Latest news with #PoliticalDeclaration
Scoop
20-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
No Health, Gender And Economic Justice Without Ending Wars, Invasions And Genocides
While health, gender and other sustainable development goals are reeling under severe funding cuts, governments of richer nations are increasing defence budgets. More shocking is that same governments who are raising spending on militarisation, are the ones committing to 'peace' at a global meet on financing for development and refusing on debt cancellation for the Global South nations. In June 2025, a meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and its allies was held which pledged to increase defence spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035. 'Yet these same countries - the same NATO countries - during negotiations of 4th Financing for Development Conference of the UN (FfD4), refused to include a reference to debt cancellation for the Global South. This increased commitment to militarisation without relieving the persistent debt crisis remains a major gap in the FfD4 process,' said Swetha Sridhar, Senior Global Policy Research Officer at Fos Feminista. "This is the money (5% rise in budgets for militarisation) they are taking off from programmes on gender equality and human rights (including human right to health),' said Mabel Bianco, physician activist from Latin America and founding president of FEIM (foundation for studies and research on women). A Feminist Forum was organised right before the FfD4 began. 'Feminist Forum's Political Declaration importantly called for deescalating wars and ending territorial invasions and genocide - nothing less from this is acceptable,' said Sai Jyothirmai Racherla, Deputy Executive Director of ARROW (Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women). Agrees Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of Asian People's Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD): 'I would echo what Political Declaration of Feminist Forum organised before FfD4 said that no real financing justice can be reached without an urgent end to escalating wars, territorial invasions and genocides, in Gaza, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and other places.' 'There is growing realisation of debt. Global North has plundered Global South for centuries. Systematic accountability for the historical role of the Global North in causing and perpetuating the debt crises in the Global South, along with reparations and non-debt creating finance are central demands for a feminist transformation of the existing international financial architecture,' responded Zainab Shumail of Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD). Global South is reeling under perennial debt and debt servicing. But governments at FfD4 shy away from addressing this issue. Unless we go for structural reforms, stop privatisation of public services – so that public health, education and social support are fully funded – how will we deliver on SDGs where no one is left behind? The global financing architecture must be geared towards the realisation of a gender-just economy in which financing for development will result in equitable outcomes and fair distribution of resources that promotes social, economic, and environmental justice, instead of just providing lip service. This was being discussed at a SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity & Rights) session co-hosted by International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) 2025, Family Planning News Network (FPNN), Global Center for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR), Asia Pacific Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and CNS. FfD4 failed to deliver on feminist agenda 'Feminist agenda refers to a gender transformative economic system that is based on rights to justice, care, and equality for everyone urgently. This was central to the Political Declaration of Feminist Forum held before the FfD4 in Seville, Spain. But FfD4 failed to deliver on gender equality and feminist agenda,' said Sai Jyothirmai Racherla. 'FfD4 compromised on the ambition that was warranted as per the urgency of our current times, and lack of political will which is required to embrace the much-needed bold reforms,' said Lidy Nacpil. 'FfD4 outcome document was influenced and shaped by main 'blockers' of any real progress. These 'blockers' were Global North countries, and this is not a surprising fact. There was very active undermining and opposition to the proposals for actionable mandates for the transformation of the international debt and aid architectures. This transformation is vital to address the colonial and patriarchal legacies that plague the current financial architecture. There was a lack of transparency throughout the whole FfD4 negotiation process. Accountability of the process was absent and restrictions of civil society participation which continued up to - and even worsened during the Seville FfD4 conference – were major impediments,' added Lidy Nacpil. She explained further that: 'FfD4 failed because the FFD4 outcomes failed to make meaningful progress on establishing a global financing framework that we have always demanded for many years which should be centred on human rights, promote the stability of the biosphere and brings all planetary boundaries back to a safe zone and uphold the principle of CBDR (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities). This framework should address the redistribution of care work which is predominantly done by women and acknowledges and addresses the racial dimension of SDGs.' 'FfD4 outcome document also failed to prioritise public financing for high quality essential services and move beyond an over reliance on private finance to fill in development financing gaps. It failed to address the equity for income distribution. It failed to strengthen and uphold democratic space and civic participation. And it failed to call for reparations for the economic and environmental harm caused by colonialism, patriarchy, slavery, and resource extraction from the global south,' Lidy added. FfD4 outcome document should have included a clear commitment to shift away from so-called debt resolution mechanisms which are dominated by creditors. It should have taken us steps forward for a process towards a UN Framework Convention on Sovereign Debt – which was among the strong calls given by civil society. Connect the dots: Debt, tax, trade, justice and feminist agenda 'Issues of debt, tax, trade, and justice are all deeply intertwined with a feminist agenda for sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice. For example, we know that financial autonomy translates to greater bodily autonomy. We also know that gendered impacts of poverty leave marginalised communities unable to access services for sexual and reproductive health and rights,' said Swetha Sridhar. Agrees Mabel Bianco: 'FfD4 compromise document is so weak. For example, it mentions about the access of universal health coverage but not about sexual and reproductive health. But this is what we acutely need because it is not possible to reach development if we are not having these rights recognised - including access to safe abortion.' 'Since FfD4 outcome document is so weak, we must consider that this is not the end rather it is just the beginning of our further struggles to achieve gender justice and human rights. We are also going to find strength in struggles and align with other like-minded movements advocating for rights around the UN. We are going to put in what we need. We are not resigning of our principles, ideas, or our proposals. If you read the Political Declaration of Feminist Forum held before FfD4, this is what we need. We need to continue resisting and fighting till we achieve our goals,' added Mabel Bianco. 'For the young people, especially young girls and women, we need to request them to consider and recognise that what we reached before (in terms of gender equality and rights) is not forever. We need to keep fighting to be sure that we do not lose these gains made towards gender equality – and move towards delivering on all sustainable goals and targets,' said Mabel. 'We are not going to stop until we deliver on gender equality. We will continue to do our work to demand for a right-based, environmentally-just, de-colonial, intersectional, sustainable, and person-centred economic model. We need such an economic model in current times where care, reparations, redistribution and accountability remain central. We must reform financial architecture so that it can guarantee long-term flexible, inclusive, and equitable financing for development. We also need to restructure the global economic governance because currently it is very Global North heavy. We need to have Global South parity. We need to include democratisation of the decision-making processes across the international financial institutions and the multilateral development banks,' rightly concludes Sai Jyothirmai Racherla. Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen News Service) (Shobha Shukla is a feminist, health and development justice advocate, and an award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service). She was also the Lead Discussant for SDG-3 at United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF 2025). She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College; current President of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media); Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024); and coordinator of SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity & Rights). Follow her on Twitter/X @shobha1shukla or read her writings here
Focus Malaysia
16-07-2025
- Health
- Focus Malaysia
Galen Centre: Breast cancer must be recognised in the 2025 United Nations Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health
THE Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy has called for the United Nations and its member states to explicitly recognise breast cancer as a priority disease area within the final Political Declaration to be adopted during the 4th High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in New York this September. Its chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said the ommission of breast cancer in the zero draft of the 2025 Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health is a serious oversight that fails to reflect the lived realities and urgent public health needs of millions of women across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia. 'We call for Malaysia, as chair of ASEAN for 2025 and a leader of this region, to take up this call to include breast cancer in this important declaration,' he said. 'In Malaysia, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women, accounting for over 30% of all female cancers. Nine women lose their lives to breast cancer each day.' Citing the Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report 2012–2016, Azrul further noted that one in 19 women is at risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. Worryingly, over 47% of cases are detected at late stages (Stage 3 or 4), when survival rates are significantly lower and treatment costs exponentially higher. Unfortunately, Malaysia's 5 year survival rate for breast cancer is among the worst in the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, a study by Universiti Putra Malaysia found that 13.6% of women in Malaysia are diagnosed before the age of 40, which is higher than in Western countries. 'The burden of breast cancer is not only medical—it is social, economic, and deeply gendered. Many women face barriers to early detection, including stigma, low awareness, lack of access to mammograms, and unaffordable treatment options,' Azrul continued. 'The disease also disproportionately affects women in low- and middle-income countries in the region, where health systems are under strain and cancer care infrastructure remains underdeveloped. We cannot afford to leave out breast cancer in this important declaration. 'In Southeast Asia, the incidence of breast cancer has risen steadily, compounded by increasing urbanisation, lifestyle changes, and ageing populations. 'Health illiteracy, the lack of structured national screening programmes and delays in diagnosis contribute to high mortality rates across the Southeast Asian region. 'We strongly echo the sentiments expressed by global health advocates that breast cancer cannot be excluded from global NCD agendas. It is a leading cause of premature death among women and demands a concerted, multisectoral response.' The Galen Centre calls for the 2025 United Nations Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health to: Explicitly include breast cancer as a priority NCD within the global agenda; Recognise the unique challenges faced by women in low- and middle-income countries in accessing breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care; Support equity in cancer control, including commitments to universal health coverage, affordable medicines, early detection programmes, and investments in oncology infrastructure; and Promote national cancer control strategies that integrate breast cancer prevention and treatment, with measurable targets and accountability frameworks. 'No woman should be left behind in the fight against NCDs. Breast cancer should be recognised as a political, economic, and health priority for the region and the world,' stressed Azrul. 'As Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries strive to meet Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 (to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030) the inclusion of breast cancer is not optional; it is essential.' ‒ July 17, 2025 Main image: Shutterstock/Jo Panuwat D
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
It will take Churchillian clarity to guarantee Europe's defence
Last week, we marked the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Eighty years ago, Britain emerged bloodied but unbowed from six long years of war. My grandfather, Winston Churchill, addressed the nation with gravity and pride, conscious that while peace had been won, the work of rebuilding and securing the future had only just started. He knew, as we must now remember, that peace is never a given; it must be earned, defended and maintained. Today Europe again finds itself at a moment of great consequence. The war in Ukraine has shattered the illusion that our continent's peace and security are settled. As threats mount at our borders and beyond, we are once again reminded that freedom must be safeguarded through shared effort and collective resolve. Next week, the UK and EU will meet at a summit that could – if the political will is there – mark the beginning of a new chapter in our strategic relationship. Independence from the European Union need not equate to isolation. Our security is inextricably linked to that of our neighbours, and it is imperative that we stand united in the face of shared threats. We have a duty – indeed, a pressing national interest – to work more closely with our continental partners in the defence of our continent. Now is the moment for both sides to agree a new Security and Defence Partnership. This was envisioned in the 2019 Political Declaration, signed by a Conservative government, which promised a broad, comprehensive and balanced defence relationship. The Government must deliver on that commitment. Such a framework would establish regular consultation and cooperation across the full spectrum of security and defence issues, anchored by an annual high-level UK-EU Security and Defence Dialogue. This is not a theoretical exercise. A structured partnership would allow Britain to engage meaningfully in areas where we have both capacity and interest. It would ensure that we have a seat at the table when EU Council-level discussions take place on issues that affect us – or where our voice could help shape Europe's collective response. Britain once played a leading role in European defence missions across the globe. The UK hosted the operational headquarters for Operation ATALANTA, which tackled piracy off the coast of Somalia. We were a major contributor to Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which continues to underpin stability in the Western Balkans. In today's geopolitical climate, a renewed British role in such missions would serve both our strategic interests and the broader cause of European security. A new partnership must also enable the UK to participate in major European initiatives that are rapidly reshaping the continent's defence architecture. Earlier this year, the EU launched a €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) fund. The aim is clear: to strengthen European defence capabilities through coordinated investment and common procurement. Participation would deliver strategic and economic benefits to both the UK and the EU. It would enhance interoperability between our armed forces, reduce duplication, and provide long-term certainty for defence manufacturers on both sides of the Channel. As Europe seeks to build scale and resilience in its defence industrial base, it would be short-sighted and counterproductive for the EU to exclude one of the continent's most capable military powers. This is not about rejoining the European Union. It is about doing what is right for Britain and what is necessary for Europe. We are living through a moment of extraordinary global uncertainty. Our adversaries do not distinguish between EU and non-EU countries. They target our values, our institutions, our infrastructure. To stand apart risks division and decline; to stand together is to lead with strength and purpose. In Churchill's time, Britain helped liberate Europe through courage, sacrifice and leadership. Today, we must help defend it with the same clarity of purpose. A new Security and Defence Partnership with the EU is not a retreat from sovereignty – it is the strategic exercise of it. It is a bold and necessary step to ensure that Britain remains a central pillar in the defence of the democratic world. If VE Day taught us anything, it is that peace can never be taken for granted. Alliances, when forged with mutual respect and shared purpose, amplify our strength rather than diminish it. That principle shaped the post-war order – and it must guide us now. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Ya Biladi
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Slovenia reaffirms support for Morocco's Sahara autonomy plan
As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council until the end of 2025, Slovenia has reaffirmed its support for Morocco's autonomy initiative for the Sahara. «It is a solid foundation for a definitive solution» to this regional dispute, declared Slovenia's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Tanja Fajon, on Friday, April 18, in Ljubljana, during a joint press conference with her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita. She also commended Morocco's serious and credible efforts to resolve the Sahara issue. Slovenia had previously expressed this position in the Political Declaration of June 11, 2024, adopted during Fajon's official visit to Rabat. On Friday, both ministers reiterated their support for the UN-led political process and the exclusivity of the United Nations in resolving the conflict. They also voiced support for all Security Council resolutions, including the latest, Resolution 2756 of October 31, 2024. Fajon further reaffirmed Slovenia's longstanding backing of efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution based on compromise. Both officials also expressed continued support for MINURSO. Earlier this week, Estonia, Moldova, Croatia, Hungary, and Spain also expressed their backing for Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara.
Associated Press
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
IOC Welcomes Recognition of Sport as a Tool for Gender Equality and Empowerment in Declaration Adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women
International Olympic Committee news The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has welcomed the Political Declaration adopted unanimously by the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, reaffirming the importance of sport as a vehicle for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. As stated in paragraph 11 of the declaration, UN Member States 'also recognize the contributions of all women and girls, including adolescent girls, to their societies, and the opportunities to strengthen these contributions in decision making processes, and as agents of change as well as ensuring their equal access to safe, accessible and affordable digital technology and to inclusive and equitable quality education, including physical education and sports, and promote life-long learning as well as access to health-care services and to empower them and fulfill all their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and end all forms of violence and discrimination against them.' This acknowledgment builds upon a strong history of the CSW consistently recognising the contribution of sport to gender equality. The transformative power of sport in accelerating gender equality Speaking at a high-level ministerial roundtable organised by the Mission of Qatar, IOC Member Laura Chinchilla underlined the transformative power of sport in accelerating gender equality and social development. She urged Member States to engage more strongly with the sports sector for the advancement of social development of women and girls. Participating in sports helps women and girls complete education, gain skills, and boost their economic contribution. Since 1995, sport has been repeatedly recognised by UN Member States as a powerful enabler of gender equality. This was reaffirmed yesterday, in the CSW69 Political Declaration. Laura ChinchillaIOC Member Highlighting the efforts of the IOC and the Olympic Movement to close gender gaps on and off the field of play, her address also reaffirmed ongoing collaboration with public authorities, the UN, development banks, the private sector and civil society to promote the social development of women by enhancing safe and inclusive access to sport. Chinchilla also highlighted the economic potential of sport, noting that the sector has grown by over 5 per cent annually for the past two decades and is projected to continue expanding. Chinchilla noted that despite these proven benefits, sport remains an underutilised tool in many government policies. She called upon policymakers to collaborate with the sports movement to invest in safe, equal and inclusive sporting opportunities for women and girls, and emphasised that governments have a unique opportunity to leverage sport as a cost-effective tool for the development of women and girls, supported by development financing institutions. Recognising the role of sport in advancing sustainable development Since 1995, sport has been referenced in multiple policy documents pertaining to the rights of women and girls, notably the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Beijing+5, and past Agreed Conclusions of the CSW. These documents have repeatedly emphasised the role of sport in fostering leadership, economic empowerment and social inclusion for women and girls. The inclusion of sport in the CSW69 Political Declaration marks another milestone in the ongoing recognition of its role in sustainable development. As governments, international organisations and stakeholders continue to advance gender equality, sport remains a powerful catalyst for positive change worldwide. Gathered at the UN Headquarters from 10 to 21 March, participants in this year's CSW will take part in a series of meetings and discussions looking back on the developments since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration in 1995, and looking forward to the Second World Summit on Social Development – due to be held in Doha from 4 to 6 November 2025. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from International Olympic Committee
