Blog.

Child Soldiers

“Should child soldiers be prosecuted for their crimes?” “In modern day warfare, children, both girls and boys, are increasingly becoming the subject of military recruitment, targeted attacks, and sexual violence. The diversity of armed groups and the widespread and easy availability of small arms and light weapons have led to

Welcome to the world, citizen No. 7 billion!

A few weeks ago we were treated to a letter by the The Irish Times’ new editor, Kevin O’Sullivan, welcoming the soon-to-take place birth of the 7 billionth person into our ‘work in progress’ unequal world. Cross-posted below in full, we think it is well worth a read. If you

Female Genital Mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation is a hugely contentious issue worldwide. According to a report published by the  WHO, UNESCO, UNIFEM and others, FGM is practiced in 28 African countries, in parts of Asia and the Middle East. However, it is increasingly found in Europe, Canada, the US, Australia and Asia –

The “Girl Effect” and women’s rights

The “Girl Effect” and women’s rights Whether you agree with it or not the “girl effect” has become something of a phenomenon and popular catchphrase among international economic development projects since the Nike Foundation launched the initiative in 2008. ‘You start the girl effect’, the website proclaims, with the girl

Worst countries for sick children

A new report – health workers index – published by UK NGO Save the Children lists those countries worldwide in which it is most dangerous to be a sick child. No great surprises in the results; at the bottom lie Chad, Somalia, LAO PDR, Ethiopia and, unforgivably Nigeria. At the

The Food Vendor

Check out the “The Food Vendor,” a story illustrating staple foods around the world and the issues of rising food prices as experienced by the poor. This film focusses on Nepa. Also, check out some of the other really interesting short films by IRIN.

Cartoon satire of ‘development’

What is ‘development’? What is done in the name of development? Who ‘does’ development and who is it done to? These are just some of the questions explored in a cartoon book launched earlier this year in India by the charity Survival: the movement for tribal peoples. The cartoon book