The new composition of the UN Human Rights Council as of 1 January 2021

Map of the Month 10/2020

On 13 October, the UN General Assembly elected 15 new member states for a period of 3 years (2021-23) into the UN Human Rights Council that consists of 47-member states. Candidates are nominated by 5 regional groups that often do not allow for selection ("clean slate"). Only the Asia Pacific group allowed for selection: China was elected, but with an all-time low of 139 votes; with only 90 votes Saudi Arabia did not make it at all. Russia and Cuba are among the newly elected members as well.

Countries participating in the COVAX Facility

Map of the Month 09/2020

To ensure a fair and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to all countries, over 170 countries have joined forces since June 2020 to form the so-called “COVAX Facility”. The goal is to procure around two billion doses of vaccines by the end of 2021. COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). COVAX is the first procurement programme for COVID-19 vaccines that is open to all countries. The initiative allows 92 low-income countries access to vaccines funded by development aid. Other participating countries are so-called self-financing countries of higher-income countries, which support the mechanism with additional funds. Germany joined the COVAX – initiative via the EU. The following map depicts the countries that joined the initiative so far (as of September 28).

The Humanitarian Response to COVID-19

Map of the Month 08/2020

Even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was already being regarded as the year of the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II. Millions of people are now in danger of losing their livelihoods and of falling into poverty. The Global Humanitarian Response Plan COVID-19 (GHRP) provides an overview of the additional humanitarian requirements of all UN agencies in the context of the pandemic. Since the publication of its first edition at the end of March that asked for $2 billion for 54 countries, the requirements were strongly revised upwards within a couple of weeks. Currently, the total requirements for a total of 63 countries stand at $10.31 billion until the end of the year. So far (as of August 18) only $ 2.19 billion have been received. Experts warn that development gains of several decades are at stake if not more than the 20% that have been made available until now are provided soon. So far the US is the largest donor (with more than 100 times the amount provided by China), followed by Japan and Germany.

Criticism and support for China in the Human Rights Council

Map of the Month 07/2020

In the framework of the 44th Human Rights Council in Geneva, 27 countries supported a UK-led joint statement which heavily criticized China's actions in Xinjiang and the controversial national security law for Hongkong. However, a statement by 46 countries, led by Belarus, dismissed criticism towards China regarding Xinjiang. Another statement, presented by Cuba and backed by 53 countries defended the national security law for Hongkong. The following map illustrates which countries supported the respective statements.

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.