Author: prtimesafrica

The workshop on disability rights, led by UNSMIL’s Human Rights Section and supported by the UN Youth Office in New York, provided a comprehensive overview of Libya’s obligations towards persons with disabilities as rights-holders, particularly under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Libya ratified in 2018. Speakers also emphasized the UN’s role in supporting government to enhance accessibility and empowering civil society, particularly youth, to advocate for this issue.

“To enable independent living – a fundamental human right – accessibility and support systems are essential,” said Maria Stoffregen, UNSMIL Human Rights Officer. “The state must ensure persons with disabilities have equal access to services and assistive technologies to fully enjoy their rights. Libya, like other states, have committed to providing these necessary provisions, including to prevent discrimination against persons with disabilities. But more needs to be done,” she added.

Seven of the participants in the workshop identified as disabled. They discussed key challenges facing young people and those with disabilities and stressed the importance of including the voices of persons with disabilities in all discussions and campaigns about the issue.

The recommendations of the fourteen young men, and thirteen young women included:

• Raise awareness among the public and Libyan officials on the definition of disability and on state obligations towards persons with disabilities.
• Expand government support to be more inclusive of everyone with disabilities, regardless of cause, moving beyond the current focus on those affected by conflict in Libya, including working to reduce the lack of support and societal integration for disabled women compared to men.
• Allocate resources and increase outreach to better support persons with disabilities living outside of the main coastal cities, to ensure equal access to community-based services, healthcare and education.
• Support the establishment of an independent body to regulate and evaluate initiatives which support those with disabilities.
• Raise awareness about the capabilities of persons with disabilities to counter discrimination, stigma and unequal access to services, including education. Raise awareness about the support networks available to persons with disabilities and their needs.
• Provide gender-sensitive educational and psychosocial support to those with disabilities from conflict to help rehabilitate them into society.
• Ensure disabled people are guaranteed representation in decision-making institutions across Libya.
• Review and revise legislation in Libya to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities while engaging them fully in the process.
• Upskill civil society organisations through cooperation and collaboration internationally and nationally to enhance their capacity to advocate for the implementation of conventions and national agreements.
• Empower civil society, including youth, to better raise awareness on disability rights within communities and foster an inclusive environment for persons with disabilities.
• Collate and share data regarding the number of young people with disabilities and initiatives set up to support them. Share best practice within the community and secure more ethical media coverage on the issue.

The participants highlighted that women with disabilities face greater challenges than men. All agreed that the focus on disability support in Libya – both from the state and in society – has been primarily centered on men affected by conflict. “Women are also affected by the conflict but do not receive the same amount of support,” one female participant noted.

“The level of awareness of rights is low in general,” said another male participant. “International conventions and agreements supporting disability rights should be implemented to guarantee the inclusion of persons with disabilities and provide them with specific support needed to access information and participate fully in society,” he added.

Meaningful youth engagement – where there is active, genuine engagement with young people in decision-making, recognizing their voices and leadership – is a key element of the UN’s Youth 2030 strategy, and the Pact of the Future agreed by all UN member states in September. This initiative focuses on eliminating barriers to participation and using assistive technologies to increase inclusion.

The workshop was a part of a series organized by UNSMIL under its YouEngage initiative, aiming to engage 1,000 young men and women across Libya on different topics. The goal is to gather their ideas and recommendations to inform UNSMIL’s youth-oriented strategies, promote inclusion, and amplify the voices of those who are traditionally excluded.

Their call for urgent action came at the first substantial meeting of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission since the Government announced a further two-year extension of the transitional period and delayed elections.

Speaking on behalf of the Troika, the United Kingdom Ambassador to South Sudan, Guy Warrington expressed profound disappointment at the fresh extension and stressed the need for meaningful and urgent action in the coming weeks, rather than months.

“The basis for post-transitional government failure to achieve peace commitments and enduring key obstacles to progress is not a lack of time, it’s not a lack of funding, it remains a lack of political will to take the necessary decisions and compromises that are essential to break the perpetual cycle of transition and make meaningful progress towards creating conditions necessary for holding peaceful, transparent and inclusive elections,” he said.

The Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, said a “clear, realistic and harmonized” workplan was needed to restore confidence among South Sudanese and the international community that political leaders are committed to implementing outstanding provisions of the peace deal.

He highlighted several benchmarks that could be achieved relatively quickly, including the deployment of unified forces, civic education, preparations for voter registration, developing a code of conduct between political parties, and enhancing the political and civic space.

While progress has been limited, Mr. Haysom said that UNMISS is pressing ahead with support to election preparations in support of the people of South Sudan.

“We have decided to charge ahead and are expanding our assistance to the National Elections Commission beyond technical discussions and capacity building, and we are exploring packages of support, that combine hardware, such as state electoral offices, and software, such as capacity-building and training initiatives. We also have a significant amount of in-house electoral, political and law enforcement expertise to dedicate in this area of our mandate, including as it relates to electoral security issues.”

Noting many appeals for the provision of up-front funding for electoral institutions and processes, peace partners said requests for international financing must be backed up by demonstrable proof that the country’s own resources are being prioritized to deliver the peace deal and elections.

“The European Union has been supporting the transition in South Sudan through our support to the RJMEC, electoral preparations, legal reforms, constitution making and to civil society dialogue,” said Ambassador of the European Union to South Sudan, Timo Olkkonen. “The extension means that the envisaged timelines for this support have also changed. Discussions need to be held, and conclusions drawn about what this will mean in practice for our continued engagement, also in financial terms. Demonstrations of seriousness and political would be helpful for these deliberations.”

The Government representative at the meeting said that further updates would be provided when the Minister of Cabinet Affairs returns from a tour of regional countries.

Meanwhile, civil society and youth representatives seized the opportunity to share their views on the impact of the stagnating political and peace processes.

“While we acknowledge the challenges that led to the extension of the transitional period, we can’t help but feel a sense of disappointment and frustration,” said youth representative, Florence Agiba. “Two years is indeed a long time for a generation that has grown up in conflict. It is another two years of uncertainty and another two years of delayed dreams.”

State Reporting, an African Union mechanism established to monitor member states’ adherence to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, requires countries to submit regular reports detailing legislative and other measures taken to uphold the rights enshrined in the charter. Current human rights concerns are not addressed in Burkina Faso’s report dated May 2023, which covers 2015 to 2021. These include widespread conflict-related abuses by state forces and Islamist armed groups, restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms, and pervasive impunity.

“The African Rights Commission review of Burkina Faso offers a unique opportunity to engage with Burkinabè authorities on their human rights practices,” said Allan Ngari, Africa advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “The commission should press the authorities to prioritize protection of civilians during military operations and ensure compliance with international humanitarian law.”

Burkina Faso has been fighting an insurgency by the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen, JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) since the armed groups invaded the country from Mali in 2016. Burkina Faso has had two military coups since 2022.

The Burkina Faso report outlines measures purportedly taken to tackle “violent extremism” and terrorism, such as establishing a pool to investigate and prosecute terrorist acts, and mobilizing provost marshals responsible for discipline in the armed forces and the protection of detainees’ rights. The report also states that security forces receive training in international human rights and humanitarian law to prevent abuse, and that those responsible for “inhumane or degrading acts” are held accountable.

Human Rights Watch has documented grave abuses by Burkinabè security forces during counterinsurgency operations throughout the reporting period and since then, including crimes against humanity. Soldiers have unlawfully killed and forcibly disappeared hundreds of civilians whom they accused of collaborating with Islamist armed groups.

The Islamist armed groups have committed serious abuses against civilians, including summary executions, sexual violence, abductions, and pillaging, and continue to besiege numerous towns and villages across the country.

In April 2023, the African Rights Commission issued a communiqué following the killing of scores of civilians by alleged security forces in the village of Karma, Yatenga province, urging the authorities to initiate investigations and “ensure the protection of civilians.” In November 2023, the commission’s Working Group on the Death Penalty, Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Africa signed an urgent appeal letter following an attack on civilians in the village of Zaongo, Namentenga province, also calling for an investigation.

Under international law, the Burkinabè government bears primary responsibility for ensuring justice for the most serious crimes. Yet, it has made limited progress in investigating, much less prosecuting, those responsible for the many grave offenses committed during the armed conflict since 2016. The report from Burkina Faso provides no information on investigations into alleged abuses by government security forces during the reporting period, nor on any judicial proceedings.

The report also mentions measures taken to uphold civil and political rights, including a June 2017 law designed to protect human rights defenders. Nevertheless, the Burkinabè authorities have restricted civil and political rights during and since the reporting period, Human Rights Watch said.

Since taking power in 2022, the junta has systematically cracked down on activists, opposition party members, journalists, and critics. Human Rights Watch has extensively documented the use of unlawful conscription to silence dissent, as well as abductions and enforced disappearances of dozens of government critics and dissidents.

In December 2023, the African Rights Commission expressed concern about the abduction of the prominent human rights defender Daouda Diallo, and “acts of intimidation, judicial harassment and reprisals” against all rights defenders. In July, it denounced the alleged enforced disappearance of three Burkinabè journalists, calling on the authorities to provide information on their whereabouts and release them. The authorities have not provided any information regarding the journalists’ whereabouts, despite requests from their families and lawyers.

The African Rights Commission has not visited Burkina Faso for several years. It should consider requesting permission for a formal visit to assess the human rights situation and publish a comprehensive report, Human Rights Watch said.

“The African Rights Commission should raise in detail the grave abuses by security forces and Islamic armed groups and the need for accountability,” Ngari said. “The commission should also recommend concrete measures to ensure that activists, journalists, and political opponents are protected, allowing them to carry out their work without fear.”

“Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history and not its future,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This certification of Egypt as malaria-free is truly historic, and a testament to the commitment of the people and government of Egypt to rid themselves of this ancient scourge. I congratulate Egypt on this achievement, which is an inspiration to other countries in the region, and shows what’s possible with the right resources and the right tools.”

Egypt is the third country to be awarded a malaria-free certification in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region following United Arab Emirates and Morocco, and the first since 2010. Globally, a total of 44 countries and 1 territory have reached this milestone.

“Receiving the malaria elimination certificate today is not the end of the journey but the beginning of a new phase. We must now work tirelessly and vigilantly to sustain our achievement through maintaining the highest standards for surveillance, diagnosis and treatment, integrated vector management and sustaining our effective and rapid response to imported cases. Our continued multisectoral efforts will be critical to preserving Egypt’s malaria-free status,” said H.E. Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister of Egypt.

I reaffirm that we will continue with determination and strong will to safeguard the health of all people in Egypt under the wise leadership’s guidance and proceed with enhancing our healthcare system, this will remain a cornerstone in protecting the lives of all people living in and visiting Egypt.”

Certification of malaria elimination is granted by WHO when a country has proven, beyond reasonable doubt, that the chain of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been interrupted nationwide for at least the previous three consecutive years. A country must also demonstrate the capacity to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.

Egypt’s journey to elimination

Malaria has been traced as far back as 4000 B.C. in Egypt, with genetic evidence of the disease found in Tutankhamun and other ancient Egyptian mummies.

Early efforts to reduce human-mosquito contact in Egypt began in the 1920s when the country prohibited the cultivation of rice and agricultural crops near homes. With most of Egypt’s population living along the banks of the Nile River and malaria prevalence as high as 40%, the country designated malaria a notifiable disease in 1930 and later opened its first malaria control station focused on diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.

“Today, Egypt has proven that with vision, dedication, and unity we can overcome the greatest challenges. This success in eliminating malaria is not just a victory for public health but a sign of hope for the entire world, especially for other endemic countries in our region. This achievement is the result of sustained, robust surveillance investments in a strong, integrated health system, where community engagement and partnerships have enabled progress. Furthermore, collaboration and support to endemic countries, such as Sudan, remain a priority,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

By 1942, malaria cases in Egypt had spiked to more than 3 million as a result of World War II population displacement, the disruption of medical supplies and services, and the invasion of Anopheles arabiensis, a highly efficient mosquito vector, among other factors. Egypt succeeded in controlling the malaria outbreak through the establishment of 16 treatment divisions and the recruitment of more than 4000 health workers.

The construction of the Aswan Dam, completed in 1969, created a new malaria risk for the country, as standing water produced breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Egypt, in collaboration with Sudan, launched a rigorous vector control and public health surveillance project to rapidly detect and respond to malaria outbreaks.

By 2001, malaria was firmly under control and the Ministry of Health and Population set its sights on preventing the re-establishment of local malaria transmission. Egypt rapidly contained a small outbreak of malaria cases in the Aswan Governorate in 2014 through early case identification, prompt treatment, vector control and public education.

Malaria diagnosis and treatment are provided free-of-charge to the entire population in Egypt regardless of legal status, and health professionals are trained nationwide to detect and screen for malaria cases including at borders. Egypt’s strong cross-border partnership with neighbouring countries, including Sudan, has been instrumental for preventing the re-establishment of local malaria transmission, paving the way for the country to be officially certified as malaria-free.

Through  Work Corridors for Refugees, refugees with professional skills are now given the opportunity to enter Italy with a valid work visa.

Twenty-five refugees from various sub-Saharan countries currently hosted in Uganda, are the first to benefit from a new pilot project called “ReadyForIT – Labour Pathways for Refugees” launched by the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR and Accenture Foundation, Italy, together with a large consortium of partners.

With a background in information technology (IT), they have been selected to participate in an online training that enables them to acquire software programming skills through Java and SQL, and to learn Italian. After passing a final test, they will safely and formally migrate to Italy with a work contract in the IT sector, hired by the following companies: Accenture, Aubay, Btinkeeng, Gruppo SCAI, OverIT, Reale ITES and Valuetech.

According to UNHCR, to date, more than 120 million people worldwide have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict, persecution and human rights violations.  Very often, in the first host country, refugees do not find the opportunities to rebuild their lives with dignity and are forced to migrate by facing long and dangerous journeys.

The initiative recognizes the value of training and work as essential tools to restore dignity and confidence to those who have had to leave everything behind. Through the Work Corridors for Refugees, refugees’ skills potential is matched with the need for workers in Italian companies, generating mutual benefit.

The International Trade Centre (ITC) supports this initiative by having identified the local partner in Uganda, Refactory, to prepare the candidates for their technical interviews with employers while complementing their IT training delivered by DevelHope with onsite tech coaching and in person training on Java. It is part of ITC’s Refugees & Trade Programme that helps build a conducive ecosystem in support of refugees, displaced populations and host communities and unlocks economic opportunities and jobs.

Refactory is an academy focusing on reskilling African tech talents. In just a few years, Refactory has equipped more than 500+ learners with the skills needed to pursue a tech career of their choice with 80% employment rate.

UNHCR is planning to extend training programmes and work corridors to Italy for refugees in Egypt and Jordan in the shipbuilding and goldsmith sectors by the end of this year.