Highlights and interviews from the 38th session of the Human Rights Council

Against bleak ghosts of familiar urban landscape and CCTV cameras labelled “for your protection” the news on the radio skits between weather forecast, rationing, raids, a special public appearance by the queen, politicians promising increased production and London quarantine zones to be avoided “for reasons of health and safety”.

- Impressions from V for Vendetta, 1982

I first heard about Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the age of 19. To be honest, at that time for me it was nothing but nice pictures (as each goal had its own symbol) with nice slogans — just a wish list.  I got to familiarize myself with the concept of accountability and how governments should be accountable to international community but more importantly, towards their own people. Gradually, I started to understand what it was all about, that if it works that means me, my family, my relatives, my friends, just people around me should live better.

We are a small bunch. We are a group of young women from Bosnia and Herzegovina. We gathered around a Peace Academy Project, organized by Kvinna till Kvinna, to undergo a training in peace, conflict transformation, and the role of women. 

In September 2017, the European Union and United Nations announced the Spotlight Initiative, the largest single investment toward ending gender-based violence in the world.

We welcome this week’s announcement of a EUR 500 million commitment for work to end violence against women and girls. But there are important caveats.

Tangarr Forgart is a Trans activist who works with 'Lavendar Menace' in the Ukraine.