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UNAIDS is warning about the risk of a resurgence of the HIV epidemic worldwide. According to its latest report, cuts in international aid, combined with increasing restrictions on human rights in several countries, are weakening prevention, testing, and care services. In 2025, HIV testing declined by 22% in some high-prevalence countries, while access to prevention tools such as PrEP and condoms has sharply decreased, threateningthe progress achieved. UNAIDS warns that without renewed commitment and concrete action, the epidemic could rise again. 

UNDP warns about the deeply unequal impacts of the burden of external debt in countries of the Global South. As governments devote an increasing share of their resources to debt repayment, women are the first to be affected: job losses, declining incomes, increased domestic workloads, and reduced access to public services. According to the report, this pressure has already resulted in the loss of 55 million jobs held by women and a 17% decline in income per capita. The consequences also affect health, with rising maternal mortality rates in the most heavily indebted countries.

In its 2026 edition report, the IOM highlights the contribution of safe and regular migration pathways to economic growth, job creation, and social cohesion. While by mid-2024 the number of international migrants was estimated at 304 million (3.7% of the global population), access to migration opportunities remains unequal and tends to favor people living in high-income countries. In 2024, remittances were estimated at 905 billion dollars, exceeding the combined total of official development assistance and foreign direct investment.  

The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) publishes the “Gender Equality in Foreign Policy Index 2026”, which provides a comparative framework to assess how states integrate gender equality into their international policies. The index analyzes government performance across seven key areas. Beyond formal commitments, it measures the extent to which policies can reduce structural inequalities and transform power relations. 

In its report Multilateral Development Finance 2026, the OECD warns of a turning point for the multilateral system. After decades of growth, contributions from major donors fell by more than 15% in 2024 and could decline by 23–30% by 2027, revealing a strong dependence on a limited number of donors. While funding levels remain high in the short term, strains are already emerging (slower program delivery, pressure on agencies), posing risks for support to the most vulnerable countries. The report calls for better coordination and reforms to preserve the system’s effectiveness.

President Gustavo Petro has signed a decree officially establishing a feminist foreign policy in Colombia, aimed at integrating a gender perspective into the country’s international actions. Colombia commits in particular to protecting its female citizens abroad, promoting equality in trade agreements, and defending women’s rights in multilateral forums, notably on issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda.

Can international solidarity be reduced to a “transactional” approach? The Trump administration is reportedly considering suspending aid to people living with HIV in Zambia if the authorities refuse a bilateral agreement on strategic minerals, according to France 24 and The New York Times.

On January 27, the United States expanded the Global Gag Rule (also known as the Mexico City Policy), making all non-military foreign assistance conditional on broader restrictions. The measure no longer applies solely to abortion: it now prohibits recipients of U.S. funding (NGOs, humanitarian agencies, United Nations organizations, or partner governments) from engaging in any activities related to gender equality, LGBTQI+ rights, and diversity policies, even when funded from other sources.

On the occasion of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), UN leaders recall that more than 4.5 million girls are still at risk in 2026, while over 230 million girls and women are already living with the consequences of this practice. They call for sustained political and financial commitment to achieve the goal of eliminating FGM by 2030, as budget cuts threaten prevention programs and support for survivors.

Governments gathered at the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women adopted Agreed Conclusions to strengthen access to justice for women and girls worldwide, despite polarized debates

The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) presents a mixed assessment of Europe’s progress toward achieving the SDGs. The 7th edition of the Europe Sustainable Development Report highlights a stagnation in progress and the need to strengthen political commitments to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. France drops from 7th place in 2025 to 14th in 2026.

In 2024, the first year in which the global average temperature exceeded pre-industrial levels by 1.5°C, 32 fossil fuel companies were responsible for half of global carbon dioxide emissions, according to the latest Carbon Majors data.