Map of the Month 06/2020

Forced displacement remains a crucial global challenge. On 18 June 2020, the UNHCR published its new Global Trends Report. The following maps illustrate some of its key elements.

New interim solution for WTO dispute settlement

Map of the Month 05/2020

The Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been inoperative since December 2019. An important pillar of the WTO was severely damaged. On 30 April, 19 WTO members (including the EU) agreed upon an interim appeals procedure. Under this temporary agreement, an arbitration tribunal will hear appeals based on existing WTO rules. This instrument will remain until the Appellate Body becomes operational again. Already on 24 January, 17 WTO members signed a political declaration in Davos indicating such a step. The list of participants has somewhat changed in the meantime. The following maps show the countries which have signed the political declaration (24 January) and those which are now (30 April) participating in the new interim appeals procedure.

First steps of the "Alliance for Multilateralism"

Map of the Month 04/2020

The "Alliance for Multilateralism" that was launched on 26 September, 2019 is a flexible network for states, institutions and non-state actors that are committed to work on the preservation and enhancement of the rules-based order in various policy areas. So far, the Alliance has launched six initiatives. On 16 April, members of the Alliance (supported by other countries) published a Joint Declaration urging for closer global cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The following maps show the participants of the Alliance, of some of its initiatives as well as the signatories of the Joint Declaration.

Development of COVID-19 cases per capita worldwide

Map of the Month 03/2020

The maps compare the confirmed cases and the death cases related to COVID-19 worldwide according to the WHO situation reports of 17 and 24 March. In just one week, the number of cases has more than doubled, albeit with significant regional differences: the number of cases in the European WHO region has tripled, in the Americas it has multiplied tenfold, in the South East Asia Region it has quadrupled, in the WHO Africa Region it has almost sextupled. Important: The numbers indicate the reported cases. The real number may be (far) higher-due to very limited or lack of testing in many states.