Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
ISTH and EHA Announce Strategic Collaboration to Update Diagnostic Guidance on IPFDs
CARRBORO, North Carolina, April 11 -- The International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis issued the following news:
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The ISTH and EHA announce strategic collaboration to update diagnostic guidance on IPFDs
The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) and the European Hematology Association (EHA) are pleased to announce a formal partnership to develop updated clinical practice guidance for the diagnosis of inherited platelet function disorders (IPFDs). This joint initiative aims to standardize diagnostic pathways and integrate modern laboratory techniques to improve
... Show Full Article
CARRBORO, North Carolina, April 11 -- The International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis issued the following news:
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The ISTH and EHA announce strategic collaboration to update diagnostic guidance on IPFDs
The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) and the European Hematology Association (EHA) are pleased to announce a formal partnership to develop updated clinical practice guidance for the diagnosis of inherited platelet function disorders (IPFDs). This joint initiative aims to standardize diagnostic pathways and integrate modern laboratory techniques to improvepatient outcomes worldwide.
The joint task force, composed of internationally recognized experts from both organizations, recently convened and will soon begin developing research questions and conducting a literature review. The ISTH Guidelines and Guidance Committee will share a draft guidance for public comment when the manuscript becomes available. The final guidance document is expected to be released in 2027.
Learn more about ISTH guidance here (https://www.isth.org/page/GuidanceDocuments).
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Original text here: https://www.isth.org/news/725086/The-ISTH-and-EHA-announce-strategic-collaboration-to-update-diagnostic-guidance-on-IPFDs.htm
[Category: Medical]
Human Rights First: 'Risk and Response: Women Human Rights Defenders on Ukraine's Frontline'
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Human Rights First issued the following report on April 10, 2026 by Brian Dooley and Suchita Uppal entitled "Risk and Response: Women Human Rights Defenders on Ukraine's Frontline."
Here are excerpts:
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Women human rights defenders (WHRDS) are taking enormous daily risks to help vulnerable people living on the frontline of Russia's war on Ukraine. Some deliver humanitarian aid to those in desperate need of food and clothes, while others evacuate elderly and infirm re1sidents from communities under fire.
Some do this work full-time, others join these efforts when
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Human Rights First issued the following report on April 10, 2026 by Brian Dooley and Suchita Uppal entitled "Risk and Response: Women Human Rights Defenders on Ukraine's Frontline."
Here are excerpts:
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Women human rights defenders (WHRDS) are taking enormous daily risks to help vulnerable people living on the frontline of Russia's war on Ukraine. Some deliver humanitarian aid to those in desperate need of food and clothes, while others evacuate elderly and infirm re1sidents from communities under fire.
Some do this work full-time, others join these efforts whenthey can. Few had any experience of activism before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Human Rights First has regularly worked alongside women activists around the northeastern region of Kharkiv, and sometimes in the Donetsk region further south, and has seen firsthand the lifesaving work they do, and the risks involved.
Across the world, women - including women activists - experience war differently from men. In a 2023 report, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders described these environments as the "hypermasculinized context of war". In these contexts, the role of WHRDs becomes more essential even as they face additional challenges "because of [their] work and because of who they are."
WHRDs often face the same risks as their male counterparts, including restrictions on their rights, but also face additional and distinct risks shaped by entrenched stereotypes and expectations about women's roles. They are stigmatized and criticized for actions for which men are praised, frequently stereotyped not as agents of change, but as vulnerable individuals in need of protection.
These are not new prejudices. A 2019 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders also found that women defenders working in conflict and post-conflict are "particularly exposed to gender-based violence, including sexual violence," and are "more directly affected by breakdowns in health-care services." Their legitimacy as defenders continues to be challenged and they remain largely excluded from decision-making.
In Ukraine, WHRDs evacuate civilians, deliver humanitarian assistance, and document war crimes, often at significant physical and mental risk. Yet, they are excluded from effective decision-making spaces. In March 2022, UN special procedure mandate holders drew attention to the absence of Ukrainian women from peace negotiations, despite their central role in the humanitarian response.
Human Rights First has a long history of working with WHRDs in multiple countries, including in Bahrain, Poland, and Egypt, supporting those exposing corruption, delivering humanitarian aid, and assisting asylum seekers. Many face not only detention and legal harassment, but sustained efforts to discredit them and isolate them from their communities.
Human Rights First is also part of the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition , a global network supporting WHRDs facing harassment, threats, surveillance, arbitrary detention and other forms of retaliation. Through this coalition and our own Human Rights Defenders program, we promote the work of WHRDs and work toward their protection.
In 2022, Human Rights First supported the production of a guide for journalists on responsibly reporting war-related sexual violence, authored by three Ukrainian women experts in gender issues.
Human Rights First has worked alongside WHRDs in Ukraine since the Russian invasion of 2014. Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, the organization has made dozens of visits to the front-line region of Kharkiv. This has involved assisting WHRDs with evacuations from frontline areas, documenting war crimes, and reporting on the work of local activists providing humanitarian aid, countering corruption and disinformation, and those responding to the mental health crisis.
This report draws on interviews with WHRDs working in frontline areas of northeastern Ukraine, highlighting their work during the conflict, the risks they face, and the critical role they have played in sustaining communities under fire.
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Access the report at: https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/risk-and-response-women-human-rights-defenders-on-ukraines-frontline/
[Category: Sociological]
Human Rights First: 'A New Era of ICE Family Prisons'
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Human Rights First issued the following report on April 1, 2026 entitled "A New Era of ICE Family Prisons."
Here are excerpts:
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In early 2025, the second Trump administration began detaining immigrant families and children, and by April, the Dilley Immigration Processing Center ("Dilley") became the sole active family detention center in the United States. More than 5,600 people, including parents, children, toddlers, and newborn babies, have been imprisoned at Dilley between April 2025 and February 2026, according to our analysis of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Human Rights First issued the following report on April 1, 2026 entitled "A New Era of ICE Family Prisons."
Here are excerpts:
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In early 2025, the second Trump administration began detaining immigrant families and children, and by April, the Dilley Immigration Processing Center ("Dilley") became the sole active family detention center in the United States. More than 5,600 people, including parents, children, toddlers, and newborn babies, have been imprisoned at Dilley between April 2025 and February 2026, according to our analysis of Immigration and Customs Enforcementdata.
This report by Human Rights First and RAICES, based on in-depth interviews with families detained at Dilley, legal service provision, and desk research, exposes the profound harm incarceration at Dilley inflicts on families and children. It concludes that inhumane conditions, routine mistreatment, and due process violations experienced by families at Dilley are pervasive and systemic. In addition to the violation of constitutional and statutory legal protections, DHS's policy of family incarceration also violates international treaties and legal prohibitions on non-refoulement, arbitrary detention, and the detention of children.
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Access the report at: https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/a-new-era-of-ice-family-prisons/
[Category: Sociological]
Center for Global Development: 'Lead-Acid Battery Recycling in Selected African Settings: Status Quo and Considerations for Sector Policies'
WASHINGTON, April 11 (TNSres) -- The Center for Global Development issued the following policy paper on March 26, 2026 by Andreas Manhart and Fred Adjei entitled "Lead-Acid Battery Recycling in Selected African Settings: Status Quo and Considerations for Sector Policies".
Here is the abstract:
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Lead exposure presents a major public health challenge in many low- and middle-income countries, and unsafe recycling of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) is increasingly recognized as an important driver. This paper synthesizes over a decade of applied research and cooperation projects on ULAB recycling,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 (TNSres) -- The Center for Global Development issued the following policy paper on March 26, 2026 by Andreas Manhart and Fred Adjei entitled "Lead-Acid Battery Recycling in Selected African Settings: Status Quo and Considerations for Sector Policies".
Here is the abstract:
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Lead exposure presents a major public health challenge in many low- and middle-income countries, and unsafe recycling of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) is increasingly recognized as an important driver. This paper synthesizes over a decade of applied research and cooperation projects on ULAB recycling,particularly in sub-Sahara Africa. The paper specifically draws from recent assessments in Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania and describes collection and recycling patterns, including interlinks between informal and formal operators, plant set-ups and operational practices.
The researchers assert that collection is largely organized through informal networks that supply collected batteries to registered industrial recycling plants that commonly apply sub-standard processes. Key lead exposure pathways include manual or semi-automated battery breaking, uncontrolled electrolyte draining, insufficient capture of furnace and refining fumes, poor housekeeping and dust control, unsafe handling of filter dust, and inadequate management of lead-bearing slags. Regulatory frameworks exist and inspections occur, yet limited resources, gaps in technical specificity and capacity, and weak enforcement allow persistent non-compliance by formal plants.
Economic analysis and recent experience indicate that relatively high standard plants face higher investment and operating costs and may lose access to ULABs because low-standard operators can offer higher purchase prices. The paper concludes with policy implications focused on effective and consistent sanctions, market consolidation through stricter licensing, polluter pays principles, regional exchange, supply chain due diligence, improved monitoring, and international support that strengthens local ownership and capacities.
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The full policy paper is posted at: https://www.cgdev.org/publication/lead-acid-battery-recycling-selected-african-settings-status-quo-and-considerations
[Category: Sociological]
Center for Global Development: 'Better Debt Shock Absorbers for Poor Countries: A Proposal'
WASHINGTON, April 11 (TNSres) -- The Center for Global Development issued the following policy paper on April 7, 2026 by Nancy Lee, Liliana Rojas-Suarez, Samuel Matthews and James Reid entitled "Better Debt Shock Absorbers for Poor Countries: A Proposal".
Here is the abstract:
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Our analysis confirms that poor countries are subject to a broad range of exogenous shocks - not under their control and not just those that are climate-related - and that those shocks can have large consequences for growth, debt-carrying capacity, and liquidity. The current major global shock, the Iran war, is
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 (TNSres) -- The Center for Global Development issued the following policy paper on April 7, 2026 by Nancy Lee, Liliana Rojas-Suarez, Samuel Matthews and James Reid entitled "Better Debt Shock Absorbers for Poor Countries: A Proposal".
Here is the abstract:
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Our analysis confirms that poor countries are subject to a broad range of exogenous shocks - not under their control and not just those that are climate-related - and that those shocks can have large consequences for growth, debt-carrying capacity, and liquidity. The current major global shock, the Iran war, isthe most recent example. Our proposal for the temporary suspension of external debt service payments would help prevent liquidity crises from escalating into solvency crises. By providing immediate fiscal space, it would allow low-income countries to avoid default and undertake countercyclical or reconstruction spending, thereby limiting long-term economic damage and preserving creditworthiness. The proposal has five distinctive features:
* Triggers for DSC activation focus on the magnitude of the shock, not the source.
* Benchmarks for clause activation are simple, standardized, and quantitative. The four-part activation test includes benchmarks for solvency, liquidity, debt service fiscal burden, and growth impact.
* Clause activation would not require creditor approval if triggers are met and verified.
* Clauses would apply to sovereign debt owed to both public and private creditors--to ensure comparable treatment amid the rising public creditor share of poor country debt stocks.
* The issuing country may spend the temporarily freed-up resources as it likes--different from debt for nature or debt for development swaps.
This proposal is meant to complement, not substitute for, ongoing work to deal with liquidity shortages, to make the debt restructuring process more efficient and to explore refinancing options for poor countries' current high-cost debt. The aim is better long-term solutions to strengthen the resilience of poor countries and to help avoid a recurrence of today's pervasive debt strains. We know these countries will continue to be subject to frequent exogenous shocks. A forward-looking approach of building better debt contracts for poor country sovereign borrowing should be a prominent part of the debt relief arsenal.
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The full policy paper is posted at: https://www.cgdev.org/publication/better-debt-shock-absorbers-poor-countries-proposal
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR-Texas Denounces Anti-Muslim Rhetoric at SBOE Hearing, Calls on Board to Reject Biased TEKS Revisions Amid Final Discussions Ahead of Vote
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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CAIR-Texas Denounces Anti-Muslim Rhetoric at SBOE Hearing, Calls on Board to Reject Biased TEKS Revisions Amid Final Discussions Ahead of Vote
The Texas office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) today called on the State Board of Education (SBOE) to reject proposed revisions to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) social studies standards that unfairly target the American Muslim community.
As the SBOE enters final discussions today ahead
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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CAIR-Texas Denounces Anti-Muslim Rhetoric at SBOE Hearing, Calls on Board to Reject Biased TEKS Revisions Amid Final Discussions Ahead of Vote
The Texas office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) today called on the State Board of Education (SBOE) to reject proposed revisions to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) social studies standards that unfairly target the American Muslim community.
As the SBOE enters final discussions today aheadof a preliminary vote on the first reading of the new curriculum standards, CAIR-Texas is sounding the alarm on a pattern of bias and misinformation that has characterized this process. During Tuesday's hearing, the board faced hours of testimony regarding proposed changes that tie Islam and Muslim historical figures disproportionately to terrorism while omitting significant contributions of the faith to world history and civilization.
Tuesday's proceedings were marred by a series of hostile actions from state leadership:
* State Senator Bob Hall testified that the curriculum was an attempt to "Islamify" schools yet failed to provide a single example of "Sharia law" when pressed by board members.
* SBOE Member Brandon Hall weaponized political rhetoric to interrogate CAIR leadership on baseless terrorism links.
* Member Julie Pickren and others reportedly exited the room during testimony from Muslim constituents, signaling a blatant disregard for the community's concerns.
The hearing was marked by inflammatory rhetoric from several public witnesses who used the platform to cast aspersions on the faith of millions of Texans. This follows recent national reporting highlighting concerns that the proposed curriculum shifts are being influenced by political ideologies rather than historical accuracy.
SEE: In Texas, a state hearing on social studies becomes a clash of religions (https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/04/09/texas-muslims-terrorism-education/)
SEE: Revised Social Studies Curriculum Shields Students from Complexity (https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/texas-social-studies-change-22155462.php)
In a statement, CAIR-Texas Civic Engagement Organizer Sameeha Rizvi said:
"What we witnessed on April 7th was a disturbing display of the very Anti-Muslim hate we are fighting to keep out of our children's classrooms. As we head into today's vote, the SBOE must decide if it will prioritize historical integrity or political pandering. Our students across Texas deserve a curriculum grounded in fact, not one that treats their faith as a subset of security studies. We urge the board to vote in favor of accuracy and fairness by rejecting these biased revisions."
Nicholas Little, Houston Branch NAACP Criminal Justice Chairman, added:
"I have been to Austin advocating on many occasions for many different reasons on the behalf of all communities. This past Tuesday at the State School Board meeting was frustrating, appalling, and may very well be the single thread that unravels our democracy. Attacks on our education system are running rampant and accountability is nowhere to be found. I was even more outraged by the hatred towards our Muslim brothers and sisters whether members of CAIR or just concerned citizens and advocates. Rest assured that injustice and prejudice will not be protected or shielded by people's choice to be ignorant or misinformed. The fight must continue, and together we will all fight for the entire community!"
CAIR-Texas and a coalition of educators, parents, and community leaders have consistently advocated for the SBOE to:
* Ensure Balanced Representation: Include the cultural, scientific, and social contributions of Muslim civilizations throughout history.
* Remove Biased Frameworks: Eliminate instructional requirements that link religious studies primarily to modern conflict and extremism.
* Uphold Professional Integrity: Prioritize the recommendations of non-partisan subject-matter experts over politically motivated testimonies.
The SBOE is expected to take its first formal vote on the proposed standards today. CAIR-Texas will continue to monitor the proceedings and advocate for a curriculum that reflects the true diversity and history of all Texans.
In the meantime, CAIR-Texas calls on interfaith leaders and concerned community members to push back against the anti-Muslim hate spreading across the nation by joining our collective call for support.
TAKE ACTION:Interfaith leaders call for support of the Muslim community nation-wide (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLUIxVqYVb2kR1qhRKsgA0ln_HdAcVCz_bhWIPNji7zkJrjQ/viewform?usp=header)
CAIR-Texas's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/breaking-cair-texas-denounces-anti-muslim-rhetoric-at-sboe-hearing-calls-on-board-to-reject-biased-teks-revisions-amid-final-discussions-ahead-of-vote/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR Calls for Resignation of Wisconsin Alderman Over Violent Anti-Muslim, Anti-Immigrant Comments
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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CAIR Calls for Resignation of Wisconsin Alderman Over Violent Anti-Muslim, Anti-Immigrant Comments
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the resignation of a Brookfield, Wisconsin, alderman following reports he allegedly posted violent anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant comments online.
Those posts by Alderman Kris Seals reportedly included referencing shooting Muslims with "Bacon
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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CAIR Calls for Resignation of Wisconsin Alderman Over Violent Anti-Muslim, Anti-Immigrant Comments
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the resignation of a Brookfield, Wisconsin, alderman following reports he allegedly posted violent anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant comments online.
Those posts by Alderman Kris Seals reportedly included referencing shooting Muslims with "Baconrapped [sic] bullets." Another post reportedly stated: "It's time to wipe out the immigrants from Britain and all of the EU." There was also reportedly a post on his page about hanging former President Barack Obama.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw said:
"Public officials take an oath to serve all constituents, not to demonize them. Seals' violent and dehumanizing remarks targeting Muslims and immigrants are not just offensive, they are dangerous. This rhetoric fuels hate, legitimizes discrimination, and puts real people at risk. It is fundamentally incompatible with the responsibilities of public office.
"Seals is clearly unfit to serve and must resign immediately. There is no justification for an elected official who engages in this kind of hate to remain in office. If Seals refuses to step down, local leaders must act to remove him. Silence or inaction in the face of this rhetoric is complicity. The public deserves leadership that respects their dignity, not officials who incite fear and division."
Washington, D.C., based CAIR added that such comments contribute to a broader climate of intolerance that can lead to increased discrimination and bias incidents targeting marginalized communities.
Yesterday, CAIR's Greater Los Angeles Area office (CAIR-LA) condemned a recent hate incident targeting the Islamic Society of Simi Valley, as well as reports of other mosques in Claremont and La Mirada being targeted. CAIR-LA also urged local Muslim community leaders to heighten safety awareness as Islamophobia continues to rise nationwide.
According to CAIR's most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.
SEE: 2026 Civil Rights Report: The Right to be Different (https://action.cair.com/a/the-right-to-be-different)
Anyone who experiences or witnesses a hate incident to report it to local authorities and civil rights organizations. GO TO: https://www.cair.com/report/
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-for-resignation-of-wisconsin-alderman-over-violent-anti-muslim-anti-immigrant-comments/
[Category: Sociological]
