Who speaks for climate migrants? A justice-oriented bibliometric analysis of Global South research

One of the most important global policy and environmental institution issues in recent days is the climate refugee phenomenon. The climate refugees confronting unsecured legal status and, appalling, human rights violations as well as dangerous access to basic services. The scale of this crisis grows ever more pronounced from day to day, and given its highly endemic character it is doubtful that existing international instruments, particularly the 1951 Refugee Convention, are in a position to offer effectively to the distinct dangers and vulnerabilities of climate-displaced people. As a special emphasis, the article focuses on case studies in the Pacific Islands, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, where climate displacement is severely afflicting, disproportionate to the rest of the world. Moreover, the article discusses the boundaries between migration of climate refugees across international borders under the Constraint of strained resources, national security access and social integration. To avoid this coming crisis the article advocates for global policies that are inclusive that would include environmental sustainability, human rights protection and equitable resource allocation. For instance, there is a need for cooperative international action which revises existing legal instruments and institutes some new paradigms for climate migration to relative justice and security for climate refugees.

Much mainstream legal comment on human rights law presents an unhelpfully crude picture of disagreement concerning the significance that should be attached to human rights in particular cultural co...

The grimmest sordid state of affairs of being a refugee in the contemporary world has attained a new terrain of crisis depicted by the emergence of ‘climate refugees’ produced by climate change. People do not move on a whim or megrim rather sociopolitical, economic and environmental factors compel them to migrate from their homelands. Almost seventy years ago, European Jews were deprived of asylum and hounded by the Nazis. Similarly, the climate change and ‘climate refugees’ are making news daily due to the calamities and catastrophes surrounding them with unprecedented visibility. South Asia is one of the regions where states do not afford effective legal protection to refugees or climate refugees. However, the international protection to political refugees was institutionalized in the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (UNCSR) with its 1967 Additional Protocol and its lodger the UN High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR). In South Asia, no country has acceded to UNCSR except Afghanistan, and there are no national refugee laws and no legal guarantees. Refugees, as well as ‘climate refugees’, have been enduring insecurity and condemnation in the SAARC region. The present chapter tries to examine the South Asian state practices to deal with the climate refugees. Unfortunately, climate refugees are completely deprived of any legal protection due to the gaps in the national laws in South Asia. The chapter further evaluates the reception of international climate change law in South Asia that is flagrantly ineffective, and climate change migration governance in South Asia that fallibly revolves around national security narratives.

For the past two decades, a growing number of researchers have focused attention on the problem of environmental scarcity, particularly land scarcity, which they believe can contribute to violence ...

Facing Global Environmental Change

The Nature of Technology-Facilitated Violence and Abuse among Young Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa

PurposeThis study examines the role of waqf – an Islamic philanthropic endowment – in supporting sustainable development through a quantitative analysis of academic literature. Conducting a comprehensive bibliometric analysis using databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and Dimensions, we identify key trends, regional focuses and gaps in waqf-related research.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyzes 71 articles from Scopus, Web of Science and Dimensions databases. Advanced bibliometric techniques are employed to examine publication trends, author productivity, citation patterns, geographical distribution, institutional analysis, journal analysis, keyword analysis and thematic evolution. This unique combination of databases and comprehensive analysis provides a holistic view of the field.FindingsResults reveal a significant increase in research output since 2018, with a geographical concentration in Southeast Asia and emerging international collaborations. Key research clusters focus on integrating waqf with sustainable finance mechanisms and global development goals. However, the study uncovers an under-exploration of waqf’s specific applications in green infrastructure and building projects. This analysis provides valuable insights for academics, policymakers and practitioners, offering a roadmap for future studies and practical applications of waqf in sustainable urban development.Practical implicationsThis study shows that waqf could be a novel financing method for sustainable infrastructure projects. Gaps in existing studies propose ways to construct Islamic endowment-compliant financial models, such as merging monetary waqf with renewable energy initiatives or using FINTECH to improve waqf management. These insights can help policymakers and practitioners promote international collaboration and cross-border collaborations to improve waqf-led sustainable development.Social implicationsThis study underscores waqf’s potential to address key socio-economic challenges, such as poverty alleviation, community welfare and inclusive urban development. Suggesting the use of waqf in funding green infrastructure projects highlights a pathway toward more equitable and inclusive development strategies. The emphasis on the long-term socio-economic impacts of waqf-funded initiatives encourages policies and research focused on maximizing the social benefits of these projects, ensuring that they contribute to the welfare of diverse communities.Originality/valueThis study’s originality lies in its focused examination of waqf in the context of green building and infrastructure, utilizing a unique combination of three major databases and employing a comprehensive set of bibliometric analyses. It contributes to the literature by identifying research gaps, emerging trends and potential future directions in waqf-led sustainable development for green infrastructure and buildings. While earlier research has touched upon the contribution of waqfs in Islamic finance and overall sustainable development, this research fills the gap uniquely by specifically targeting its application in green buildings and infrastructure – a specialized yet very important subtopic that is less researched in literature. Through the integration of bibliometric analysis in three databases (Scopus, Web of Science and Dimensions), this research provides unparalleled insights into thematic trends, geographic bias and collaborative networks, offering a roadmap for future research in the intersection of faith-based endowments and environmental sustainability.

Maternal fetal and infant mortality and morbidity are among the most significant public health problems in developing and resource-poor nations. In most developing countries important contributing factors to perinatal and maternal mortality are the lack of adequate diagnostic and pathology facilities inadequate or absent postmortem examination poor diagnostic pathology and microbiology capabilities and deficiency in surveillance systems statistical reporting and diagnostic accuracy of adverse maternal and perinatal health events. Most resource-poor nations have no pathologist trained in perinatal pathology who is available to address the clinical diagnostic public health and research aspects of these mortality and morbidity issues which are so prevalent in the developing world. The following article highlights some of the most important global perinatal health problems - including malaria low birth weight HIV/AIDS maternal malnutrition maternal death unsafe abortion and political turmoil - which would benefit by increased contributions from collaborations with physicians trained in perinatal pathology.

India grapples with its child marriage challenge

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment (JPA) over a 15-year period from January 2010 to April 2025. Using data from Web of Science, we analyze publication trends, collaboration patterns, citation impact, and thematic evolution within the field of psychoeducational assessment. The analysis employs VOSviewer to visualize collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, and citation patterns. Findings reveal a dominance of North American scholars, notably from York University and the University of British Columbia, underscoring the journal’s methodological focus on psychometrics, including validity, reliability, and measurement invariance. Citation analysis identifies central clusters centered on advanced statistical modeling and adolescent psychological assessment. Keyword analysis highlights the prominence of methodological terms alongside themes like intelligence, perfectionism, and emotional functioning. This bibliometric review provides insights into the intellectual structure and development of psychoeducational assessment research, highlighting emerging trends and potential directions for future investigation.

SummaryBackgroundModelled mortality estimates have been useful for health programmes in low-income and middle-income countries. However, these estimates are often based on sparse and low-quality data. We aimed to generate high quality data about the burden, timing, and causes of maternal deaths, stillbirths, and neonatal deaths in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study done in 11 community-based research sites in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, between July, 2012, and February, 2016, we conducted population-based surveillance of women of reproductive age (15–49 years) to identify pregnancies, which were followed up to birth and 42 days post partum. We used standard operating procedures, data collection instruments, training, and standardisation to harmonise study implementation across sites. Verbal autopsies were done for deaths of all women of reproductive age, neonatal deaths, and stillbirths. Physicians used standardised methods for cause of death assignment. Site-specific rates and proportions were pooled at the regional level using a meta-analysis approach.FindingsWe identified 278 186 pregnancies and 263 563 births across the study sites, with outcomes ascertained for 269 630 (96·9%) pregnancies, including 8761 (3·2%) that ended in miscarriage or abortion. Maternal mortality ratios in sub-Saharan Africa (351 per 100 000 livebirths, 95% CI 168–732) were similar to those in south Asia (336 per 100 000 livebirths, 247–458), with far greater variability within sites in sub-Saharan Africa. Stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates were approximately two times higher in sites in south Asia than in sub-Saharan Africa (stillbirths: 35·1 per 1000 births, 95% CI 28·5–43·1 vs 17·1 per 1000 births, 12·5–25·8; neonatal mortality: 43·0 per 1000 livebirths, 39·0–47·3 vs 20·1 per 1000 livebirths, 14·6–27·6). 40–45% of pregnancy-related deaths, stillbirths, and neonatal deaths occurred during labour, delivery, and the 24 h postpartum period in both regions. Obstetric haemorrhage, non-obstetric complications, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and pregnancy-related infections accounted for more than three-quarters of maternal deaths and stillbirths. The most common causes of neonatal deaths were perinatal asphyxia (40%, 95% CI 39–42, in south Asia; 34%, 32–36, in sub-Saharan Africa) and severe neonatal infections (35%, 34–36, in south Asia; 37%, 34–39 in sub-Saharan Africa), followed by complications of preterm birth (19%, 18–20, in south Asia; 24%, 22–26 in sub-Saharan Africa).InterpretationThese results will contribute to improved global estimates of rates, timing, and causes of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths. Our findings imply that programmes in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia need to further intensify their efforts to reduce mortality rates, which continue to be high. The focus on improving the quality of maternal intrapartum care and immediate newborn care must be further enhanced. Efforts to address perinatal asphyxia and newborn infections, as well as preterm birth, are critical to achieving survival goals in the Sustainable Development Goals era.FundingBill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Recent legislation proposed or passed in Nigeria, Uganda and The Gambia has put the spotlight on the plights of homosexual persons living in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, discriminatory laws prohibit same-sex marriages and ban gay clubs and organisations. In Uganda, the Prohibition of the Promotion of Unnatural Sexual Practices Bill of 2014, with contents similar to the notorious Anti-Homosexuality Act, is being considered after a ruling by the Ugandan Constitutional Court rendering the Anti-Homosexuality Act unconstitutional. In The Gambia, the Penal Code has been amended recently to add the crime of 'aggravated homosexuality' with a lifetime prison sentence for any person found guilty. The rights to dignity and equality are protected under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights; however, competing local and global values are arguably growing in Africa, challenging this right. This article explores two main problems: first, how the rights to dignity, equality and non-discrimination should generally be interpreted and applied under the regional African human rights system when related to sexual orientation. In this regard I draw on the interpretation of these rights under international human rights law as well as the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights and its Inter-American counterpart. Second, it analyses the procedural or other hurdles that may stand in the way of brining a claim of discrimination based on sexual orientation to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights or the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. In this regard, I specifically consider the general restrictions placed on individuals and NGOs in bringing complaints to the Court and the real potential of the Commission to act as a conduit to the Court in cases involving rights related to sexual orientation, bearing in mind its inconsistent approach to same-sex sexuality. The article addresses these questions by analysing some key developments by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The main objective is to utilise the approach of these institutions to explore both the legal avenues under the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights and the rights and obligations under the African Charter available to anyone who would want to challenge any domestic law criminalising same-sex consensual sexual acts and/or any of the other related prohibitions. Key words: Equality; dignity; sexual orientation; gay and lesbian rights; African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights

Building the momentum to prevent HIV in MSM

Environmental displacement is a global phenomenon affecting millions of people. Due to climate change and the corresponding sea-level rise, it is estimated that about eight million of indigenous people of Pacific Islands will be forced to settle elsewhere by 2050. This is one of many examples confirming the need to ascertain the legal status of environmental refugee in international law. The term ‘environmental refugee’ is controversially discussed and internationally not recognised. First, this article discusses the reasons for reluctance of international organisations to accept this term. Second, noting the cold reception of this term at the regional and state levels, a discussion on whether fears associated with this term are based on solid arguments becomes pertinent. Third, this article outlines the possibility of granting refugee status under international law, especially under human rights and environmental law. Fourth, academic discourses will be examined as they play a crucial role in the conceptual development of ‘environmental refugee’ and, to some academics, the existing refugee definition already encompasses ‘environmental refugees’. Taking into account the developments of the environmental and human rights regime, this article concludes that time is ripe for international law to provide refugee status to environmentally displaced people.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to quantify the global macroeconomic burden of injuries inflicted by fire, heat, and hot substances. BACKGROUND: Over nine million people suffer from thermal injuries annually across the world. Among those injured, 90% of mortality occurs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The economic impact of the morbidity and mortality incurred as a result of such injuries remains unclear. Quantifying the financial impact of these injuries can educate government and non-governmental organization funding initiatives designed to increase access to care. METHODS: Data on incidence, mortality, and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) from injuries caused by fire, heat, and hot substances were collected from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The global macroeconomic burden of burns in the form of welfare lost was calculated by multiplying GDP per capita and DALYs for 190 individual countries. Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) data were collected from the World Development Indicator Database. Temporal trends from 2009 to 2019 were evaluated with a specific focus on sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. RESULTS: In 2019, the incidence of burns was 1.2 million in South Asia and 1.3 million in sub-Saharan Africa compared with 0.5 million cases in the United States. Mortality rates were higher in both South Asia (2.6 per 100 patients) and sub-Saharan Africa (1.8 per 100 patients) than in the United States (0.7 per 100 patients). Between 2009 and 2019, the incidence of burns increased by 3.1% in sub-Saharan Africa and decreased by 4.0% in South Asia. Burn-related mortality decreased between 2009 and 2019 in both sub-Saharan Africa (20.0%) and South Asia (8.6%). Lifetime burden of disease due to burn injuries was 1,617,220 DALYs for sub-Saharan Africa and 1,876,506 DALYs for South Asia. In 2019, 11.7 billion USD in South Asia and 6.1 billion USD in sub-Saharan Africa were lost due to burns. This was equivalent to 0.10% and 0.15% of GDP, respectively. Welfare losses due to burns as a share of GDP within specific South Asian economies were 0.12% for India, 0.04% for Nepal, 0.09% for Pakistan, 0.07% for Bhutan, and 0.06% for Bangladesh. Welfare losses were highest in Papua New Guinea, equivalent to 0.63% of GDP. CONCLUSIONS: While mortality rates due to burns are decreasing over time, the impact on GDP remains significant; the impact on GDP exceeds that due to cervical cancer and HIV in South Asia and tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa. Temporal trends indicate that progress has been made in the treatment of burns in these regions. Additional resources, including intensive care units, skin banks, and hospital beds, may enhance care for patients with more severe burns and address the magnitude of injuries each year. In the setting of rising incidence, efforts designed to prevent burn injuries in the form of education are required. To convince governments to fund such initiatives in resource-limited environments, demonstrating the financial impact of burn injuries on a population level is one approach.