Population and Security

For everyday Brazilians, the fallout from tariff increases carry immediate consequences. Goods imported from the U.S., such as electronics and machinery, have increased in cost while export-dependent sectors face market uncertainty, threatening jobs in agriculture and manufacturing. This has marked the opening of a political tango between both countries.

Read more here: https://populationandsecurity.com/tariff-tango-brazil-dances-with-the-u-s/

How does the Israeli-Hamas war impact Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)?

As tensions escalate in the Middle East, the conflict’s humanitarian and economic fallout could deeply affect Filipinos working abroad.

Read the story here: https://populationandsecurity.com/modern-day-heroes-or-modern-day-hostages-the-impacts-of-the-israeli-hamas-war-on-the-overseas-filipino-workers-in-the-middle-east/

In Haiti, gang violence is an everyday occurrence. Today, over 80% of Port-Au-Prince is currently controlled by rival gangs, who are steadily expanding their controlled territory beyond the major city.

In an attempt to stabilize the situation, a UN-backed security mission has been deployed, yet relief for civilians in Haiti seems to be in the distant future. What causes gangs to attack civilians en masse?

Read more: https://populationandsecurity.com/loyalty-and-violence-against-civilians-in-haitis-ongoing-crisis/

Bangladesh’s July–August 2024 student-led uprising ousted Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government, leading to an interim administration. The Awami League has been banned pending tribunal trials, while the country faces economic turmoil and deepening political rifts. A fierce contest has emerged between the student-founded National Citizen Party, the established BNP, and the resurgent Jamaat-e-Islami, with debates over constitutional reform and democracy dominating the national agenda.

Read more: https://populationandsecurity.com/revolution-at-cross-roads-political-rivalries-and-fragile-quest-for-democracy-in-bangladesh/

Following our earlier announcement of the winning French blog post, we are now excited to announce the winner of the English-language category, Mia Vallière.

Mia, a graduate of Laurentian University in Canada, explores the devastating consequences of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in her article, emphasizing its role in the spread of HIV/AIDS. She highlights cases in regions such as South Sudan and Gaza, illustrating how women’s and girls’ bodies are weaponized during conflicts, while global responses remain insufficient.

She underscores the lack of media attention, justice for survivors, and access to essential healthcare services. She calls for urgent measures to break the silence, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure survivors receive life-saving treatment.

Read more: https://populationandsecurity.com/the-silenced-spoils-of-conflict-women-and-girls-with-hiv-aids-transmitted-from-sexual-violence-during-armed-conflict/

Women in International Security Canada

We are thrilled 🥳 to launch Women's History Month by announcing the winner of our French blog post competition, held in partnership with Women in International Security Canada.

For this blog, Katrina Leclerc, a PhD candidate in conflict studies at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, investigates how young women are reshaping concepts of security and peacebuilding 25 years after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Her article highlights how these women are not merely seeking inclusion within traditional frameworks but are actively challenging militarized notions of security. Instead, they advocate for alternative approaches that prioritize autonomy, justice, and community empowerment, redefining peacebuilding on their own terms.

Thank you to everyone who submitted their important work to this competition! 😊

Read here: https://populationandsecurity.com/heritieres-de-paix-et-disruptrices-de-securite-les-jeunes-femmes-reinventent-lavenir/

In this week's blog, Doyle Stone explores the 2001 Tampa affair and the subsequent policy changes that had long-lasting effects on Australia's approach to refugee protection, shifting the nation's stance from viewing asylum seekers as people in need to treating them through a military and security lens, prioritizing border control over human rights considerations.

Read: https://populationandsecurity.com/australias-trolley-problem-balancing-security-threats-in-offshore-detention-facilities/

In this latest blog, Jenna Hennebury explores how President Donald Trump's recent plans for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants in the United States could have significant implications for Canada's immigration system. This aggressive approach is likely to push many migrants to seek asylum in Canada, potentially overwhelming the country's existing systems.

Read more: https://populationandsecurity.com/canadas-border-balancing-act-can-we-handle-trumps-deportation-wave/

On January 8, 2023, supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attempted a coup by invading and vandalizing government buildings in Brasília, following the inauguration of President Lula. This event, reminiscent of the U.S. Capitol attack, involved over 1,400 people, many of whom were Evangelicals – a rapidly growing religious group in Brazil that has gained significant political influence in recent decades.

Read: https://populationandsecurity.com/prayers-politics-and-protests-evangelicals-and-the-invasion-of-brasilia/

The Kaliwa Dam project, a Chinese-funded initiative in the Philippines, aims to address water scarcity in Metro Manila but threatens the ancestral lands and way of life of the Indigenous Dumagat-Remontado people in the Sierra Madre mountains. Despite government claims of proper consultation, the project has faced opposition from indigenous groups and environmentalists who argue it violates indigenous rights and endangers the region's ecosystem. The controversy highlights the tension between infrastructure development and the preservation of indigenous cultures and natural habitats.

Read here: https://populationandsecurity.com/water-infrastructure-and-indigenous-social-resistance-in-sierra-madre-philippines/