All posts by CPNN Coordinator

About CPNN Coordinator

Dr David Adams is the coordinator of the Culture of Peace News Network. He retired in 2001 from UNESCO where he was the Director of the Unit for the International Year for the Culture of Peace, proclaimed for the Year 2000 by the United Nations General Assembly.

PLANETE: Scouts in Africa and Europe leading change in peace, gender, and sustainability

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the website of World Scouting

The PLANETE project (Acting for Peace, Freedom, Learning, Nature, Equity, Tolerance, and Environment) is empowering over 7,000 Scouts and Guides across five countries and two continents to drive meaningful change in key areas like gender equality, education for peace and climate change education. 

Led by the Scouts and Guides of France, in partnership with the Scouts of Lebanon, the Association of Guides of Lebanon, the Rwanda Scouts Association, Rwanda Girl Guides Association, the Tunisian Scouts, and the Association of Catholic Scouts of Côte d’Ivoire, this initiative is aiming to reach more than 11,000 Scouts and Guides from 14 to 25. Together, they are leveraging the educational methods of Scouting and Guiding to promote peace, environmental sustainability, and gender equality.

Through workshops, camps, training sessions, advocacy campaigns, and other activities, participants are becoming powerful ambassadors for positive change within their communities. These Scouts and Guides are engaging in citizen mobilisation, partnering with local authorities to advance sustainable, equitable, and fair societies. Funded by l’Agence française de développement (French Development Agency), the project provides young people with the tools and skills necessary to create a brighter future.

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Question related to this article:
 
Are we seeing the dawn of a global youth movement?

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A key milestone of the PLANETE project occurred in August 2024, when Scouts and Guides from across the globe gathered in Rwanda for an international camp. Held from 25 to 31 August, the event focused on the pivotal role Scouting plays in fostering peace and tolerance. Drawing inspiration from Rwanda’s history of resilience and recovery, participants engaged in discussions and activities centred on intercultural understanding and reconciliation. These shared experiences reinforced the importance of dialogue and cooperation in the quest for a more peaceful world.

The PLANETE project also places a strong emphasis on environmental action. In France, Scouts participated in an ecological camp in Brittany in July 2024, focusing on biodiversity conservation and sustainable living. With no access to electricity and fully immersed in nature, Scouts participated in practical activities such as waste collection, vegetation maintenance, and raising awareness in local communities. 

Similar environmental initiatives are taking place in other participating countries, with Scouts leading efforts to protect natural environments and advocate for sustainability.

Looking ahead, the project will maintain its focus on environmental sustainability, peace, and gender equality through various initiatives. In 2025, several ecological camps will be organised across the five participating countries, where young participants will tackle critical issues such as climate change, conservation, and ecological transition. Additionally, from August 9 to 15, an international camp on interfaith dialogue will take place in Tunisia, bringing together seven delegations from partner organisations. This activity will empower participants to become ambassadors of peace and take initiative in their communities.

Creating a more inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable world begins with education, community engagement, and international collaboration. The PLANETE project is igniting a global movement of young leaders, with Scouts and Guides turning their ideals into tangible actions that inspire lasting change.

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Pope Francis calls for ‘disarmament’ while still hospitalized

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article from La Croix International

As Europe rearms itself, Pope Francis has issued a renewed call for peace and disarmament from his hospital room at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital in a letter made public March 18 and addressed to the director of the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. “We must disarm words, to disarm minds and disarm the Earth. There is a great need for reflection, calmness, and an awareness of complexity,” wrote Francis in this message dated March 14.

“Human fragility has the power to make us more lucid about what endures and what passes, what brings life and what kills,” said the 88-year-old pope, who has been hospitalized for over a month to treat double pneumonia. Repeating what he expressed in his Sunday Angelus message March 16, the pope said that in the period he is going through, “war appears even more absurd.”

War, he said, have no power other than to devastate ” communities and the environment, without offering solutions to conflicts,” he added, arguing that diplomacy and international organizations need “new vitality and credibility.”

General disarmament

On the eve of the publication of this message, the number two of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was asked about the “rearm Europe” plan presented in early March by the European Commission. This plan aims to mobilize €800 billion ($841 billion) over four years, including €150 billion in loans made available to EU member states.

“The policy of the Holy See, since the First World War, has always been to insist at the international level on the need for general and controlled disarmament, so we cannot be satisfied with the direction we are taking,” declared the Vatican Secretary of State. He further questioned, before journalists on the sidelines of a Roman event on Ramadan organized by the Moroccan Embassy to the Holy See: “Those who rearm, sooner or later, must use the weapons, mustn’t they?”

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Question related to this article:
 
Is there resistance to the rearmament of Europe?

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The Holy See’s diplomatic activity in Europe has not ceased since Francis’ hospitalization over a month ago. On March 14, Cardinal Pietro Parolin spoke by telephone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding the ceasefire proposal from the United States, which Ukraine has accepted.

“The Holy See, while renewing its prayer for peace in Ukraine, hopes that the parties involved will seize the opportunity for sincere dialogue, not subject to any preconditions of any kind, and aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace,” the Vatican stated, also encouraging “all efforts to be made for the release of prisoners.”

Not just words

A phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, specifically concerning Ukraine, was held March 18. According to a White House readout of the call, Putin agreed to halt military strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure but stopped short of agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire agreement.

In the letter made public today, Pope Francis also addressed journalists covering these events and “all those who dedicate their work and intelligence to informing” to “feel the full importance of words.”

“They are never just words: they are facts that shape human environments,” the pope wrote. “They can connect or divide, serve the truth or use it for other ends. We must disarm words, to disarm minds and disarm the Earth. There is a great need for reflection, calmness, and an awareness of complexity.”

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If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

New Feasibility Study on Peace Education in Non-formal Learning and Youth Work commissioned by the Council of Europe

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE . .

An,article from the Global Campaign for Peace Education

This new study, authored by Dr. Phill Gittins, and commissioned by the Council of Europe, aims to support the statutory bodies within the youth sector of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe (CoE), particularly the Joint Council on Youth, in assessing the need, relevance, and feasibility of developing a Committee of Ministers (CM) Recommendation to the governments of Member States on Peace Education in non-formal learning and youth work.

This document provides an overview of peace education, exploring what it is, why it matters, and how it can be done. It also identifies and describes relevant standards, texts, and initiatives related to peace education and peacebuilding-related activities involving young people, summarising progress made and identifying current gaps.

The document concludes with a proposal that outlines what should be addressed, included, or suggested in the recommendation to build on ongoing efforts and address some of the current gaps, with the goal of improving the recognition, viability, accessibility, delivery, effectiveness, and impacts of peace education initiatives across the 46 Member States of the CoE and beyond.

Download the Feasibility Study here

Questions related to this article:

What is the relation between peace and education?

The feasibility study was commissioned to provide evidence-based answers and arguments to two main questions:

1. Why would such a recommendation be useful, relevant and necessary in the framework of the Council of Europe today?

2. What should the recommendation address, contain or recommend in order to be meaningful and support peacebuilding and peace education with/by young people?

Key Recommendations

° Ensure the equitable and meaningful participation of young people

° Pursue a holistic and comprehensive approach

° Contextualise efforts to local needs while aligning with broader commitments

° Embed peace education across all learning spaces

° Enhance coordination across sectors and levels of society

° Ensure adequate investment to benefit youth, economies, and society as a whole

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If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

Brazil hosts first BRICS Sherpas meeting with expanded membership

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from bne Intellinews

Brasilia hosted the first BRICS Sherpas meeting under the Brazilian Presidency on February 24-25, bringing together representatives from all 11 member countries at the Itamaraty Palace, the Foreign Ministry headquarters.

The event, which laid the groundwork for the bloc’s summit taking place in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, marked the beginning of an ambitious agenda focused on strengthening multilateralism, promoting cooperation among Global South countries, and reforming international governance structures to better reflect the needs and aspirations of developing nations.


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Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira delivered an opening speech underscoring the bloc’s relevance during a period of profound global transformations.

“It is a great honour to welcome you to this inaugural meeting of the Brazilian BRICS Presidency. We are gathered in a crucial moment — of profound transformations, in which the principles of multilateralism and cooperation are being tested by crises that demand urgent and collective action,” Vieira stated.

In his address, Vieira affirmed that the response to the crisis of multilateralism “is more multilateralism, stronger and more inclusive in all spheres” and noted that the international order is undergoing radical changes while existing institutions struggle to adapt, even as emerging economies demand greater participation in global decisions.

“In this evolving scenario, BRICS plays a fundamental role in promoting a more just, inclusive and sustainable world order. A multipolar world is not only an emerging reality, but a shared objective,” he said.

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Question for this article:

What is the contribution of BRICS to sustainable development?

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This is the first meeting since last year’s major BRICS expansion to include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia, alongside original members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The Brazilian presidency will prioritise cooperation with the Global South and an agenda focusing on social, economic and environmental development, with emphasis on six key areas: health, trade, climate change, artificial intelligence, reform of the multilateral security system, and institutional strengthening of the bloc.

Ambassador Celso Amorim, serving as Head Adviser to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, outlined his perspective on the bloc’s significance during a recent interview with BRICS Brasil’s press team. The veteran diplomat, drawing on his extensive experience as foreign minister across multiple administrations, presented BRICS as a platform for developing nations to coordinate their efforts “on energy, on the monetary field, and even on the field of peace and security.”

Countering claims of anti-Western bias, Amorim was forthright: “How can anyone say that Brazil is against the West when we have just concluded an agreement with the European Union [Mercosur-EU deal]? There is no point. Being subordinated to a particular leading country, we don’t want that.”

The Sherpas meeting’s second day included a special session with President Lula, who delivered an upbeat speech about the bloc’s outlook.

“I am convinced that BRICS will continue to be a driver of positive change for our nations and the world. Acting in a coordinated manner for the success of the South African presidency of the G20 and the Brazilian presidency of COP30 is defending the shared future of this planet,” said Lula.

The Brazilian leader also called for collective efforts to promote peace and a multilateral security system, warning that “unilateralism undermines the international order” and that negotiating “on the basis of power” leads to instability and conflict.

“We will have an intense presidency, which will lead us to a beautiful Summit of Heads of State and Government, in Rio. We must live up to the chosen motto: strengthening Global South cooperation and reforming international governance structures.”

Touching on an issue that resonates with many members, Lula has welcomed BRICS nations’ efforts to expand local currency payment options to reduce economic vulnerabilities. In this regard, he argued that rising protectionism necessitates greater economic integration. The renewed push comes amid threats from US President Donald Trump of 100% tariffs on the bloc’s nations “if they want to play with the mighty dollar.”

While Lula previously floated plans for a full-fledged common BRICS currency, he now advocates for expanding existing bilateral payment mechanisms, shelving the idea of ditching the dollar entirely – as confirmed by various diplomats who said a shared currency is not currently on the agenda. This puts Brazil at odds with other members such as Iran and Russia, which feel a bigger pressure to dedollarise their economy due to wide-reaching sanctions imposed on them by Western countries.

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Resistance is alive and well in the United States

. HUMAN RIGHTS .

An article by Erica Chenoweth, Jeremy Pressman, and Soha Hammam in Waging Nonviolence

“Where is the resistance?” is a common refrain. Our research affirms that resistance is alive and well.

Many underestimate resistance to the current Republican administration because they view resistance through a narrow lens. The 2017 Women’s March in particular — immediate in its response, massive in its scope and size — may inform collective imaginations about what the beginning of a resistance movement should look like during Trump 2.0.

In fact, our research shows that street protests today are far more numerous and frequent than skeptics might suggest. Although it is true that the reconfigured Peoples’ March of 2025 — held on Jan. 18 — saw lower turnout than the 2017 Women’s March, that date also saw the most protests in a single day for over a year. And since Jan. 22, we’ve seen more than twice as many street protests than took place during the same period eight years ago.


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In February 2025 alone, we have already tallied over 2,085 protests, which included major protests in support of federal workers, LGBTQ rights, immigrant rights, Palestinian self-determination, Ukraine, and demonstrations against Tesla and Trump’s agenda more generally. This is compared with 937 protests in the United States in February 2017, which included major protests against the so-called Muslim ban along with other pro-immigrant and pro-choice protests. Coordinated days of protest such as March Fourth for Democracy (March 4), Stand Up for Science (March 7), rallies in recognition of International Women’s Day (March 8), and protests demanding the release of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil suggest little likelihood of these actions slowing down. These are all occurring in the background of a tidal wave of lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s early moves.

Historically, street protest and legal challenges are common avenues for popular opposition to governments, but economic noncooperation — such as strikes, boycotts and buycotts — is what often gets the goods. Individual participation is deliberately obscure, and targeted companies may have little interest in releasing internal data. Only the aggregate impacts are measurable — and in the case of Tesla, Target and other companies, the impacts so far have been measurable indeed.

Consider the protests against Tesla in response to Elon Musk firing federal workers and blocking federal funding. The multifaceted campaign has a quite specific goal: punish Tesla, Musk’s signature company. In addition to protests at Tesla showrooms and charging stations, people have also sold their Teslas. Others have called on mutual funds to divest from Tesla stock. The stock price has dropped significantly in the last month, perhaps in part due to Musk’s DOGE work.

This shift toward noncooperation over large-scale protests may be strategically wise. In 2017, many who attended Women’s Marches remained deeply engaged in civic activity, funneling into groups and coalitions like Indivisible, Swing Left, Run for Something, Fight Back Table and the like. People who aligned with Indivisible and groups like it were almost certainly responsible for saving the Affordable Care Act in 2017, largely through pressure on elected members of Congress. The MAGA faction had not yet consolidated control of the GOP, and within a year the “blue wave” flipped the House during the 2018 midterms. Under such conditions, protests and political pressure made a lot of strategic sense.

Those groups and others still remain active, but today’s political terrain may call for a more muscular movement strategy. The MAGA faction controls the GOP and enforces strict discipline among its members through fear and the threat of a well-funded Republican primary opponent in the next election. The Supreme Court majority is solidly on the right. Elected GOP officials are abandoning town halls and discouraging constituents from calling their offices. Street protests endure but are increasingly surveilled and high-risk, as the detention of Mahmoud Khalil suggests. Uncertainty about whether the Trump administration will ignore the First Amendment and weaponize the government to persecute political oppositionists looms large.

In the face of such changes, the public’s most powerful options are often withholding labor power and purchasing power. Calling in sick from work or school, refusing to buy and stay-at-home demonstrations are notoriously difficult to police. Last month, an inestimable number of people participated in such actions to highlight a Day Without Immigrants. The prominence of billionaires in the administration and populist anger toward them make this type of approach even more viable in today’s climate.

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Questions related to this article:

The struggle for human rights, is it gathering force in the USA?

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Indeed, the diversification of resistance methods puts the United States on a similar trajectory to many democracy movements of the past. In anti-authoritarian movements of the 20th century, economic noncooperation — more so than protest alone — was the coordinated activity that split elites and made way for democratic breakthroughs. In apartheid South Africa, it was the enormous economic pressure — through boycotts of white-owned businesses, general strikes, divestments and capital flight — that brought the white supremacist National Party to heel and elevated reformers who were willing to do business with Nelson Mandela and the ANC. In communist Poland, it was the ability of trade unionists to credibly call for general strikes (and credibly call off such strikes) that gave the Solidarity movement the leverage to negotiate a peaceful democratic transition. Gandhi’s noncooperation campaigns in India made the colony ungovernable by British colonial authorities.

And when the Nazis invaded and occupied Denmark in the 1940s, noncooperation was near-total. No one remembered how to run the railroad. Teachers had to leave school early to tend to their gardens. Factory workers slowed down or stopped production altogether. Danes obscured the identities of their Jewish neighbors, gave them temporary haven, and secured their passage through fishing boats to neutral territory, saving thousands of lives.

Similarly, in Czechoslovakia, six days after the Soviet invasion in 1968, the newspaper Vecerni Prah published “10 commandments,” writing: “When a Soviet soldier comes to you, YOU: 1. Don’t know 2. Don’t care 3. Don’t tell 4. Don’t have 5. Don’t know how to 6. Don’t give 7. Can’t do 8. Don’t sell 9. Don’t show 10. Do nothing.” These oppositional habits of thinking and practice, nurtured over two decades through underground popular schools, art, literature and outlawed news sources, ultimately paved the way for the Velvet Revolution.

Indeed, the United States has its own storied history of resisting authoritarianism through noncooperation. Pro-independence colonists living under the British crown organized campaigns to refuse to buy or consume British goods; refuse to abide by laws requiring colonists to export raw materials to Britain; refuse to serve on juries under crown-appointed judges; and develop alternative institutions including the Continental Congress itself. The Boston Tea Party was a defiant act of noncooperation — a refusal to import, consume or pay taxes on the crown’s tea. In 1815, John Adams wrote to Thomas Jefferson of his hope that historians would recall those acts of noncooperation — and not the war of independence — as “the revolution,” that “was in the minds of the people.”

Much later, during the civil rights movement, desegregation was first tangibly achieved in large part through noncooperation campaigns like the courageous school attendance by the Little Rock Nine, the Montgomery bus boycotts, the lunch counter sit-ins and boycotts of businesses in Nashville and elsewhere, strikes among sanitation workers in Memphis, and other acts of refusal to abide by the Jim Crow system of racial segregation. These took place in combination with marches and demonstrations that were powerful and dramatic displays of the moral power of the movement, and legal action that demanded the government abide by its own Constitution.

That Americans seem to be rediscovering the art, science and potency of noncooperation — combined with a robust protest capacity and legal action — shows that resistance against Trump’s agenda in America is not only alive and well. It is savvy, diversifying and probably just getting started.

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Erica Chenoweth

Erica Chenoweth is a political scientist at Harvard Kennedy School and co-director of the Crowd Counting Consortium. Chenoweth is the author of “Civil Resistance: What Everyone Needs to Know” and co-author of “Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict.”

Jeremy Pressman

Jeremy Pressman is a professor of political science at the University of Connecticut and co-director of the Crowd Counting Consortium. His most recent book is “The Sword is Not Enough: Arabs, Israelis, and the Limits of Military Force.”

Soha Hammam

Soha Hammam is a postdoctoral research associate at Harvard Kennedy School’s Nonviolent Action Lab, where she researches political mobilization and law enforcement responses across the U.S. She was previously a Democracy Visiting Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School and a Peace Scholar Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace.

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If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.

International Women’s Day: Europe

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the photos from Europe.

BELGIUM, BRUSSELS

Organised by the feminist and anti-capitalist movement World Women’s March Belgium, the demonstration aimed to highlight the “alarming decline” in women’s rights and the “shift to the political right” in society.
(Brussels Times)

ENGLAND, LONDON

A woman carries a placard, on the day of the Million Women Rise march, during the International Women’s Day in London, Britain, March 8. REUTERS/Hannah McKay.
(Reuters)

FINLAND, HELSINKI

Women’s Day march in Helsinki calls for concrete action on gender equality. The event aimed to urge parliamentary parties to commit to advancing the rights of women, girls and minorities. (Yle)

FRANCE, MARSEILLES

A woman holds a sign reading “Serve men, everything for free!” during a demonstration demanding gender equality and an end to violence against women on International Women’s Day in Marseille. (REUTERS/Manon Cruz).
(Infobae)

FRANCE, PARIS

Activists behind a banner reading “your repression is our determination” as radical feminist organizations take part in a night march in solidarity with Palestinian women on the eve of the International Women’s Day in Paris, France, Mar. 7, 2025. EFE/EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON.
(EFE)

GERMANY, BERLIN

A woman holds up a placard during an International Women’s Day demonstration in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi).
(Associated Press News)

GREECE, ATHENS

Protesters shout slogans during a rally marking International Women’s Day, in Athens, Saturday, March 8, 2025. Photo:Yorgos Karahalis.
(Euronews)

ITALY, MILAN

In Milan, women dressed alike to protest this March 8th. EFE/EPA/MOURAD BALTI TOUATI. (Radio y Television Española)

ITALY, NAPLES

In Naples, women marched under the slogan “Not one less.” EFE/EPA/CIRO FUSCO.
(Radio y Television Española)

ITALY, ROME

People take part in a Transfeminist strike on International Women’s Day, outside the Colosseum, in Rome, Saturday, March 8, 2025 (Valentina Stefanelli/LaPresse via AP). (Euronews)

ITALY, TURIN

People march in a demonstration organized by movement ‘Non una di meno’ (Not one less) to mark International Women’s Day in Turin, Italy, Mar. 8, 2025. EFE/EPA/TINO ROMANO. (EFE)

NETHERLANDS, AMSTERDAM

Some 15,000 people have taken part in the Feminist March through central Amsterdam to mark International Women’s Day, carrying placards with texts such as “Abortion in the constitution” and “Keep your hands off my womb”.
(Dutch News)

NORTHERN IRELAND, BELFAST

Ending violence against women and girls was one of the main messages of the rally in Belfast. (BBC)

Question related to this article:
 
Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

POLAND, WARSAW

Women took to the streets of cities of Warsaw to mark International Women’s Day with demands for ending inequality and gender-based violence.
(The Guardian)

RUSSIA, ST PETERSBURG

Honour guard soldiers present flowers to girls and women during International Women’s Day celebration in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
(Associated Press News)

SERBIA, BELGRADE

People march in support of women on the International Women’s Day in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic). (Associated Press News)

SPAIN, BARCELONA

Dozens of people during the 8M Assembly demonstration in Barcelona organized by the 8M Assembly. ALBERTO PAREDES / EUROPA PRESS.
(Radio y Television Española)

SPAIN, GIJÓN

Thousands of people have filled the streets of Gijón with drum music, banners, and slogans in support of equality. EFE/Juan González.
(Radio y Television Española)

SPAIN, MADRID

Demonstrators rally during an International Women’s Day protest in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue).
(Associated Press News)

SPAIN, MALLORCA

Mallorca, mobilization organized by the Transfeminist Coordinator on Women’s Day 2025.
(Radio y Television Española)

SPAIN, SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE

Hundreds of people participated in a demonstration this Saturday to mark International Women’s Day in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. EFE/ Alberto Valdés.
(Radio y Television Española)

SPAIN, SEVILLE

View of the demonstration organized by feminist groups that toured Seville this Saturday. EFE/Fermín Cabanillas.(Radio y Television Española)

SPAIN, TERUEL

Around 700 people demonstrated in Teruel with banners calling for equality. Among the banners were messages such as “They took so much from us that they took away our fear” and “Patriarchy affects us all.”
(Radio y Television Española)

SPAIN, TOLEDO

In Toledo, women have taken to the streets to demonstrate under the slogan “All women. All rights. Every day.”
(Radio y Television Española)

SPAIN, VALENCIA

Demonstration by the Valencia Feminist Coordinator on March 8. Jorge Gil / Europa Press. Among the banners, “We are the cry of those who no longer have a voice” or “We are half the earth, we want half the sky.”
(Radio y Television Española)

SPAIN, VALLODOLID

In Valladolid, this woman calls for equality in the Catholic Church at the feminist march. EFE/NACHO GALLEGO.
(Radio y Television Española)

TURKEY, ISTANBUL

Women attend a protest marking International Women’s Day in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel).
(Euronews)

International Women’s Day: Canada and USA

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the photos from Canada and United States.

CANADA, MONTREAL, QUEBEC

Hundreds gathered in downtown Montreal on International Women’s Day Saturday to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial policies and views on women’s rights. (Canadian Broadcasting Company)

CANADA, TORONTO, ONTARIO

Torontonians marched in celebration of womens’ contributions to Canada and the world at large. The theme of this year’s march was to defy rising political agendas attacking the rights of women to choose freely and to succeed equally in the workplace. (Toronto City News)

CANADA, VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Vancouver hosts International Women’s Day march. (Global News)

USA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Hundreds of people took to the streets in downtown Chicago on Saturday for International Women’s Day. They started with a rally at Daley Plaza, then marched in solidarity to Trump Tower, expressing rears the Trump administration will roll back rights for women.
(YouTube)

Question related to this article:
 
Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

USA, EUREKA, CALIFORNIA

A few hundred celebrants and protestors gathered in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse to make statements about women’s rights and freedoms and the current political climate in Washington, D.C. (Times-Standard)

USA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Protesters gather at Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles during a march on International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025. “The goal of the day is to help people “build community” and “practice democracy,” particularly at a time when democratic resistance to President Donald Trump’s Administration presents as fractured.” Hence the sign “Stop Trump” Jen Osborne—Getty Images. (Time Magazine)

USA, NEW YORK, NEW YORK

A woman speaks to a group of demonstrators as they attend the International Women’s Day march on March 8, 2025 in New York City. Kena Betancur—Getty Images. (Time Magazine)

USA, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Thousands of people participated in the Bay Area’s annual International Women’s Day. Among the signs visible in the video: RESIST No Oligarchs Save Democracy; NO KINGS NO TYRANNY; HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE 170 MILLION WOMEN SCORNED
(CBS News)

International Women’s Day: Africa and Asia

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the photos from Africa and Asia.

BANGLADESH, SYLHET

Ethnic Community Development Organization (ECDO) observed International Women’s Day 2025 at the Hiluachhara Tea Garden.

CHINA

China Celebrates International Women’s Day with Cultural & Career Events | AG15 (YouTube)

INDONESIA, BANDUNG
“We can be killed just because we are women. Indonesia must eliminate femicide” (Antarafoto)

INDONESIA, JAKARTA
“Provide fair maternity and menstrual leave rights without discrimination” (Antarafoto)

JAPAN, TOKYO

Happy International Women’s Day from Tokyo! (TikTok)

NIGERIA, ABUJA

On 7 March 2025, the WHO Nigeria offices buzzed with energy as staff joined the global celebration of International Women’s Day: “commitment to gender equality and empowerment as essential drivers of health for all.”

NIGERIA, LAGOS

In the Nigerian capital of Lagos, thousands of women gathered at the Mobolaji Johnson stadium, dancing and signing and celebrating their womanhood. Many were dressed in purple, the traditional color of the women’s liberation movement. Photograph: Sunday Alamba/AP. (The Guardian)

Question related to this article:
 
Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD

Women participate in an Aurat March held to mark International Women’s Day in Islamabad, Pakistan, Mar. 8, 2025. EFE/EPA/SOHAIL SHAHZAD 78595. (EFE)

PAKISTAN, LAHORE

Supporters of a religious party ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’ gather in support of women of Gaza, marking International Women’s Day, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M Chaudary) (Associated Press News)

PHILIPPINES, MANILA

Members of women’s rights group, ‘Gabriela’, perform to mark International Women’s Day in Manila, Philippines, Mar. 8, 2025. EFE/EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG. (EFE)

SRI LANKA

he 84-year-old Sri Lanka Federation of University Women, under its President Colonel Dr Udula Krishnaratne, ably supported by her team – celebrated International Women’s Day. The programme was intended to promote education for girls from the primary to the tertiary levels, provide better sustenance to needy families and ease economic hardship, and help improve the overall health of women and girls. (Sunday Times)

THAILAND, BANGKOK

Under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment,” the spotlight was on youth at the International Women’s Day 2025 celebration in Bangkok. (UN Women)

VIETNAM, HANOI

International Women’s Day parade in Hanoi, Vietnam. (YouTube)

International Women’s Day: Latin America

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the photos from Latin America, March 8, 2025.

ARGENTINA, BUENOS AIRES

“Contra el fascismo, el racismo, el patriarcado y el capitalismo”, en repudio a las políticas del Gobierno de Javier Milei. After 6 p.m., the mobilization reached its peak, a dense crowd filled Avenida de Mayo up to the Casa Rosada. Photo: Francisco Loureiro
(Clarín)

BOLIVIA, LA PAZ

A women shouts slogans during a march to mark International Women’s Day, in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
One of the most chanted slogans was: “What’s the big deal? They kill us and rape us and the state does nothing,” which grew louder as the march passed by the headquarters of the courts and prosecutors in La Paz. (Agencia EFE)

BRAZIL, BRASILIA

March for International Women’s Day in Brasilia — The event highlights issues such as feminicide, racism, improving public policies for women, food insecurity and defending democracy. Foto: Gabriel Buosi/TV Globo
(O Globo)

BRAZIL, SAO PAULO

Indigenous woman Bekoy Tupinamba participates in a march to mark International Women’s Day in Sao Paulo, Brazil, March 8. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli (Reuters)

CHILE, ARICA

“Health Without Violence”(Pudhuel)

CHILE, ATOFOGASTA

“I will be the lawyer who will defend them.”(Pudhuel)

CHILE, BÍO BÍO

(Pudhuel)

CHILE, SANTIAGO

A woman waves a flare during a march marking International Women’s Day in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, March 8I, 2025 (AP Photo/Estaban Felix)
(Associated Press News)

Question related to this article:
 
Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

CHILE, VALPARAISO

“IN THE FACE OF SETBACKS, WE EXIST AND WE RESIST!”(Pudhuel)

COLOMBIA, BOGOTA

A demonstrator sits on the statue of Luis Carlos Galan during a protest to mark International Women’s Day in Bogota, Colombia. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
(Reuters)

ECUADOR, QUITO

“The world needs women at every decision-making table.” International Women’s Day in Quito (Ecuador) EFE/ José Jácome
(RTVE – Radio y Televisión Española)

MEXICO, GUADALAJARA

in Bogota, Colombia. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
(Reuters)

MEXICO, MEXICO CITY

Once again, Mexico City turned purple . Its most iconic streets and monuments welcomed the International Women’s Day march on March 8. Feminist groups, collectives, mothers, daughters, girls, friends, and allies gathered once again to demand gender equality and justice for gender-based violence in our country . The government of Mexico City has reported the attendance of 200,000 protesters this year. (Vogue)

MEXICO, PACHUCA

Women from various feminist groups protest in the Mexican city of Pachuca (EFE/David Martínez Pelcastre)
(Infobae)

VENEZUELA


Venezuelan women marching to demand better wages and protection from violence (REUTERS). (Infobae)

Voice of the Global South: Multilateralism Can and Must Deliver

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An opinion piece by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Cyril Ramaphosa and Pedro Sánchez, heads of state of Brazil, South Africa and Spain published by the Transcend Media Service

The year 2025 will be pivotal for multilateralism. The challenges before us — rising inequalities, climate change, and the financing gap for sustainable development — are urgent and interconnected. Addressing them requires bold, coordinated action — not a retreat into isolation, unilateral actions, or disruption.

Three major global gatherings offer a unique opportunity to chart a path towards a more just, inclusive and sustainable world: the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville (Spain), the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Belém (Brazil) and the G20 Summit in Johannesburg (South Africa). These meetings must not be business as usual: they must deliver real progress.

A multilateral moment we cannot waste

Trust in multilateral institutions is under strain, yet the need for dialogue and global cooperation has never been greater. We must reaffirm that multilateralism, when ambitious and action-oriented, remains the most effective vehicle for addressing shared challenges and advancing common interests.

We must build on the successes of multilateralism, in particular the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. The FfD4, COP30 and G20 must serve as milestones in a renewed commitment to inclusiveness, sustainable development, and shared prosperity. This will require strong political will, the full participation of all relevant stakeholders, a creative mindset and the ability to understand the constraints and priorities of all economies.

Tackling inequality through a renewed financial architecture

Income inequality is widening—both within and between nations. Many developing countries struggle under unsustainable debt burdens, constrained fiscal space, and barriers to fair access to capital. Basic services such as health or education must compete with growing interest rates.

This is not just a moral failing; it is an economic risk for all. The global financial architecture must be reformed to provide countries in the Global South with greater voice and representation and fairer and more predictable access to resources.

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Question related to this article:

Where in the world can we find good leadership today?

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We must advance debt relief initiatives, promote innovative financing mechanisms, and work on identifying and addressing the causes of the high cost of capital faced by most developing countries. The G20, under the South African presidency, is prioritising these three areas.

At the same time, Seville’s FfD4 will be a defining moment to secure commitments for stronger international financial cooperation for sustainable development, including through better taxation of global wealth and negative externalities, the enhancement of domestic resource mobilisation and for a more impactful and effective rechannelling of Special Drawing Rights.

Just transitions towards climate-resilient development

For many developing countries, just climate transitions remain out of reach due to a lack of funds and development constraints. This must change. At COP30 in Belém, a summit hosted in the heart of the Amazon, we must ensure that our climate finance commitments translate into concrete action.

The success of COP30 will depend on whether we can bridge the gap between promises and delivery. Under the UNFCCC, key foundations for COP30 will be the submission of new and ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by all parties and the Baku to Belém Roadmap to scale up financing to developing country parties for climate action from all public and private sources to at least $1.3 trillion per year by 2025.

We need to significantly increase climate adaptation finance, leverage private sector investment and ensure that multilateral development banks take a greater role in climate financing. The FfD4 in Seville will complement these efforts by ensuring that climate financing does not come at the cost of development.

An inclusive response to global threats

The world is increasingly fragmented, and this is precisely why we must redouble our efforts to find common ground. Seville, Belém and Johannesburg must serve as beacons of multilateral cooperation, showing that nations can unite around common interests.

In Seville, we will work to mobilise both public and private capital for sustainable development, recognising that financial stability and climate action are inseparable. In Belem, we will stand together to protect our planet. And in Johannesburg, the G20 will reaffirm the importance of inclusive economic growth.

As we look ahead to 2025, we call on all nations, international institutions, the private sector and civil society to rise to this moment. Multilateralism can and must deliver — because the stakes are too high for failure.

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