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Civil society

Accountability

Transparency Advocate Files Supreme Court Petition Against India’s Data Protection Law, Citing Threat to RTI

Filed under Article 32 of the Constitution on 6 February 2026, the petition seeks to declare Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act – along with Sections 17(1)(c), 17(2), 33(1), and 36 – ultra vires the Constitution.

OWSA Staff - 14 February 2026

CSR

Healthcare After Budget 2026: Where CSR Can Make a Difference If It Chooses Carefully

CSR cannot replace public healthcare investment, nor should it try to. But when aligned carefully with government priorities and community realities, it can support systems in ways that are practical and sustainable. That, in the long run, tends to matter more than high-profile but short-lived initiatives.

OWSA Contributor - 13 February 2026

Bhutan

Bhutan Confronts Enduring Violence Against Women: New National Strategy Targets Elimination by 2028

Experts emphasise that real change requires engaging men and boys, religious and community leaders, and the private sector. Shifting attitudes among the younger generation through comprehensive sexuality education and school-based prevention programmes will be crucial.

OWSA Contributor - 13 February 2026

Accountability

Pakistan’s Escalating Public Health Crisis: Over 600,000 Unlicensed “Fake Doctors” Threaten Millions

The crisis of Pakistan’s fake doctors is more than a regulatory failure; it is a stark reflection of healthcare inequities in one of the world’s most populous nations.

OWSA Contributor - 13 February 2026

Child marriage

Nepal Cracks Down on Illegal Marriage Bureaus as ‘Bride Hunting’ of Nepali Women for China Surges

The Nepalese government has vowed to tighten immigration enforcement and crack down on illegal brokers operating within its borders. Authorities are also appealing to community leaders and families to remain vigilant and report suspicious operations that may prey on vulnerable individuals.

OWSA Contributor - 12 February 2026

Animals and wildlife

Sindh High Court Declares Unpermitted Trade in Wildlife Illegal

While the Sindh High Court’s directive to curb illicit trade is a step forward, conservationists stress community education and stricter monitoring of markets and borders. They say that without these steps, Pakistan risks losing its rich avian diversity, from parrots to migratory geese, to greed and negligence.

OWSA Contributor - 12 February 2026

Afghanistan

Afghanistan Faces Emergency Hunger Risk as Lean Season Peaks

Humanitarian assistance has declined sharply amid global funding shortfalls, leaving millions more exposed.

OWSA Contributor - 11 February 2026

Climate change

Fitch Ratings Warns Climate Risks Will Drive Sovereign Downgrades as Transition and Physical Threats Intensify

The agency emphasises that sovereign ratings have so far remained resilient, but this could change as climate shocks translate into sustained output losses, fiscal weakening, or political instability.

OWSA Staff - 11 February 2026

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Latest News

Accountability19 June 2026

UN Warns of Mounting Crises in Afghanistan as Security Incidents Surge 57% Under Taliban Control

In a sobering assessment released this week, the United Nations has painted a complex portrait of Afghanistan under Taliban governance, where a dramatic increase in security incidents coincides with fragile stability, devastating cross-border violence with Pakistan, and a deepening humanitarian and human rights crisis.

Civil society19 June 2026

Sri Lanka’s Prisons in Crisis: Overcrowding, Mental Health Collapse, and Calls for Comprehensive Reform

Sri Lanka’s prison system is under intense scrutiny following multiple deaths in custody.

Afghanistan18 June 2026

Wildlife in Peril: Illegal Hunting and Bird Trade Defy Taliban Bans Across Afghanistan

The persistence of illegal hunting and trade underscores a tension between traditional practices, economic necessity, and modern conservation imperatives.