7 December
Stories from OHCHR, FAO, ILO, Access to Health/UNOPS and UNICEF China
Bridging the digital divide for escapee children from the DPRK
Since 2004, the Yeomyung School in Seoul, Republic of Korea, has been a place of refuge to thousands of escapee children from the DPRK. Among them are children who have risked their lives fleeing to the Republic of Korea so they could enjoy their basic human rights. Hear two children explaining how bridging the digital divide was important for their right to education under COVID-19 and how we must reduce inequalities to build back better.
Civil Society in Nepal submits recommendation on advancing the Right to food in Nepal
Civil society has supported the advancement of the Right to food in Nepal, since its recognition in several articles of the Constitution in 2015. As COVID-19 pushes 52 million people in the Asia-Pacific to the brink of extreme poverty, the explicit constitutional recognition of the right to food is instrumental to reaching Zero Hunger in Nepal. Now civil society organizations have proposed practical guidelines for the implementation to the right to food to the government. (link to be provided soon)
Combatting Forced Labour in the Thai Fishing and Seafood Industry
In 2019, Thailand adopted new laws to address forced labour in the fishing sector. Workers, employers and government representatives share insight on the recent progress and remaining challenges. Thailand’s 2018 ratification of the Protocol 2014 of the Forced Labour Convention (P29) marked an important shift. Thailand’s ratification – the first country in Asia to do so – is a powerful signal to workers, employers, key trading partners, and neighbouring countries, that Thailand is part of the global movement and intends to confront the problem of forced labour.
Health Workers Saving Women’s Lives From Complications Of Unsafe Abortion
“People don’t always understand the complications of unsafe abortion,” a midwife from Shan State told us – even though it is a leading cause of maternal mortality in Myanmar. Organizations like Ipas are helping to reduce this mortality rate by providing training for health providers, supporting hospital equipment, and providing health education.
Blog post: What’s it like for children going back to school?
COVID-19 is a children’s rights crisis with immediate costs for children that, if unaddressed, may persist throughout their lives. Students and teachers in Chongqin, China, share their experiences of going back to school. Efforts taken are part of work to not only respond to the pandemic, but also to reimagine a better world for children after COVID-19.
