APO International

On December 5 (December 4, EST), the Draft Resolution “The Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,” submitted by Japan together with Colombia and South Africa and co-sponsored by 86 countries, was adopted by consensus in the Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. The draft resolution underlines the importance for States to prevent, combat and eradicate illicit trade in small arms and light […]

The Republic of Madagascar held a presidential election on November 16 and its High Constitutional Court has declared Mr. Andry Nirina RAJOELINA as the winner on December 1. Japan welcomes that the presidential election was conducted calmly and peacefully in general. Japan hopes that under the leadership of President-elect Rajoelina, Madagascar will make further progress in its efforts for further development as a democratic nation, including confidence-building measures for dialogue […]

In a world often plagued by headlines of strife and discord, it is heartening to shine a light on a story of hope and transformation. Nestled in the heart of Nigeria's Niger Delta region, Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) has provided essential support to the dedicated philanthropist, Moses Oruaze Dickson, offering necessary guidance and expertise to illuminate the path to positive change. Oruaze’s journey resonates with the very essence of transformation. Born and […]

Burundi’s National Assembly should address significant shortcomings in the landmark 2016 law against gender-based violence (GBV) and inconsistencies in other relevant legislation to ensure effective prevention, protection and justice for survivors, Amnesty International said today in a new briefing. “While Burundi’s 2016 GBV law was a milestone achievement, it falls short of regional and international best practice. It introduced important improvements, including a consent-based definition of rape and the prohibition of […]

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, strongly condemns the recent violence in Guinea Bissau, perpetrated by elements of the National Guard. The Chairperson equally notes with concern the dissolution of the National Assembly. The Chairperson calls on the government and all national stakeholders to prioritise dialogue in the furtherance of peace and to respect the Constitution to ensure the preservation of stability and unity of […]

Building cultural awareness and social tolerance among students of different ethnic groups is key to creating durable peace across Ethiopia and the world.  New immersive educational role-playing games, like the new Co(X)ist game developed by Google Developers Group Addis (GDG-Addis), enable students to be immersed in the culture of different ethnic groups to explore their cultural similarities and differences.  The Co(X)ist game experience includes wearing cultural clothes, visiting various places, […]

Algeria must refrain from targeting human rights defenders in order to build on the reforms of the past four years, a UN expert said today. “While I welcome the evident reforms which have taken place over the past four years and the new emphasis on public consultation, I regret that some human rights defenders who work on sensitive issues face continued restrictions,” said Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on […]

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed the announcement of an additional $10 million from the United States Department of State for projects mapping soil fertility in Ghana and Kenya to promote climate-smart agriculture and adaptation measures, resilient crops, fertilizer use efficiency and soil health. “Not only will the additional funding from the United States bring the benefits of this project to smallholder farmers and […]

In 2020, the death of his best friend, Tawiah, reminded Nii Ayittey about the real dangers of AIDS. So when he heard of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as an effective HIV prevention method, Ayittey did not hesitate to enrol in a PrEP programme. Now a champion, Ayittey has dedicated his life to educating and encouraging his peers to use PrEP as additional protection against HIV. “If we had information about PrEP […]