Global Scans · Civil Rights · Weekly Summary

• [New] Laws, policies, and reforms seek economic transformation to accelerate the participation of and opportunities for South Africans disadvantaged under apartheid. United States Department of State
• [New] The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor stated that the threat of famine persists in Gaza due to ongoing aid cuts, which reflect Israel's insistence on using starvation as a tool of genocide. Palestine Australia
• [New] Although Uzbekistan has eliminated state-imposed forced labour in its cotton sector, risks of forced labour and restrictions on freedom of association for agricultural workers in Uzbekistan persist. Human Rights Watch
• [New] Fragile logistics networks are deepening inequality and threatening progress on sustainable development. UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• [New] Labour's moves to expand Asio's compulsory questioning powers could lead to fishing expeditions against individuals not charged with any crime and risk permanently damaging human rights, civil liberties groups warn. Medium
• [New] The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has described climate change as the greatest, most pervasive threat to societies, noting that the poorest countries already suffer the most from climate impacts. - JURIST - News
• [New] Without transformative policy shifts, climate change will widen inequality and entrench cycles of deprivation. - JURIST - News
• [New] The global aid system is facing an unprecedented crisis that threatens to dismantle civil society, stifle peaceful activism, and undermine decades of progress on human rights, democracy, and social justice. Devdiscourse
• [New] China's hydropower, lithium, and solar projects in Tibet threaten fragile ecosystems, downstream water security, and local communities, highlighting the tension between green ambitions and human rights. IANS
• [New] Economic inequality was flagged as a top-five barrier to building socially cohesive cities, with 42% of Malaysian leaders prioritising expanding economic opportunities and entrepreneurship to create future-ready urban environments. BusinessToday
• [New] China has successfully positioned itself as a champion for the economic rights of developing nations, pushing back against the developed world's agenda and securing industrial development opportunities for Global South partners, not just raw material supplier status. Modern Diplomacy
• [New] The Commission's growing interest in curbing intra-EU tax competition, combined with political momentum for harmonization, could limit Italy's freedom to sweeten its fiscal offers indefinitely. European Business Magazine
• [New] Imagine a world where AI enhances human creativity instead of replacing it, where technology bridges inequality rather than deepening it. PrometAI
• [New] Australia continues to lag on press freedom, even threatening prosecution of reporters for investigating allegedly unlawful killings by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. The Conversation
• [New] Meta and Google explore acquisitions to boost AI-driven content strategies, with Hollywood and Bollywood unions warning about AI's impact on creative jobs and rights. Ainvest
• [New] Australia is lagging well behind Europe when it comes to digitised border control, adopting a staggering level of secrecy that is threatening individual democratic rights. Home
• Empowering people and societies to champion their rights and hold their leaders responsible will further be critical in promoting human rights globally. Diplomatist
• Staying updated, applying on time, and embracing digital technology will ensure that citizens continue enjoying the freedom and convenience of public transport across the UK. safeway shippings
• If the US insists on its own way, China will resolutely take corresponding measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. World Socialist Web Site
• The true danger today is not only Israeli air attacks but the erosion of the very essence of Palestinian nationalism: The conviction that liberation must belong to everyone and must never come at the cost of freedom or human dignity. Al Jazeera
• In the face of current global challenges and crises, Germany does not and will not retreat from human rights. Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to
• The minimum wage could gradually increase to $15 per hour across the United States, supported by labour unions and organizations fighting for workers' rights. https://www.hm-intelligence.com/
• Even if Tomahawks are delivered, political restrictions and operational caveats from Washington could limit Kiev's freedom to strike deep inside Russia, complicating the strategic picture. MonkeyWerx

Last updated: 26 October 2025