News Links - February 2 to 3, 2026

Tuesday, 3 February 2026

Human Rights Watch (HRW)
Researchers resign in protest - The entire Israel and Palestine team resigned after leadership blocked their report concluding that Israel's denial of Palestinian refugees' right of return constitutes a crime against. The researchers said leadership broke from HRW's customary approval processes, with Shakir stating he had "lost faith in the integrity of how we do our work." More than 200 HRW employees signed a letter of protest, warning the decision could "create the perception that HRW's review process is open to undue intervention."

AI and Child Sexual Abuse
UNICEF released a warning that AI-powered image and video generation tools producing child sexual abuse material mark a significant escalation in risks to children through digital technologies. Research across 11 countries found at least 1.2 million children reported having their images manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes through AI tools in the past year—equivalent to one child in a typical classroom in some countries. UNICEF called for urgent action by governments and industry to prevent creation and spread of AI-generated sexual content of children, emphasizing that parents, educators, social services, mental health professionals, and law enforcement need resources and continuous training to support impacted children.

Gaza

Rafah Crossing - UNICEF warned that the partial reopening of Rafah crossing is positive but drastically insufficient, with nearly 4,000 children requiring urgent medical evacuation for treatments unavailable locally including complex surgeries, cancer care, and organ transplants.  While Israeli media reported around 150 Palestinians may be allowed to cross daily, Gaza health officials estimate about 22,000 patients await full access to medical care abroad.

NGOs Refuse Israeli Demand - Eight international NGOs have refused Israeli demands to provide sensitive personal data about their staff in Gaza and the West Bank.   Israel withdrew licenses from 37 aid groups in January, citing refusal to share information, while aid agencies warn the data could be used to target humanitarian workers. At least 550 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since the war began.

Pakistan

UNICEF expressed concern after children were among those killed and injured in attacks across Balochistan province last weekend, with the escalation of violence spreading fear across communities. UNICEF Representative Pernille Ironside stated that children cannot be targets or collateral damage, emphasizing their lives must always be protected under national and international laws.

Mozambique
UNICEF expressed alarm over recent reports of child abductions by non-state armed groups in Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique, calling the abductions grave violations of children's rights and international law. The UN agency is working with the Mozambican government to prevent abductions, support affected families, and strengthen protection services, while the country also grapples with severe flooding affecting over 720,000 people.

Sudan
The Sudanese army announced it broke a years-long siege on Kadugli city, potentially providing tens of thousands of people reprieve from famine conditions that forced mothers and children to eat leaves. Jan Egeland of Norwegian Refugee Council witnessed "massive, unchecked suffering" among those who fled Kadugli, with mothers recounting stories of drones hitting their homes and families fleeing for their lives after being starved for months. More than 80% of Kadugli's population—some 147,000 people—have fled the siege.

Development / Humanitarian Aid

Norway launched a comprehensive review of its international development policy while maintaining its 1% of gross national income aid spending target, with Minister Åsmund Aukrust warning of "tough and painful choices" ahead. The review, dubbed Project Turning Point, will focus on UN system reforms and continued high support for Ukraine, which received 26.5% of Norway's entire 2026 aid budget. Aukrust expressed hope that the U.S. will "stay engaged over the medium and longer term as a champion of global health" despite recent aid cuts.

The Gates Foundation announced it will concentrate at least 70% of its funding over the next 20 years on ending preventable maternal and child deaths and controlling infectious diseases, despite massive foreign aid cuts globally. CEO Mark Suzman said the foundation would hold its $9 billion annual budget steady for five years regardless of market changes, expressing hope that donor countries' generosity can return even as he acknowledged overall funding levels are unlikely to reach pre-pandemic levels. The foundation will wind down its digital financial services program and its U.S. poverty program, while expanding AI applications in education, agriculture, and health care.

UN

Next SG?  -  Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet formally entered the race for UN secretary-general with joint backing from Chile, Brazil, and Mexico, becoming the most prominent candidate to succeed António Guterres. The 74-year-old former UN high commissioner for human rights faces a potentially insurmountable challenge of securing U.S. support, as the first Trump administration clashed with her and unsuccessfully sought to derail her 2018 campaign for the human rights post. She will compete against Rafael Grossi, Argentina's director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who has backing from President Javier Milei, a close Trump ally.