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CURRENT AFFAIRS

120 Million+

people were forcibly displaced between January and May 2024, as a consequence of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations 🔗

40%

increase in civilian deaths in conflict in 2024 🔗

83 countries

saw downgrades to their Democracy Index scores in 2024, a historic election year 🔗

The world is facing urgent challenges like conflict, injustice, and rising authoritarianism.
Learn how you can stay informed, speak up, and help protect human rights.

SUBTOPICS

Democracy
Human Rights
Immigration
Incarceration
Refugee Issues
Tech & AI Governance
Country-specific Issues

MEET OUR AMBASSADORS FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS

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Lea Nepomuceno

Executive Director of Beauty Beyond Bars

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Vidana Abdel Khalek

Former Digital Policy Lead at Meta, TikTok and Google

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Hager Eissa

Founder of It's All About You Queens and Co-Founder of Echoes for Freedom

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Motaz Amer

New Scots Advisor to the Scottish Government

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Lela Tolajian

Founder and president of the International Coalition Against Modern Slavery

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Sara Mora

Founder of Population MIC

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Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal

Co-founder of the Thailand Education Revolution Alliance

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Bohdanna Duma

Board Member of EDYN Ukraine

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Solange Ingabire

Co-Founder of Refugee Youth Changemakers in Rwanda

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Jadean Wright

Co-founder of BroCode

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Sarra Hannachi

Ethical Tech Governance Activist and Researcher

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Yomna Gaafar

Global Affairs Thinker and Policy Economist

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Cedric Bichano

Founder and CEO of the World Refuge Film Academy

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Maung Sawyeddollah

Founder of the Rohingya Students Network

OUR PARTNERS FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS

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Shabnam Hashmi

Founder of Anhad and Co-founder of SAHMAT

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Lea Nepomuceno

Executive Director of Beauty Beyond Bars

USA

Lea Nepomuceno is a Filipina-American visionary at the forefront of the criminal justice reform movement. Nepomuceno is the Executive Director of Beauty Beyond Bars, the world’s leading initiative empowering incarcerated people with beauty and hygiene. Through this work, she has raised over $230,000 in in-kind donations, taught at two juvenile detention centers, and helped pass legislation improving access to beauty and hygiene products for incarcerated people. Nepomuceno was named a Teen Vogue 21 Under 21 Recipient in 2022. Her work has been recognized by The Washington Post, Teen Vogue Magazine, The Associated Press, Allure Magazine, GW TODAY, Taco Bell Foundation, Estee Lauder, Vital Voices, and The San Diego Union-Tribune. Nepomuceno currently lives in Washington D.C. and is pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Public Health at George Washington University as a Presidential Scholar. She aspires to transform the United States criminal justice system through the intersection of law, business, and storytelling.

Focuses: empowering incarcerated people, criminal justice reform

Vidana Abdel Khalek

FORMER DIGITAL POLICY LEAD AT META, TIKTOK AND GOOGLE

UAE

Vidana Abdel Khalek is an Egyptian/Swiss Forbes 30 under 30 award winner who has worked in the trust and safety field since 2019. She currently manages the safety of the captains and the riders at Careem by developing scaled policies and processes. She started her career at META and held roles at TikTok and Google. She played a key role in formulating META’s global Human Exploitation policies and addressing issues like sex trafficking, organ trafficking, human smuggling, and domestic servitude. She led the first Labor Exploitation policy at META with a commitment to fostering a safer digital environment. Vidana Abdel Khalek also helped lead the development of TikTok’s first Human Exploitation strategy and policy. She previously led Google’s Trust and Safety efforts in France and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Focuses: digital safety policy, human trafficking

Hager Eissa

FOUNDER OF IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU QUEENS AND CO-FOUNDER OF ECHOES FOR FREEDOM

Sudan

Hager Eissa is a prominent Sudanese public speaker and an activist specializing in democracy, human rights, women’s empowerment, education, and conflict resolution where she has been actively involved in peace and reconciliation projects. In addition to her grassroots work, Hager is part of several prominent organizations. Hager was an Obama Leader in 2023, a McCain Global Leader in 2024 and is currently a UN Youth Fellow. She was recognized among the 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent by MIPAD in 2023 in support of the United Nations. Hager served as a Global Peace Ambassador and country director for Austria under the Global Peace Chain. She is also an ambassador for One Young World and the World Literacy Foundation, and a member of the World Liberty Congress, where she advocates for pro-democracy efforts on global platforms. Hager has an academic background in languages from Peace College and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Rights at the University of Applied Human Rights in Vienna. In 2022, Hager founded It’s All About You Queens, an initiative empowering women of color by connecting them with inspiring women worldwide. She also co-founded Echoes For Freedom, a documentary, exhibition and conference for political prisoners, bringing together policymakers, human rights activists, lawyers, and former political prisoners and their families. 

Focuses: peacebuilding, democracy, human rights

Motaz Amer

NEW SCOTS ADVISOR TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT​

United Kingdom

Motaz Amer is a human rights activist and speaker committed to fostering positive change. Originally from Yemen, he has used his lived experience as a refugee to champion the rights of marginalized communities, particularly young people, refugees and asylum seekers. Motaz has collaborated with over 20 organizations including Amnesty International, One Young World, and the Prince’s Trust. He has developed and delivered youth programs, spoken at 70+ events, and shaped national conversations on migration, equity, and youth participation. He currently serves as the youngest New Scots Advisor to the Scottish Government, helping implement the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy alongside the Scottish Refugee Council, COSLA, and the University of Glasgow. Motaz also serves as the youngest Country Coordinator for Yemen at Amnesty International UK, where he leads human rights advocacy and campaigns in collaboration with the International Secretariat. Recognised as a Pride of Britain finalist by The Mirror and a UK Young Change Maker award winner presented by King Charles III, Stanley Tucci and Holly Willoughby at the Prince’s Trust Awards, Motaz continues to use his platform to drive impact. Through storytelling, advocacy and action, Motaz is dedicated to creating a more inclusive and equitable world for all.  

Focuses: refugee issues

Lela Tolajian

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION AGAINST MODERN SLAVERY

USA

Lela Tolajian (she/her) is a human rights activist, student, and journalist. She is the founder and president of the International Coalition Against Modern Slavery, a grassroots network of over 230 activists and organizations from 38 countries working to combat forced labor and human trafficking through education and advocacy. Under her leadership, the coalition has organized global campaigns including a Week of Action and Day of Awareness, and provides regular action items to mobilize communities worldwide. Lela has advised the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, with her recommendations included in reports to the UN General Assembly. The coalition advocates for policies that reduce forced labor, address root causes, and support survivors. It fosters collaboration across sectors to promote ethical consumption and empower individuals to take meaningful action. Lela also served as a civil society delegate to the United Nations Business and Human Rights binding treaty negotiations in 2023 and 2024 and has written for Al Jazeera, USA Today, and The Guardian. For her work, she has been awarded the Presidential Community Service Gold Award issued by the White House.

Focuses: forced labour and human trafficking

Sara Mora​

FOUNDER OF POPULATION MIC

USA

Sara Mora is a nationally recognized immigrant rights activist, digital strategist, and founder of Population MIC, a storytelling platform redefining how migrant communities are represented in media. A DACA recipient, Sara publicly shared her undocumented status in 2017 in response to the Trump administration’s rescission of the program and later won a lawsuit against Trump challenging anti-immigration policies. As co-president of the Women’s March Youth Empower initiative, she oversaw 200+ chapters nationwide, mentoring youth in civic engagement. Through Population MIC and viral campaigns like the 2018 #NuestraBellezaLatina protest, she mobilized digital communities to demand inclusion of undocumented voices. She’s contributed to voter registration efforts with EighteenX18, advised and collaborated on campaigns with brands like Teen Vogue, McDonald’s, META, L’Oréal Paris, Reebok Human Rights Awards, and Adobe. She was also featured in The 2020 Project, a documentary with Levi’s and Yara Shahidi. Sara has spoken at the JFK Center, The King Center, and schools across the U.S., and led the Pledge of Allegiance at the swearing-in of New Jersey’s first pro-immigrant governor. Sara has been featured on CNN, BET, Seventeen, ABC News, The View, The Oprah Magazine, Malala Fund, and The King Center, which awarded her the Youth Influencer Award in 2024. Sara continues her advocacy as a content creator known as @MissSaraMora with over 260,000 followers across platforms. 

Focuses: immigration

Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal

Co-founder of the Thailand Education Revolution Alliance

Thailand

Netiwit is a leading human rights activist, publisher, writer and award-winning documentary producer whose decade-long activism has shaped Thailand’s pro-democracy and education reform movements. He co-founded the Thailand Education Revolution Alliance and Education for Liberation of Siam, and was president of 3 student bodies in his university, using his platforms to advocate for curricula reform and student rights. He led protests against school authoritarian rituals including compulsory prostration ceremonies and monarchical displays. When Netiwit and seven student council members were expelled for peacefully walking out of a ceremony, he successfully sued the university and restored their positions. In 2020, he made headlines by declaring Thailand’s first conscientious objection to military service, publicly opposing the military’s influence in politics. Netiwit also established Thailand’s first student-led humanitarian and human rights department and later ‘Humanity Beyond Borders’, supporting Myanmar refugees and political prisoners in Laos and Cambodia. He also founded Sam Yan Press, which translated and published global democratic texts in Thai. Netiwit has been featured on TIME, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and BBC, honored as a 2018 Oslo Freedom Forum speaker (on “The Student vs. the Military”), a recipient of Thailand’s Youth Human Rights Defender Award, and was named one of Asia’s “50 Public Intellectuals to Watch”.

Focuses: education reform, democracy, human rights 

Bohdanna Duma

Board Member of EDYN Ukraine

Ukraine

Bohdanna Duma is a civic leader, Ambassador and Board Member of EDYN Ukraine, where she oversees recruitment, integration, and leadership development. She represents the network nationally and internationally, designs member engagement strategies, researches community needs, and launches initiatives to foster youth leadership. She is also Deputy Chair of the Committee on Foreign Policy within the Youth Council under the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, actively shaping policy proposals, resolutions, and legislative amendments to ensure youth voices are represented in state governance. With over eight years of public sector experience, Bohdanna has led 40+ projects in gender equality, youth engagement, and social policy. She received the Young Diplomat Award 2023 and was recognized among the Top 5 Best Cases of Youth Diplomacy 2023 for her initiative “Peacekeeping Diplomacy of International and Local Interaction.” She serves as Ambassador of the “Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025” and founded Ukraine’s first youth-led peace diplomacy initiative as Head of the YUC Platform. Professionally, she has worked at UkraineInvest, contributing to Ukraine’s economic outreach. She holds a Master’s in Foreign Policy from Taras Shevchenko National University and is pursuing an Executive Diploma in International Security from the European Academy of Diplomacy. Bohdanna is a graduate of global leadership programs, including New Security Leaders 2024 (WSF), Future Leaders Forum 2023 (Rīga), and Young Political Leader 2022 (LATO).

Focuses: peacemaking, democracy and youth diplomacy

Solange Ingabire

Co-Founder of Refugee Youth Changemakers in Rwanda​

Democratic Republic of Congo

Solange is an emerging agriculture professional and youth refugee advocate. As Co-Founder of Refugee Youth Changemakers in Rwanda, she has equipped over 1,000 young refugees with critical soft skills and career pathways, and advocated for their rights. Solange serves as a UNHCR Young Champion for Refugees, representing displaced youth at global forums, including leading the 2023 Young Champions delegation at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. She has also contributed strategic insights to improve refugee livelihoods and coordinated awareness campaigns as a fellow in the UNHCR Journalism Mentorship Program. Her storytelling and advocacy continue to amplify refugee voices on global platforms. At World University Service of Canada, Solange serves on the Youth Advisory Committee, where she promotes gender equity in refugee-led organizations and presented at Women Deliver Global Dialogue and the Africa Forum on Displacement. She is also a Global Advisory Committee Member for the 2024 Global Youth Economic Opportunities Summit, where she shaped the summit’s agenda and spoke on refugee economic inclusion. With three years of experience working alongside non-profits, refugee-led organizations, and the private sector, she has dedicated her efforts to advancing more inclusive institutions and systems for refugee and displaced communities.

Focuses: refugee issues

Jadean Wright

Co-founder of BroCode

South Africa

Jadean Wright is a South African activist, innovator, and feminist using technology to drive social justice and uplift marginalized communities. Jadean is a co-founder of BroCode, an innovative project aimed at assisting incarcerated men with counseling and mental health support, as well as upskilling them with 4IR tech skills. BroCode seeks to address the critical issue of recidivism, by providing incarcerated individuals with the tools and support necessary to reintegrate into society upon release.She amplifies critical voices through her writing in FLAC Magazine and serves as Public Relations Officer of the SMG Makers Club, founded by AlgoAtWork Robotics Academy. There, she leads projects that bring robotics and automation tools to underserved youth while promoting inclusion in grassroots organizing. Jadean’s work has earned her multiple awards, including 1st place at the 2022 KZNInnov Tech Makerthon, 2nd place at the 2024 Zurich Sustainable Solutions Competition, and 3rd place at the Youth Innovation Challenge hosted by Innovate Durban. She was also a top 10 finalist at the TCS Sustainathon.  Jadean has been recognized nationally for her contributions to gender justice, innovation, and youth empowerment. Her work is a testament to the power of technology to drive positive change, inspiring a new wave of young people to become involved in social justice and innovation.

Focuses: empowering incarcerated people, STEM for good

Sarra Hannachi​

Ethical Tech Governance Activist and Researcher​

Tunisia

Sarra is a dedicated data activist and research enthusiast with a strong passion for social impact and human rights advocacy. She specializes in using her evidence-based research skills and data competencies to address issues of unethical tech applications in conflict and security, particularly in forced migration and war/armed conflict contexts. She does this through research, insightful conflict analysis, and advising on human-centric policy, while drawing on extensive knowledge and experience in the MENA region & Africa.

She has actively collaborated with non-profit, non-governmental, and international organizations to advance human rights, peace and security through innovative solutions in policy and ethical use of data & emerging tech. This is through research consultancies, policy analysis and strategic recommendations on responsible AI and emerging technologies in security contexts.

Focuses: AI and emerging tech

Yomna Gaafar

Global affairs thinker and policy economist​

Egypt

Yomna Gaafar is a global affairs thinker and a policy economist, working at the intersection of economic policy and political economy, passionate about bridging the gap between complex policy systems and people’s everyday realities. Her work explores the deep structures that shape development, ranging from economic transitions and institutional reform to systems of global economic governance. Yomna’s research investigates how power, interests, and ideas interact to shape the politics of reform, particularly in regions navigating institutional complexity, uneven development, and layered histories. She combines academic inquiry with hands-on experience across policy spaces, bringing together strategic economic thinking, institutional insight, and rigorous empirical use of data to help governments design reforms that unlock productive growth. Born in Egypt and based in the U.S., Yomna’s work is grounded in a commitment to critical thinking and inclusive global dialogue. She believes real change happens when people understand not only what’s wrong with the world, but how it’s structured, and how they can navigate, reimagine, and influence those structures. She has worked with many organizations and has received numerous accolades for her work, including Forbes Middle East 30 under 30 2023.

Focuses: economic policy and political economy

Cedric Bichano​

Founder and CEO of the World Refuge Film Academy

Uganda

Cedric Bichano is a visionary filmmaker, storyteller, and advocate for refugee rights. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and currently living in Uganda, Cedric is the founder and CEO of the World Refuge Film Academy, a groundbreaking initiative that empowers young refugees to share their stories through film and media. Cedric’s work is deeply rooted in the belief that storytelling can inspire empathy, shift narratives, and drive social change. As the Etherea Ambassador for Current Affairs, he brings a unique lens to global conversations, drawing from his lived experiences to spotlight underrepresented voices and complex socio-political realities, especially those affecting displaced communities. A 2024 Kofi Annan Foundation Changemaker and a 2022/2023 Kekere Storytellers Fund Champion, Cedric has spoken at the United Nations Office at Geneva and has been featured by Rotary International for his outstanding impact. His work blends journalism, advocacy, and creative media to challenge stereotypes and inspire inclusive dialogue. Through Etherea, Cedric continues to amplify voices that matter, bridging gaps between global issues and human stories with authenticity, passion, and purpose.

Focuses: refugee issues

Maung Sawyeddollah

Founder of the Rohingya Students Network

Bangladesh

Maung Sawyeddollah is a Rohingya human rights activist, atrocity survivor, and founder of the Rohingya Students Network, a youth-led nonprofit empowering displaced Rohingya through education, advocacy, and international justice efforts. Fleeing Myanmar at age 16 during the 2017 genocide, he settled in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where he began organizing youth workshops, documenting human rights abuses, and connecting survivors to global legal mechanisms like the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ). Maung is a plaintiff in a groundbreaking lawsuit against Meta and recently filed a whistleblower complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, accusing the company of contributing to the genocide by failing to address hate speech and misinformation on Facebook. He has worked with Amnesty International, the Open Society Justice Initiative, and Victim Advocates International on this historic submission. A 2023 Laureate of the Young Activist Summit and finalist for the Kofi Annan Next Generation Democracy Award, Maung continues to fight for justice, digital accountability, and the rights of stateless people. Through storytelling, legal action, and grassroots organizing, he amplifies the voice of his people on the global stage.

Focuses: refugee issues and human rights

Shabnam Hashmi

Founder of Anhad and Co-founder of SAHMAT

India

Shabnam Hashmi is a fearless human rights defender and social activist with over 40 years of experience. Beginning her work in 1981 with adult literacy, she educated over 400 Muslim women through her initiative Sehar. Following the 1989 murder of her brother, she co-founded SAHMAT, organizing major national campaigns against communalism. After the 2002 Gujarat pogrom, she focused on grassroots activism, founding Anhad in 2003. She has led hundreds of youth training camps across India, reaching thousands. In 2017, she mobilized 5 women-led peace caravans across 200 cities, organizing 500 events. Her 2020 campaign If We Do Not Rise gathered over 1.5 million online viewers in one day. In 2021, her Reimagining India video series reached over 5 million viewers. She also led the Reservation Express campaign across 60 cities, advocating for 33% women’s representation. Hashmi has briefed the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the UK Parliament, and the EU, and was nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize (1000 Women for Peace). Her landmark 2014 Supreme Court case secured equal adoption rights for non-Hindu parents in India. She has received numerous national and international awards for communal harmony, women’s rights, and democratic activism.