UNAIDS campaigns have dominated the global effort to end HIV/Aids as a public threat since 1999. Credit: UNAIDS by Ed Holt (bratislava) Monday, December 01, 2025 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, December 1 (IPS) – “It’s like adding fuel to an already burning fire,” says Aditia Taslim. “We have not recovered from …
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Displaced Farmers in Southern Lebanon Still Denied Access to Land — Global Issues
Damaged greenhouse in Bent Jbeil, Nabatieh governorate. Credit: Action Against Hunger by Ed Holt (bratislava) Monday, November 10, 2025 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, November 10 (IPS) – Food security and livelihoods in southern Lebanon are under severe threat as the repercussions of Israeli bombing continue to be felt across the region, …
George Soros Receives Prize for Work Supporting Roma, Sinti Rights — Global Issues
Alexander Soros accepts the European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma on behalf of his father, George. by Ed Holt (bratislava) Monday, October 27, 2025 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, October 27 (IPS) – Billionaire philanthropist George Soros has been awarded the European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and …
Belarus Prisoner Release a Diversion, Say Rights Activists — Global Issues
Headlines reflecting the release of Belarussian political prisoners. Graphic: IPS by Ed Holt (bratislava) Tuesday, October 07, 2025 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, October 7 (IPS) – As Belarussian president Alexander Lukashenko continues to pardon political prisoners in an apparently increasingly successful attempt to improve diplomatic relations with the US, rights groups …
Hungary’s LGBTQI Amendment an Affront to Human Rights, Say Activists — Global Issues
An amendment to Hungary’s constitution includes the banning and criminalisation of Pride marches and their organisers. Credit: Sara Rampazzo/Unsplash by Ed Holt (bratislava) Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, May 13 (IPS) – A controversial amendment to Hungary’s constitution has left the country’s LGBTQI community both defiant and fearful, …
Lives at Risk After Some States Withdraw From Landmine Treaty — Global Issues
A HALO de-mining worker carefully probes for mines in Ukraine. Credit: Tom Pilston/HALO by Ed Holt (bratislava) Monday, May 05, 2025 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, May 05 (IPS) – As a string of European states announce withdrawals from a global treaty banning antipersonnel landmines, campaigners are warning countless lives could be …
World Press Freedom Day 2025 Global Press Freedom Index Falls to Critical Low — Global Issues
Sea of red indicates the parlous state of press freedom in the world. Credit: Reporters Without Borders by Ed Holt (bratislava) Friday, May 02, 2025 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, May 02 (IPS) – Global press freedom across the world is at a “critical moment,” campaigners have warned, as a major index …
Brutal Repression Continues Post Presidential Election — Global Issues
Flashback to 2020 protests against a rigged election. Credit: Andrew Keymaster/Unsplash by Ed Holt Monday, February 10, 2025 Inter Press Service Feb 10 (IPS) – In the months leading up to presidential elections at the end of January, Belarus’s authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko ordered the release of hundreds of political …
Armed Drone Attacks on Humanitarian Aid Efforts Puts Future at Risk — Global Issues
Israeli drones targeted a clearly marked World Central Kitchen aid killing seven aid convoy in the Gaza Strip killing seven aid workers. Credit: Tasnim News Agency by Ed Holt (bratislava) Tuesday, January 14, 2025 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, Jan 14 (IPS) – Humanitarian aid operations in some places may become impossible …
Human Rights Protection Crucial to Meeting the 2030 AIDS Public Health Goals — Global Issues
Ahead of World AIDS Day (1 December), a new report by UNAIDS released its report, Take the rights path to end AIDS. by Ed Holt (bratislava) Tuesday, November 26, 2024 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, Nov 26 (IPS) – Ahead of World Aids Day 2024, UNAIDS released its report ‘Take the rights …
New Bulgarian LGBT+ Law Marginalizes Communities Rights Groups Warn — Global Issues
An amendment to Bulgaria’s education law, passed last month, bans the “propaganda, promotion, or incitement in any way, directly or indirectly, in the education system of ideas and views related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity other than the biological one.” by Ed Holt (bratislava) Wednesday, September 04, 2024 Inter …
Activists Challenge Pharma Company Gilead Over HIV Medication — Global Issues
Activists protest during the 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS2024) in Munich over a affordable pricing for a drug currently sold by pharmaceutical firm Gilead. Credit: Ed Holt/IPS by Ed Holt (munich) Friday, August 02, 2024 Inter Press Service MUNICH, Aug 02 (IPS) – Campaigners and experts have demanded a breakthrough HIV …
Trans Man Asks Governments to Pressure Uganda to Repeal Punitive Anti LGBT+ Law — Global Issues
Jay Mulucha speaks at the 25th International AIDS Conference in Munich. Credit: Steve Forrest/IAS by Ed Holt (munich) Wednesday, July 31, 2024 Inter Press Service MUNICH, Jul 31 (IPS) – Jay Mulucha, Executive Director of FEM Alliance Uganda, gave an impassioned plea to governments around the world to push lawmakers in …
Rights Groups Demand Governments Protect Exiled Journalists, Dissidents — Global Issues
Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression and opinion, briefs reporters at UN Headquarters. Credit: Manuel Elías/UN by Ed Holt (bratislava) Friday, July 19, 2024 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, Jul 19 (IPS) – Rights groups have called for governments to do more to combat transnational repression as a series of …
Georgia’s LGBT+ Law Could Lead to Violent Repression, Rights Group Warns — Global Issues
Organizers decided to cancel physical Pride events this year for fear of a repeat of violence that marred the 2023 event when far-right groups attacked festival goers. The organizers and Georgia’s president said anti-LGBT hate speech from government officials had incited violence ahead of the event in Tbilisi. by Ed …
Slovakia PM Assassination Attempt Sparks Journalists’ Safety Fears — Global Issues
Camera crews wait outside the Slovak parliament building in Bratislava days after the attempted assassination of PM Robert Fico. Credit: Ed Holt/IPS by Ed Holt (bratislava) Friday, May 24, 2024 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, May 24 (IPS) – Fears for the safety of journalists in Slovakia are growing in the wake …
International Community Urged to End Impunity for Violence Against Healthcare in Conflicts — Global Issues
A health worker in Gaza continues with an inoculation campaign. The Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition has called for international action to end violence against or obstruction of health care in conflicts. Credit: UNWRA/Twitter by Ed Holt (bratislava) Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, May 22 (IPS) – Governments …
Media Freedom Declining Across Europe, With Implications for Rule of Law — Global Issues
Protestors gathered in Bratislava on May 2, 2024 to protest against changes to the public broadcaster, RTVS. The placard in the picture reads: RTVS on a flat-screen TV; STVR about a flat earth. Credit: Ed Holt/IPS by Ed Holt (bratislava) Friday, May 03, 2024 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, May 03 (IPS) …
Conditions Worsen for Belarus Migrants Stuck in Death Zone on EU Border — Global Issues
Aid agencies say that refugees caught on the Polish and Belarus borders are subject to brutal pushbacks. Graphic: IPS by Ed Holt (bratislava) Thursday, April 25, 2024 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, Apr 25 (IPS) – As the refugee crisis on the Belarus/EU borders approaches its fourth year, a crackdown on activism …
Women, Girls Equal Partners in HIV Responses, Says Activist — Global Issues
Tendayi Westerhof was one of the first celebrities in Zimbabwe to disclose their HIV-positive status. by Ed Holt (bratislava) Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Inter Press Service BRATISLAVA, Feb 14 (IPS) – UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, recently made an impassioned call for governments to support women and girls from marginalized communities …
