NEW YORK, Jul 21 (IPS) - How do you get a seat at the table when you can’t even access the building? This question loomed as activists, faith-based leaders, and NGO representatives gathered at the NY Ford Foundation. They discussed how to amplify the voice of civil society organizations at the UN Headquarters across the street.

Read the full story, “‘It’s Time UN Turned Ideas to ‘UNMute’ Civil Society into Action’”, on globalissues.org →

LONDON, Jul 21 (IPS) - Eswatini heads to the polls soon, with elections scheduled for September. But there’s nothing remotely democratic in prospect. The country remains ruled by King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch, who presides over Eswatini with an iron fist. Mswati dissolved parliament on 11 July, confident there’s little chance of people who disagree with him winning representation.

Read the full story, “Eswatini: Election with No Democracy on the Horizon”, on globalissues.org →

PESHAWAR, Jul 24 (IPS) - “The problems transgender people face start from their homes as their parents, especially fathers and brothers, look them down upon and disrespect them,” says 20-year-old Pari Gul.

Read the full story, “Transgender People Face Growing Violence, Discrimination in Pakistan”, on globalissues.org →

Population growth, urbanization, changing consumption patterns, and climate change are making it more challenging to feed the world according to a senior official at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Read the full story, “INTERVIEW: Food systems contribute to solving ‘world's most important challenges’”, on globalissues.org →

Senior UN officials have strongly condemned the deadly Russian missile strikes in the Ukrainian city of Odesa on Sunday which damaged several historic buildings.

Read the full story, “UN strongly condemns Russian strikes in Odesa, Ukraine”, on globalissues.org →