Ukraine
- Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, December 18 (IPS) - In recent weeks, the Russo-Ukrainian War has taken a considerable turn for the worse, with armed hostilities escalating in both frequency and intensity, causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and a significant loss of life across Ukraine. Attacks on energy infrastructures and the resulting power outages are forcing the most vulnerable civilians to deal with a “cold, frightening ordeal” in the winter season, warned the United Nations (UN) human rights chief.
My Niece Was Killed Amid Mexico’s Land Conflicts. The World Must Hold Corporations Accountable
- Inter Press Service

MICHOACÁN, Mexico , December 18 (IPS) - My niece Roxana Valentín Cárdenas was 21 years old when she was killed. She was a Purépecha Indigenous woman from San Andrés Tziróndaro, a community on the shores of Lake Pátzcuaro in the Mexican state of Michoacán.
Sudan war: World urged not to ignore ‘gruesome sexual violence’
- UN News
Harrowing new details emerged on Thursday in a UN report detailing targeted sexual violence and summary executions in Sudan’s North Darfur region, attributed to paramilitary fighters who overran the city of El Fasher in late October.
How Pacific Wisdom Is Shaping Global Climate Action
- Inter Press Service

BELÉM, Brazil, December 17 (IPS) - On the Pacific Islands, where the ocean horizon is both a lifeline and a warning, communities have long interpreted environmental change through traditional knowledge, lived experiences, stories, and practice. Their observations echo those across the Pacific region, where traditional knowledge remains central to understanding shifting environments and responsible stewardship.
Killer Robots: The Terrifying Rise of Algorithmic Warfare
- Inter Press Service

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, December 17 (IPS) - Machines with no conscience are making split-second decisions about who lives and who dies. This isn’t dystopian fiction; it’s today’s reality. In Gaza, algorithms have generated kill lists of up to 37,000 targets.
Crimean Tatar artist moulds new path through clay in wartime Ukraine
- UN News

Through her ceramics, Crimean Tatar artist Elvira Demerdzhi finds moments of calm and a sense of home amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
At UN, nations pledge people-first digital future, tighter AI safeguards
- UN News

UN Member States on Wednesday pledged to narrow widening digital divides and put stronger safeguards around artificial intelligence (AI), as the General Assembly concluded a major review of how the world manages the Internet and fast-evolving digital technologies.
Refugees Forced to Fill Gaps as Funding, Power and Legal Recognition Move Out of Reach
- Inter Press Service

SRINAGAR, India, December 16 (IPS) - The global refugee system is entering a period of deep strain. The delivery of protection and assistance is undergoing a transformation due to funding cuts, institutional reforms, and shifting donor priorities. Against this backdrop, a new Global Synthesis Report titled From the Ground Up highlights the many issues faced by refugees in the Middle East and Africa.
Millions at Risk in 2026 as Aid Budgets Hit Historic Lows
- Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, December 16 (IPS) - 2025 has been an especially turbulent year for humanitarian aid operations as global aid budgets have experienced record declines in funding. As conflicts, environmental disasters, and economic crises intensify and disproportionately impact the world’s most vulnerable communities, the resources available in global emergency funds are falling far short of rapidly growing needs.
Asylum Seekers: Offshore, Off Course
- Inter Press Service

VIENNA, Austria, December 16 (IPS) - The debate on reforming the European asylum system has gained significant momentum following the agreement reached by EU interior ministers last week. Alongside questions of solidarity and distribution, the possibility of establishing ‘return hubs’ outside the EU was at the heart of the meeting.
Global Issues