All posts by CPNN Coordinator

About CPNN Coordinator

Dr David Adams is the coordinator of the Culture of Peace News Network. He retired in 2001 from UNESCO where he was the Director of the Unit for the International Year for the Culture of Peace, proclaimed for the Year 2000 by the United Nations General Assembly.

Women, Peace and Security Index 2025-2026

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

Sections on individual indicators from the Women, Peace and Security Index 2025-2026

Indicator performance has improved little since the 2023/24 WPS Index

Inclusion indicators

With the exception of some high performers, women’s average years of schooling
remain alarmingly low. The global average for the education indicator (average
number of years of schooling for women ages 25 and older) stands at 8.4
years, four years short of completing secondary education in most countries. The top performers, where women receive over 12 years of schooling on average, are countries classified as high income and with very high Human Development Index rankings. Low-income and low Human Development Index countries rank at the bottom on this indicator, with just over three years of schooling. The Sub-Saharan Africa region and the Fragile
States group score at the bottom, with an average of 5.3 years of schooling.
On average, girls in 33 countries receive less than five years of schooling.


The United States and Germany are tied for the highest average years
of schooling, at 14, while Somalia, classified as a Fragile State, has the
lowest average, at 0.9 year. The Middle East and North Africa region has
the widest range of performance on this indicator, from 13.4 years in the
United Arab Emirates to 0.9 year in Somalia. Lebanon is the best performing among the Fragile States group, with roughly 13.1 years of schooling, the only country in that group to place in the top quintile for this indicator.

Sub-Saharan Africa performs exceedingly well on women’s employment, while
the Middle East and North Africa and South Asia perform poorly. The global
average for the employment indicator (the percentage of women ages 25–64
who are employed) is 56 percent, ranging from 24 percent of women
employed in the Middle East and North Africa region to 73 percent in
the Developed Countries group. A close second is Sub-Saharan Africa,
at 71 percent. Iceland is the only country in the Developed Countries
group that ranks in the top 10 on women’s employment. However, the
range across countries in the group is narrow, with most countries ranking
high on employment even if they are not in the top 10. Burundi, classified
as a Fragile State, is tied as the highest-ranking country in the world on this
indicator, with roughly 90 percent of women employed. Half of the 10 top-ranked countries on this indicator are in Sub-Saharan Africa (Burundi, Tanzania, Nigeria, Benin, and Togo), including two classified as Fragile States (Burundi and Nigeria). São Tomé and Principe is the only country in that region with fewer than a third of women employed.

While high rates of employment are an important indicator of women’s status, the global datasets we use do not capture working conditions and unpaid care burdens that women manage (see appendix 1 for details on the data sources we use). For example, highest-ranking Burundi has the largest share of women (roughly 95 percent) employed in the informal economy, especially in agriculture. Employment may also not translate
into higher standards of living; almost two-thirds of Burundi’s population
lives below the 2017 poverty line of $2.15 a day, nearly the same share as
eight years ago when the inaugural WPS Index was produced. While most
Burundian women work in small-scale farming jobs, men are more likely
to work in higher revenue-generating industrial agricultural enterprises.
Thus, the concentration of women’s employment in the informal sector is
evidence of the continuing need to improve women’s inclusion, even as
women’s high employment rates represent gains in their status and social
acceptance of women’s employment.

The Middle East and North Africa is the worst-performing region, with more than three in four women unemployed. Low labor force participation by women reflects a combination of structural and legal barriers— such as slow industrialization, male-dominated oil economies, discriminatory family laws, and lack of childcare or maternity support—that restrict both the supply of and demand for women’s labor. These barriers are reinforced by high unemployment among educated women, weak private sector job creation, and persistent patriarchal norms that discourage women’s employment. South Asia is the second-worst performing region and, along with the Middle East and North Africa, the only region where fewer than half of women are employed (39 percent). Despite some favorable laws, women’s low employment in South Asia reflects a lack of supportive infrastructure, such as childcare, eldercare, safe transport, inclusive workplaces, and re-entry opportunities, combined with education gaps, limited access to finance, and restrictive social norms.

Minor changes in other indicators of inclusion. The global average for cellphone
use (percentage of women and girls ages 15 or older who report having a
cellphone) increased from 80 percent in the 2023/24 WPS Index to 84 percent. The Developed Countries group is the best performing, at 96 percent, and South Asia is the worst performing, at roughly 65 percent, up from 55 percent in the 2023/24 WPS Index. In seven countries, less than half of women report having their own cellphone (Chad, Ethiopia, Niger, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and
Pakistan). As mentioned, Pakistan is the only country in which fewer
than a third of women have their own cellphone.

Globally, average parliamentary representation (percentage of parliamentary seats held by women) declined slightly, from 26 percent in 2023/24 to 24 percent. The Latin America and the Caribbean region performs best, with women filling roughly 33 percent of parliamentary seats on average. South Asia is the worst-performing region, at roughly 16 percent, displacing the Middle East and North Africa, whose score improved from 15 percent in the 2023/24 WPS Index to 18 percent.

There are limited updates to the financial inclusion indicator (percentage of women and girls ages 15 years or older with an account at a financial institution). The Middle East and North Africa region performs worst on this
indicator, at 28 percent. The average rate for the Fragile States group, which
was the worst-performing region in the 2023 Index, has remained the same
(34 percent). In six countries worldwide, less than 10 percent of women have
access to their own bank account: South Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen,
Burundi, Djibouti, and Central African Republic. South Sudan is the
lowest-ranking country globally on this indicator, with only 4 percent of
women having access to their own bank account. Eight of the ten bottomranking countries on this indicator are classified as Fragile States. The exceptions are Pakistan, at 14 percent, and Djibouti, at 9 percent.

Justice indicators

Mixed performances on barriers to justice. The global score on absence of legal
discrimination (a measure of the differences between men’s and women’s legal access to economic opportunities, from 0, worst, to 100, best)
improved slightly, from 75.7 on the 2023/24 WPS Index to 76.1. Fourteen
countries have a perfect score of 100, all except one (Latvia) in the Developed Countries group. Seven of the bottom dozen countries on this indicator are classified as Fragile States, and all except one of these Fragile States (Afghanistan) are in the Middle East and North Africa region, which is the worst-performing region on this indicator on the current WPS Index (as it was on the 2023/24 WPS Index).

Performance ranges widely on the related access to justice indicator (an ordinal measure of women’s ability to enjoy equal, secure, and effective access
to justice, from 0, worst, to 4, best). Denmark once again ranks highest on
the indicator, with a score of 3.958, more than 40 times higher than bottomranking Nicaragua, with a score of .097. Nicaragua displaced Afghanistan,
which was the lowest performer on this indicator in the 2023/24 WPS Index.
Nicaragua’s score plunged 85 percent from its score of .659 on the 2023/24
WPS Index, a large drop that may reflect the deterioration of judicial independence following the February 2025 constitutional reforms driven by President Daniel Ortega. These included eliminating the separation of powers and positioning the judiciary branch under direct executive influence of the new co-presidency of President Ortega and his wife. Key legal protections have been removed, including references to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the prohibition against gender-based wage discrimination. Women face heightened risks, and dissenters are threatened with loss
of citizenship. Afghanistan also deteriorated on the access to justice indicator, with its score falling from .372 on the 2023/24 WPS Index to .160.

Eight of the ten highest-ranking countries on the access to justice indicator are in the Developed Countries group, whose average score on this
indicator is 3.5. No other region has an average above 2.2. The second-best
performing regions are Latin America and the Caribbean and SubSaharan Africa, tied with an average score of 2.2. Latin America and the Caribbean’s improved standing may be explained by the almost 5 percent rise in its average score for this indicator from the 2023/24 WPS Index, together with declines in scores for Central and Eastern Europe and
Central Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, and South Asia. Countries in
the Latin America and the Caribbean region also have the widest range of
scores on this indicator, with best performing Costa Rica (3.540) scoring 36
times higher than worst-performing Nicaragua (.097).

The Fragile States group performs worst overall on the access to justice
indicator, with a score of 1.8, followed closely by the Middle East and
North Africa. The average score for the Middle East and North Africa,
the lowest ranked region on this indicator in the 2023/24 WPS Index,
rose from 1.7 to 1.9. The increase reflects improvements in several countries’ scores, including Egypt (up 37 percent), Algeria (17 percent), Qatar
(12 percent), Palestine (11 percent), Yemen (4 percent, and no longer in
the bottom 10 countries for this indicator), and Iraq (2 percent, and no
longer in the bottom 20).

It makes intuitive sense that the absence of legal discrimination and
access to justice indicators are strongly connected, since few formal legal
protections for women would typically mean that women also have a limited ability to safely pursue justice (and vice versa). Figure 6.3 visualizes
the normalized scores of these two justice indicators, with the overlapping
patterns reaffirming the positive relation between them. Nonetheless, there
are some outlier countries that score high on one indicator and low on
the other. As on the 2023/24 WPS Index, Nicaragua and El Salvador
have high scores on the absence of legal discrimination (86.3 and 88.8,
respectively) indicator but low scores on access to justice (.097 and .792,
respectively).

Worsening conflict and aid cuts threaten to undo gains in the maternal mortality ratio. The global average maternal mortality ratio (an indicator of mothers’ risk of death from a single pregnancy) improved from 212 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023/24 to approximately 188. Nigeria has the highest maternal mortality ratio in the world, with 993 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Belarus and Norway continue to have the lowest maternal mortality ratio, improving to 1 death per 100,000 live births. The Developed Countries group performs the best on this indicator, with an average of 10 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The United States has the worst maternal mortality ratio among countries in the Developed Countries group (box 6.1).

The Fragile States group has the highest maternal mortality ratio among regions, with an average of 457 deaths per 100,000 live births. Seven of the ten lowest-ranking countries on this indicator are classified as Fragile States, and five of these are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Recent research also reaffirms that armed conflict is associated with increases in maternal and child deaths globally. For instance, research focusing on the Tigray region of Ethiopia found that maternal outcomes deteriorate severely in rural areas during wartime, likely due to disruptions in healthcare infrastructure.

(continued in right column)

Question related to this article:
 
Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

(continued from left column)

However, since the 2023/24 WPS Index, maternal mortality ratios have
improved for both the Sub-Saharan Africa region (down from 507 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births to 437) and the Fragile States group
(down from 540 to 457). South Sudan, which was the worst-performing
country on this indicator in the 2023/24 WPS Index, with 1,223 maternal
deaths per 100,000 live births, has nearly halved that number to 692. South
Sudan’s improvement may be attributed to the gradual increase in midwife
training throughout the country, supported by organizational efforts such
as the establishment of the Catholic Health Training Institute in 2010
and UNFPA support of mobile health clinics and community outreach programs that provide perinatal care. Additional efforts are ongoing, with
the World Health Organization (WHO) and South Sudan’s Ministry of
Health collaborating in 2024 to develop guidelines and training resources
on maternal health for healthcare workers.

Despite substantial progress over the past two decades, the WHO reported
that Sub-Saharan Africa, grappling with high rates of poverty and multiple
armed conflicts, still accounted for about 70 percent of maternal deaths
worldwide in 2023. Recent maternal mortality data also reveal the detrimental impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with an estimated 40,000 more
deaths in 2021 than in 2020, driven by health complications from Covid-19
and widespread disruptions to maternity services, underscoring the need
to maintain essential care during crises such as pandemics. Global maternal mortality ratios began to improve in the two years after the pandemic,
returning to the falling trend of earlier years.

Globally, maternal deaths dropped 40 percent between 2000 and 2023,
but progress has slowed notably since 2016, with almost one woman dying
every two minutes in 2023 from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications. And now there is a risk of reversals, as deep cuts in humanitarian funding in 2025 are severely undermining maternal and child health
services. In many areas, maternal and child health facilities have closed,
the number of health workers has declined, and supply chains for lifesaving medicines have been disrupted.

Especially at risk are women in countries that are heavily dependent on
humanitarian assistance, such as those classified as Fragile States, where
maternal mortality ratios are already high. For instance, a 2025 UN report
estimated that the likelihood of maternal death is 400 times greater in
Sub-Saharan Africa than in Australia and New Zealand. The highest risks are in countries ranked the worst on the maternal mortality ratio
indicator: Nigeria (181st), Chad (180th), Central African Republic
(178th tie), South Sudan (178th tie), Liberia (177th), Somalia (176th),
and Afghanistan (175th). Researchers at Stanford University have estimated that reductions in development assistance to low-resource countries that last five years or longer can reverse 64 percent of the progress in
maternal mortality. Health and dignity are not only basic human rights,
but they are also central to women’s participation and protection under the
WPS Agenda. Urgent and sustained action is needed from all countries to
preserve and increase the gains in maternal mortality.

Security indicators

Despite some improvements, less than two-thirds of women worldwide report
feeling safe walking at night in their communities. Community safety (the percentage of women who report feeling safe walking alone at night in their
community) has improved slightly, rising from 64 percent globally on the
2023/24 WPS Index to 66 percent. But that means more than one-third of
women feel unsafe walking alone at night in their communities. Singapore is the highest-ranking country on this indicator, with 97 percent of
women feeling safe walking alone at night, while Syrian Arab Republic
is the lowest-ranking country at 17 percent—and the only country where
fewer than one in four women feels safe walking alone at night.

Among regions, East Asia and the Pacific again performs best, with
84 percent of women reporting feeling safe walking in their community at
night (compared with 83 percent in the 2023/24 WPS Index), while Latin
America and the Caribbean again performs worst, at 42 percent (40 percent in 2023/24). El Salvador is the only country in the Latin America and
the Caribbean region to score above the global average, with 85 percent
of women reporting that they feel safe walking alone at night. In 16 of 27
countries in the region, more than half the women report feeling unsafe
walking alone at night.

In 31 of the 37 countries classified as Fragile States, fewer than two-thirds of women feel safe walking alone at night. In a majority of countries
(23) in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, that share shrinks to fewer than
half. Syrian Arab Republic has the worst performance globally on this
indicator, with less than a quarter of women feeling safe walking alone at
night. The second-worst performers on the community safety indicator are
South Africa and Afghanistan, at 25 percent each. In Afghanistan, the
Taliban continues to restrict women’s mobility, including prohibitions on
visiting parks and even health centers.

Community safety is one of the few indicators on which the Developed Countries group does not perform best. Its score of 65 percent puts it behind the East Asia and the Pacific region, at 84. Nine countries in the Developed Countries group are below the global average of 66 percent: Israel (63 percent), Canada (63 percent), Belgium (63 percent), the United States (58 percent), Malta (56 percent), Australia (52 percent), Greece (51 percent), New Zealand (47 percent), and Italy (44 percent). Just behind the Developed Countries group are the Middle East and North Africa and South Asia regions, both at just under 65 percent. Eleven countries in the Middle East and North Africa score above the global average on community safety, with more than two-thirds of women
feeling safe walking alone at night.

Perceptions of community safety also vary within countries, with vulnerable groups often feeling more unsafe. For instance, a 2024 study for
Brazil found that perceptions of safety among women have deteriorated
more in rural areas than in urban areas, especially for non-White populations, a finding the study links to an erosion of trust in police services.
In the United States, there is a notable racial difference in perceptions of
safety, with fewer than half of Black women (46 percent) feeling safe walking alone at night, compared with 58 percent of women overall. Only
two-thirds of Black women in the United States believe they would be
treated fairly or with respect by local police, and one-fourth report having
experienced discriminatory treatment in the past year, higher than that of
Black men (one-fifth).

Political violence targeting women shows little improvement. Globally, political violence targeting women (violent and politically motivated events targeting women) improved from 0.080 event per 100,000 women in the 2023/24 WPS Index to 0.070 event in the current one. While this indicator captures “the use of force by a group with a political purpose or motivation” in targeting women (physical violence or attempt at physical violence), it does not capture the full scope of political violence targeting women. For instance, it does not include intimidation, threats, or online or technologyfacilitated gender-based violence, all of which can have serious implications for women’s safety and their ability to participate in politics and in peace and security efforts.

The Latin America and the Caribbean region continues to have
the highest rate of political violence targeting women, despite a reduction from 0.381 event per 100,000 women on the 2023/24 WPS Index to
0.338 on the current one. The region also has the second-highest share of
women living in proximity to conflict (up from 44 percent to 47 percent).
When considered along with the region’s performance at the bottom of
the regional rankings on community safety, these results reinforce the
relationship between feelings of safety at the local level and instability
at the societal level. The second-worst performing region on this indicator is the Fragile States group, at 0.212 event per 100,000 women. The
Middle East and North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa regions performed slightly better, at roughly 0.130 event per 100,000 women. The
other country groups have an average rate ranging from 0.006 event
per 100,000 women (Developed Countries) to roughly 0.020 for three
regions (Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, East Asia
and the Pacific, and South Asia).

Seven of the ten bottom-ranking countries on the political violence targeting women indicator are in the Latin America and the Caribbean region,
and only one of those (Haiti) is classified as a Fragile State. Trinidad and
Tobago is the worst-performing country globally on this indicator, with
3.017 events per 100,000 women. The next lowest ranked country is Belize,
with 1.452 events, which makes Trinidad and Tobago an outlier on this
indicator. Trinidad and Tobago has a history of high rates of political violence targeting women, with 8 events per 100,000 women in the 2019/20
WPS Index, rising nearly fourfold to 23 events in the 2023/24 WPS Index.
That large increase may be related to the island country’s very small population, intensifying gang violence that led the government to declare a state
of emergency in December 2024, and the second-highest score worldwide
on a measure of the geographic diffusion of conflict.

Eleven countries in the Fragile States group have 0.000 reported events
of political violence targeting women, a hopeful sign that such violence
can be controlled even in contexts of fragility and conflict. Kosovo’s rate
of 0.000 events may reflect targeted interventions and women’s leadership. For instance, discussions on political violence targeting women and
its consequences for women’s representation were spurred in Kosovo by
initiatives such as the EmPOWER Local Women Politicians Program, a
capacity-building program sponsored by the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe that offers leadership workshops, civic engagement
opportunities, and cross-party collaboration for women in politics. As a
result of such efforts, women parliamentarians led their fellow lawmakers
in developing and endorsing an official declaration in 2024 that calls for
accountability and the safeguarding of women’s full participation in electoral spheres.35
Despite these positive signs, women in 94 countries are still subjected
to political violence. They range from the United Kingdom, with 0.003
event per 100,000 women, to five countries (Palestine, Cameroon,
Jamaica, Belize, and Trinidad and Tobago) where events exceed 1 per
100,000 women.

Finally, political violence targeting women does not affect all women in
the same way or to the same degree, and a lack of reporting does not necessarily mean a lack of occurrence. The United States is an example of how
these limitations can affect our understanding of this indicator. The country’s score on this indicator fell from 0.025 event per 100,000 women in the
2023/24 WPS Index to 0.006 in the current one. However, a recent study
found high levels of political violence targeting women during the 2024
US election cycle, with Black women 7 times more likely to be targeted by
hate speech than Black men, 3 times more likely than White women, and
18 times more likely than White men.

(Editor’s note: Cuba was one of 18 countries that were not included in their report because data was lacking on several indicators. Elsewhere in the report, it is noted that Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Rwanda are the only countries with more than 50% women in parliament. Other countries not listed come from the Caribbean (6), Pacific Islands (2), tiny European states (4), tiny Asian states (2). Also North Korea, Eritrea and Equatorial Guinea.)

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global, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

The pilot project “Yes, it is peace!” is launched in schools near the university of Barcelona

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

The Fundació Autònoma Solidària (FAS) and the Escola de Cultura de Pau (ECP) have launched the educational project Sí que es pau! (Yes, it is peace!), linked to the CROMA 2.0 program, with the aim of helping primary school students understand armed violence and providing them with the tools to act as agents of peace. The project ran from February to March of this year and involved six FAS volunteers who facilitated the sessions in the participating schools.

The initiative was implemented in six schools near the university—Sant Martí and Serraparera (Cerdanyola), Montessori and Pau Casals (Rubí), and Nova Electra and Sant Llorenç del Munt (Terrassa)—following a four-week program with sessions from Monday to Thursday.

(Article continued in right column)

(Click here for the original article in Spanish.)

Question related to this article:
 
What is the best way to teach peace to children?

(Article continued from left column)

The project is based on a central idea: war has global impacts, and it is essential to equip children and young people with the tools to understand it and take action against it. Through six sessions, students have explored concepts such as direct and structural violence, International Humanitarian Law, military spending, conscientious objection, and peace initiatives, and have learned about the stories of activists from Gaza, Israel, South Africa, and Spain.

The learning process is documented audiovisually.

As part of the project, an explanatory video filmed at the Escola Montessori in Rubí has ​​been produced, capturing one of the student work sessions. The video offers a close look at the development of the educational approach and how a space for reflection is created in the classroom.

The video features Cecile Barbeito, a trainer from the Escola de Cultura de Pau (School of Peace Culture), as well as two volunteers from the FAS (Foundation for Social Action), Ivet Pomés and Alberto León, who facilitated the activities. The video includes the voices of some students, who share their reflections on issues such as conscientious objection. It also includes some impressions from UAB (Autonomous University of Barcelona) students on how this pilot program has worked.

The project has received support from the Agència Catalana de Cooperació per al Desenvolupament, Generalitat de Catalunya.

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EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Europe

Arab League: On Press Freedom Day: Calls To Ensure A Pluralistic Media Environment That Enlightens Public Opinion

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION . .

An article from Yaffa News Network

The Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League and Head of the Media and Communication Sector, Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, stressed the need to ensure a pluralistic, independent, and credible media environment that contributes to enlightening public opinion, protecting rights and freedoms, and combating tendencies toward violence and hatred.


In press statements on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, Ambassador Khattabi praised the provisions recently introduced to the Arab Media Code of Honor regarding the consolidation of pluralism and freedom of opinion, as well as the prohibition of publishing misleading rumors, especially during electoral processes.

He added that this international day, adopted by a UN General Assembly resolution in 1993 on the initiative of UNESCO, is an opportunity to acknowledge the valuable services of journalists in all their positions and professional affiliations, and to emphasize the facilitation of their work and their contributions to development and democratic practice, in line with the principles of relevant international conventions, starting with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

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Questions related to this article:

Free flow of information, How is it important for a culture of peace?

(continued from left column)

He also stressed that freedom of opinion is an inherent right, limited only by legal and ethical frameworks and vital national interests.


The Head of the Media and Communication Sector announced that the world will mark this UN day in 2026 under the slogan “Building a World of Peace,” highlighting the role of the media in promoting a culture of peace in a highly unstable geopolitical context marked by tensions and devastating wars, particularly in the Middle East, where innocent civilians are losing their lives, including journalists working to convey the truth under dangerous conditions.


Ambassador Khattabi also noted that social media platforms and artificial intelligence applications, while enhancing communication democratization, media performance, and innovation, also raise serious concerns due to the spread of online violence, discriminatory stereotypes, and fake content in the media space.


He emphasized the need to implement the strategy adopted by the Council of Arab Ministers of Information regarding the integration of media literacy into the educational curricula of member states.

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FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Mideast

Mouvement de la Paix: For Peace in the Caribbean; Stop the Blockade Against Cuba !

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

A press release from Mouvement de la Paix

The Mouvement de la Paix demands the immediate end to the illegal and inhumane blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba for the past 60 years and respect for the sovereignty of Cuba and all Caribbean states.


In recent statements, the President of the United States announced his intention to “deal with Cuba,” stating that “Cuba will be next on the list” because “Cuba continues to pose an extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security. Following the pressure exerted on several Latin American countries and the military aggression against Venezuela, Cuba is once again being targeted, even though it poses no threat to the United States.

Let’s think about this together! The facts speak for themselves: The USA is a country of 390 million inhabitants (43 times the population of Cuba—a small country of 9 million inhabitants), it is the world’s largest military power with approximately $900 billion in annual military spending; it has 1.8 million soldiers (active and reservists) compared to only a few tens of thousands of soldiers in Cuba. The USA has 7,500 nuclear warheads, while Cuba possesses no nuclear weapons and is determinedly fighting for the total elimination of nuclear weapons and practicing a policy of peace and cooperation, as seen in the medical field. It is not Cuba that has a military base in the USA, but the USA that maintains, against Cuba’s will, a military base at Guantanamo, infamous as a detention and torture center, particularly during the illegal US war in Iraq.

For more than sixty years, the Cuban people have suffered a blockade condemned every year by the United Nations General Assembly (1). This blockade causes serious human suffering by preventing normal access to essential products; it is an obstacle to the country’s economic development and to international cooperation since any person or economic entity (banks, various organizations) who would like to cooperate with Cuba are systematically subject to sanctions.Les nouvelles sanctions décidées par les États-Unis contre Cuba et contre les pays apportant leur aide à Cuba (ordre exécutif  du 1 mai 2026) (2)  constituent des violations supplémentaires du droit international. L’objectif  de ces sanctions  est quasiment  de ruiner l’économie du pays et de soumettre la population à des souffrances et des pénurie sources de souffrances et susceptibles  de mettre en cause la cohésion sociale du pays.

Beyond individual political opinions, the issue today is to defend the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law: respect for the national sovereignty of states, peaceful and political resolution of disputes and conflicts, and the rejection of the use or threat of force in international relations. The rule of law must prevail over the use of force.

(Click here for the original press release in French.)

(continued in right column)

Question related to this article:
 
How can we best express solidarity with Cuba?

How can war crimes be documented, stopped, punished and prevented?

(continued from left column)

France, present in this region of the world through Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, and other territories, has regularly condemned the blockade at UN General Assemblies. Faced with the strengthening of the blockade, France must make its voice heard at the Security Council and the UN General Assembly. It must exert all necessary energy to ensure that the regular and near-unanimous condemnation by the UN General Assembly translates into concrete measures of economic and financial aid for Cuba. France cannot remain silent in the face of the measures dictated by the USA to the national and international banking system. It must take steps to remove the obstacles preventing French charitable and humanitarian organizations from transferring their aid to the Cuban people; it must speak out against the militarization of the Caribbean and against illegal U.S.A. military interventions in the region, whether carried out directly by the U.S.A. or by private militias or military or paramilitary organizations, all of which increase tensions and threaten regional peace.

We call upon the French government, parliamentarians, local elected officials, trade unions, associations, and citizens’ organizations to take action to achieve:

° The immediate end of the blockade against Cuba, as demanded by the United Nations General Assembly (1);

° Respect for the sovereignty of Cuba and all Caribbean states;

° Respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations;

° The establishment of a zone of peace and cooperation throughout the Caribbean and Latin America region.

The Cuban people and all Caribbean peoples have the right to live in peace, to cooperate freely, and to build their future in mutual respect and solidarity, as enshrined in the Charter of CELAC (3), which aims to build peace in Latin America and the Caribbean through the development of a culture of peace as defined by the UN and UNESCO. Long live peace and friendship among peoples.

Le Mouvement de la Paix – 16 mai 2026

1- Excerpts from the UN website, October 2025: “It has now become a UN tradition, almost a ritual on the diplomatic calendar. As it has every year for the past 33 years, the United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution calling for the lifting of the blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States.”

2- Le Monde – AFP, May 1: Donald Trump announces strengthened sanctions against Cuba: In an executive order, the US president imposes sanctions on individuals and entities involved in the energy sector. “US President Donald Trump announced on Friday, May 1, a strengthening of US sanctions against Cuba, which ‘continues to pose an extraordinary threat’ to US national security.”

3- The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CACAC) is an intergovernmental mechanism for dialogue and political agreement link.

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Europe, Latin America, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY,

Cuba Is Not a Failed State – It Is a Besieged State. We Need to Build a Unified Resistance

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

A email message received at CPNN from the United National Antiwar Coalition

The statement below is a response to the ongoing blockade against Cuba and the propaganda derived from it.   We hope you will endorse this statement, but we also hope you will commit to emergency actions if the Trump Administration follows through with their threats to invade Cuba.



Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel lead mass march against US blockade

Sign On  to  “Cuba is Not a Failed State – It Is a Besieged State”
Register  your Emergency  Actions

At this critical junction in world history when the Cuban Revolution is being threatened by US hegemon, it is essential to come to its defense. Cuba is the hope of humanity.

We defend Cuba by combating the intentionally negative stereotyping of a failed state. The problems Cuba faces under blockade conditions should not be portrayed in such alarmist ways that it reinforces Washington’s propaganda. We need to combat this defeatist approach.
Cuba is being sanctioned for the crime of being a good example.

That Washington continues to intensify its six-decade campaign against the Cuban Revolution testifies to the island’s resilience and strength.

Washington’s regime-change campaign has taken a heavy toll. Responsible Statecraft describes US policy as “bent on breaking the island.” The Guardian reports “an epidemic of flies, rats, waste and foul odors.”

These accounts portray Cuban hardship but intentionally overlook Cuban social achievements. Even statements from Congressional leaders advocating for an end to the blockade by focusing on the crisis it has created, can feed into Washington’s self-serving narrative that Cuba is a “failed nation.”

When descriptions of the humanitarian crisis caused by the escalated blockade do not question the ideological assumption that accepts capitalism as the natural state of humanity, they can be used to depict socialism as an abortive failed experiment.

This is why solidarity activists must take special care to highlight the incredible achievements of Cuba, even under blockade conditions, all while waging an active campaign against the sanctions and gathering supplies to take to the island in solidarity.

Doing so much with so little

The Center for Economic and Policy Research documents a dramatic increase in infant mortality from 4.9, now rising to 9.9 per 1,000 live births, attributable to deteriorating living conditions caused by the US economic war.

Yet, even under this intentional strangulation, Cuba’s infant mortality rate remains among the lowest in the region. Cuba has free public, personalized healthcare for every Cuban from birth and throughout life.

Surrounding countries that are not facing any U.S. sanctions but are forced to survive under capitalist relations have consistently higher infant mortality rates. Panama (11), Dominican Republic (16), El Salvador (12), Honduras (15), Guatemala (20), Jamaica (12), Haiti (45-50).

Most stunning is that Cuba’s infant mortality figures under a ruthless blockade are still lower than for African Americans in the U.S. (10.9).

This reflects the demonstrated success of Cuba’s social medicine model, even under the most challenging of circumstances.

(continued in right column)

Question related to this article:
 
How can we best express solidarity with Cuba?

How can war crimes be documented, stopped, punished and prevented?

(continued from left column)

Using Cuba’s example of people-centered healthcare, Nicaragua dramatically reduced their infant mortality from 29 deaths per thousand in 2005 under a right-wing, pro U.S. government to 9 under the Sandinistas and with the assistance of Cuban doctors.

This is why the Trump administration is determined to block Cuban medical staff from providing medical care in the Caribbean. A dozen countries have acquiesced to demands from the U.S. to end medical agreements with Cuba.

Cuba’s medical staff focuses heavily on underserved areas in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. They provide more doctors and medical staff than the World Health Organization and most western nations combined. The United States calls Cuba’s medical internationalism “human trafficking” – but it’s really an internationalist lifeline for the Global South.

Cuba is not alone, as it receives significant solidarity aid from allied states. China, for example, is helping address Cuba’s fossil fuel dependency by supplying 49 solar farms (20% of all its energy needs) and fleets of electric buses, cars, and scooters. Our solidarity movement should highlight and encourage such international cooperation.

Among Cuba’s public health achievements are its international medical brigades, excellence in advanced research, response to the pandemic, service to underserved populations, south-south cooperation initiatives, and the world’s highest doctor-to-patient ratios.

The Cuban socialist model has also produced notable successes in sports and public education.

Writing from Cuba, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio defended the country’s accomplishments over the past decade despite the “intense economic war,” including:

° sustaining the national electrical system while expanding renewable energy

° strengthening telecommunications and expanding internet access

° supporting vulnerable populations through food cultivation

° improving water infrastructure in underserved communities

° developing COVID vaccines and other medicines
expanding domestic industry including the assembly of electric vehicles

For a small, natural resource-poor island, Cuba has achieved so much with so little and under such extraordinarily adverse conditions. The nation asks only that the jackboot of imperialism be lifted so that it may truly flourish.

International people’s solidarity must not allow these incredible achievements to be overlooked as we advocate for relief from the cruel blockade. We should describe this crisis the same way that the Cuban leadership describes it – acknowledging the harms of US imperialism, but always stressing the achievements of the Cuban revolution and the power of solidarity and cooperation.

¡Venceremos!

Leading Organizers from the Following Organizations support this Cuba statement and the Call to Action.

United National Antiwar Coalition, Cuba Si NY/NJ, International US-Cuba Normalization Conference, Venezuela Solidarity Network, US Peace Council, Alliance for Global Justice, SanctionsKill! Campaign, Resist U.S. Led War Movement, Black Alliance for Peace, International League of Peoples Struggles, Americas Without Sanctions, Chicago ALBA Solidarity, Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition, Task Force on the Americas, International Action Center, Veterans For Peace, Code Pink NY, National Lawyers Guild, Anti War Action Network, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Socialist Action, Bronx Antiwar, Compas de la Diaspora, Struggle for Socialism Party, Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle, Diaspora Pa’lante Collective, Workers World Party,

(This statement was initiated by the SanctionsKill Campaign.)

Add your support and help to circulate this statement.

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Latin America, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

UNESCO International Forum of NGOs: Advancing a Culture of Peace in Africa

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An announcement from UNESCO

UNESCO Headquarters, Paris | 19, 21 and 22 May 2026
Held in the framework of Africa Week 2026, the International Forum of NGOs will bring together representatives of Member States, the African Union, civil society, youth and UNESCO partners to advance dialogue and cooperation on building a Culture of Peace in Africa. The Forum will feature a high-level opening panel, thematic discussions and exchanges highlighting the role of civil society in advancing inclusive, peaceful and resilient societies, including through youth engagement, education, water cooperation, culture, inclusion and community-based approaches to social cohesion across the continent.

Excerpts from the Forum programme

Day 1 Tuesday, 19 May 2026

Official Opening

Remarks by Ms Åsa Regnér, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO

Remarks by Ms Svetlomira Stoyanova, Chairperson NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee

Master of Ceremony: Mr Davide Grosso, NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee

High-Level Panel: “Building a Culture of Peace in Africa – Lessons from the Past, Realities of the Present, Visions for the Future”

Moderator: Mr Julien Pellaux, Director of UNESCO’s Division for Partnerships

(Participants from UNESCO headquarters)

Question related to this article:

Will UNESCO once again play a role in the culture of peace?

Day 2 Thursday, 21 May 2026 (

Building Blocks of Peace: Water, Education and Youth

Introduction of the Forum by the NGO Forum co-chairs:

Session 1: “Water as a Catalyst for Cooperation: From Scarcity to Shared Security”

Moderator: Ms Svetlomira Stoyanova, Chairperson NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee

(Videos presentations from South Africa and Algeria)

(Panel with participants from UNESCO headquarters and Zimbabwe)

Session 2: “Reimagining Education Systems as Engines of Peace”

Moderator: Ms Nisrine Ibn Abdeljalil (Morocco), Executive Director of the Moroccan Fondation for PreSchool (FMPS)

(Panel with participants from UNESCO headquarters, Togo, Kenya, Burundi and Senegal)

Session 3: “Youth as Co-Architects of Peace and Stability”

Moderator: Ms Melissa Mejía Flórez (Colombia), New Humanity, Communications Coordinator and Strategic Advisor

(Panel with participants from Brazil, Italy, DR Congo, Cameroon, Tanzania, France, Colombia and USA)

Day 3 Friday, 22 May 2026

Culture, Inclusion & Community-Based Peacebuilding

Session 4: “Fostering a Culture of Peace within Communities”

Moderator: Mr Davide Grosso, International Music Council, NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee

(Panel with participants from Zimbabwe, African Union, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, South Africa and Togo.

Closing session

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Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, United Nations

UN General Assembly resolution: Interreligious Dialogue as Soft Power Peace Tool

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Excerpt from an article of United Nations News Service

The Assembly adopted by consensus [on May 20] the draft resolution titled “Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace” (document A/80/L.43) aimed at advancing interreligious and intercultural dialogue as a practical tool for peace, inclusion and sustainable development, supported by education, policy, partnerships and global cooperation.

Introducing the biennial text, the representative of Pakistan, also speaking on behalf of the Philippines and all co-sponsors, stressed that it is essential to promote a culture of peace — one that embraces diversity and inclusivity, safeguards fundamental rights and freedoms and rejects social structures and stereotypes that create divisions among individuals, societies, communities and nation States.

Question(s) related to this article:

What is the United Nations doing for a culture of peace?

Despite progress achieved over the years, he noted, much more remains to be done to fully realize these shared ideals.  In this regard, he recalled the Constitution of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which affirms that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”.  He explained that “a technical rollover” would retain the key messages reaffirmed through the consensus adoption of the resolution during the seventy‑eighth session.

Despite the unanimous adoption, several delegations raised some concerns. Among them was the representative of the United States, who said that the Assembly “spends countless hours negotiating symbolic, repetitive text with little to show in tangible results for the common citizen”.  Washington, D.C., she added, “is finished with performative exercises and bloated ideological multilateralism that fails to advance the core mission of the United Nations”.

(Editor’s note: The resolution was proposed by Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines and Turkmenistan. Its operative paragraphs include the following:)

Calls upon Member States, which have the primary responsibility to counter discrimination and hate speech, and all relevant actors, including political and religious leaders, to promote inclusion and unity to combat racism, xenophobia, hate speech, violence and discrimination.

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FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, global, United Nations,

Nepal Peace Walk: A Journey towards Loving Kindness through Mindful Moments

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An article by Biswo Ulak

In 2015, the Global Peace Index highlighted a decline in global peace, marked by rising terrorism, growing refugee crises, and increasing inequality. At the same time, Nepal was recovering from a decade-long armed conflict while continuing to face political instability, economic challenges, and social uncertainty despite the adoption of the 2015 Constitution. In response to these challenges, the Nepal Peace Walk emerged as a cultural journey that welcomes people of all religions, races, nationalities, and backgrounds to celebrate diversity, heritage, and human connection. Through mindful walking, cultural exchange, and community engagement, the initiative promotes healing, dialogue, tolerance, reconciliation, and unity by connecting participants with heritage sites, local communities, and shared human values.

Origin of Peace Walk

An informal group of cultural activists and peace advocates, including Biswo Ulak, spiritual leader Naresh Prasad Manandhar, and campaigners such as Deva Sainju, Palden Lama, Anil Raj Bajracharya, Subarna Shrestha, Chandra Badan Bijukchhe, Rajaram Karmacharya, Sunita Shahi, and Hem Kumar Shrestha, along with many like-minded individuals, came together to launch a symbolic Peace Walk promoting peace and coexistence. The journey begins at Swayambhunath, which has a history spanning over 3,000 years and continues to Namo Buddha Temple, a site with more than 6,000 years of history associated with compassion and selfless sacrifice through the story of Prince Mahasattva.

Inspired by Nepal’s cultural heritage, the route passes through historic settlements and sacred sites including Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Bhaktapur, and Panauti, symbolizing cultural continuity, dialogue, reconciliation, and peace.

Focus of the Journey

The Nepal Peace Walk and Peace Festival aims to celebrate cultural diversity, promote social engagement, and strengthen the tourism industry, contributing peace and harmony in society through:

Sharing the inspiring, often untold history of Avayadan—the spirit of selfless compassion—with the world, to help promote the value of saving lives, supporting ecological balance in nature, and raising awareness about organ donation as a modern reflection of this noble tradition.

Promoting the value of peace, unity, harmony and healing to help ease internal conflicts and foster awareness of the vital need to preserve our shared human civilization.

This walk is not a search for peace, but a gentle reminder that peace has always been with us. Through times of challenge, loss, and solitude, it has remained present, patiently awaiting our awareness. As we walk together in shared purpose, our steps offer an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the peace that lives within each person. May this collective journey unfold like the sunrise after a long night, bringing renewed understanding, quiet strength, and hope for a more harmonious and compassionate world.

Commencing the Movement

The movement began on Nepal New Year, 16 April 2017, with a bicycle rally organized in collaboration with World Cycle Tour. The journey connected the historic Swayambhunath Stupa and Namo Buddha Temple, promoting peace, compassion, and cultural harmony. What started with an expectation of 80 participants grew into a powerful gathering of more than 160 cyclists from diverse backgrounds, united through shared movement and human connection. This experience inspired a deeper vision — transforming fast-paced rallies into mindful cultural journeys focused on reflection, community bonding, cultural exchange, and the spread of peace through meaningful shared experiences.

Nepal Peace Walk

The first Walk with the Cultural Peace Lamp was held from 21–23 September 2017 to celebrate the International Day of Peace. The three-day journey connected Swayambhu Stupa and Namo Buddha Temple, promoting peace, compassion, and cultural harmony. Along the route, participants stayed at the historic Muni Vihar in Bhaktapur and Dhyanakuti Vihar in Banepa, experiencing local traditions, spiritual reflection, and meaningful cultural exchange that strengthened unity among communities.

The event was successfully organized by the GCPW team, inspired by the momentum of the April 2017 Bicycle Rally. In 2018, Tergar Monastery helped expand the peace movement with support from Education Foundation on Buddhism (EFoB), Namo Buddha International Cities of Peace (NBCP), and World Forum for Buddhists (WFfB). Together, these organizations strengthened the initiative into an ongoing platform promoting peace, compassion, cultural preservation, and global solidarity, which continued in the following years.

Question related to this article:

How can we be sure to get news about peace demonstrations?

(article continued from left column)

Resilience in the Time of Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, large public peace talks were paused due to health restrictions. Despite these challenges, local communities, heritage sites, and peace organizations continued organizing small-scale and symbolic programs under the message “Peace Energy to Fight Aagainst COVID-19.” Through community support, reflection, and peace activities at sacred and cultural sites, these initiatives spread hope, compassion, healing, and solidarity, proving that human connection and the spirit of peace can endure even in difficult times.

Restoration of the Campaign

In 2022, after two years of pandemic restrictions, Education Foundation on Buddhism (EFoB) successfully revived the Walk with the Cultural Peace Lamp, reconnecting communities through peace, culture, and compassion. The return of the journey was warmly welcomed by local communities and symbolized resilience, healing, and renewed social harmony.

In 2023, the campaign reached a major milestone under the leadership of Kavre Sewa Samaj, in collaboration with World Forum for Buddhists (WFfB) and Namo Buddha International Cities of Peace (NBICP). What began with only five walkers from Boudhanath gradually grew into a powerful movement, with more than 1,500 participants joining the final walk from Panauti to Namo Buddha Temple, reflecting growing public support for peace, cultural unity, and community connection.

For more about Nepal’s cultural peace initiatives and destinations, visit https://peacetourist.com/nepal/. The community participation and highlights of the 2023 walk can also be viewed through Facebook Reel @GCPW Nepal.

International Recognition and Expansion

Nepal, a beautiful Himalayan nation between India and China, is renowned for its rich biodiversity, ancient cultural heritage, and breathtaking landscapes. In 2024, the Nepal Peace Walk programme, led by World Forum for Buddhists with support from partner organizations, was officially launched through an international webinar, generating strong global engagement among peace advocates, cultural communities, and international participants. The programme was officially launched on June 2024 through an international webinar, which created significant momentum and engagement among peace advocates, cultural organizations, and global participants.

The 2024 Nepal Peace Walk brought together 120 participants from 8 countries across Asia, Europe, and the United States, making it one of the most internationally diverse gatherings in the programme’s history. Beyond a physical journey, the walk became a platform for intercultural dialogue, friendship, peacebuilding, and community connection, while digital outreach and documentary coverage expanded its global visibility and impact.

In 2025, the Nepal Peace Walk programme was organized in two phases due to the Dashain festival in Nepal. The first phase, the Peace Festival, was held on 21 September 2025 at Patan Durbar Square, bringing together cultural performers and peace advocates for the International Day of Peace. The second phase, held from 3–5 November 2025, covered nearly 70 kilometers from Swayambhu Mahachaitya to Namo Buddha Temple and attracted over 100 participants, reflecting growing support for peacebuilding, cultural exchange, and community connection.

Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

The success of the 2024 and 2025 Nepal Peace Walk programmes highlighted the growing importance of deeper connections between international participants and local communities through cultural exchange, shared learning, and meaningful human interaction. In a world facing conflict, division, and uncertainty, the Nepal Peace Walk promotes peacebuilding through mindful walking, cultural understanding, and compassionate community engagement.

Building on this momentum, the 2026 programme will feature a Peace Festival at Patan Durbar Square on 21 September, followed by a five-day Cultural Peace Walk from 21–25 November, connecting sacred and cultural heritage sites including Swayambhu Mahachaitya and Namo Buddha Temple. Open to people from all backgrounds, the initiative encourages peace, dialogue, compassion, and global solidarity through shared cultural experiences and mindful journeys.

Together, We Walk for Peace

The Nepal Peace Walk is a living expression of peace, compassion, and cultural harmony that brings together people from different cultures, communities, and nations in a shared journey toward understanding and unity. Inspired by the timeless values of empathy, selflessness, and mutual respect, the walk promotes dialogue, cultural preservation, and humanitarian awareness. The spirit of modern organ transplantation in health science reflects the ancient compassion demonstrated by Avayadan Prince Mahasattva over 6000 years ago, symbolizing the profound act of giving life to others. In a world increasingly affected by conflict, division, and social challenges, the Nepal Peace Walk serves as a powerful reminder that lasting peace begins with mindful steps, compassionate hearts, and the willingness of humanity to walk together toward a shared and harmonious future.

For more information about the Nepal Peace Walk, participation opportunities, partnerships, or event details, please contact GCPW.Nepal@gmail.com

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FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, South Asia

36,000 protesters rally in Tokyo against Japanese PM Takaichi’s push to revise constitution

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article from Xinhua China News

Tens of thousands of Japanese people gathered around the parliament building in Tokyo on Sunday [April 19] to protest attempts of the government of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to revise the country’s pacifist constitution and to call for the protection of Article 9.

About 36,000 people attended the rally, organizers said, the second protest to draw about 30,000 people near the National Diet Building against constitutional revision since April 8.



Frame from You Tube video of an additional protest on May 4

Protesters held placards reading “No to war,” “Do not undermine Article 9” and “Takaichi step down,” calling for the protection of Japan’s pacifist constitution.

“The fact that so many people have gathered here to protest the Takaichi administration’s push for constitutional revision shows that the Japanese people do not want war,” a protester surnamed Hara told Xinhua. It was her fourth time attending such a rally.

(Article continued in right column)

Question related to this article:

How can the peace movement become stronger and more effective?

(Article continued from left column)

Hara accused Takaichi, backed by her ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) supermajority in the lower house, of pressing ahead with constitutional amendment in defiance of public opposition, intending to turn Japan into a country “capable of waging war,” which she said she strongly opposes.

“I hope (the Takaichi government) can listen to the voice of the people,” she added.

Another protester, identified as Takahashi, said Japan had inflicted profound suffering across Asia during wartime and that its pacifist constitution was drafted in reflection on that history. She opposes any move to revise it.

“I have nephews and nieces, and I absolutely do not want them to be sent to war someday,” said Izumi, a first-time participant. “I oppose war. Article 9 must be protected at all costs.”

Another male protester said he feared war and was alarmed by the ruling LDP’s push to revise Article 9. He expressed hope that Takaichi would step down and be replaced by leadership capable of advancing genuine democracy and that Japan would maintain friendly relations with China and countries around the world.

Japan’s Constitution, which took effect in 1947, is often referred to as the pacifist constitution because its Article 9 renounces war as a sovereign right and prohibits Japan from possessing “war potential” such as military forces.

However, both Takaichi and right-wing forces in Japan have long sought to revise Article 9. At an LDP convention on April 12, Takaichi declared that “the time has come” to reform the Constitution, saying that “we would like to hold next year’s convention with a proposal for a constitutional amendment in sight,” signalling a renewed determination that has triggered widespread concern and criticism across Japanese society. 

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DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, East Asia

‘A Voice That Upholds the Conscience of the World’: Spain Honors Francesca Albanese for Efforts to Stop Gaza Genocide

. HUMAN RIGHTS . .

An article by Stephen Prager in Common Dreams (licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez honored  Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on Palestine, on Thursday, in a display of solidarity as she faces sanctions from the United States over her outspoken advocacy against Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Citing her work to document human rights violations over more than two years of conflict, Sánchez awarded Albanese the Order of Civil Merit, a knighthood granted to Spanish and foreign citizens for extraordinary services benefiting the state or society.

“Public responsibility… entails the moral obligation not to look the other way,” Sánchez said in a social media post. “It is an honor to award the Order of Civil Merit to a voice that upholds the conscience of the world: Francesca Albanese.”

Earlier this week, Sánchez petitioned  the European Commission to intervene to stop compliance with the Trump administration’s efforts to punish Albanese, as well as members of the International Criminal Court who have brought arrest warrants  against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

(continued in right column)

Question related to this article:
 
How can we best express solidarity with the people of Gaza?

Where in the world can we find good leadership today?

(continued from left column)

Albanese, an Italian legal scholar, has held the role of special rapporteur since 2022, a year before Israel launched a war in Gaza in response to a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Human rights organizations  and UN experts  have described Israel’s assault as a genocide.

In March 2024, Albanese released  the UN’s first major public report, making the legal case that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe a genocide was being committed, referring to a litany of statements by Israeli officials establishing intent to destroy the Palestinian population.

In addition to documenting Israel’s actions, she has published  research demonstrating the “complicity” of nations that supply weapons and other support to Israel in what she has called a “collective crime” that they should also face responsibility for.

According to official estimates, at least 72,000 Palestinians have been killed  since October 2023, many of them women and children, while independent analyses suggest the death toll is much higher, in part due to the near-total destruction of health and other public infrastructure.

Many of the buildings in Gaza have been destroyed by over two years of relentless bombings, leaving most of its 2.1 million people displaced  and living in tent cities.

Albanese told  a Spanish broadcaster that the US and other nations attempting to punish her and other international authorities for speaking out against atrocities in Gaza were “like an international mafia.”

“They want to silence everyone who demands an end to genocide, an end to the crimes,” she said.

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Europe, HUMAN RIGHTS, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY