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Activism & Law
This category captures the dynamic interface between grassroots activism, legal frameworks, and enforcement efforts that drive sustainable practices and safeguard human development, peace and planetary health.
Bellingcat open source investigations put digital evidence under scrutiny
Public images can expose events in conflict zones, but verification, privacy and legal assessment shape their use
Editorial Team SDG16
7 days ago4 min read
Access Now documents internet shutdowns as civil society faces digital threats
Emergency support and shutdown research connect digital rights with access to information and public participation
Editorial Team SDG16
Oct 94 min read
Legal aid exposes the gap between having rights and enforcing them
Lawyers, community paralegals and legal information can change how people protect their homes, incomes and safety
Editorial Team SDG16
Oct 85 min read
Protecting civilian infrastructure during war and the cost of service collapse
Damage to hospitals, schools, power and water networks links immediate civilian harm to the prospects for recovery
Editorial Team SDG16
Oct 75 min read
Global Integrity’s governance research continues after its closure
The organisation closed in 2023, while its Africa Integrity Indicators project continued under African leadership
Editorial Team SDG16
Oct 64 min read
The right to housing in Europe: dignity, property and the limits of profitability
Vienna and Mari Carmen’s case in Madrid raise questions about reconciling affordable homes, investment and property protection
Editorial
Sep 295 min read
Free Press Unlimited supports journalism under pressure
Safety assistance and newsroom support connect press freedom with the public’s access to independent information
Editorial Team SDG16
Sep 284 min read
AI safety boundaries put privacy and human control to the test
Rules on data, harmful uses and human oversight expose the choices behind safe artificial intelligence and innovation
Editorial
Sep 264 min read
Space governance beyond Earth raises questions of power and consent
Existing space law limits territorial claims but leaves the political organisation of future settlements unresolved
Editorial Team SDG16
Sep 245 min read
From learning about the ocean to participating in its future
Ocean literacy empowers youth to move from future promises to real participation in biodiversity decisions ahead of COP17
Gabriela Casuso
Sep 213 min read
HRDAG uses statistics to reveal gaps in human rights records
Human rights data analysis separates documented cases from estimates of violence missing from the record
Editorial Team SDG16
Sep 184 min read
The Engine Room tests a community-led model for safer civil society technology
The non-profit combines digital security, responsible data and research as civic groups face expanding technological risks
Editorial Team SDG16
Sep 75 min read
Wildlife captivity debate tests Born Free's conservation model
The foundation links anti-captivity campaigning with rescue, habitat protection and community-based species conservation
Editorial Team SDG15
Sep 45 min read
WildAid’s dual strategy targets wildlife demand and gaps in marine enforcement
The conservation group combines mass communications with practical support for protected seas and fisheries
Editorial Team SDG15
Sep 24 min read
TRAFFIC tracks the systems behind illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade
The monitoring network turns trade data into policy and enforcement support, while confronting gaps in evidence and capacity
Editorial Team SDG15
Aug 284 min read
ClientEarth tests the reach of environmental law in public accountability cases
The legal charity targets governments and companies, while court outcomes reveal the reach and limits of climate litigation
Editorial Team SDG16
Aug 245 min read
How abusive lawsuits can silence environmental criticism
Anti-SLAPP reforms seek to stop legal process being used as punishment while preserving valid reputation claims
Editorial Team SDG16
Aug 216 min read
Environmental crime operates as a global organised economy
Illegal extraction and dumping converge through corruption, financial secrecy and international commodity chains
Editorial Team SDG16
Aug 145 min read
Environmental information turns pollution data into democratic accountability
Public records allow communities to test official promises against permits, emissions and environmental conditions
Editorial Team SDG16
Aug 115 min read
Shark Trust links citizen science with pressure for stronger fisheries controls
The UK charity combines public data collection, education and policy work as shark and ray populations face sustained fishing pressure
Editorial Team SDG14
Aug 95 min read
Satellite alerts expose deforestation but enforcement determines their impact
AI can detect forest loss rapidly, but data access, local verification and state action decide whether trees are protected
Editorial Team SDG15
Jul 306 min read
The Advocates for Human Rights links legal aid to systemic reform
How documentation, pro bono representation and international advocacy turn individual cases into wider human rights action
Editorial Team SDG16
Jul 286 min read
ARTICLE 19 turns free expression principles into practical protection
How a global rights organisation uses law, policy and local partnerships to defend speech and the public’s right to know
Editorial Team SDG16
Jul 255 min read
Women defending land and water are reshaping environmental leadership
Women environmental defenders protect shared resources while confronting violence, exclusion and legal pressure
Editorial Team SDG5
Jul 235 min read
Grassroots partnerships at the heart of global women's rights
MADRE supports women-led organisations through long-term partnerships that connect human rights, peacebuilding and climate justice
Editorial Team SDG5
Jul 145 min read
Digital Defenders Partnership strengthens digital security for civil society under threat
The programme funds emergency responses and long-term protection for activists, journalists and human rights organisations
Editorial Team SDG16
Jul 126 min read
ARTICLE 19 defends freedom of expression in an increasingly restrictive information environment
The organisation combines legal expertise, advocacy and training to protect the rights to speak, know and participate
Editorial Team SDG16
Jul 96 min read
International Rivers challenges the dam-first model reshaping vulnerable waterways
Large dams, water stress and climate risks are forcing a rethink of river governance and community rights
Editorial Team SDG6
Jul 65 min read
Manta rays expose the weak links in ocean protection
The Manta Trust shows how research, tourism and policy can help protect threatened rays and marine ecosystems
Editorial Team SDG14
Jul 54 min read
EarthRights International puts corporate abuse in extractive industries under scrutiny
Communities facing mining, oil and gas harms are pushing for stronger human rights and environmental accountability
Editorial Team SDG16
Jul 25 min read
Fauna & Flora shows why conservation now depends on local power
Protecting threatened species increasingly means supporting the communities living closest to biodiversity loss
Editorial Team SDG15
Jun 306 min read
Learners unite across continents for World Environment Day 2026
Global Society initiative connects students from Kenya and Spain to champion environmental action
Editorial
Jun 182 min read
The power of caring when the world looks away
In Tuvalu, civil society organisations are showing how solidarity, climate action and community responsibility can shape resilience in one of the world’s most vulnerable countries
Editorial
Jun 75 min read
Global Peatlands Initiative puts overlooked wetlands at the centre of climate action
A UN-backed partnership is pushing governments to protect peatlands before stored carbon becomes emissions
Editorial Team SDG15
Jun 65 min read
CIVICUS, the global struggle to defend civic space
The alliance tracks threats to public participation and shows why grassroots organising matters for democracy
Editorial Team SDG16
May 285 min read
She asked the state to protect her. She was sent home. She never came back
Gullan Bharo’s death exposes the urgent need for stronger protection, policing and justice for women at risk
Kiran Rana
May 273 min read
The world is changing. Journalism must change with it
Global Society News opens its platform to citizen voices, local realities and stories connected to the Sustainable Development Goals
Editorial
May 256 min read
Power of Women strengthens engagement through CSW70 and recent meetings in Germany
The organisation’s recent activity reflects a growing focus on leadership, cooperation and wider international engagement
Editorial Team SDG16
May 203 min read
Menstrual health, sustainability, and the power of grassroots action
A Global Society News conversation with Dr. Aruna Varsani on menstrual dignity and sustainable solutions
Edwin Ochola
May 198 min read
See Positive Change and Trees & Seas Film Festival: film as a catalyst for environmental action
Plastic Oceans is shifting environmental storytelling from awareness to coordination, local action and systemic change
Editorial Team SDG17
May 188 min read
Tackling the ocean plastic crisis through innovation and community action
How Pakistan can combine technology, citizen participation and nature-based solutions to protect its coastline.
Editorial Team SDG9
May 162 min read
Voices of the High Seas for Colombia: youth, ocean governance, and the right to shape our blue future
A youth-led campaign calls on Colombia to protect the high seas and include young voices in ocean governance
Gabriela Casuso
May 143 min read
Heinrich Böll Foundation and the politics of ecology, democracy and power
A German policy foundation links climate, democracy and resource governance in a fractured global debate
Editorial Team SDG12
May 126 min read
The Water Project and the difficult work of keeping rural water systems running
A water charity working in Kenya, Uganda and Sierra Leone highlights the gap between access and reliability
Editorial Team SDG6
Apr 286 min read
Women-led cultural peacebuilding is reshaping civic resistance in conflict zones
In conflict zones, women-led cultural initiatives are helping communities preserve trust, memory and public life.
Editorial Team SDG16
Apr 256 min read
Interpeace and the politics of locally led peacebuilding
How Interpeace tries to move community knowledge into national and international peace policy
Editorial Team SDG16
Apr 245 min read
Plastic Oceans International and the politics of turning film into action
The US non-profit uses storytelling, science and local dialogue to push plastic pollution from awareness into policy
Editorial Team SDG14
Apr 236 min read
Community-led conservation initiative focuses on biodiversity and rural livelihoods in Mpem et Djim
In Cameroon, BIOCOM-MDJ aims to involve nearby villages in protecting wildlife, forests and sustainable local livelihoods
Editorial Team SDG15
Apr 203 min read
Why today’s worst crises can no longer be treated as separate emergencies
Published alongside our earlier report on the International Rescue Committee, this opinion column reflects on why conflict, poverty, climate stress and aid cuts must now be understood as one connected global failure
Editorial Team SDG16
Apr 186 min read
International Rescue Committee and the difficult politics of saving lives in war
In conflict settings, the IRC’s joined-up model of health, protection, education and emergency aid matters as needs rise
Editorial Team SDG16
Apr 166 min read
Activism & Law
This segment focuses on individuals, communities, and organizations that are not just advocating for change but are also engaging in active, impactful actions to promote a healthier and more sustainable world.
This category showcases the vital roles that activists play in raising awareness, influencing policies, and mobilizing public opinion on environmental and social issues. It highlights innovative campaigns and movements that have successfully brought about change in local and global contexts, illustrating the power of collective action and community involvement in shaping a sustainable future.
In addition, we explore the intersection of law, sustainability and law enforcement. Featuring stories on how legislation is crafted, implemented, and enforced to support environmental objectives and protect human health. This includes coverage of legal battles to uphold environmental laws, as well as the challenges and successes faced by law enforcement in implementing these regulations effectively.
It also delves into the collaboration between policymakers, activists, and the legal community to create and maintain spaces where sustainable practices are not just encouraged but required. This category provides a comprehensive look at how actions and legal measures intertwine to forge pathways towards a sustainable and just society.
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