The NCF Blog
Recent Articles
Can the KMT Chair’s Mission to China Deliver lasting Peace to Taiwan?
The Chair of Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), Cheng Li-Wen, departed on 7 April for a six-day visit to China, describing the trip
The Naval Blockade of Iran and its Role in the Hormuz Saga
The ceasefire agreed by the United States (U.S.) and Iran on April 8th signalled a productive effort in halting suffering in the Middle East. While
The Iran Conflict: Seeking a Just Peace
Is there such a thing as a just peace? The Next Century Foundation´s Religious Affairs Advisor thinks so – and has shared his thoughts on
So will Iran get a Nuclear Bomb?
Iran will go for a nuclear bomb (if it doesn’t have one already) unless America surrenders everything. No sanctions. Return frozen assets. Allow charges for
An Easter Message
It has just been Eid, and now it is both Passover and Easter. But the world seems in a parlous state. At a time when
UN Statement on High Seas Sovereignty and the Erosion of Maritime Law
The Next Century Foundation’s Research Officer Olwyn Matthews addresses the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the growing concern surrounding the
UN Statement on Reforming Climate Finance
Next Century Foundation’s Research Officer Rathi Ramakrishnan addresses the United Nations Human Rights Council on the urgent need to reform global climate finance, highlighting the
UN Oral Statement on Women´s Rights in Afghanistan
UN Research Officer, Jewel Mariam, addresses the UN Human Rights Council on the question of Gender Apartheid in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and calls
NCF UN Oral Statement to the UNHRC on regional interference in Yemen
Oral Statement to the United Nations on the crisis in Yemen by NCF Research Officer, Domingo Lapadula di Stefano
The Diego Garcia Dilemma: Iranian Offensive or Israeli Tactic?
The remote Chagos Islands, particularly the military outpost of Diego Garcia, have long occupied a quiet yet pivotal role in global security architecture. Jointly operated
The Romanian Spillover – Where is NATO’s Red Line?
In this piece Teodor Stefan Ionescu reflects on the recent drone attacks on Romanian soil. In doing so it argues these attacks are sufficient for evoking NATO’s Article 4. The fact that it is unlikely
Kafala in the Middle East and Ethiopian Workers
8.7 per cent of the global total of domestic workers aged 15 and over are employed in the Arab States. While many opportunities provide migrants with safe working conditions, they often face vulnerable and unstable
The Humanitarian Impact of the Detention of Aid Workers in Yemen
In 2024, the Ansar Allah group (generally referred to in the Western press disparagingly as “the Houthis”), which constitute the main component of the de facto government in northern Yemen, arbitrarily detained UN staff and
The US-Iran War: Between Resolution and Disaster
A Region at the Crossroads The war between the United States and Iran continues to evolve with each passing day. Military developments, political statements, humanitarian consequences, and diplomatic efforts since February 2026 have created an
Tackling Misinformation Whilst Preserving Free Speech
NCF Resesearch Officer Sam Lewis argues that the most important way to combat misinformation is by reframing the law in a way that conceptualises social media companies as having more agency. This would allow attempts
Gender-Based Violence in Sudan
Gender-based violence (GBV) includes physical, sexual, mental, and economic harm that affects women and girls in private or public settings. As conflicts escalate, warfare poses greater risks to women and girls, with over 676 million
Revisiting 1984 in 2026
NCF Research Officer Odessa Grove draws a comparison to the imagined world of George Orwell´s 1984 and today´s situation: Everyone wants Orwell on their side. That’s exactly the problem Conservatives point to censorship and political
A Response to Pope Leo’s Encyclical on AI
Reverend Larry Wright, Religious Affairs Advisor to the Next Century Foundation, comments on Pope Leo´s encyclical on Artificial Intelligence: Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical (Teaching Document) Magnifica Humanitas is a sweeping 42,000 word moral, theological,
Why Ukraine Needs an Environmental Recovery Fund Before the War Is Over
Wars not only kill but also damage infrastructure and destroy the environment. While human lives are impossible to restore, buildings and energy facilities can and should be the object of reparations and reconstruction. However the
Gaza’s Healthcare Crisis
Gaza’s hospitals remain trapped in a humanitarian emergency For many observers, discussions about Gaza centre on ceasefires, military operations, and diplomatic negotiations. Yet behind the headlines lies a human rights crisis: the collapse of Gaza’s
Healing the Nations Conference 2026
Conference Programme We are excited to invite you to register to attend all or part of the Next Century Foundation’s five-day Healing the Nations conference this summer from Monday, July 13th to Friday, July 17th
Refugee Integration and the Right to Work
The right to work for refugees is vital, an essential step towards integration and social inclusion. Providing comprehensive support systems that empower refugees by enabling access to employment is critical. Employment and Human Need You
Russia’s Attacks on Ukraine increase exponentially
The following report is by our new Ukraine Research Officer, based in Ukraine, Ms Anastasiia Zadiraka, and is slightly edited by the NCF Secretary General. It represents an Ukrainian perspective and as such is of
Is the World still Sleepwalking into Another Middle Eastern Disaster?
President Donald Trump has delayed rapprochement with Iran to enable Israel to continue its incursion into Southern Lebanon unimpeded. However Iran meanwhile pursues a nuclear weapon unimpeded whilst negotiations are stalled. Is this what the
Is the Ukraine war now set to drag on for years on end?
Despondency leading to inaction is one of the seven deadly sins. But everyone is so despondent about Ukraine that all are losing any hope of peace. The NCF Secretary General examines the issues.
NCF
Reports & Statements
to the United Nations
Middle East
Why Do So Many Kurds Feel Forgotten?
When people talk about the Kurdish issue in Turkey, the conversation usually focuses on politics, security, or conflict. What often gets overlooked is something much
Kafala in the Middle East and Ethiopian Workers
8.7 per cent of the global total of domestic workers aged 15 and over are employed in the Arab States. While many opportunities provide migrants
Healing the Nations Conference 2026
Conference Programme We are excited to invite you to register to attend all or part of the Next Century Foundation’s five-day Healing the Nations conference
Yemen
The Humanitarian Impact of the Detention of Aid Workers in Yemen
In 2024, the Ansar Allah group (generally referred to in the Western press disparagingly as “the Houthis”), which constitute the main component of the de
Healing the Nations Conference 2026
Conference Programme We are excited to invite you to register to attend all or part of the Next Century Foundation’s five-day Healing the Nations conference
NCF UN Oral Statement to the UNHRC on regional interference in Yemen
Oral Statement to the United Nations on the crisis in Yemen by NCF Research Officer, Domingo Lapadula di Stefano
Palestine-Israel
Gaza’s Healthcare Crisis
Gaza’s hospitals remain trapped in a humanitarian emergency For many observers, discussions about Gaza centre on ceasefires, military operations, and diplomatic negotiations. Yet behind the
Healing the Nations Conference 2026
Conference Programme We are excited to invite you to register to attend all or part of the Next Century Foundation’s five-day Healing the Nations conference
Iran grows stronger, America looks foolish, and Lebanon burns
20% of global oil flow goes throough the 21 mile chokepoint at Hormuz. We do not really have a ceasefire worthy of the name. We
The Changing Geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East
Ambassador Mark Hambley and William Morris of the NCF speak at the Policy Studies Organization conference in Washington on the changing political geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East in 2018