Search Climate Insights Directory

The report provides a comprehensive review of Benin's criminal justice system, divided into three parts: an analysis of severe prison overcrowding and poor living conditions, an evaluation of juvenile justice and the state of rehabilitation centers, and an investigation into the persistence and function of customary law. It highlights a significant gap between national legal texts and the reality of their implementation, noting that many citizens prefer traditional justice over a formal system characterized by slowness, corruption, and high costs.

The submission argues that indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) are the most effective guardians of biodiversity, yet they face systemic threats including non-recognition of land rights, 'fortress conservation' models, and violence against land defenders. It provides global case studies of successful community-led conservation and calls for a shift toward rights-based conservation, secure tenure, and the protection of environmental defenders.

The document highlights the disproportionate risks faced by women environmental and human rights defenders (WEHRDs) in Africa, including gender-based violence, criminalization, and digital attacks. It notes a significant gap in data and reporting, with women often excluded from official statistics and protection mechanisms. The brief identifies the Democratic Republic of Congo as the deadliest country for environmental defenders and calls for gender-responsive funding, legal protections, and the formal recognition of WEHRDs' leadership within UNFCCC processes and national policies.

The position paper criticizes the Indonesian government's decision to deactivate the BPJS health insurance status of approximately 11–13.5 million PBI (Contribution Assistance Recipients) members starting February 1, 2026. The author contends that this policy, justified as data updating, is a systemic violation of constitutional health rights and a failure of governance. The document highlights a contradiction where the state expands high-risk industries (like coal and nickel) that increase health burdens while simultaneously cutting health safety nets. It further argues that the government prioritizes 'political image' and 'lighthouse programs'—such as energy transition and global peace contributions—over the basic health needs of the poor, as evidenced by budget allocations that far exceed the PBI health budget. The paper concludes with recommendations for a moratorium on deactivations, financing reform, and industrial accountability for health impacts.

The report examines the gap between the ideal of communication rights and the reality of digital inequality, corporate control, and political censorship. It emphasizes that freedom of expression must be supported by rights to information, education, and cultural participation to be effective. The text highlights the marginalization of women and indigenous peoples, the risks of 'surveillance capitalism' and Big Tech, and the critical role of traditional ecological knowledge in addressing the climate crisis. It concludes by advocating for public interest media and a human-rights-based framework for the digital future.

The report advocates for 'communication rights' as a broader necessity than just freedom of expression, emphasizing that access to information, digital literacy, and diverse media ownership are essential for human rights and sustainable development. It identifies systemic barriers including political censorship, the 'surveillance economy' dominated by tech giants, and gender and ethnic disparities in digital access. The text specifically highlights the role of indigenous communication rights in preserving cultural autonomy and utilizing traditional ecological knowledge to combat the climate crisis. It concludes by calling for the protection of independent public-interest journalism against the polarising effects of algorithms and the financial decline of traditional media.

The guide examines the intersection of communication rights and the Internet, arguing that while the Internet has the potential to be a 'global commons' and a tool for social justice, it is currently undermined by digital divides, surveillance, and corporate dominance. It highlights the shift of advertising revenue from traditional media to tech giants and the rise of 'surveillance capitalism' and the 'precariat' in the gig economy. The document calls for civil society to advocate for a communication ecosystem governed by human rights and democratic principles rather than for-profit logic.