Haiti’s people suffer ‘deepening human rights catastrophe’

Haiti’s people suffer ‘deepening human rights catastrophe’

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk has issued an urgent warning about the deepening human rights catastrophe in Haiti, after figures showed that January was the most violent month in more than two years. At least 806 people, not involved in the violent exchanges taking place, were killed, injured, or kidnapped in January 2024.

February 12, 2024 30

World

Senegalese urged to turn out to oppose presidential election delay

By Alice CHANCELLOR and Soule DIA Dakar, Feb 9, 2024 (AFP) - Senegalese were urged on Friday to turn out and show their opposition to a last-minute delay of presidential polls, in a test of the balance of power between President Macky Sall and opponents. On Monday parliament backed Sall's sudden decision to postpone the February 25 election by 10 months, sparking a fierce opposition backlash and international concern. […]

February 9, 2024 10

Opinion Pieces

The zero draft to create a pact for the future has landed. The hard part begins.

By Florence Syevuo and Dan Perell The zero draft of the Pact for the Future — the agreement to seal September’s much-anticipated Summit of the Future — was introduced recently by the co-facilitators, Namibia and Germany, to fellow members at the United Nations. The draft is the fruition of careful consideration, balancing an array of diverse aspirations from all 193 member states. It is built on the proposals made in Secretary-General António Guterres’s Our Common Agenda and related […]

February 9, 2024 15

Africa

Zimbabwe scraps death penalty

Zimbabwe’s cabinet has agreed to abolish the death penalty for murder offences almost two decades after its last execution. Bloomberg News reports that the cabinet on Tuesday approved the Memorandum on the Private Member’s Death Penalty Abolition Bill introduced to parliament last year, bringing an end to the death penalty introduced in the southern African nation by British colonial administrators.

February 8, 2024 18

Namibia

SWANU condemns Israel’s actions in Gaza

The South West Africa National Union has condemned Israel's actions in Gaza, warning Germany against involvement in potential genocide, given its history. Following South Africa's appeal, the International Court of Justice instructed Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza. SWANU President, Charles Katjivirue is calling for global recognition of genocide as a serious offense. he US House of Representatives has rejected a Republican-led bill that would provide more than 331-billion-rand in […]

February 7, 2024 39

World

Indonesia’s Defense Minister seeks presidency

There was a time when Prabowo Subianto's name would have spooked most Indonesians. But now young voters appear to be charmed by the defence minister's slick makeover. The BBC reports that the ex-special forces commander dogged by allegations of human rights abuses and disappearances has become a cute grandfather made for memes. Now 72, Prabowo is running to succeed the popular Joko Widodo when the world's third-largest democracy votes on […]

February 7, 2024 22

Namibia

LGBTQ+ community reflects on Geingob’s position on same-sex bills

Local human rights activist, Linda Baumann has spoken to Future Media News about the protection and rights of the LGBTQ+ community under President Hage Geingob's leadership. President Geingob had expressed dissatisfaction with anti-same-sex marriage bills presented by Swapo parliamentarian Jerry Ekandjo in 2023, citing a lack of proper consultation within the party. Geingob assigned Minister Albert Kawana to clarify marriage laws in Namibia.

February 5, 2024 19

Africa

Slaves of God: Nigeria’s traditional Osu slavery practice was stopped, but the suffering continues

By Michael E Odijie, UCL There are global efforts to fight modern slavery, but a few traditional systems still hold strong in west Africa. These include Osu, Ohu and Trokosi. The Conversation Africa’s Godfred Akoto Boafo spoke to Michael Odijie who has researched one of the systems – Osu – and what can be done to finally put a stop to it. What is Osu? Osu is a traditional […]

February 2, 2024 6

Africa

Kenya’s healthcare workers abuse a third of teen mums from informal settlements – study

By Anthony Idowu Ajayi, African Population and Health Research Center and Caroline W. Kabiru, African Population and Health Research Center Adolescent pregnancy is a global public health concern: in 2022, about 13% of girls and young women gave birth before the age of 18. Compared with women in their early 20s, adolescents are more susceptible to maternal deaths. Pregnancy-related complications are among the leading causes of death […]

January 30, 2024 48