NewzIntel.com

Category: Africa

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Sudan: UN chief condemns reported executions as starvation risks rise

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    The UN Secretary-General expressed deep alarm on Monday over reports of summary executions of civilians in the Sudanese city of Khartoum North, allegedly carried out by fighters and militias allied with the forces of the military Government. 

    Many of the victims are believed to be from the Darfur and Kordofan regions.

    “The Secretary-General reminds all warring parties in Sudan of their obligations under international law, especially in relation to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure,” said his Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing correspondents in New York.

    “Sudanese women, Sudanese children and Sudanese men are paying the price for the continued fighting by the belligerents,” he stated.

    Government troops have been battling their former allies-turned military rivals, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), for control of Sudan since April 2023.

    The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk described the “senseless” war where alleged war crimes have been committed on both sides as having taken an “even more dangerous turn for civilians” – as reports mount of brutal, ethnically targeted killings.

    Mr. Türk’s office, OHCHR, is working to corroborate these reports.

    Humanitarian crisis escalates

    Attacks on civilians continue across Sudan, Mr. Dujarric said.

    On Saturday, a strike on a crowded market in Omdurman reportedly killed at least 60 people and injured more than 150, according to UN humanitarians.

    Civilian casualties have also been reported in North Kordofan, as well as North and South Darfur.

    Aid coordination office, OCHA, has warned of rising fatalities, particularly following reported attacks on the Abu Shouk displacement camp, where famine conditions were identified in December.

    UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, condemned the indiscriminate attacks at the weekend, stating: “The deliberate targeting of civilian areas represents a blatant disregard for human life and the most basic principles of the laws of war. Such atrocities must cease immediately.”

    Rising malnutrition and starvation

    The food crisis in Sudan is worsening, with reports confirming more than 70 hunger-related deaths – mostly among children – in Khartoum State, according to OCHA.

    In January alone, over 1,100 cases of severe malnutrition were recorded in three Omdurman neighbourhoods, underscoring the dire need for food assistance.

    Malnutrition rates are particularly high in areas where access restrictions have forced the closure of community kitchens, a critical lifeline for many families.

    “We stress once again the urgent need for increased funding and logistical support to sustain nutrition programmes and community kitchens, ensuring that the most vulnerable – especially children and older people – receive adequate food, nutrition and healthcare assistance,” Mr. Dujarric said.

    As the humanitarian catastrophe worsens, the UN reiterates its call for all parties to protect civilians and facilitate access to life-saving aid.

    “The suffering of Sudanese civilians has gone on for too long,” Ms. Nkweta-Salami said. “It’s long past time to end this war and prevent further devastation.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Press Conference by Security Council President on Programme of Work for February

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The Security Council’s February programme of work will feature a signature event on practising multilateralism and reforming and improving global governance, its President for the month announced at a Headquarters press conference today.

    “As the world enters a very turbulent period, the open debate aims to encourage countries to revisit the original aspirations of the [United Nations],” said Fu Cong of China, which has assumed the rotating presidency of the 15-nation organ.  This high-level meeting, scheduled for 18 February, will be chaired by his country’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, he said, encouraging foreign ministers and senior officials of other countries to attend.

    The Middle East will remain a priority on the Council’s agenda this month, he said, noting briefings on the Palestinian issue, Syria and Yemen.  The Gaza situation remains fragile, and the Council needs to ensure full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and unhindered humanitarian access.  Also highlighting reports of the Israel Defense Forces’ military attacks on Sunday, 2 February, against residential blocks in Jenin, he said the Council is considering a possible meeting to address this.

    It will also pay close attention to the challenges facing United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), he added. On Syria, he said, the Council’s focus is on supporting that country in maintaining unity, restoring stability and starting a credible and inclusive political transition.

    Turning to Africa, he noted that the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo “is deteriorating rapidly which could further jeopardize peace and security of the region”.  The Council’s actions must be conducive to the cessation of hostilities and easing of tensions there.  The programme of work for February also includes briefings on UN missions in South Sudan, Libya and the Central African Republic, as well as the situation in Sudan, he said.  Pointing to the volatile security and humanitarian situations in many countries on the continent, he said, as President, “China will work with other Council members, the A3 [Council members representing African countries] in particular, to promote dialogue and consultation and seek political solutions on African issues.”

    The Council will also consider the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on the threat posed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), he said, describing it as an opportunity to further coordinate counter-terrorism efforts.  It will also conduct its annual dialogue with the peacekeeping police, and will hold consultations on the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006), regarding sanctions relating to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.  China will “encourage Council members to consult with each other to enhance trust and bridge differences”, he said, noting that the presidency will invite civil society representatives to participate in relevant meetings and keep in close contact with the media.

    In the ensuing conversation with correspondents, Ambassador Fu elaborated on the open debate on multilateralism, noting the increasing calls in the international community, particularly among the Global South countries, for reforming the global governance system.  Rather than “dismantling the existing system or reinventing the wheel”, the aim is to build a more equitable system that addresses the global governance deficit, he said.  He also stressed the need to enhance the Council’s ability to respond to crises, adding that “solidarity and cooperation are being replaced by division and confrontation”, as a result of which, the Council has been unable to discharge its responsibilities.  The core of the diplomatic mission is to build bridges, he said, adding that the Council must return to the path of multilateralism.

    Mr. Fu took several questions concerning the new United States President Donald J. Trump’s “America First” policy, its impact on the United Nations, as well as the 10 per cent tariffs he recently imposed on Chinese goods.  His country considers the tariff increases unwarranted, he said, and will file a complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO).  “There is no winner in a trade war,” he emphasised, and noting that the excuse for raising tariffs is fentanyl, he said China has stringent regulations on that and related substances.  The United States should look at its own problems, including the “demand side of fentanyl”, he advised.

    China and the United States have much in common, he said, adding that it is essential they cooperate on global issues such as climate change and terrorism.  Further, as the two biggest financial contributors “within this house”, he said both countries have similar concerns about improving the efficiency of the United Nations.  All these offer avenues of cooperation, he said.

    He also took a question on United States’ claims that China has influence over the Panama Canal and surrounding areas, and the subsequent statement by Panama’s President about leaving the Belt and Road initiative.  Such an action would be regrettable, he said, stressing that his country has not participated or interfered in the management or operation of the Canal.  The Panama Belt and Road initiative is an economic platform to enable Global South countries to cooperate with each other, he said, adding that the “smear campaign launched by the US and other Western countries on this initiative is totally groundless”.

    Regarding competition with the United States on artificial intelligence (AI) he noted that the Chinese AI tool DeepSeek has caused “some commotion or panic in certain quarters” and encouraged the correspondents to use it to write their news reports.  Technological restrictions do not work, he said, adding:  “Never ever underestimate the ingenuity of Chinese scientists and engineers.”  The world must ensure the benefits of artificial intelligence are available to all countries and there are guardrails to prevent it from being misused, he said, noting that his country put forward the Assembly resolution concerning cooperation on this matter.

    Responding to various questions concerning the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he said a ceasefire is a priority — the 23 March Movement (M23) and Rwandan troops must withdraw from the territories they occupied.  Encouraging Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to engage in peace talks, he noted that one Council member has floated the idea of a resolution on this topic, which his country will support in its national and presidential capacity.  The territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must be protected, he said, calling on parties to respond to mediation efforts.

    On meetings concerning Ukraine, he noted proposals from Member States to mark the upcoming 25 February anniversary of the beginning of the conflict in that country.  China is obliged to make proper arrangements according to rules of procedures, he said, adding that it is also crucial to highlight that conflict’s ramifications on the food and energy security, as well as maritime transportation. 

    For the full programme of work, please see:  www.un.org/securitycouncil/events/calendar.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Readout of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.’s Phone Call with Algerian Minister Delegate to the Ministry of National Defense and Chief of Staff Gen. Said Chanegriha

    Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff

    February 3, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with Algerian Minister Delegate to the Ministry of National Defense and Chief of Staff Gen. Said Chanegriha today by phone.

    Gen. Brown and Gen. Chanegriha discussed the recent signing of the first-ever Security Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Algeria, which sets the stage for future security cooperation activities and agreements.

    Additionally, the military leaders conferred about the instability of the Sahel region. Gen. Brown commended Algeria’s counterterrorism cooperation and encouraged Gen. Chanegriha to continue coordinating with U.S. Africa Command to further enhance this vital relationship.

    A stable, prosperous African continent is important to global security, and the U.S. will continue to build military capabilities with Algeria and other regional countries through security force assistance programs, exercises, key leader engagements and operations.

    For more Joint Staff news, visit: www.jcs.mil.
    Connect with the Joint Staff on social media: 
    Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube,
    LinkedIn and Flickr.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s InSight Finds Marsquakes From Meteoroids Go Deeper Than Expected

    Source: NASA

    With help from AI, scientists discovered a fresh crater made by an impact that shook material as deep as the Red Planet’s mantle.
    Meteoroids striking Mars produce seismic signals that can reach deeper into the planet than previously known. That’s the finding of a pair of new papers comparing marsquake data collected by NASA’s InSight lander with impact craters spotted by the agency’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO).
    The papers, published on Monday, Feb. 3, in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL), highlight how scientists continue to learn from InSight, which NASA retired in 2022 after a successful extended mission. InSight set the first seismometer on Mars, detecting more than 1,300 marsquakes, which are produced by shaking deep inside the planet (caused by rocks cracking under heat and pressure) and by space rocks striking the surface.
    By observing how seismic waves from those quakes change as they travel through the planet’s crust, mantle, and core, scientists get a glimpse into Mars’ interior, as well as a better understanding of how all rocky worlds form, including Earth and its Moon.

    Researchers have in the past taken images of new impact craters and found seismic data that matches the date and location of the craters’ formation. But the two new studies represent the first time a fresh impact has been correlated with shaking detected in Cerberus Fossae, an especially quake-prone region of Mars that is 1,019 miles (1,640 kilometers) from InSight.
    The impact crater is 71 feet (21.5 meters) in diameter and much farther from InSight than scientists expected, based on the quake’s seismic energy. The Martian crust has unique properties thought to dampen seismic waves produced by impacts, and researchers’ analysis of the Cerberus Fossae impact led them to conclude that the waves it produced took a more direct route through the planet’s mantle.
    InSight’s team will now have to reassess their models of the composition and structure of Mars’ interior to explain how impact-generated seismic signals can go that deep.
    “We used to think the energy detected from the vast majority of seismic events was stuck traveling within the Martian crust,” said InSight team member Constantinos Charalambous of Imperial College London. “This finding shows a deeper, faster path — call it a seismic highway — through the mantle, allowing quakes to reach more distant regions of the planet.”
    Spotting Mars Craters With MRO
    A machine learning algorithm developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California to detect meteoroid impacts on Mars played a key role in discovering the Cerberus Fossae crater. In a matter of hours, the artificial intelligence tool can sift through tens of thousands of black-and-white images captured by MRO’s Context Camera, detecting the blast zones around craters. The tool selects candidate images for examination by scientists practiced at telling which subtle colorations on Mars deserve more detailed imaging by MRO’s High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera.
    “Done manually, this would be years of work,” said InSight team member Valentin Bickel of the University of Bern in Switzerland. “Using this tool, we went from tens of thousands of images to just a handful in a matter of days. It’s not quite as good as a human, but it’s super fast.”
    Bickel and his colleagues searched for craters within roughly 1,864 miles (3,000 kilometers) of InSight’s location, hoping to find some that formed while the lander’s seismometer was recording. By comparing before-and-after images from the Context Camera over a range of time, they found 123 fresh craters to cross-reference with InSight’s data; 49 of those were potential matches with quakes detected by the lander’s seismometer. Charalambous and other seismologists filtered that pool further to identify the 71-foot Cerberus Fossae impact crater.
    Deciphering More, Faster
    The more scientists study InSight’s data, the better they become at distinguishing signals originating inside the planet from those caused by meteoroid strikes. The impact found in Cerberus Fossae will help them further refine how they tell these signals apart.
    “We thought Cerberus Fossae produced lots of high-frequency seismic signals associated with internally generated quakes, but this suggests some of the activity does not originate there and could actually be from impacts instead,” Charalambous said.
    The findings also highlight how researchers are harnessing AI to improve planetary science by making better use of all the data gathered by NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) missions. In addition to studying Martian craters, Bickel has used AI to search for landslides, dust devils, and seasonal dark features that appear on steep slopes, called slope streaks or recurring slope linae. AI tools have been used to find craters and landslides on Earth’s Moon as well.
    “Now we have so many images from the Moon and Mars that the struggle is to process and analyze the data,” Bickel said. “We’ve finally arrived in the big data era of planetary science.”
    More About InSight
    JPL managed InSight for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate. InSight was part of NASA’s Discovery Program, managed by the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built the InSight spacecraft, including its cruise stage and lander, and supported spacecraft operations for the mission.
    A number of European partners, including France’s Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), supported the InSight mission. CNES provided the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) instrument to NASA, with the principal investigator at IPGP (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris). Significant contributions for SEIS came from IPGP; the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Germany; the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) in Switzerland; Imperial College London and Oxford University in the United Kingdom; and JPL. DLR provided the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3) instrument, with significant contributions from the Space Research Center (CBK) of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Astronika in Poland. Spain’s Centro de Astrobiología (CAB) supplied the temperature and wind sensors.
    A division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, JPL manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Project for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. The University of Arizona, in Tucson, operates HiRISE, which was built by BAE Systems in Boulder, Colorado. The Context Camera was built by, and is operated by, Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego. 
    For more about Insight, visit:

    InSight Lander

    For more about MRO, visit:

    Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

    News Media Contacts
    Andrew GoodJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-393-2433andrew.c.good@jpl.nasa.gov
    Karen Fox / Molly WasserNASA Headquarters, Washington202-358-1600|karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov
    2025-013

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: South Africa launches safeguard investigation on corrosion-resistant steel coil

    Source: WTO

    Headline: South Africa launches safeguard investigation on corrosion-resistant steel coil

    In the notification, South Africa indicated, among other things, as follows:
    “Interested parties must make themselves known within a period of 20 days after the initiation of the investigation.
    Any information that the interested parties may wish to submit in writing and any request for a hearing before the Commission that they may wish to put forward should be submitted within 20 days following the initiation of this investigation to the Directorate: Trade Remedies I at the following address: The DTI Campus, 77 Meintjies Street, Sunnyside Pretoria, Block Uuzaji, Ground Floor, tel: +27 12 394 3600, fax +27 12 394 0518.”
    The notification is available in G/SG/N/6/ZAF/11.

    What is a safeguard investigation?
    A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or is threatening to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.
    During a safeguard investigation, importers, exporters and other interested parties may present evidence and views and respond to the presentations of other parties.
    A WTO member may take a safeguard action (i.e. restrict imports of a product temporarily) only if the increased imports of the product are found to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury.

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Services trade growth hits new highs in third quarter of 2024

    Source: World Trade Organization

    The third quarter of 2024 saw services exports rise by 16 per cent in Asia, followed by 8 per cent in Europe, while North America, South and Central America and the Caribbean expanded by 7 per cent. Marked growth was also recorded on imports across regions, reflecting high demand for diverse services.

    Services are the bright spot of trade, with growth of 9 per cent year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2024 (Chart 1). This is in sharp contrast with goods trade, which was up by only 2 per cent over the same period.

    In the third quarter of 2024, transport saw a 14 per cent rise (Chart 1) as shipping rates climbed amid persistent disruptions on major trade routes. Global freight prices were nearly four times higher than in Q3 2023, at about US$ 4,500, according to data from Freightos.

    Asia’s transport services exports increased by 32 per cent, with peaks of 47 per cent in China and 40 per cent in Singapore. Available monthly statistics of leading Asian transport traders point to sustained growth through the end of the year. For example, in the last quarter of 2024, China’s transport exports soared by 50 per cent, reflecting a surge in shipments.

    International travellers’ expenditure in foreign economies increased by 10 per cent in Q3 2024, and in the first three quarters of 2024, global travel receipts were 15 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels. Growth is stabilizing after the post-pandemic surge, and visa-free schemes adopted throughout 2024 by many economies have benefited international tourism worldwide. By the end of 2024, international tourist arrivals had almost reached their 2019 levels, suggesting complete recovery for the sector, according to UN Tourism.

    Travel in 2024 was also boosted by the UEFA European Football Championship in Germany and the Olympics in France, and Europe’s travel exports grew by 7 per cent from an already high base in 2023. Many African economies recorded double-digit growth, including Namibia (+32 per cent), Morocco (+19 per cent) and Tanzania (+18 per cent).

    Other commercial services, a heterogeneous group of services accounting for some 60 per cent of total services trade, expanded on average by 8 per cent in Q3. In the European Union and the United Kingdom, exports in this category increased by 9 per cent, and in the United States by 7 per cent. Double-digit growth was widespread in many economies in different regions. For example, South and Central America and the Caribbean economies saw very high growth rates, including Chile (+32 per cent), Argentina (+26 per cent) and Peru (+17 per cent).

    Digitally deliverable services such as computer, financial, business and insurance services were the main drivers of growth. Computer services continued their impressive rise in January-September 2024, with cumulative exports surging globally by 13 per cent (Chart 2). Rapid growth in computer services exports was recorded both in developed and developing economies, including a sharp increase of 77 per cent in Indonesia and strong growth of 37 per cent in Mauritius and 18 per cent in the United States (Chart 3). According to WTO estimates, the European Union’s exports of computer services grew by 15 per cent year-on-year in the first nine months of 2024, or by 10 per cent if excluding the largest EU exporter, Ireland.

    Companies are increasingly outsourcing information technology (IT) services and software development. The rapid expansion of e-commerce and digital platforms, including in developing economies, has accelerated this process. The growing adoption of AI, such as to develop chatbots, machine learning and predictive analytics, as well as for cybersecurity needs, has further accelerated the global demand for computer services. This trend is expected to persist as businesses adapt to new technologies and consumer preferences for digital solutions.

    Quarterly statistics are estimates as of the time of publication, and subject to frequent revisions. They are available for download at WTO Stats, along with monthly and annual statistics. Annual services trade data and related visualizations can also be accessed at the Global Services Trade Data Hub and at WTO World Trade Statistics 2023.

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Civil Society Organizations Brief the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the Situation of Women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nepal, Belarus and Luxembourg

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Committee also Discusses Gender-Inclusive Approaches to Digitisation with the Working Group on Business and Human Rights

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was this afternoon briefed by representatives of civil society organizations on the situation of women’s rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nepal, Belarus and Luxembourg, the reports of which the Committee will review this week.

    In relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, speakers raised concerns regarding gender-based violence and abuse of internally displaced women and girls in the context of the escalating conflict, and the impact of the withdrawal of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    On Nepal, speakers addressed discrimination against vulnerable women, including indigenous women and girls, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women, and women sex workers; anti-discrimination legislation; and the participation of women in political processes.

    Non-governmental organizations speaking on Belarus raised topics including the dissolution of civil society organizations, imprisonment of women human rights defenders, and barriers to access to justice for women.

    Regarding Luxembourg, a speaker raised issues related to a lack of gender sensitive policies and measures to address intersecting forms of discrimination, and the subordination of women through the social system.

    The National Human Rights Commissioner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo spoke on the country, as did the following non-governmental organizations: Centre for Migration, Gender, and Justice; Groupe d’Action pour les Droits de la Femme; and SAVIE ASBL LGBT.

    Regarding Nepal, the following non-governmental organizations spoke: Forum for Women, Law and Development; Feminist Dalit Organization; Nepal Indigenous Women Federation; Sex Workers and Allies South Asia and Team; Campaign for Change, Mitini Nepal, and Intersex Asia; and Visible Impact.

    The following non-governmental organizations spoke on Belarus: Belarusian Helsinki Committee; Human Constanta; Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions; Coalition against gender-based and domestic violence; and Our House.

    A representative of the Consultative Commission of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg on Human Rights spoke on Luxembourg.

    The Committee also held an informal meeting with the Working Group on Business and Human Rights and representatives from civil society and the business sector on “increasing the bottom line through smart, gender-inclusive, rights-focused approaches in digitisation.”

    Opening the meeting, Nahla Haidar, the newly elected Committee Chairperson, said artificial intelligence and digital technologies had revolutionised everyday life and business practices across sectors in ways that were never envisioned in the past.  She called for action to prevent bias and discrimination against women through cyber-enabled modalities; expand women’s economic opportunities in the new digital era; and equip women and girls with necessary skills, capacities and tools to contribute to providing digital solutions.

    In the meeting, speakers discussed topics such as measures to prevent discrimination of women in the private sector, and particularly in the field of technology; measures to promote access to science, technology, engineering and maths education for women; measures to address the impacts of artificial intelligence on women; and measures to protect women’s rights in the energy transition era.

    Committee Experts and members of the Working Group spoke in the meeting, as did representatives of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Trade Organization, and various private sector and civil society organizations.

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninetieth session is being held from 3 to 21 February.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 4 February to consider the report of the Democratic Republic of the Congo submitted under the exceptional reporting procedure (CEDAW/C/COD/EP/1).

    Opening Remarks by the Committee Chair

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chairperson, said that during each session, the Committee invited national and international non-governmental organizations to informal public meetings to provide specific information on the States parties that were scheduled for consideration by the Committee.  She welcomed the representatives of non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions that had come to provide information on the States parties whose reports were being considered this week: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nepal, Belarus and Luxembourg.

    Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nepal and Belarus

    Democratic Republic of the Congo

    On the Democratic Republic of the Congo, speakers, among other things, said violence against displaced persons was on the rise in the State.  Gender-based violence, specifically, was rampant, leaving survivors with limited access to justice.  Displaced women had a lack of access to reproductive health care and were giving birth in unsafe conditions.  The economic struggles that displaced women and girls faced were equally alarming.  With scarce income opportunities, many were driven to survival sex, which exposed them to sexual exploitation and abuse.

    The withdrawal of the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo raised real concerns.  Plans from national authorities to take on the responsibilities of the Mission remained lacking.  Armed militias and members of the security forces continued to abuse women with impunity.  There were also “tolerance houses” where internally displaced women and girls were sexually abused.  Justice remained inaccessible for most survivors.

    Speakers called on the Government to bolster administrative capacities; ensure the transfer of United Nations facilities to the armed forces; investigate “tolerance houses” and hold perpetrators of gender-based violence criminally liable; control the spread of weapons; and ensure justice and dignity for all women in the State.  Speakers also called for a national migration strategy that was gender-responsive; mechanisms for gender-based violence prevention, mitigation, and response; provision of health services and resources, especially with regards to maternity health, that connected to related concerns such as food insecurity and nutrition; and programmes to expand livelihood provisions that supported displaced women and girls.

    Nepal

    Speakers said Nepal had yet to enact a robust anti-discrimination law, making women more vulnerable to abuse. There was a need to criminalise discrimination against women and eliminate all discriminatory legal provisions against them.  The State party also needed to allocate sufficient human and financial resources to public bodies working on women’s rights.  Appropriate support needed to be provided to women victims of violence.

    Fifteen per cent of Nepal’s population of women faced multiple forms of discrimination; many women faced social exclusion and violence.  Some girls did not report crimes due to a lack of trust in the justice system.

    Nepal needed to amend the Constitution to address historical discrimination of indigenous women and to recognise the customary laws of indigenous people.  The Government needed to amend the act on the rights of persons with disabilities to address the rights of indigenous women with disabilities. Access to justice needed to be promoted for indigenous women and women with disabilities.

    Nepal had failed to ratify the Palermo Protocol, and human trafficking and sex work were treated as the same in the country.  Sex workers faced various forms of discrimination and violence.  Nepal’s legislation had a direct impact on sex workers’ access to citizenship.  Legislation on trafficking in persons needed to be amended to differentiate between trafficking and sex work.  The Government also needed to facilitate sex workers’ access to citizenship and promote awareness raising campaigns on the rights of sex workers.

    Lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex girls faced harmful treatment and violence, and systematic discrimination in education and healthcare in Nepal, and the Government had failed to act in response.  The Government needed to ensure such women could access single women’s allowances, redefine marriage to include gender-free terminology, and support this group’s access to rights.

    Education on sexual and reproductive health remained optional and inadequate in Nepal.  It needed to be made compulsory.  Legislation needed to be amended to fully decriminalise abortion, particularly abortions in cases of rape.  The State also needed to amend legislation to include sexual and reproductive health and rights and sensitise health care providers and community members on safe births.  It further needed to decriminalise sexual relations between consenting adolescents under the age of 18.

    The meaningful participation of women in political processes was lacking; many women politicians faced violence. Nepal needed to investigate historic violence against marginalised women, collect disaggregated data on women, enhance women’s leadership capacities, take measures to eliminate discrimination against marginalised women and girls, and provide quality health services to all women and girls, particularly indigenous women, at a minimal cost.

    Belarus

    Speakers on Belarus said the Constitution did not provide effective protection against discrimination. Women’s rights to education and health care were limited. Belarus had institutionalised discriminatory food provisions; women and girls were not able to access fruit and nuts, leading to long-term health risks.

    Access to justice for women was undermined by the persistent persecution of women human rights defenders.  Women activists had been falsely labelled as terrorists despite their peaceful actions.  The State had systematically dissolved various civil society organizations, including many that supported women.  Almost 2,000 non-governmental organizations had been forced to liquidate. All women’s organizations that had prepared shadow reports to the Committee for the last review had been liquidated.  It was immensely difficult to find legal assistance due to the political suppression of lawyers.  In 2022, the Government had forcibly liquidated all trade unions.  Six women trade union activists remained in prisons.

    At least 139 women were political prisoners in Belarus.  They lacked access to healthcare and were persistently ill-treated. Imprisoned women faced forced labour and modern forms of slavery.  If women refused to work, they were put in “cages of shame” and forced to stand outside for several hours.  Women prisoners earned between five and 10 euros per month and faced harsh penalties for not meeting quotas.

    When domestic violence cases were reported to police, police screened the political activities of the victim rather than provide support.  Victims and aggressors were invited together to meetings with authorities, promoting impunity.

    Women migrants were vulnerable to trafficking and violence.  Domestic violence was not a ground for asylum in Belarus. 

    Luxembourg

    No non-governmental organizations spoke on the situation of women in Luxembourg.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert said that there were many laws and policies for women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but there was weak implementation.  How was the transitional justice policy being implemented for women? Was there a plan to promote the security of women and girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

    The Expert shared the non-governmental organizations’ concern regarding the suppression of civil society in Belarus. Were there plans to update the national action plan on human rights in Belarus, and were there plans to establish a national human rights institution?

    Another Expert asked about anti-trafficking activities being carried out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To what extent were women represented in local governments and decision-making bodies in Nepal?

    One Committee Expert asked about financial resources devoted to implementing the national gender equality plan in Nepal.  What were areas of concern related to sexual and reproductive health services in Belarus?

    A Committee Expert asked about problems regarding access to justice for Dalit women in Nepal.  How common was the dowry custom in Nepal?  Why was the dowry for younger women and girls lower?

    Another Committee Expert asked if the Democratic Republic of the Congo had laws on the accountability of military personnel and contractors involved in violence against women.  What social protection system and benefits did Belarus have for women and girls?

    One Committee Expert asked about legal provisions that needed to be challenged.  What needed to be done to educate girls and society about the harms of the kumari practice in Nepal, which isolated girls from their community?

    A Committee Expert called for information on the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s national action plan on the development of the security forces.  What action had been taken to dismantle non-governmental armed groups in the east?  Was it still possible for non-governmental organizations in Belarus to protect women and interact with the Government?

    Responses by Non-Governmental Organizations

    Nepal

    Responding to questions on Nepal, speakers said there was a very low percentage of women in federal and provincial decision-making bodies in Nepal, and an even lower percentage of Dalit women. There needed to be increased representation of women in these bodies.  There were several laws that directly discriminated against women, including laws on legal residences, which considered women and girls’ residences as those of their husbands and fathers.  Divorced women lost their property rights.  It was prohibited to oppose gender biases in cultural and social practices.  Nepal’s laws did not recognise lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women as minorities; this needed to be done.

    In Nepal, the parents of women paid dowries, and less dowry was paid for younger women.  Dowry payments were most prevalent in the south of the country. The Criminal Code criminalised this practice, but it still existed.

    Sexual and reproductive health education was part of the school curriculum but was no longer a compulsory subject.  There were also gaps in sexual and reproductive health legislation, with many marginalised women not able to access sexual and reproductive health services.

    Dalit women and other marginalised women could not easily access the justice system.  They were not made aware of where and how to access justice and faced violence and discrimination from the police because of their identity.

    Belarus

    Responding to questions on Belarus, speakers said Belarus’ Gender Equality Council did not include non-governmental organizations working on human rights and gender equality.  Belarus’ legislation on incitement to hatred was used to oppress women human rights defenders.  One such woman had been imprisoned for seven years under this legislation.  Raids, inspections and blocking of websites were tools used by the Government to restrict the activities of civil society organizations.

    Statements by National Human Rights Institutions

    Democratic Republic of the Congo

    GISÈLE KAPINGA NTUMBA, National Human Rights Commissioner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said the Democratic Republic of the Congo was going through one of its darkest times in recent history, marked by the invasion of the M23 rebels in the east of the country, which was facing a protracted, violent crisis.  Many women and girls had been displaced and were facing heightened risks of sexual violence and rape.  The National Human Rights Commission had conducted investigations into sexual violence linked to conflict, engaging with competent institutions to address this problem and combat impunity.

    The Commission welcomed that the Government had implemented several measures to protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence, including a law criminalising such violence and enshrining access to justice for victims.  However, there was still a long way to go until these measures could effectively protect civilians from sexual and gender-based violence.  The number of internally displaced persons continued to grow, and there had been many cases of rape reported.  There needed to be increased funds to limit the circulation of small arms and light weapons, build new camps, and increase humanitarian aid for internally displaced persons.  Care for victims of sexual and gender-based violence needed to be given by trained professionals.

    The national fund for compensation for the victims of gender-based violence had helped victims to access care. The Commission also welcomed the organisation of travelling courts to combat impunity.  The Government needed to restore peace in the east and take steps to protect civilians from gender-based violence, and provide internally displaced persons with adequate aid.  Armed groups needed to respect the rules of international humanitarian law and implement an immediate ceasefire.  The international community needed to promote peace by adopting sanctions against M23 and other armed groups.

    Luxembourg

    LAURA CAROCHA, Human and Social Sciences Expert, Commission consultative des Droits de l’Homme du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg [Consultative Commission of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg on Human Rights], welcomed the efforts made by Luxembourg to combat discrimination against women since the last report, while noting persistent shortcomings, including a social system that kept women in a subordinate position to men.  Luxembourg’s policy favoured a “neutral” approach that was not gender sensitive.  Ms. Carocha urged politicians to openly acknowledge this systemic patriarchal domination and to make the deconstruction of this mechanism a priority.  To this end, it was imperative that the Government finally implemented the principle of gender mainstreaming in a cross-cutting manner in all its policies. 

    Luxembourg’s equality efforts lacked an intersectional approach and the Government rarely addressed multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.  Disability was conspicuously absent from the National Action Plan for Equality between Women and Men, while the gender dimension was neglected in the National Action Plan on Disability.  It was essential to have detailed data, disaggregated by gender, age, ethnicity, disability and education level, to better understand and address the different forms of discrimination that women faced.  The Government also needed to impose concrete actions on companies, municipalities and administrations in terms of gender equality and the fight against discrimination against women.

    All actions taken in the fight against discrimination against women needed to be carried out in close collaboration with civil society.  This cooperation needed to be translated into lasting partnerships and political will to ensure that the contributions of civil society were seriously considered in the decision-making process.

    Ms. Carocha concluded by calling for the recognition of multiple forms of discrimination, and a proactive and participatory response from the Government to gender inequalities rooted in societal dynamics.  This meant adopting structural solutions that addressed the root causes of discrimination.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert offered condolences to the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including families of civilians who had lost their lives. What did the National Human Rights Commission wish the Committee to highlight in the dialogue with the State party?

    Another Committee Expert asked about measures to prevent conflict-related gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    One Committee Expert asked if humanitarian aid groups were able to access Goma and deliver food, health and menstrual products?

    A Committee Expert expressed concern regarding the lack of participation from women’s organizations from Luxembourg in the dialogue.  What progress had been made in reforming the Constitution?  Was there an initiative to amend the timeframe for authorising abortions in the State?  The State party did not publish data broken down by origin.  Could data be provided on migrant workers in Luxembourg?

    Another Committee Expert asked about Luxembourg’s process for identifying stateless persons.

    Responses by National Human Rights Institutions

    GISÈLE KAPINGA NTUMBA, National Human Rights Commissioner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said that in Goma, people in displacement camps had been bombarded.  They had no power and no water, and the Rwandese army was on its way in. The international community needed to assist the Democratic Republic of the Congo in creating humanitarian corridors to assist internally displaced persons fleeing the region.  The State had approved laws and measures on preventing sexual violence, but implementing these was a challenge, particularly in regions where the Government did not have control.  In the dialogue, the Committee needed to ask the Government to choose diplomacy over other means, as the population was dying for nothing. Those involved in the conflict needed to be prosecuted.  The international community needed to condemn the situation in the east and promote diplomacy.

    Meeting with the Working Group on Business and Human Rights

    Statements

    ANDREA ORI, Director, Groups in Focus Section, Human Rights Treaties Branch, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the meeting would address the nexus between business and human rights, and gender and digital technologies. Cooperation and practices in digital fields needed to not perpetrate discrimination against women.  There was room for improvement on measures addressing gender discrimination in the workplace, representation of women in leadership positions, workplace harassment, and labour rights for women. Women were over-represented in low-paying jobs.  Stereotypes hindered women’s access to finance and investments, and women had less access to technology and digital services.  Today’s discussion would focus on enhancing the promotion and protection of women.

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chairperson, said artificial intelligence and digital technologies had revolutionised everyday life and business practices across sectors in ways that were never envisioned in the past.  Strategic, innovative modalities to better safeguard the rights of women and girls called for partnerships, joint approaches and harmonised frameworks.  Women needed to be engaged in digital developments from the beginning.  States needed to avoid the re-inventing of stereotypes, bias and discrimination and the perpetuation of violence against women through cyber-enabled modalities; safeguard women’s livelihoods and expand economic opportunities in the new digital era for them; and equip women and girls with necessary skills, capacities and tools to contribute to providing digital solutions.

    This briefing was anticipated to be the first in a series of collaborative efforts to address substantive issues on women’s economic rights in a digital world based on the provisions of the Convention.  Business and human rights principles and the jurisprudence of the Committee and standards could be systematically deployed to uphold and respond to women’s rights protection and economic empowerment, particularly through inclusive digital technologies.

    Sadly, gender equality had often been constrained by interpretations outside the text of the Convention, resulting in persistent gender gaps and disparities.  Critical partnerships would enable the Committee to explore a collaborative and coordinated approach for bridging digital gender inequalities to create a more inclusive and equitable digital future for women and girls, one that was not only free of all forms of violence but also offered them equal opportunities to access and utilise digital technologies to boost their livelihoods and human capital assets.

    LYRA JAKULEVIČIENĖ, Chairperson of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, said that this year, the Working Group was preparing a report on the use of artificial intelligence in businesses and its human rights impacts.  It focused on the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies and procurement by States and businesses, looking at biases and other issues.  The use of artificial intelligence and other technologies had many benefits and but also created concerns, including related to gender, and these would be captured in the report.  Synergy with the Committee would help both bodies to advance their agendas and strengthen the global protection of human rights, particularly for vulnerable women and girls.

    ESTHER EGHOBAMIEN-MSHELIA, Committee Expert, said 300 million fewer women than men had access to mobile internet globally.  Although about a third of small and medium enterprises were owned by women, women were under-represented in discussions on the global value chain.  States needed to focus on the energy transition and artificial intelligence technologies, as if they did not address issues in these fields, the gender gaps would widen.

    FERNANDA HOPENHAYM, Gender Focal Point of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, said the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights had a cross-cutting gender perspective, and this needed to be addressed by States and businesses.  The Guiding Principles said that States needed to include a gender perspective in all policies on business and human rights.  It also called on businesses to respect human rights and to implement measures promoting diversity and inclusion.  Women needed to be able to access remedies in cases in which their rights were violated.  Technologies needed to be gender sensitive, responsive and transformative.

    Panel Discussion

    In the ensuing discussion, speakers, among other things, said women faced many barriers to accessing the labour market; these needed to be addressed.  Countries needed to change company cultures to address discrimination against women employees, and promote diversity and family-friendly policies.  Businesses needed to consider documents outlining the rights of women and girls, such as the Convention, and use tools to assess the effectiveness of gender equality measures.  They also needed to create an enabling environment for women.  Another key requirement was to conduct human rights due diligence with a gender lens.

    Some speakers expressed concerns related to discrimination against women in the technology sector.  Many companies lacked a gender lens when assessing their value chains and were not carrying out gender-related due diligence.  There was evidence of disproportionate harm to non-binary women and the targeting of women human rights defenders online.  Companies were actively amplifying gender biases.  The Committee and the Working Group needed to work with civil society and to call out companies by name when they violated human rights.  They also needed to promote corporate accountability and prevent regression.

    Speakers presented measures to change cultural mindsets to support women to succeed professionally; to promote a healthy work-life balance for women; to raise awareness of women’s rights among businesses; and to develop rules and tools to protect women and girls on social media platforms.

    Some speakers said technology could allow for greater access to education for women and girls, so women needed increased access to it.  One speaker said girls had less opportunities to study in fields such as programming and robotics.  With simple reforms and measures encouraging participation, more and more women and girls would choose information technology as a profession, they said.

    Some speakers expressed concerns that artificial intelligence technology was not sufficiently regulated.  It was possible for artificial intelligence systems to learn and reproduce societal biases and there were also privacy concerns regarding the data that these systems used.  One speaker presented efforts to eliminate biases in artificial intelligence systems and to develop tools to ensure that such systems respected human rights.

    One speaker called for respect for women’s rights in the energy transition.  Women had strong roles to play in preventing child labour in the energy sector and supporting children’s access to education.  Businesses needed to ensure women’s experiences were incorporated in energy transition programmes, and to finance science, technology, engineering and maths education programmes for women, speakers said.

    ________

    CEDAW.25.002E

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record.

    English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Opens Ninetieth Session

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women this morning opened its ninetieth session, hearing a statement from Andrea Ori, Chief of the Groups in Focus Section of the Human Rights Treaties Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and hearing the solemn declarations of eight newly elected Committee Members.  The Committee also adopted its agenda for the session, during which it will review the reports of Belize, Belarus, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (exceptional report), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

    Opening the session, Mr. Ori congratulated the eight new members of the Committee who officially assumed their duties today and congratulated the four Committee Members who were re-elected for the term 2025–2028.  This year marked the commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which was unanimously adopted by 189 States in September 1995 at the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women held in Beijing.  The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action laid out a vision for ensuring women’s human rights and achieving gender equality around the world. 

    However, Mr. Ori said, despite considerable progress on gender equality in the past 30 years, the world was still far from achieving this vision.  Approximately one in three women globally experienced physical and/or sexual violence during their lifetime.  Sexual violence against women and girls was used as a tactic of war in numerous conflicts. Gender parity in decision-making remained a distant goal, with only 26 per cent of parliamentarians in the world being women.  At the upcoming fifty-ninth session of the Human Rights Council, the President of the Council would convene the annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming under the theme “Thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action”, supported by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Women and other agencies.  Mr. Ori wished the Committee a successful and productive session.

    Ana Peláez Narváez, Chairperson of the Committee, said that, since the last session, the number of States parties that had ratified the Convention had remained at 189.  The number of States parties that had accepted the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1 of the Convention concerning the meeting time of the Committee remained at 81.  Since the last session, Cook Islands, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Romania, Solomon Islands, Togo and Tuvalu had submitted their periodic reports to the Committee.

    The following eight new Committee Members made their solemn declaration: Hamida Al-Shukairi (Oman), Violet Eudine Barriteau (Barbados), Nada Moustafa Fathi Draz (Egypt), Mu Hong (China), Madina Jarbussynova (Kazakhstan), Jelena Pia-Comella (Andorra), Erika Schläppi (Switzerland), and Patsilí Toledo Vasquez (Chile).  

    In a private meeting following the opening, the Committee will elect a new Chair and Bureau for the Committee.

    The Committee adopted the agenda and programme of work of the session, and the Chair and Committee Experts then discussed the activities they had undertaken since the last session.

    Brenda Akia, on behalf of Natasha Stott Despoja, Committee Rapporteur on follow-up to concluding observations, briefed the Committee on the status of the follow-up reports received in response to the Committee’s concluding observations.

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninetieth session is being held from 3 to 21 February.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. this afternoon with representatives of national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations and the Working Group on business and human rights.

    Opening Statement by the Representative of the Secretary-General

    ANDREA ORI, Chief of the Groups in Focus Section of the Human Rights Treaties Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, congratulated the eight new members of the Committee who officially assumed their duties today: Hamida Al-Shukairi (Oman), Violet Eudine Barriteau (Barbados), Nada Moustafa Fathi Draz (Egypt), Mu Hong (China), Madina Jarbussynova (Kazakhstan), Jelena Pia-Comella (Andorra), Erika Schläppi (Switzerland), and Patsilí Toledo Vasquez (Chile).  He also congratulated the four Committee Members who were re-elected for the term 2025–2028: Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen (Netherlands), Nahla Haidar El Addal (Lebanon), Bandana Rana (Nepal), and Natasha Stott Despoja (Australia).

    Mr. Ori said this year marked the commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which was unanimously adopted by 189 States in September 1995 at the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women held in Beijing.  The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action laid out a vision for ensuring women’s human rights and achieving gender equality around the world.  However, despite considerable progress on gender equality in the past 30 years, the world was still far from achieving this vision.  

    Approximately one in three women globally experienced physical and/or sexual violence during their lifetime.  Sexual violence against women and girls was used as a tactic of war in numerous conflicts.  Gender parity in decision-making remained a distant goal, with only 26 per cent of parliamentarians in the world being women.  In economic life, women occupied only 28.2 per cent of management positions.  About 800 women and girls still died every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. 

    Moreover, the world was witnessing a backlash against women’s human rights and gender equality, especially against women’s sexual and reproductive health rights, with an increase in attacks against abortion providers, shrinking civic space for women human rights defenders, and reduced funding.  In that context, Mr. Ori welcomed the Committee’s timely work on a new general recommendation on gender stereotypes, which would be kicked off with the half-day of general discussion on gender stereotypes on 17 February from 3 to 6 pm. The thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action presented a key opportunity to renew the commitments made by Member States to ensure women’s rights and achieve gender equality. 

    At the upcoming fifty-ninth session of the Human Rights Council, the President of the Council would convene the annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming under the theme “Thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action”, supported by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Women and other agencies.  The panel, to be held on 24 February, would be opened by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, and possibly the Secretary-General, António Guterres, and would discuss progress and challenges in protecting women’s rights and gender equality.  Committee expert Nahal Haidar would be one of the panellists.  Together with United Nations Women, the Office was also planning a side event during the session which would focus on the pushback against women’s rights and gender equality in the context of humanitarian action.

    Mr. Ori said last year had been particularly challenging, due to the liquidity crisis which had hampered and continued to hamper the Committee’s work.  The Office was doing its utmost to ensure that the Committee and other treaty bodies could implement their mandates, however, all indications pointed to a continuation of the difficult liquidity situation for the foreseeable future. The treaty body strengthening process had reached a key moment, with the adoption of the biennial resolution on the treaty body system by the General Assembly in December 2024.  On Human Rights Day last year, the Geneva Human Rights Platform, in cooperation with the Office and the Directorate of International Law of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, organised an informal meeting of the Chairs and the Committees’ focal points on working methods, which explored the latest developments concerning the treaty body system and sought to identify possible ways to improve the harmonisation of procedures.  Mr. Ori said the Office of the High Commissioner would continue to work alongside the Chairs and all the treaty body experts to strengthen the system. He concluded by wishing the Committee a successful and productive session

    Statements by Committee Experts

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chairperson, called on the eight newly elected members to make their solemn declarations to the Committee.  She also congratulated those who had been re-elected.

    The Committee then adopted its agenda and programme of work for the session.

    Ms. Peláez Narváez said that since the last session, the number of States parties that had ratified the Convention had remained at 189.  The number of States parties that had accepted the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1 of the Convention concerning the meeting time of the Committee remained at 81.  She was pleased to inform that since the last session, Cook Islands, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Romania, Solomon Islands, Togo and Tuvalu had submitted their periodic reports to the Committee.  Since making the simplified reporting procedure the default procedure for States parties’ reporting to the Committee, 13 States parties had indicated that they wished to opt out and maintain the traditional reporting procedure.

    The Chair and Committee Experts then discussed the activities they had undertaken since the last session.

    Ms. Peláez Narváez said as the pre-sessional Working Group for the ninetieth session was cancelled due to the ongoing liquidity situation of the United Nations, there was no report of the pre-sessional Working Group to be presented.  The Committee had subsequently decided to consider the pending reports from the following States parties at this ninetieth session: Belize, Belarus, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (exceptional report), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

    BRENDA AKIA, Alternate Rapporteur on follow-up to concluding observations, speaking on behalf of NATASHA STOTT DESPOJA, Committee Rapporteur, briefed the Committee on the status of the follow-up reports received in response to the Committee’s concluding observations.  She said that at the end of the eighty-ninth session, follow-up letters outlining the outcome of assessments of follow-up reports were sent to Bolivia, Türkiye, South Africa, Morocco and Azerbaijan.  Reminder letters were sent to Mongolia, Namibia, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates.  For the present session, the Committee had received follow-up reports from Belgium, Gambia, Sweden and Switzerland, all received on time; and from Portugal, received with more than five months’ delay.

    ________

    CEDAW.25.001E

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record.

    English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Syria, Israel, DRC – Press Conference | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Press conference by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, on the Middle East and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    ———————————

    The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said, the fall of the Assad government in Syria and the “entry, presence and activities” of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in the area of separation, “has made it particularly challenging” for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and the Observer Group Golan (OGG).

    Briefing journalists in New York upon visiting Syria and Israel, Lacroix said, “I obviously reiterated our concern about the presence of the IDF in the area of separation. It’s clearly a violation of the 1974 agreement between Israel and Syria. I also indicated that UNDOF had received a number of complaints from the local inhabitants of particularly in the centre of the area of operations. And we, expressed the importance of addressing these concerns.”

    He said he had conveyed a message to both the Israeli government and Syria’s caretaker government, “to fully facilitate UNDOF’s mandated activities, including inspections in the respective, areas of limitation that are adjacent to the area of separation, ensure freedom of movement to UN personnel.”

    Turning to the DRC, Lacroix said, “the situation remains tense and volatile, with occasional shooting continuing within the city.”

    He said the UN Mission in the country’s (MONUSCO’s) positions “were again resupplied, which is critically important because in those positions, we do not only have MONUSCO personnel, but we have also, significant number of people basically, who have been seeking shelter in those bases.”

    The airport’s runways, the peacekeeping Chief noted, “is currently not operable” as it has “sustained significant damages in the recent fighting, and we cannot use it for now.”

    Lacroix underlined that “MONUSCO bases are under stress, but also in some cases, they have been under threat in terms of, you know, the presence of, disarmed FRDC soldiers. And I want to really again call for the respect, the full respect, of the inviolability of our UN premises.”

    He said, “we are concerned not only as far as the eastern DRC is concerned, but this has if you look at the past, some of this has the potential of triggering a wider regional conflict and therefore it is of the utmost important that all diplomatic efforts should be geared to avoiding this and bringing about this decision of hostilities.”

    Lacroix said, the rebel group M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) militias “are about 60km, north of, Bukavu; seem to be moving quite fast. There is an airport, in the vicinity of where they are, I think, a few kilometres south, which is Kavumu.”

    He noted that Secretary-General António Guterres has spoken to Rwandan President Paul Kagame as well as Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi emphasising the importance of the protection of civilians and the safety and security of UN personnel.

    He said, I think, “the protection of respect to the safety and security of UN personnel, is an international obligation for all member states. And that applies to Rwanda, that applies to all.”

    Humanitarian organizations in Goma continue to assess the impact of the crisis, including the widespread looting of warehouses and the offices of aid organizations.

    The World Health Organization and partners conducted an assessment with the Government between 26 to 29 January and reported that 700 people have been killed and 2,800 people injured and that are receiving treatment in health facilities. These numbers are expected to rise as more information becomes available.

    In Goma itself, access to safe drinking water remains cut off, forcing people to rely on untreated water from Lake Kivu. Without urgent action, OCHA cautions that the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks will just continue to increase.

    For its part, the International Organization for Migration says today that several displacement sites, including on the outskirts of Goma – where over 300,000 have been displaced have been partially or completely emptied.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPjixm2GCPM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy to Meet Saudi Minister Tomorrow for Strengthening Cooperation in Critical Minerals Sector

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 FEB 2025 8:28PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Coal & Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, will hold a strategic meeting tomorrow with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef, in New Delhi. The high-level discussion will focus on enhancing cooperation in the critical minerals sector and exploring new investment opportunities between the two nations.

    The meeting comes after the Union Minister’s recent participation in the Ministerial Round Table at the Future Minerals Forum 2025 in Riyadh, where he highlighted India’s commitment to securing critical minerals essential for Energy Transition & clean energy systems. He also invited global investors to explore India’s growing mining sector and held extensive discussions with ministers from Brazil, Italy, and Morocco to foster economic and technical cooperation.

    This engagement gains added significance following the Cabinet’s recent approval of the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM). Key discussions will center on fostering resilient mineral supply chains, investment in value-added processing, and technological collaborations to strengthen India-Saudi ties in the mineral resources sector.

    This strategic meeting underscores India’s proactive approach to developing international partnerships in the minerals domain, reaffirming its growing role as a global player in sustainable mineral development.

    ****

    Shuhaib T

    (Release ID: 2099317) Visitor Counter : 62

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) officially comes into force as a full-fledged Treaty based Inter-governmental International Organization

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 03 FEB 2025 7:14PM by PIB Delhi

    In a major development, the Framework Agreement on establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) has officially come into force. From 23rd January, 2025, the IBCA and its Secretariat have become a full-fledged treaty based inter-governmental international organization and international legal entity.

    To this effect, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India (the Depository of the Framework Agreement) has confirmed that five countries – Republic of Nicaragua, Kingdom of Eswatini, Republic of India, Federal Republic of Somalia and Republic of Liberia – have deposited the instruments of ratification/acceptance/approval, under the Article VIII (1) of the Framework Agreement.

    As of now, 27 countries including India have consented to join IBCA and several international/national organisations working in the field of wildlife conservation have also partnered with IBCA. The five countries mentioned above have signed the Framework Agreement to formally become members of the IBCA.

    About the IBCA

    The IBCA was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 9th April,2023, during the event ‘Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger’. The Union Cabinet, in its meeting held on 29th February 2024, approved the establishment of IBCA with headquarters in India. It was launched with the aim of conservation of seven big cats – Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma – with membership of all UN countries/the range countries harbouring the said species and non-range countries where historically these species are not found but interested to support big cat conservation.

    The IBCA was established by Government of India, through the nodal organisation viz., National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), vide order dated 12th March, 2024. The primary objective of IBCA is to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise to achieve a common goal of conservation of big cats at global level. This unified approach, bolstered by financial support, aims to bolster the conservation agenda, halt the decline in big cat populations, and reverse current trends.

    IBCA envisages synergy through a collaborative platform for increased dissemination of gold standard big cat conservation practices, provides access to a central common repository of technical know-how and corpus of funds, strengthens the existing species-specific intergovernmental platforms, networks and transnational initiatives on conservation and protection and assists securing our ecological future and mitigate adverse effects of climate change.

    *****

    VM

    (Release ID: 2099279) Visitor Counter : 28

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Progress in achieving Climate Goals

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 FEB 2025 3:43PM by PIB Delhi

    The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement does not subscribe to financial year wise reporting. India subscribes to its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), submitted in 2022, as per the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC.

    As per India’s 4thBiennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted to the UNFCCC on 30thDecember, 2024, between 2005 and 2020, India’s emission intensity of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reduced by 36% as against the NDC target of 45% to be achieved by 2030. Regarding status on achievement of target under NDC related to the share of non-fossil fuel-based sources, the share in India’s total installed electricity generation capacity is 47.10% in December 2024 as against the target of 50% to be achieved by 2030. As compared to the base year of 2005, India has reached 2.29 billion tonnes of additional carbon sink as against the target of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes by 2030 through additional forest and tree cover.

    The Government of India amended the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 (52 of 2001) in the year 2022 to facilitate the development of carbon market in the country. Subsequently under the act, the Government has notified the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) vide notification S.O. 2825(E), dated 28th June 2023 and amendment notification S.O. 5369(E), dated 19thDecember 2023.

    The CCTS provides for two mechanisms namely, compliance mechanism and offset mechanism. In the compliance mechanism, the obligated entities are required to comply with the prescribed GHG emission intensity reduction norms in each compliance cycle of CCTS. The obligated entities which reduce their GHG emission intensity below the prescribed GHG emission intensity are eligible for issuance of Carbon Credit Certificates. ln the offset mechanism, the non-obligated entities can register their projects for GHG emission reduction or removal or avoidance for issuance of Carbon Credit Certificates.

    The Government of India has also developed a plan to smoothly shift energy-intensive sectors and Designated Consumers (DCs) from the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) Scheme to the compliance mechanism under the CCTS. This plan ensures continuity, consistency, and alignment with national climate goals while avoiding duplication of targets. To initiate the transition, the Government has identified nine energy-intensive sectors for inclusion under compliance mechanism of the CCTS, namely, Aluminium, Cement, Steel, Paper, Chlor-Alkali, Fertiliser, Refinery, Petrochemical, and Textile. Under the offset mechanism, ten sectors have been approved, which include energy, industries, waste handling & disposal, agriculture, forestry, transport, construction, fugitive emissions, solvent use and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage.

    The Government has also notified the National Designated Authority for the Implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (NDAIAPA), vide Gazette Notification, dated 30thMay, 2022. The Authority has updated and finalized the list of 14 activities under Green House Gas (GHG) mitigation activities, alternate materials, and removal activities, which are eligible for trading of international carbon credits under bilateral/ cooperative approaches, under Article 6.2 and Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement.

    The Government collaborates with other countries in the field of Renewable Energy sector and mitigating the environment degradation through mechanisms such as Memorandums of Understanding, Letters of Intent, Joint Declarations of Intent, Energy Dialogues and Partnerships.

    The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), at its Sixth Session held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 1stMarch, 2024, unanimously adopted the resolution on sustainable lifestyles. The resolution based on the precepts of Mission LiFE was moved by India and co- sponsored by Sri Lanka and Bolivia and is a significant step forward in the globalisation of the concept of Mission LiFE or Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE).

    India hosted the 3rdVoice of Global South Summit on 17thAugust, 2024 with the overarching theme “An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future”. In the Environment Ministers’ Session, 18 countries and 1 bank from Global South participated. India emphasized the importance of encouraging sustainable consumption and production patterns, promoting sustainable lifestyles, reducing waste, and fostering a culture of conservation and respect for natural resources. The deliberations highlighted the call for climate justice and developing countries’ demand for climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building.

    Presently, India has cross border interconnections with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. An Agreement between India and Bhutan concerning Cooperation in the field of Hydroelectric Power was signed on 28thJuly, 2006. India and Nepal signed an agreement on 04.01.2024 which will facilitate export of 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal to India in the next 10 years.

    This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE, SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

    *****

    VM

    (Lok Sabha US Q134)                                                                     

                 

    (Release ID: 2099131) Visitor Counter : 57

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/NIGERIA – Poverty, food insecurity, inadequate health care and high cost of living

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Monday, 3 February 2025

    Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – In addition to the serious waves of violence that are affecting the Nigerian population, including kidnappings, clashes, terrorist attacks and brutal murders, there is poverty, food insecurity, inadequate health care and a disproportionate increase in the cost of living.”We are suffering greatly. We have almost nothing to eat and for more than four years we have not been able to dedicate ourselves to agricolture because the bandits have driven us out of our communities. We urgently need the government’s support,” says a statement from residents of a refugee camp in Zamfara state, in northwest Nigeria.In this region of the country, armed groups are driving farmers off their land, closing markets and extorting money from communities. More than 2.2 million people have been forced to flee, many of them now living in overcrowded camps without any resources. According to local press reports, the ongoing conflicts are also affecting agriculture and food production in the northeast. Families returning to their land are reluctant to farm away from militarized cities, risking starvation. Food shortages are so severe that some families are forced to eat cassava husks to survive.In 2020, the Nigerian government launched the so-called “National Multisectoral Action Plan for Food and Nutrition”, an initiative for the period 2021-2025 to combat food security and malnutrition, with a focus on increasing food production through agricultural investments. Unfortunately, so far, the funds have not been sufficient.Agriculture generates 24% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs more than 30% of the total workforce, but the funding for the sector remains well below the 10% target set by the African Union in the 2003 Maputo Declaration, which calls for at least 10% of national budgets to be allocated to agriculture and rural development within five years (see Fides, 21/9/2006).Africa’s most populous country, with around 225 million inhabitants, has one of the highest rates of childhood stunting in the world: 32% of children under five are affected.According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), two million children in Nigeria, mainly in the north of the country, are affected by malnutrition, which kills around 2,400 children under five every day. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 3/2/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – “In Bukavu, young people are joining self-defense militias”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – “The situation in Bukavu is calm at the moment, but young people are flocking en masse to the recruitment centers of the self-defense groups of the so-called ‘Wazalendo’ militias,” report Fides sources from the capital of the Congolese province of South Kivu, which is now also threatened by the advance of the rebel movement M23, after it has already taken Goma (capital of the province of North Kivu).”The M23 seems to have stopped its advance on Bukavu,” say the observers. “So we are living from day to day without really knowing what to expect. The army has also launched a campaign to recruit civilians to join self-defense groups. Many young people have answered the call of the authorities and are now strengthening the ranks of the so-called ‘Wazalendo’ militias.” The observers report that “life is slowly recovering in Goma too. Electricity has returned to some neighborhoods and, since yesterday evening, internet connections have also been restored. Schools have reopened today, at least those that were not intended to accommodate displaced people.” “As for the displaced people, the various refugee camps around the city have meanwhile been dismantled; those who were able to do so have returned to their places of origin; the others have been forced to take shelter in schools and other public buildings,” the observers continue.According to the Congolese Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), the health situation in the city is very serious. “Several health facilities are working beyond their capacity: there is a lack of beds, medicines, medical equipment, emergency kits, blood donations, fuel, surgical supplies and other equipment,” says a report dated January 30, sent to Fides. “The morgues are overflowing (more than 770 lifeless bodies have already been collected, others are still scattered in the streets of the unsafe districts and are in an advanced stage of decomposition)”. According to the report, 2,800 injured people are in the city’s hospitals. Many of the injured remain at home without adequate medical care, while the risk of epidemics remains high.At the political level, the Heads of State of the member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) reaffirmed their “unwavering commitment to continue to support the Democratic Republic of Congo in its efforts to preserve its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity” at the end of their extraordinary summit on 31 January in Harare (Zimbabwe). There is therefore a fear that the conflict will expand into a confrontation that goes beyond the Great Lakes region, as the President of Burundi explained in a video published on his YouTube channel: “If there is no peace in eastern Congo, there will be no peace in the region. The conflict does not only affect Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, but the entire region”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 3/2/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – France holds three times as much debt as Africa as a whole – E-000114/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000114/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Virginie Joron (PfE)

    At the Global Citizen charity concert in New York, Ursula von der Leyen announced a USD 290 million donation to Gavi, the global Vaccine Alliance, to vaccinate 500 million children[1].

    Gavi, the global Vaccine Alliance, is an organisation which does not provide services for free. It is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (to the tune of more than USD 6 billion) and its members include vaccine-producing laboratories and the World Bank[2]. Other contributors include the European Union (EUR 3.2 billion), countries such as France (USD 800 million[3]), Coca-Cola, the Mormon Church and the Rockefeller Foundation.

    According to Gavi, COVID-19 ‘vaccines’ can provide critical protection for children under the age of 12[4]. Yet half of these initial doses were administered in Africa between March 2022 and November 2023, after the pandemic’s critical phase[5].

    • 1.Will Gavi’s portfolio of vaccines for children – paid for by Europeans – contain COVID-19 vaccines?
    • 2.Given that France’s debt is spiralling out of control (EUR 3.303 trillion[6]) and is three times that of all African countries combined (EUR 1.106 trillion of debt for 1.5 billion inhabitants[7]), has France approved this donation from Brussels?

    Submitted: 14.1.2025

    • [1] 28 September 2024; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tCAlA1_xFQ; https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_24_4907
    • [2] https://www.gavi.org/our-alliance/about; https://urls.fr/8vPjux
    • [3] USD 796.8 million; https://www.gavi.org/investing-gavi/funding/donor-profiles/france
    • [4] https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/covid-19-vaccines-can-provide-critical-protection-children
    • [5] All ages combined: https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/how-get-vaccines-remote-areas-sierra-leone-theyre-delivered-foot-boat-or-motorbike
    • [6] https://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/la-dette-de-la-france-atteint-le-niveau-stratospherique-de-3303-milliards-d-euros-20241220
    • [7] According to the World Bank’s International Debt Report for 2024, the total debt held by Africa, excluding North Africa, is USD 864 billion (EUR 831 billion). The debt held by the continent as a whole is USD 1.150 trillion (USD 7 billion for Algeria, USD 69 billion for Morocco, USD 41 billion for Tunisia, which is equivalent to EUR 1.106 trillion); https://urls.fr/t7cjdp
    Last updated: 3 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Scarce catches of lampuki ( coryphaena hippurus ) by Maltese and Gozitan fishers – P-000258/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-000258/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Peter Agius (PPE)

    Maltese catches of lampuki (coryphaena hippurus, or the common dolphinfish) have reached historic lows. Preliminary data from Malta suggests that 2024 catches stand at just 160 tonnes, approximately half of last year’s figures.

    Regulation (EU) 2023/2124[1] establishes a closed season for the fishing of lampuki from 1 January until 14 August each year. However, field reports reveal that while Maltese fishers have adhered to this regulation, other fishers in the Mediterranean – particularly from Tunisia and Sicily – were reportedly deploying fish aggregating devices (FADs) as early as July.

    Accounts from Maltese fishers suggest that these early deployments influence lampuki migration patterns, disadvantaging those adhering to Regulation (EU) 2023/2124. This raises concerns about compliance and the impact on fisheries that respect the closed season.

    Lampuki is a vital seasonal fish for Maltese households, traditionally offering a low-cost option that supports the local economy.

    Given this:

    • 1.What measures are being taken to monitor compliance with Regulation (EU) 2023/2124 concerning lampuki?
    • 2.Is the Commission considering issuing a clarification of paragraph 23 of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/14[2] and Article 82 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2124, which set out rules for lampuki?
    • 3.What additional measures may be introduced to ensure a level playing field between EU and non-EU fishers in the Mediterranean, while supporting conservation efforts by compliant fisheries?

    Submitted: 22.1.2025

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 October 2023 on certain provisions for fishing in the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Agreement area, OJ L, 2023/2124, 12.10.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2124/oj.
    • [2] Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/14 establishing a multiannual management plan for the sustainable exploitation of common dolphinfish in the Mediterranean Sea, https://gfcm.sharepoint.com/CoC/Decisions%20Texts/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2FCoC%2FDecisions%20Texts%2FREC%2ECM%5FGFCM%5F46%5F2023%5F14%2De%2Epdf&parent=%2FCoC%2FDecisions%20Texts&p=true&ga=1.
    Last updated: 3 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Forthcoming visit of the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – P-000285/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-000285/2025
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Nikolas Farantouris (The Left)

    According to the Commission’s official programme[1], Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will visit Türkiye on Friday 24 January and will hold meetings with Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, and Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of the Turkish National Assembly. In view of Türkiye’s continuous challenges to and violations of the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus, the signing of the illegal agreement between Türkiye and Libya that violates the International Law of the Sea and the statements by the Turkish Government[2] (despite the subsequent denials[3]) concerning advanced negotiations on the signing of another memorandum of understanding with the Syrian transitional regime for the designation of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEΖ) between the two countries:

    • 1.Does the VP/HR intend to put as a matter of urgency to the Turkish Government the necessary precondition of full respect for the International Law of the Sea and the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus?
    • 2.Does she intend to stress, once more, the invalidity of the agreement between Türkiye and Libya that violates the International Law of the Sea and the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus?
    • 3.Does the VP/HR plan to ask for explanations for Türkiye’s threats against Greece regarding Greece’s compliance with its obligation to complete its maritime spatial planning under Directive 2014/89/ΕU[4]?

    Submitted: 22.1.2025

    • [1] https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/calendar-items-president-and-commissioners_en?f%5B0%5D=commissioner_dynamic_commissioner_dynamic%3Ahttp%3A//publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/political-leader/COM_00006A32DF03&f%5B1%5D=ewcms_calendar_status%3Apast&f%5B2%5D=ewcms_calendar_status%3Aupcoming
    • [2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-24/turkey-plans-to-start-maritime-agreement-negotiations-with-syria
    • [3] https://www.tanea.gr/2025/01/15/politics/i-tourkia-crden-exei-prothesi-crna-oriothetisei-aoz-me-ti-syria-online/
    • [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EL/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32014L0089
    Last updated: 3 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Weapons trafficking to Sudan – E-000350/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000350/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Gaetano Pedulla’ (The Left), Pasquale Tridico (The Left), Danilo Della Valle (The Left), Per Clausen (The Left), Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left), Sebastian Everding (The Left)

    UN report S/2024/65, investigations by non-governmental organisations (Human Rights Watch, Refugees International, Amnesty International) and articles by journalists in many authoritative media sources, such as the New York Times, put forward allegations implicating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in supporting the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. In particular, the UAE is alleged to be implicated in weapons trafficking, inter alia using French technology, despite UN warnings.

    • 1.Can the Commission clarify its assessment of the UAE’s role in this conflict with particular reference to the latter’s involvement with a group accused of human rights abuses and atrocities against civilians?
    • 2.What diplomatic efforts is the Commission currently pursuing to address and deter any support by the UAE for armed groups in Sudan, including as regards working with international partners to address this worrying support and ensure accountability?
    • 3.Is the Commission prepared to consider sanctions or other policy measures against any individuals or entities within the UAE that are found to be complicit in supporting Sudanese armed groups responsible for documented abuses?

    Submitted: 27.1.2025

    Last updated: 3 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde – A10-0004/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

    on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde

    (11267/2024 – C10‑0087/2024 – 2024/0133(NLE))

    (Consent)

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to the draft Council decision (11267/2024),

    – having regard to the draft agreement (11026/2024),

    – having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 43(2) and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), and Article 218(7), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C10‑0087/2024),

    – having regard to the budgetary assessment by the Committee on Budgets,

    – having regard to Rule 107(1) and (4), and Rule 117(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

    – having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Development,

    – having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Fisheries (A10-0004/2025),

    1. Gives its consent to the conclusion of the agreement;

    2. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Republic of Cabo Verde.

    EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

    The Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde (FPA) offers fishing opportunities for 56 EU vessels for tuna and related species in Cabo Verde’s waters.

    The new agreement covers a period of five years and will offer EU vessels the possibility to fish 7 000 tonnes of tuna and tuna-like species in Cabo Verde’s waters. In return, the EU will pay Cabo Verde a financial contribution of 780 000€ per year (EUR 3 900 000 for the entire duration of the Protocol), from which 350 000€ is related to a reference tonnage of 7 000 tonnes, and 430 000€ to support for developing Cabo Verde’s sectoral fisheries policy.

    The rapporteur highlights the strategic importance of Cabo Verde, as a relevant player in the Atlantic Ocean, remembering that the EU and Cabo Verde have developed a cooperative relationship for more than four decades, with respect and political dialogue. Currently, Cabo Verde and the EU share common values such as democracy, respect for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, the promotion of multilateralism, and Cabo Verde is part of a regional group, called Macaronesia, which includes the Azores, Madeira, Canaries and Cabo Verde. The evolution of relations in these fields led to the creation of the EU-Cabo Verde Special Partnership in 2007, which continues to evolve.

    The rapporteur stresses the importance of the EU-Cabo Verde SFPA for the EU fleet fishing for tuna and related species in the Atlantic Ocean, following strict EU criteria with regard to fisheries management, resource conservation and environmental sustainability, while at the same time strictly respecting the human rights and contributing for local socioeconomic development.

    The rapporteur considers that this is a balanced Agreement, in which the remuneration for the fishing opportunities is lower than the EU contribution to support the development of Cabo Verde fisheries sector. This Protocol puts special emphasis on promoting decent working conditions for fishing activity, scientific capacity building, observation and management of the marine environment and marine protected areas. It promotes sustainable fisheries management, fisheries control and the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). It also contains new provisions to improve vessel monitoring, the management of fishing authorizations and enhanced management measures for shark stocks. The Protocol responds to Cabo Verde’s desire to strengthen the industrialization and competitiveness of its fishing sector.

    In accordance with Article 218(6) TFEU, the consent of the European Parliament is required in order for the Council to adopt a decision on the conclusion of the Agreement.

    In the light of the above, the Rapporteur recommends to Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

     

    ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

    The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

     

     

    BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGETS (22.11.2024)

    for the Committee on Fisheries

    on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde

    (COM(2024)0236 – C10‑0087/2024 – 2024/0133(NLE))

    Rapporteur for budgetary assessment: Hélder Sousa Silva 

     

    The Committee on Budgets has carried out a budgetary assessment of the proposal under Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure and has reached the following conclusions:

    – having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union[1],

    – having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement (IIA) of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources[2], and in particular point 20 thereof,

    A. whereas the financial contribution for the entire duration of the Protocol is EUR 3 900 000 (i.e. EUR 780 000 per year), based on:

    (a) a reference tonnage of 7 000 tonnes, for which an annual amount linked to access has been set at EUR 350 000;

    (b) support for developing Cabo Verde’s sectoral fisheries policy, amounting to EUR 430 000 per year;

    B. whereas the implementation of the Protocol requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below:

    EUR million (to three decimal places)

    DG MARE

     

     

    Year
    2024

    Year
    2025

    Year
    2026

    Year
    2027

    Year
    2028

    TOTAL

    □ Operational appropriations

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Budget line 08.05.01

    Commitments

    (1a)

    0.780

    0.780

    0.780

    0.780

    0.780

    3.900

    Payments

    (2 a)

    0.780

    0.780

    0.780

    0.780

    0.780

    3.900

     

    C. whereas the annual amount for commitment and payment appropriations is established during the annual budgetary procedure, including for the reserve line for protocols not yet having entered into force at the beginning of the year;

    1. Notes that the support allocated to the Protocol should meet the objectives of cooperation in the fields of sustainable exploitation of fishery resources, aquaculture, sustainable development of the oceans, protection of the marine environment, and the blue economy; considers that this should be thoroughly scrutinised to ensure that this is done effectively during the implementation of the Protocol; notes that the support has a direct link to the principles of the Samoa Agreement[3] reinforcing the Union’s external action towards African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and taking account, in particular, of the Union’s objectives with regard to democratic principles and human rights, strengthening EU presence in the region and the cooperation with an important strategic partner;

    2. Recommends that, for future agreements, an impact assessment of the added value and socio-economic benefits derived from the previous agreement be taken into account; considers that this assessment should guide the negotiation and renewal of subsequent agreements to ensure that they align with the objectives of sustainable development and efficient use of the EU’s financial resources;

    3. Notes that the Protocol implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Cabo Verde had not yet entered into force at the beginning of this year;

    4. Recalls that the IIA requires that amounts provided for in the budget for the renewal of fisheries agreements that enter into force after 1 January of the financial year concerned be put in the reserve;

    5. Recalls that the use of the appropriations in the reserve requires a transfer in accordance with Article 31 of the Financial Regulation for the amount concerned from reserve line 30 02 02 to operational line 08 05 01;

    6. Recalls that the Financial Regulation requires the Commission to only sign a protocol with financial implications when appropriations are available on the operational line;

    7. Notes that the Protocol with Cabo Verde was signed on 23 July 2024;

    8. Expresses its concern that no request for a transfer was submitted to the Committee on Budgets before the signing of the Protocol;

    9. Takes note of the information from the Commission that for 2024 part of the unused appropriations for the implementation of the fisheries agreement with Greenland was available on operational line 08 05 01 and would be used for the implementation of the Protocol with Cabo Verde;

    10. Considers that this practice does not respect the provisions of the IIA; furthermore, maintains that appropriations are to be used for the purpose for which they have been entered into the budget;

    11. Notes the relatively small amount linked to the implementation of the Protocol with Cabo Verde, which might explain why the Commission has deviated from the required procedure; considers this to be a special situation that can be accepted by way of an exception;

    12. Demands that the Commission act in compliance with the provisions of the IIA for any future fisheries agreement regardless of the amount involved;

    13. Stresses that the financial programming of line 08 05 01 needs to be enough to cater for the financial obligations for 2025-2027, subject to the decision of the budgetary authority in the annual budgetary procedures; in this regard, notes that line 08 05 01 in the 2025 Draft Budget and in the Council Position on the 2025 Draft Budget includes an amount of EUR 150 560 000 in commitment appropriations and EUR 135 275 000 in payment appropriations; calls for scrutiny regarding the financial programming of line 08 05 01 in the annual budgets of 2026 and 2027;

    14. Concludes that the Committee on Budgets is in a position to advise the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to recommend approval of the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde.

     

     

    ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
    FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT HAS RECEIVED INPUT

    The rapporteur for budgetary assessment declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

    PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT

    Title

    Conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde

    References

    11267/2024 – C10-0087/2024 – 2024/0133(NLE)

    Committee(s) responsible

    PECH

     

     

     

     Date announced in plenary

    BUDG

    19.9.2024

    Rapporteur for budgetary assessment

     Date appointed

    Hélder Sousa Silva

    16.9.2024

    Discussed in committee

    14.10.2024

     

     

     

    Date adopted

    21.11.2024

     

     

     

    Result of final vote

    +:

    –:

    0:

    26

    5

    0

    Members present for the final vote

    Georgios Aftias, Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, Tomasz Buczek, Tamás Deutsch, Angéline Furet, Thomas Geisel, Jean-Marc Germain, Sandra Gómez López, Fabienne Keller, Janusz Lewandowski, Giuseppe Lupo, Ignazio Roberto Marino, Fernando Navarrete Rojas, Matjaž Nemec, Danuše Nerudová, Ruggero Razza, Bogdan Rzońca, Hélder Sousa Silva, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Joachim Streit, Carla Tavares, Nils Ušakovs, Auke Zijlstra

    Substitutes present for the final vote

    Moritz Körner, Tiago Moreira de Sá

    Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

    Christophe Bay, Udo Bullmann, Andrzej Buła, Gheorghe Falcă, Ştefan Muşoiu, Jan-Christoph Oetjen

     

    FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
    IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT

    26

    +

    ECR

    Ruggero Razza, Bogdan Rzońca

    NI

    Thomas Geisel

    PPE

    Georgios Aftias, Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, Andrzej Buła, Gheorghe Falcă, Janusz Lewandowski, Fernando Navarrete Rojas, Danuše Nerudová, Hélder Sousa Silva

    PfE

    Tiago Moreira de Sá

    Renew

    Fabienne Keller, Moritz Körner, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Joachim Streit

    S&D

    Udo Bullmann, Jean-Marc Germain, Sandra Gómez López, Giuseppe Lupo, Ştefan Muşoiu, Matjaž Nemec, Carla Tavares, Nils Ušakovs

    Verts/ALE

    Ignazio Roberto Marino, Nicolae Ştefănuță

     

    5

    –

    PfE

    Christophe Bay, Tomasz Buczek, Tamás Deutsch, Angéline Furet, Auke Zijlstra

     

     

    Key to symbols:

    + : in favour

    – : against

    0 : abstention

     

     

    OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT (5.12.2024)

    for the Committee on Fisheries

    on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde

    (11267/2024 – C10‑0087/2024 – 2024/0133(NLE))

    Rapporteur for opinion: Rosa Estaràs Ferragut

     

    SHORT JUSTIFICATION

    The Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde (FPA) entered into force on 30 March 2007 for a period of 5 years, being tacitly renewable. A previous 5-year Protocol to the FPA entered into force on 20 May 2019 and expired on 19 May 2024.

    With a view to adopt a new Protocol to the FPA, the European Commission conducted negotiations with the Republic of Cabo Verde. Following these negotiations, a new Protocol was initialled on 15 April 2024. This new Protocol covers a period of five years, allowing Union vessels to access Cabo Verde’s fishing zone and to fish for tuna and associated species there, in compliance with the measures adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The aim is also to enhance cooperation between the EU and Cabo Verde, thereby creating a partnership framework within which to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in Cabo Verde’s waters, in the interest of both Parties.

    The EU’s financial contribution allocated to the Protocol is EUR 780 000 per year. This total is broken down into an annual amount of EUR 350 000 for access to fishery resources and another EUR 430 000 for the development of Cabo Verde’s sectoral fisheries policy, which represents an increase for sectoral support in comparison with the previous protocol. 

    Cabo Verde’s economy heavily relies on fisheries, which plays a crucial role in food security and employment for local communities. Artisanal fishing is vital for the livelihoods of many coastal communities. However, commercial fishing operations are also prominent targeting high-value species like tuna, which can affect local resources. Challenges such as overfishing, illegal fishing and climate change pose significant threats to fish stocks, marine ecosystems, and the livelihoods of local communities that depend on fishing. Furthermore, while women play a vital role in the fisheries sector of Cabo Verde, social norms and institutional barriers reinforce their marginalisation especially in rural areas. Overall, fisheries in Cabo Verde are a vital part of the economy and culture, and, therefore, there is a pressing need for sustainable management to ensure the long-term health of marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

    Your rapporteur takes the view that the Protocol promotes the responsible and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources and the development of the national fisheries policy in Cabo Verde and is in the interest of both Parties. For this reason, your rapporteur is proposing that the protocol be approved.

    *******

    The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to recommend approval of the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde (2024-2029).

    ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
    FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

    The rapporteur for the opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

     

    PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

    Title

    Conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde

    References

    11267/2024 – C10-0087/2024 – 2024/0133(NLE)

    Committee(s) responsible

    PECH

     

     

     

    Opinion by

     Date announced in plenary

    DEVE

    19.9.2024

    Rapporteur for the opinion

     Date appointed

    Rosa Estaràs Ferragut

    15.10.2024

    Date adopted

    4.12.2024

     

     

     

    Result of final vote

    +:

    –:

    0:

    15

    0

    0

    Members present for the final vote

    Barry Andrews, Robert Biedroń, Udo Bullmann, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Niels Geuking, Charles Goerens, György Hölvényi, Murielle Laurent, Reinhold Lopatka, Isabella Lövin, Lukas Mandl, Tiago Moreira de Sá, Kristoffer Storm, Marco Tarquinio

    Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

    Monika Hohlmeier

     

    FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

    15

    +

    ECR

    Kristoffer Storm

    PPE

    Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Niels Geuking, Monika Hohlmeier, Reinhold Lopatka, Lukas Mandl

    PfE

    György Hölvényi, Tiago Moreira de Sá

    Renew

    Barry Andrews, Charles Goerens

    S&D

    Robert Biedroń, Udo Bullmann, Murielle Laurent, Marco Tarquinio

    Verts/ALE

    Isabella Lövin

     

     

     

    Key to symbols:

    + : in favour

    – : against

    0 : abstention

     

     

    PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

    Title

    Conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde

    References

    11267/2024 – C10-0087/2024 – 2024/0133(NLE)

    Date of consultation or request for consent

    26.7.2024

     

     

     

    Committee(s) responsible

    PECH

     

     

     

    Committees asked for opinions

     Date announced in plenary

    DEVE

    19.9.2024

     

     

     

    Rapporteurs

     Date appointed

    Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral

    19.9.2024

     

     

     

    Discussed in committee

    4.9.2024

    4.12.2024

     

     

    Date adopted

    28.1.2025

     

     

     

     

    BUDG

    21.11.2024

     

     

     

    Result of final vote

    +:

    –:

    0:

    22

    4

    0

    Members present for the final vote

    Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Thomas Bajada, Stephen Nikola Bartulica, Asger Christensen, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Ton Diepeveen, Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral, Siegbert Frank Droese, Nicolás González Casares, Anja Hazekamp, France Jamet, Isabelle Le Callennec, Isabella Lövin, Giuseppe Milazzo, Francisco José Millán Mon, Jessica Polfjärd, André Rodrigues, Bert-Jan Ruissen, Sander Smit, António Tânger Corrêa, Emma Wiesner

    Substitutes present for the final vote

    Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Mélissa Camara, Sofie Eriksson, Sebastian Everding

    Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

    Kinga Kollár

    Date tabled

    30.1.2025

     

    FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

    22

    +

    ECR

    Stephen Nikola Bartulica, Giuseppe Milazzo, Bert-Jan Ruissen

    PPE

    Carmen Crespo Díaz, Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral, Kinga Kollár, Isabelle Le Callennec, Francisco José Millán Mon, Jessica Polfjärd, Sander Smit

    PfE

    Ton Diepeveen, António Tânger Corrêa

    Renew

    Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Asger Christensen, Emma Wiesner

    S&D

    Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Thomas Bajada, Sofie Eriksson, Nicolás González Casares, André Rodrigues

    Verts/ALE

    Mélissa Camara, Isabella Lövin

     

    4

    –

    ESN

    Siegbert Frank Droese

    PfE

    France Jamet

    The Left

    Sebastian Everding, Anja Hazekamp

     

     

    Key to symbols:

    + : in favour

    – : against

    0 : abstention

     

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Eastern DR Congo crisis increasing risk of mpox transmission, WHO chief warns

    Source: United Nations 4

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Peace and Security

    The worsening security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has forced many mpox patients to flee treatment centres, increasing the risk of transmission, the UN health agency (WHO) warned on Monday.

    Fighting escalated sharply in late January, as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized control of parts of North Kivu, including areas near the regional capital Goma, and advanced towards South Kivu.

    Before the latest violence, mpox cases had been stabilizing, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a speech to the agency’s executive board.

    Health system overwhelmed

    Healthcare facilities are struggling to cope with a surge in casualties, alongside patients suffering from multiple endemic diseases, including mpox, cholera, malaria and measles.

    WHO reported that shells hit a hospital in Goma, resulting in civilian casualties, including infants and pregnant women. Stocks of essential medicines in Minova (South Kivu) are rapidly depleting, as M23 rebels advance towards the city.

    The agency said health partners are doing “everything possible” to provide lifesaving services “despite the risks posed by heavy artillery and the proximity of frontline fighting.”

    Concerns over attacks on civilians, sexual violence, and other human rights violations have also reached alarming levels.

    IDPs at risk, again

    Ongoing clashes also threatens hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltering in Goma, along with the aid workers supporting them.

    “Thousands of displaced people sheltering close to Goma have had to flee for safety as heavy bombing and shelling struck close to the camps due to the proximity of military installations,” the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported.

    Many displaced families are now staying with host communities, while others are setting up temporary shelters in schools and public buildings. Host communities themselves could face “significant humanitarian needs”.

    WFP

    An IDP camp in eastern DRC hosting tens of thousands of vulnerable families.

    Infrastructure hit

    The violence has severely damaged essential infrastructure, including water, electricity, and communication networks.

    In Goma, water and electricity remain cut off and people are forced to rely on unsafe water, increasing risk of disease outbreaks. Telecommunications (phones) and Internet access is also disrupted.

    Public and private property – including WFP and non-governmental organization-run warehouses – have been looted.

    “Coupled with severed access to the city, food and other essential supplies are almost depleted,” WFP said, adding that scarcity has driven prices up, making it even harder for vulnerable communities to afford basic necessities.

    Hard-won development gains at risk

    In addition to threatening the safety and wellbeing of millions, the fighting has put years of hard-won development gains at risk.

    Achim Steiner, Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) underscored that it is not just a humanitarian emergency but a development crisis jeopardizing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    “Every day the conflict continues, access to education and healthcare is disrupted, businesses collapse, and vital infrastructure is damaged – deepening hardship for communities and eroding the foundation for long-term recovery, resilience and sustainable development,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

    “I call on all actors to prioritize dialogue, uphold international humanitarian law, and pursue a peaceful resolution to this crisis,” he added.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reducing Gun Violence in New York Communities

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $20.7 million to support SNUG Street Outreach programs that work to reduce gun violence and save lives in 14 communities across New York State. These grants to community-based organizations and hospitals fund outreach workers, hospital responders, social workers and case managers who are credible messengers and work with individuals at risk of gun violence, connecting them with support and services to change behavior and increase opportunities. Last week, Governor Hochul announced that shooting incidents with injury reported in communities participating in the State’s Gun Involved Violence initiative reached record lows in 2024 with 588 incidents reported compared to 817 in 2023, a 28 percent reduction. The Governor’s FY26 Executive Budget continues unprecedented support for SNUG, Gun Involved Violence and other initiatives in communities that report 90 percent of violent crimes with firearms and 85 percent of violent crimes outside of New York City.

    “Public safety is my number one priority — that’s why my Budget invests in proven initiatives like the SNUG program to drive down gun violence, save lives and keep New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “Outreach teams across the State are working alongside law enforcement and local partners to target gun violence anywhere it occurs, and to engage stakeholders in a comprehensive approach that makes our communities safer for all.”

    New York State’s SNUG program uses a public health approach to address gun violence by identifying the source, interrupting transmission and treating individuals, families and communities affected by the violence. Administered by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, SNUG, Gun Involved Violence (GIVE) initiative, the State’s nationally recognized Crime Analysis Centers Network and Project RISE (Respond, Invest, Sustain, Empower) are key components of Governor Hochul’s comprehensive plan to address the causes and consequences of gun violence and other crimes.

    New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “Our SNUG Street Outreach teams are a critical component of Governor Hochul’s comprehensive crime reduction and public safety plan. These dedicated individuals work in communities disproportionately affected by gun violence. They mediate and defuse conflicts and provide access to programs and support, including counseling and case management, so youth and families can thrive, and communities can heal. We thank Governor Hochul for her continued support of this work and for her leadership on public safety.”

    The $20.7 million will fund staff, programs, services, equipment and technology for the SNUG locations during the 2025 calendar year. Community-based organizations and hospitals receive the funding, which supports 181 full-time and 39 part-time employees who work in specific neighborhoods in Albany, the Bronx, Buffalo, Hempstead, Mt. Vernon, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, Poughkeepsie, Syracuse, Rochester, Troy, Utica, Wyandanch and Yonkers. DCJS tracks shooting data in these “SNUG zones” and last year, those zones collectively reported significant, double-digit decreases in shooting victims, individuals killed by gun violence and shooting incidents with injury when compared to 2023.

    SNUG outreach workers, social workers, case managers and hospital responders work in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by gun violence, and the program also embeds social workers and hospital responders at Level One trauma centers in Albany, Buffalo, the Bronx, Rochester and Syracuse. These professionals work with individuals and families in the aftermath of a violent incident to offer support, services and connect them to the SNUG program in their communities for additional assistance.

    SNUG staff are credible messengers who live in the communities in which they work, and some have been involved with the criminal justice system or lost loved ones to violence. They work with teens and young adults to detect and defuse disputes before they escalate; respond to shootings to prevent retaliation through mediation and assist family members of those who have been injured or killed; and mentor youth involved with the program to set goals and connect them with educational and job opportunities as well as other services. The programs also engage the community, religious organizations and clergy, and local businesses by sponsoring anti-violence marches, job fairs, block parties, sporting events and other community gatherings.

    The following organizations and hospitals will receive funding and support from DCJS to administer SNUG:

    New York City and Long Island

    • Bronx – Jacobi Medical Center: $2,702,617
    • Hempstead – Family and Children’s Association: $1,164,397
    • Wyandanch – Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk: $746,522

    Hudson Valley

    • Mt. Vernon – Family Services of Westchester: $1,088,391
    • Newburgh – Regional Economic Community Action Plan: $896,799
    • Poughkeepsie – Family Services Inc.: $1,076,245
    • Yonkers – Yonkers YMCA: $1,010,259

    Capital Region

    • Albany – Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region: $1,820,329 and Albany Medical Center: $262,310
    • Troy – Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region: $860,134

    Central New York

    • Syracuse – Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility: $1,820,189 and SUNY Upstate Medical Center: $464,374

    Mohawk Valley

    • Utica – Integrated Community Alternatives Network: $792,673

    Finger Lakes

    • Rochester – PathStone Corp.: $1,949,426 and Rochester General Hospital: $571,002

    Western New York

    • Buffalo – Erie County Medical Center: $2,800,915
    • Niagara Falls – Community Missions of Niagara Frontier: $ 677,170

    Comprehensive training, site visits and support from DCJS set SNUG apart from other community-based violence interruption programs across the state and country. New staff must complete 40 hours of training and new supervisors complete 32 hours of management training. All staff must also complete 40 hours of professional development training annually. This ongoing training and support help ensure that the program operates consistently across all SNUG sites despite being operated by different community-based organizations and hospitals.

    State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “As a State Senator, I was proud to advocate for the first SNUG investments in Yonkers and New York State because I knew that real community-driven solutions were key to reducing gun violence and keeping our neighborhoods safe. We’ve seen firsthand how SNUG has changed lives—interrupting cycles of violence, providing critical support, and helping young people find a better path. I’m so proud that Yonkers is receiving more than $1 million in new funding to support this lifesaving program. As Majority Leader, I remain committed to continuing smart, effective investments like SNUG across Westchester and New York. I thank Governor Hochul, my Westchester Delegation and Majority Senators, as well as our partners in the Assembly for their continued leadership and partnership in the fight against gun violence. I look forward to building on this progress together to keep our communities safe.”

    State Senator Jamaal Bailey said, “Investing $20.7 million in SNUG to enhance efforts such as preventing gun violence, supporting at-risk individuals, and strengthening communities across New York State is essential. SNUG has been a pivotal partner in preventing gun violence and an organization that has significantly impacted my district, and will continue to do so as Mt. Vernon – Family Services of Westchester is receiving $1,088,391. By funding outreach workers, social workers, and hospital responders, future conflicts can de-escalate and create safer neighborhoods and brighter futures for all of us. Thank you to Governor Hochul for your leadership and prioritizing the safety of our community.”

    State Senator Nathalia Fernandez said, “This funding for SNUG, is about more than just intervention—it’s about changing the conditions that lead to violence in the first place. Jacobi Hospital’s Standing Up to Violence program has done just that in its years in service. By supporting credible messengers, outreach workers, and trauma responders, we’re making sure the right people are in place to mediate conflicts, connect at-risk individuals with opportunities, and prevent the next tragedy before it happens. I commend Governor Hochul for investing in real solutions, because every neighborhood, every family, every child in the Bronx deserves to grow up safe from gun violence.”

    State Senator Samra G. Brouk said, “Every member of our community deserves to feel safe, wherever they may be. Over $20 million dollars in funding to reduce gun violence across New York State will build upon the tremendous impact that programs such as GIVE have already had on communities like Rochester. I applaud Governor Hochul for addressing the root causes of violence and supporting working solutions to protect our fellow New Yorkers.”

    State Senator Sean Ryan said, “Promoting public safety in Buffalo and across our state is a top priority. It’s why we have passed the toughest gun safety laws in the nation and continue to fund initiatives that reduce crime and strengthen communities. I am thankful for Governor Hochul’s support for these outreach programs, which have a proven track record of reducing gun violence.”

    State Senator Monica Martinez said, “Gun violence is taking the lives of New Yorkers and instilling fear within our communities. The SNUG Street Outreach program is a proven tool that preempts these devastating tragedies by engaging at-risk individuals and providing them with the support needed to choose a different path. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for enshrining our shared commitment to ending gun violence in New York State in this year’s executive budget.”

    State Senator Patricia Fahy said, “Investing in evidence-based programming and on-the-ground resources is exactly how we combat the scourge of gun violence. Partnering with law enforcement, community-based interrupters in cycles of violence like the Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region and increasing the state’s commitment to funding these initiatives is why we’re seeing gun violence rates drop in communities across the state. Thank you to Governor Hochul and my legislative colleagues for continuing to work to ensure that New Yorkers everywhere feel safe on our streets, and to ending the epidemic of gun violence here in New York State.”

    State Senator Siela Bynoe said, “The epidemic of gun violence that has taken the lives of too many people across Long Island, and the nation, must end. Addressing the root causes of gun violence through programs that offer outreach where it’s most needed, is both necessary and impactful. I am grateful for Governor Hochul’s support of community-based solutions in the district.”

    State Senator Joseph Griffo said, “It is imperative that we continue to look for ways to address and reduce gun violence in the state. This funding will strengthen the SNUG program in Utica by supporting a variety of important services and resources that will enhance public safety in the city and region.”

    State Senator Rachel May said, “The state has demonstrated real progress in reducing gun violence rates, and this is our opportunity to continue that success. By increasing funding for the Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility and SUNY Upstate Medical Center, we can make a meaningful impact on our communities where the scourge of gun violence is widespread. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her leadership, as well as to my colleagues in the legislature for their commitment to curb gun violence in New York State.”

    Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, “We know that outreach works. When people in the community are supporting efforts to combat gun violence, lives get saved. I support the GIVE Initiative and other anti-violence initiatives as well as the work SNUG continues to do in our communities. The Response Teams at Erie County Medical Center continue to be top of the line.”

    Assemblymember J. Gary Pretlow said, “As we continue to combat gun violence in our communities, investing in programs like SNUG is not just necessary—it’s life-saving. This funding from Governor Hochul ensures that we can provide resources, mentorship, and intervention to those most at risk, creating safer neighborhoods for everyone. I am proud to support SNUG and the dedicated individuals working tirelessly to break the cycle of violence in Mount Vernon and beyond.”

    Assemblymember William B. Magnarelli said, “Reducing gun violence is a priority in protecting our communities. By working with organizations in the community, together we can reinforce safety measures and prevention methods to decrease gun violence.”

    Assemblymember John T. McDonald III said, “As one of the original supporters of SNUG which started here in the Capital Region, I have worked closely with Trinity Alliance and those who are part of SNUG and have seen the positive impact of the program. That is why I am appreciative of the Governor’s support to continue to grow the program, including in the City of Troy where the program has taken roots and is welcomed by the public safety team. The data validates the critical need and impact of the program which is making our communities safer.”

    Assemblymember Pamela J. Hunter said, “I am grateful for Governor Hochul’s leadership and commitment to reducing gun violence in our communities. The $20.7 million investment in SNUG Street Outreach programs, including critical funding for Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility and SUNY Upstate Medical Center, will have a direct and positive impact on the lives of people in the 128th Assembly District. By supporting outreach workers, hospital responders, and case managers, this initiative provides life-changing resources to those most at risk, helping to break cycles of violence and create safer neighborhoods. I look forward to seeing the continued progress of these evidence-based efforts to protect and uplift our communities.”

    Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson said, “Unfortunately, gun violence plagues the cities of Newburgh and Poughkeepsie as it does too many areas of the State and the Nation. Gun violence must be addressed in three ways: ending gun trafficking from outside of New York State; enforcing our gun laws including full application of our red flags laws; and engaging the community through community-based organizations to discourage and stop gun violence before it starts. I wish to applaud Governor Hochul for her commitment to stopping gun violence using all three avenues and for the investment in this year’s budget in anti-gun violence initiatives with community-based organizations.”

    Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon said, “We unfortunately continue to see our youth negatively impacted by gun violence and this program works to reduce the violence. I appreciate the Governor providing additional funding to SNUG Programs.”

    Assemblymember Demond Meeks said, “Community-based programs like SNUG and GIVE are making a real difference in the fight against gun violence. By focusing on mediation, mentorship, and support, they’re helping to change behaviors and address the root causes of this complex issue. The data is clear: these programs are strengthening our neighborhoods and saving lives. I commend Governor Hochul for her ongoing commitment to investing in these vital resources that directly support communities disproportionately impacted by crime.”

    Assemblymember Jen Lunsford said, “Tangible investments in grassroots organizations working to stop gun violence in our community have paid dividends over the past year. We can see crime trending down in nearly every gun-related category thanks to this kind of targeted delivery of resources. This announcement from the Governor of large scale funding for gun violence prevention will help us continue to reduce violence and bring peace and stability to our neighborhoods.”

    Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr. said, “Far too many families in the Bronx and across our communities in New York have felt the devastating effects of gun violence. The SNUG program will strengthen intervention efforts and connect at-risk individuals with critical resources. By addressing the root causes of violence and providing meaningful intervention, we are not only preventing tragedies but also creating pathways to brighter futures for individuals and families. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and commitment to investing in proven violence prevention programs that make a tangible difference in the lives of New Yorkers.”

    Assemblymember Kwani B. O’Pharrow said, “Investing in community outreach and support programs like SNUG is crucial for reducing gun violence and fostering safer environments. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for your commitment to transforming lives and creating lasting change in our communities.”

    Assemblymember Gabriella Romero said, “With a partner like Governor Kathy Hochul investing in our communities that need it most, we are making real strides in reducing gun violence and saving lives. I want to thank the Governor for her continued commitment to evidence-based, community-driven solutions like SNUG. This $20.7 million investment—including over $2 million for Albany’s Trinity Alliance and Albany Medical Center—will ensure that outreach workers, hospital responders, and social service professionals can continue their critical work to proactively reduce gun violence. These initiatives are making a difference, and I remain committed to securing the resources Albany needs to keep our neighborhoods safe.”

    Assemblymember Noah Burroughs said, “SNUG has been doing excellent work in the community within my district. Gun-related crimes are down and we would like to see those numbers decrease more. This is a great opportunity for the 14 communities in New York State that Snug services to continue doing good work throughout all of its communities. Thank you Governor Hochul for this investment in Hempstead.”

    Assemblymember Harry Bronson said, “SNUG Street Outreach is impactful because it empowers community-based organizations to leverage their existing relationships and partnerships to reduce gun violence in the areas where they serve. Since implementing SNUG, Rochester has seen a significant and marked decrease in violence, at all levels. But we still have work to do. The funding the Governor is providing to Rochester General Hospital and Pathstone will enable them to bring on the staff, programming and services they need to expand this successful public safety initiative.”

    Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said, “Investing in SNUG programs helps to build safer communities and reduce gun violence. This grant award will help provide the ongoing training and support that is critical to SNUG and I thank Governor Hochul for her partnership in helping to keep our citizens safe.”

    Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “I want to thank and applaud Governor Kathy Hochul and DCJS for their continued investments for SNUG & GIVE initiatives. I have said it many times before, that this Governor isn’t just talk, but action. The investments in these programs allow cities like Albany to wisely make strategic choices to get resources on the ground, establish connections with our neighbors and allow alternative approaches to focusing on public safety. Just this week at my State of the City we highlighted a reduction of crime of 3% compared to the 5-year average & a reduction of 21% since I assumed office. Today’s announcement of an additional $2 million dollars to keep these programs going is something celebrated by every resident in the City of Albany. Thank you Governor!”

    Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul for her continued investment in violence prevention efforts here in Buffalo. The $2.8 million awarded to Erie County Medical Center for the SNUG Street Outreach program will provide critical resources to community organizations and trauma responders who work tirelessly to prevent gun violence and save lives. In recent years, we’ve seen firsthand how these initiatives make a real difference in our neighborhoods and this funding will allow us to continue that progress—connecting at-risk individuals with the support they need and ensuring a safer, healthier, stronger Buffalo for all.”

    Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said, “With New York State’s strong support, teamwork with community partners and effective intervention by Syracuse Police, gun violence is down significantly in the City of Syracuse. In 2024, gun violence dropped more than 26% across all of the major categories and the most serious violence – shooting victims injured or deceased dropped 39%. This funding for outreach programs shows Governor Hochul knows reducing gun violence requires the full community working together which is the focus of our Mayor’s Office to Reduce Gun Violence. I’m deeply grateful for the Governor’s help and for the caring and effective work the SNUG Street Outreach team does every day in Syracuse.”

    Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans said, “Governor Hochul’s leadership and continued investments in programs like GIVE and Project RISE have played a major role in helping us reduce gun violence in Rochester by more than 50 percent from the peak years of the pandemic. This investment in SNUG outreach workers is yet another example of her commitment and resolve on this critical issue and the city of Rochester is fortunate for the governor’s partnership.”

    Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said, “We appreciate the continued investment by Governor Hochul in programs that help keep our communities safe. We know that our community benefits from the various initiatives advanced by the Governor. These additional resources will help continue our efforts to keep our City safe.”

    Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne D. Flowers said, “Governor Hochul continues to deliver for the City of Poughkeepsie, and we are grateful for her commitment to our community. Investing in vital outreach programs like SNUG strengthens our city by expanding our ability to engage and support our youth, guiding them toward positive opportunities. With the TRAC Program no longer in operation, I encourage Family Services Inc. and SNUG to use this funding to develop additional gun violence prevention initiatives and create safe spaces for our children after school. Congratulations to SNUG and I look forward to collaborating with them as we work together to unite our community in the fight against gun violence.”

    Utica Mayor Michael Galime said, “To truly be proactive with the issues of Gun Violence we must make sure to approach it from every angle. Good policing will always be at the forefront but additional resources like SNUG are essential to providing additional boots on the ground to raise awareness and prevention. In Utica we are grateful for this funding and will continue to support SNUG however possible.”

    Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey said, “A huge thank you goes out to Governor Hochul for allocating more funds for anti-violence initiatives in the city of Newburgh! This funding is a significant step toward fostering safer communities and reducing violence. Thank you again, Governor Hochul, for your commitment to making Newburgh a safer place!”

    Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Jr. said, “Thank you Governor Hochul for supporting our village through programs such as SNUG that have successful results in our community.”

    Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello said, “I commend Governor Hochul for her continued investment in SNUG and the critical work of violence prevention programs across New York State. In Troy, we have seen firsthand the positive impact of SNUG in engaging our communities, de-escalating conflicts, and providing essential support to those at risk. This funding will help strengthen these efforts and help make our neighborhoods safer.”

    The Division of Criminal Justice Services provides critical support to all facets of the state’s criminal justice system, including, but not limited to: training law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals; overseeing a law enforcement accreditation program; ensuring Breathalyzer and speed enforcement equipment used by local law enforcement operate correctly; managing criminal justice grant funding; analyzing statewide crime and program data; providing research support; overseeing county probation departments and alternatives to incarceration programs; and coordinating youth justice policy. Follow DCJS on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General Appoints Arnaud Peral of France United Nations Resident Coordinator in Philippines

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Arnaud Peral of France as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines, with the host Government’s approval, on 1 February.

    Mr. Peral was most recently the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Tunisia since 2020.  Prior to that, he served successively as United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Ecuador, UNDP Country Director in Colombia, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in México and then Brazil, Programme Manager and Chief of Staff in UNDP´s Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean in New York and Programme Officer in UNDP Cuba.

    Prior to joining the UN system in 2000, Mr. Peral served as Cooperation Counsellor for Scientific and Technical Cooperation in the French Embassy in Cuba, Research Assistant in the Ministry of Environment in France and Research Assistant in public policy in the Ministry of Agriculture in Chile.

    Mr. Peral holds a master’s degree in development economics from the University of Paris X-Nanterre and a bachelor’s degree in economic policy from the University Pierre Mendes France, Grenoble.

    __________

    * This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1982 of 17 September 2020.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Chairman Mast discusses foreign aid review, DEI on “Face the Nation”

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-321-9747

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast joined Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation” to discuss the review of foreign assistance and the Biden State Department’s fixation on DEI.

     

    WATCH HERE

    -Transcript-

    MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’re joined now by Florida Republican Congressman Brian Mast, who is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which has oversight over the State Department and its programs.

    He joins us from Fort Pierce, Florida.

    Good morning to you.

    CHAIRMAN BRIAN MAST (R-Florida): Good morning.

    BRENNAN: I want to start first on the tariffs that were announced overnight by President Trump. You know there’s a free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. President Trump negotiated it during his first term.

    The tariffs may violate that deal. If he’s invoking tariffs on a national security basis, can you explain the threat posed by Canada?

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Yes, and he was – President Trump, that is to say, was very specific in his executive order, outlined that it’s specifically related to fentanyl. It’s specifically related to human trafficking.

    And there’s a trust, but verify situation that has to go on here.

    BRENNAN: Through Canada?

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Through Canada as well, absolutely, fentanyl through Canada, human trafficking through Canada, also with China in that mix for fentanyl as well.

    That was specifically outlined in it. And until that comes to an end, this is what’s going to be on the table. And bear in mind as well that USMCA reauthorization is coming up in the coming-up months and years.

    BRENNAN: So you don’t believe that this violates the trade agreement, the treaty?

    CHAIRMAN MAST: The violation has been to the United States of America. It’s been to our sovereignty. It’s been to our people. We’ve been taken for granted.

    BRENNAN: Right, but Congress votes on these things. So…

    CHAIRMAN MAST: And I will make sure certainly, as the Foreign Affairs chairman, that we give every single authority as we go through State Department reauthorization, to make sure that this moves forward, as well as purging of people throughout the State Department, other agencies, where we’re freezing aid.

    These are all very important and necessary steps to make sure that we secure America. And we’re going to support that.

    BRENNAN: I’m sorry. Can I follow up on what you just said there?

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Please do.

    BRENNAN: You want to authorize purging of State Department personnel? What does that mean exactly?

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Well, if you want to take a look at the State Department, where DEI has been a priority over, let’s say, diplomacy on many accounts, I can give you hundreds of examples of where they were authorizing…

    BRENNAN: What proof do you have of that?

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Sure, let’s list them off, half-a-million dollars to expand atheism in Nepal, $50,000 to do, let’s see, a transgender opera in Colombia, $47,000 to do an LGBTQ trans comic book in Peru, $20,000 a pop to do drag shows in Ecuador.

    Shall I continue with more examples of where DEI was a priority?

    BRENNAN: Oh, it certainly seems like there could be a review of things. Foreign aid, as you know, is less than 1 percent of the entire federal budget. So we’re talking small amounts of money by comparison. But when…

    CHAIRMAN MAST: We’re still talking about tens and tens of billions of dollars.

    And if you want to go to somebody else, on the other side of the aisle, Samantha Power, she had a worthy goal, although it was a stupid goal. She said she was hoping to get the amount of foreign aid, U.S. aid dollars that go to actual aid up to 30 cents on the dollar from 10 cents on the dollar. That’s a major problem that we have this agency that that’s all that goes abroad…

    BRENNAN: I think you’re talking about…

    CHAIRMAN MAST: … when it should be the American worker’s dollar.

    BRENNAN: I think now you’re talking about the USAID, the aid agency…

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Yes.

    BRENNAN: … which is a – separate from the State Department currently and has about $40 billion worth…

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Which is likely going to be rolled more closely under Secretary Rubio.

    BRENNAN: Tell – yes, tell me about that, because that’s where I was going.

    Has the Trump administration informed you of plans to dismantle or significantly shrink this agency?

    CHAIRMAN MAST: This is something that I’m working on very specifically, in conjunction with Secretary Rubio, to make sure that there’s the appropriate command-and-control of these agencies, where, again, to make that same point, right now, maybe 10 to 30 cents…

    BRENNAN: They already report to the secretary of state.

    CHAIRMAN MAST: But 10 to 30 cents on the dollar is what actually goes to aid. So there’s not the right amount of command-and- control that’s going on with the way that it’s set up currently.

    And let’s make another point on this as well.

    BRENNAN: Congress – Congress authorizes and earmarks funding.

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Most of these dollars – most of these dollars that go out of USAID, 70-plus percent don’t come from U.S. growers, U.S. farmers, U.S. ranchers, or go through us ports. And that’s another big problem for America.

    BRENNAN: So – I’m sorry. If Congress already authorizes and earmarks the funding, just to be very clear, you’re not endorsing getting rid of USAID as a separate department, which already reports to the secretary of state, are you?

    CHAIRMAN MAST: I would be absolutely for, if that’s the path we go down, removing USAID as a separate department and having it fall under one of the other parts of United States Department of State, because of its failure.

    I just went over the numbers twice with you in the amount of aid that actually makes it into the hands. I mean, you could you could almost say – this is a little bit hyperbole – but there’s probably more dollars that go towards state dinners around the D.C. Beltway than what actually goes into rice and beans abroad.

    That’s the state of what’s going on with USAID. And Samantha Power said no less herself.

    BRENNAN: Well, I think every single administration authorizes reviews, could increase efficiencies. There are plenty of people who propose bringing it more under the authority of the State Department. Madeleine Albright tried to do that. That’s not a new MAGA idea.

    I think the question here, though, is about how you do it. Do you still believe that in the law signed in the 1960s that Congress has to sign off on any changes to USAID? Or do you think President Trump can just make all of this happen through executive order?

    CHAIRMAN MAST: So, all of those examples that you just gave of those historical figures, the difference is now the job is going to get done.

    It’s going to be 99.99 percent of cents on the dollar actually go towards what it’s intended, instead of people around the Beltway.

    BRENNAN: OK, so you’re talking about – you’re talking about…

    CHAIRMAN MAST: That’s what’s going to happen. That’s the change.

    BRENNAN: … efficiencies in aids versus restructuring.

    So let me ask you about that. Well, like I said…

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Well, that requires restructuring, 100 percent. You can’t create that efficiency just by wishing it into existence.

    BRENNAN: Sure.

    CHAIRMAN MAST: You have to restructure where the failures are and put the right things in place.

    BRENNAN: Of course.

    But what we’re hearing from many of these aid organizations and officials is that, can you restructure after you finish the review and not freeze funding now, immediately? I spoke to former USAID global health head Atul Gawande yesterday. He told me this isn’t a pause in foreign aid. It is a demolition of USAID.

    As he put it, you can’t pause a flight in midair. That’s what’s happening.

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Let’s…

    BRENNAN: This immediate freeze in funding is stopping agencies in the field from being able to do the work they do.

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Let’s say why that is so important. And let’s talk about the real facts on the ground.

    The Trump administration comes in or representatives like myself that do oversight. The agencies will literally not tell us what they are writing grants for, literally, or they will lie about it, or they will tell the new political appointees under the Trump administration, I’m just not going to tell you that. Those are real things that have happened.

    So the way that you make them come and answer for where they are actually sending dollars is to say, we’re freezing that. We’re putting it on hold. You need to come to us and explain what it is you’re doing, why you’re doing it and where it’s actually saving life. And guess what?

    BRENNAN: But…

    CHAIRMAN MAST: When they don’t come explain something, that also begs the question, why were they doing it in the first place?

    BRENNAN: But the way these things work is, the contractors have to front the cash, then go to the U.S. government for reimbursement.

    So when you put in an immediate freeze, that means drugs don’t get delivered. That means they don’t get distributed. That means bomb disposal units don’t get to go out there in places like Cambodia and remove ordnance or provide help to people who receive it.

    That’s the pushback from aid organizations, who are saying they’re going to have to carry out layoffs in the thousands in the coming week. Does that concern you at all?

    CHAIRMAN MAST: They will have an opportunity. It doesn’t concern me because of the grift that has been going on to the American taxpayer, the American worker.

    That’s what needs to be answered for. And so you look at this. Let’s use PEPFAR as an example. You were talking about drugs going to individuals. There was a release of that hold that was put – that was authorized. But it shouldn’t be the case that the American people fund HIV and AIDS drugs for 20 million people across Africa, where many of these countries are working very directly with our adversaries like China.

    That is an example of them taking us for granted. We need to be asking the question, should they be weaning off of this? Should we be paying it for these very expensive HIV and AIDS drugs?

    BRENNAN: Yes.

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Should the American worker be footing the bill for that? Those are real questions.

    BRENNAN: Yes, real questions, but, in the meantime, people need their drugs while you ask those questions. So that’s where the disagreement is with the aid organizations.

    But let me ask you about air traffic controllers and what’s happening here at home.

    CHAIRMAN MAST: Not with all the leaders of other countries, though. I believe I saw the leader of Kenya as one step up and say, hey, this is an example where we need to step up for ourselves and show how we can take care of ourselves. And I believe that was the president there.

    BRENNAN: I want to ask you, as I was saying, about another committee you sit on, Transportation Committee.

    The FAA hiring policy for air traffic controllers, including under the first Trump administration, offered equal opportunity to those with targeted disabilities, including, as the president read, hearing, vision, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, severe intellectual debility – disability. Excuse me.

    The president singled this out, this policy, as a contributor possibly to the crash. Do you agree with the diversity policy, or do you agree with the president? I know you lost two limbs serving this country in Afghanistan. Do you hear those words and take offense to them or…

    CHAIRMAN MAST: No, no offense. Let’s unpack it.

    Number one, I will use myself as an example, right? There are things that I am suited to do, no doubt. But flying an aircraft, to stick with the subject at hand, would not be one of them. I could fly a personal – a personal aircraft.

    BRENNAN: This is air traffic controllers.

    CHAIRMAN MAST: But to put me in charge of traffic or 150 lives, that would not be the right case for me personally, given my physical disabilities and foot pedals on an aircraft.

    To go to the diversity side of it and the actual crash, yes, there were very real errors that took place both in the air traffic control tower and with the helicopter pilots, it seems. But, more systemically, is there a big hiring problem across all federal agencies, to include the FAA, where they made the priority diversity and inclusion…

    BRENNAN: Yes.

    CHAIRMAN MAST: … instead of excellence and performance? Yes, that’s the case. They made the priority appearance and lifestyle and not the big deal.

    BRENNAN: Congressman, thank you for your time today.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Security Council Press Statement on Sudan

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Amar Bendjama (Algeria):

    The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern over escalating violence, including in and around El Fasher, North Darfur.

    Council members strongly condemned the ongoing and intensifying assaults on El Fasher in recent days by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as well as reports of an attack on the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital in El Fasher on 24 January, which killed over 70 patients receiving critical care and their relatives, and wounded dozens.  Recalling resolution 2736 (2024), Council members reiterated their demand that RSF halt the siege of El Fasher; and their call for an immediate halt to the fighting and for de-escalation in and around El Fasher.

    Council members called on the parties to the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law and, as applicable, human rights law.  They expressed their grave concern over the situation of civilians in El Fasher and the nearby Zamzam internally displaced persons camp who have been displaced multiple times and are already experiencing a humanitarian crisis.

    Council members called on the parties to the conflict to seek an immediate cessation of hostilities and pursue a sustainable resolution to the conflict through dialogue.

    They urged all Member States to refrain from external interference which seeks to foment conflict and instability and instead to support efforts for durable peace and reminded all parties to the conflict and Member States to adhere to their obligations to comply with the arms embargo measures as stipulated in paragraphs 7 and 8 of resolution 1556 (2004) and reiterated in resolution 2750 (2024).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Tanzania: MSF team supports response to outbreak of Marburg virus

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is actively supporting the response to an outbreak of Marburg virus in Tanzania’s Kagera region, which is being led by the Ministry of Health. The outbreak was declared by Tanzanian authorities on 20 January 2025.

    Working alongside the Ministry of Health and other partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), an MSF team with experience responding to epidemics is in Kagera region to strengthen the local response capacity. We are providing trainings and essential protective and medical equipment to frontline healthcare staff.

    An MSF team experienced in outbreak management was invited by the Ministry of Health to take part in the assessment of local response capacities in January in Kagera, together with the WHO and other partners. Tanzania, January 2025.
    Clemence/WHO

    “The Tanzanian authorities have made significant efforts to contain the epidemic and promote collaboration between various health agencies,” says Tommaso Santo, MSF’s head of mission. “For the time being, our response is focussed on technical aspects, such as reinforcing case management capacities and implementing infection prevention and control measures.”

    MSF will ensure that its response contributes effectively to limiting the impact of the outbreak on affected communities and preventing the disease from spreading further.

    As of 28 January, the Ministry of Health has reported two confirmed cases, two deaths among confirmed cases and eight additional probable deaths, with 64 suspected cases and 281 contacts being monitored for symptoms of the disease.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI: Urbana Corporation Announces 2025 Winter Drilling Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S./

    TORONTO, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Urbana Corporation (TSX & CSE: URB & URB.A)

    Urbana Corporation is pleased to announce that it plans to conduct a winter drilling program on its 100% owned “Urban Township Project” in the coming weeks (the “Winter Drilling Program”). The objectives are (a) determining if the gold mineralization recently found near the boundary of Urbana’s gold project continues onto Urbana’s ground, (b) extending historical gold discoveries on strike and at depth in three different areas, and (c) testing select geophysical and geological targets for mineralization.

    The Winter Drilling Program consists of up to 4,150 metres of drilling in the southern sector of Urbana’s claim group. The project is located near existing infrastructure, is accessible by road and is located between the nearby Windfall and Barry gold deposits, along the same geological feature.

    The areas surrounding Urbana’s mining property have seen radical changes in recent years with the consolidation of claims into a couple of major companies, the advancement of gold deposits by Osisko Mining Inc. and Bonterra Resources, and most recently the acquisition of Osisko Mining Inc. by Gold Fields Limited, a large gold producer based out of South Africa with properties surrounding Urbana’s centrally located property. Management is excited about the prospect of significant findings from the Winter Drilling Program.

    A review of additional data located in the northern sector of the project is underway. Data collected shows numerous gold prospects throughout the area which warrant a potential second drill program in late summer. PDF versions of the documents are available at www.urbanacorp.com and at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Qualified Persons
    Technical and scientific aspects of this news release have been reviewed, verified, and approved by Mathieu Stephens, P.Geo., the Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

    For further information contact:
    Elizabeth Naumovski, Investor Relations
    (416) 595-9106   enaumovski@urbanacorp.com

    150 KING ST. WEST, SUITE 1702, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5H 1J9
    TEL: 416-595-9106   FAX: 416-862-2498   www.urbanacorp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Students Graduate from Samsung Innovation Campus in Partnership with National University of Lesotho

    Source: Samsung

    A group of twenty-three (23) bright-eyed and talented students have graduated from the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC), a partnership between Samsung Electronics and the National University of Lesotho (NUL).
     
    The award ceremony, held at NUL’s campus, marked the successful completion of an intensive training programme that seeks to equip young minds with cutting-edge skills in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). SIC is part of Samsung’s global initiative that aims to provide young people with the skills needed for the digital economy, focusing on areas like coding and programming (C&P) as well as artificial intelligence (AI). This NUL-SIC programme seeks to play a vital role in the development of critical skills needed by Lesotho’s economy with the ultimate aim of boosting youth employment.
     
    “Today marks the culmination of months of hard work, dedication and learning. The skills and knowledge we have gained through this programme have opened new career pathways for us and I am excited about the opportunities ahead,” said Reabetsoe Mapeshoane, a graduate of the programme. “I am grateful to Samsung and NUL for this incredible opportunity, which has truly transformed our academic and professional futures.”
     

     
    This partnership with NUL which aims to help Lesotho create more opportunities for growth, has managed to empower students to not only enhance their technical expertise, but also prepare for a future of innovation and leadership in the country’s technology industry.
     
    Prof. Issac Olusola Fajana, Vice Chancellor of the National University of Lesotho, emphasized the importance of such partnerships in shaping the future of Basotho youth. “The collaboration between Samsung and NUL is a milestone for our university and for Lesotho. By offering our students access to global industry innovators and technology-focused education, we are empowering them to become catalysts of change in the tech world. This partnership is a step towards ensuring that our graduates are prepared for a rapidly evolving digital economy.”
     
    The certificate award ceremony celebrated the graduates’ achievements with a special recognition of their hard work. And, as part of the programme – these students completed theory, practicals and capstone projects, equipping them with the tools necessary to thrive in today’s tech-driven world.
     
    “At Samsung, we believe in the power of education to change lives,” said Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung Electronics in Southern Africa. “Our mission with the Samsung Innovation Campus is not just to teach technical skills, but to nurture the next generation of innovators. These graduates have shown remarkable passion and dedication – we are excited to see them apply their newfound knowledge in real-world settings. We are proud to have partnered with NUL to make this vision a reality.”
     

     
    The global electronics giant remains committed to empowering youth through education and innovation, with plans for further collaborations and initiatives aimed at fostering talent in Africa.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Kinshasa’s traffic cops run an extortion scheme generating five times more revenue than fines

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Raúl Sanchez de la Sierra, Assistant Professor, University of Chicago

    Commuting in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, presents challenges for its 17 million residents. Massive traffic jams and unsafe driving cause chaos on the roads, leading to long delays.

    The chaos has become a pressing concern for residents. Reaching Gombe, Kinshasa’s central business district, for instance, can take up to five hours from surrounding neighbourhoods.

    When he came to power in January 2019, President Felix Tshisekedi promised to combat Kinshasa’s traffic chaos by targeting road infrastructure. This included constructing an interchange and flyover. One-way traffic was introduced on certain streets. These have had little effect. Kinshasa’s traffic issues persist.

    While congestion in the capital is usually blamed on poor infrastructure, there are some harder-to-see causes. As social science researchers, we set out to understand what institutional factors might be behind the city’s gridlock.

    In a recent paper, we analysed an illegal revenue-generating scheme inside Kinshasa’s traffic police agency involving a coalition of traffic police agents, their managers and judicial officers. We studied the role this scheme plays in the city’s traffic conditions.

    Under the scheme, known as the quota system, station managers (police commanders) assign street agents a daily quota of drivers to escort to the station, often based on fabricated allegations.

    Our findings and analysis provide insights into how the quota system causes traffic jams and accidents, undermining the police agency’s mandate of traffic regulation. We also detail how corruption operates as a coordinated system rather than as isolated acts of individual misconduct.

    The problem

    Like many traffic police agencies worldwide, Kinshasa’s traffic police are tasked with managing key intersections and enforcing traffic rules.

    Similar to many other civil servants in the Democratic Republic of Congo, police officers earn meagre salaries – around US$70 monthly. Anecdotal observation suggests that the police service lacks funds for basic necessities such as fuel or communication costs. Low resources have contributed to police officers extracting funds from drivers, partly for personal profit, partly to cover the costs for their police work.

    A major way in which this is done is through a specific scheme involving traffic police agents. We found that station managers assign different street agents a daily quota of drivers to bring to the station.

    To meet this quota, agents often use brute force and have the discretion to invent infractions that they report at the police station. The dilapidated state of most cars in Kinshasa helps police officers with this task.

    At the station, agents pass the allegations to judicial officers, who have the power to issue charges – or demand bribes so drivers avoid formal penalties. Many drivers try to avoid this extortion by developing relationships with influential protectors. These are people who can intervene on a driver’s behalf and are often high-placed security officers or politicians.

    Our research

    After three years of qualitative fieldwork, we built trust with a large number of individuals inside and around the traffic police agency. This enabled us to design data collection systems in 2015 to study the traffic police agency’s practices.

    We relied on the cooperation of 160 individuals and generated the following data:

    • direct observations of over 13,000 interactions between officers and drivers at intersections

    • station records of 1,255 escorted vehicles, including bribe negotiations and outcomes

    • traffic flow and accident data from 6,399 hourly observations.

    To quantify the cost of this scheme on public service, we added an experiment: we collaborated with police commanders to reduce the daily quotas for some teams and days.

    We encouraged commanders to temporarily cut their teams’ quotas in half. Reducing quotas could be expected to lower corruption demands on agents, reducing corruption overall. It would also enable agents to focus more of their time on managing traffic – an outcome later confirmed by our findings.

    To ensure this approach worked, we compensated commanders for the private income losses they would experience due to the quota reduction, which we carefully estimated before implementing the study. This compensation is not unlike traditional anti-corruption incentives routinely used across the world, except that rather than it being targeted at street-level agents, it targeted the node of this particular scheme: the police commanders.

    What we found

    1. The scheme generates large illicit revenue. The traffic police agency’s real revenue is five times larger than its official income from fines. We found that 68% of the illicit revenue generated through the quota scheme came from bribes paid by drivers after they’d been escorted to the station. The rest of the illicit revenue comes from street-level bribes outside of this quota scheme.

    2. The revenue raised relies on extortion at police stations. Judicial police officers had the power to threaten to issue arbitrary charges. We found that, first, 82% of the allegations were unverifiable by third parties. Second, the amount raised in station bribes was strongly linked to whether a driver was able to call a powerful “protector”.

    3. Extortion in police stations relies on the street agents’ power to arbitrarily escort drivers. These agents use their discretion to fabricate allegations and/or physical force to bring drivers to the station. When a driver was not seen making an infraction, force was more likely to be used.

    Overall, this means that the scheme hinged on a coalition of managers, agents and judicial officers.

    Through the reduction in the quota scheme levels, our scheme also revealed some social costs of this scheme. We found two important results.

    Worse traffic: the quota scheme was accountable for a significant share of traffic jams and accidents observed at street intersections from where the agents operate. Partly through their induced absence and partly through their behaviour, the police officers also create numerous traffic jams and accidents. While this is suggestive rather than conclusive, our estimates suggest that 40% of traffic jams at the main intersections of the city are due to the scheme.

    Diluted incentives to respect the law: the scheme made it less likely that drivers would respect the law. They could be escorted to a police station regardless of whether they complied with the traffic code.

    Why the findings matter

    Our study, which provides rare, detailed evidence of how corruption operates, has three policy implications.

    1. Target officials’ managers, rather than the officials themselves. Visible corruption is only the tip of the iceberg, and hinges on relationships of power and coalitions inside the state.

    2. Limit the discretion of judicial officers to charge the public, or that of agents to escort drivers to police stations arbitrarily.

    3. Incentivise “good” corruption. Encouraging station officials to take a significant share of fines for genuine infractions could give agents an incentive to escort drivers who actually break traffic rules. However, the trade-offs between traffic flow, safety and compliance must be carefully weighed, as quotas tied to fines could worsen congestion.

    Raúl Sanchez de la Sierra is a co-founder of Marakuja Kivu Research, a data collection organization specialized in data collection in war-torn zones especially eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    Kristof Titeca is an associate Senior Research Fellow at the Egmont Institute in Belgium.

    Albert Malukisa Nkuku and Haoyang (Stan) Xie do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Kinshasa’s traffic cops run an extortion scheme generating five times more revenue than fines – https://theconversation.com/kinshasas-traffic-cops-run-an-extortion-scheme-generating-five-times-more-revenue-than-fines-246786

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Kinshasa’s traffic cops run an extortion scheme generating five times more revenue than fines

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Raúl Sanchez de la Sierra, Assistant Professor, University of Chicago

    Commuting in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, presents challenges for its 17 million residents. Massive traffic jams and unsafe driving cause chaos on the roads, leading to long delays.

    The chaos has become a pressing concern for residents. Reaching Gombe, Kinshasa’s central business district, for instance, can take up to five hours from surrounding neighbourhoods.

    When he came to power in January 2019, President Felix Tshisekedi promised to combat Kinshasa’s traffic chaos by targeting road infrastructure. This included constructing an interchange and flyover. One-way traffic was introduced on certain streets. These have had little effect. Kinshasa’s traffic issues persist.

    While congestion in the capital is usually blamed on poor infrastructure, there are some harder-to-see causes. As social science researchers, we set out to understand what institutional factors might be behind the city’s gridlock.

    In a recent paper, we analysed an illegal revenue-generating scheme inside Kinshasa’s traffic police agency involving a coalition of traffic police agents, their managers and judicial officers. We studied the role this scheme plays in the city’s traffic conditions.

    Under the scheme, known as the quota system, station managers (police commanders) assign street agents a daily quota of drivers to escort to the station, often based on fabricated allegations.

    Our findings and analysis provide insights into how the quota system causes traffic jams and accidents, undermining the police agency’s mandate of traffic regulation. We also detail how corruption operates as a coordinated system rather than as isolated acts of individual misconduct.

    The problem

    Like many traffic police agencies worldwide, Kinshasa’s traffic police are tasked with managing key intersections and enforcing traffic rules.

    Similar to many other civil servants in the Democratic Republic of Congo, police officers earn meagre salaries – around US$70 monthly. Anecdotal observation suggests that the police service lacks funds for basic necessities such as fuel or communication costs. Low resources have contributed to police officers extracting funds from drivers, partly for personal profit, partly to cover the costs for their police work.

    A major way in which this is done is through a specific scheme involving traffic police agents. We found that station managers assign different street agents a daily quota of drivers to bring to the station.

    To meet this quota, agents often use brute force and have the discretion to invent infractions that they report at the police station. The dilapidated state of most cars in Kinshasa helps police officers with this task.

    At the station, agents pass the allegations to judicial officers, who have the power to issue charges – or demand bribes so drivers avoid formal penalties. Many drivers try to avoid this extortion by developing relationships with influential protectors. These are people who can intervene on a driver’s behalf and are often high-placed security officers or politicians.

    Our research

    After three years of qualitative fieldwork, we built trust with a large number of individuals inside and around the traffic police agency. This enabled us to design data collection systems in 2015 to study the traffic police agency’s practices.

    We relied on the cooperation of 160 individuals and generated the following data:

    • direct observations of over 13,000 interactions between officers and drivers at intersections

    • station records of 1,255 escorted vehicles, including bribe negotiations and outcomes

    • traffic flow and accident data from 6,399 hourly observations.

    To quantify the cost of this scheme on public service, we added an experiment: we collaborated with police commanders to reduce the daily quotas for some teams and days.

    We encouraged commanders to temporarily cut their teams’ quotas in half. Reducing quotas could be expected to lower corruption demands on agents, reducing corruption overall. It would also enable agents to focus more of their time on managing traffic – an outcome later confirmed by our findings.

    To ensure this approach worked, we compensated commanders for the private income losses they would experience due to the quota reduction, which we carefully estimated before implementing the study. This compensation is not unlike traditional anti-corruption incentives routinely used across the world, except that rather than it being targeted at street-level agents, it targeted the node of this particular scheme: the police commanders.

    What we found

    1. The scheme generates large illicit revenue. The traffic police agency’s real revenue is five times larger than its official income from fines. We found that 68% of the illicit revenue generated through the quota scheme came from bribes paid by drivers after they’d been escorted to the station. The rest of the illicit revenue comes from street-level bribes outside of this quota scheme.

    2. The revenue raised relies on extortion at police stations. Judicial police officers had the power to threaten to issue arbitrary charges. We found that, first, 82% of the allegations were unverifiable by third parties. Second, the amount raised in station bribes was strongly linked to whether a driver was able to call a powerful “protector”.

    3. Extortion in police stations relies on the street agents’ power to arbitrarily escort drivers. These agents use their discretion to fabricate allegations and/or physical force to bring drivers to the station. When a driver was not seen making an infraction, force was more likely to be used.

    Overall, this means that the scheme hinged on a coalition of managers, agents and judicial officers.

    Through the reduction in the quota scheme levels, our scheme also revealed some social costs of this scheme. We found two important results.

    Worse traffic: the quota scheme was accountable for a significant share of traffic jams and accidents observed at street intersections from where the agents operate. Partly through their induced absence and partly through their behaviour, the police officers also create numerous traffic jams and accidents. While this is suggestive rather than conclusive, our estimates suggest that 40% of traffic jams at the main intersections of the city are due to the scheme.

    Diluted incentives to respect the law: the scheme made it less likely that drivers would respect the law. They could be escorted to a police station regardless of whether they complied with the traffic code.

    Why the findings matter

    Our study, which provides rare, detailed evidence of how corruption operates, has three policy implications.

    1. Target officials’ managers, rather than the officials themselves. Visible corruption is only the tip of the iceberg, and hinges on relationships of power and coalitions inside the state.

    2. Limit the discretion of judicial officers to charge the public, or that of agents to escort drivers to police stations arbitrarily.

    3. Incentivise “good” corruption. Encouraging station officials to take a significant share of fines for genuine infractions could give agents an incentive to escort drivers who actually break traffic rules. However, the trade-offs between traffic flow, safety and compliance must be carefully weighed, as quotas tied to fines could worsen congestion.

    – Kinshasa’s traffic cops run an extortion scheme generating five times more revenue than fines
    – https://theconversation.com/kinshasas-traffic-cops-run-an-extortion-scheme-generating-five-times-more-revenue-than-fines-246786

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Rare portraits reveal the humanity of the slaves who revolted on the Amistad

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Kate McMahon, Historian of Global Slavery, Smithsonian Institution

    John Warner Barber’s ‘Death of Capt. Ferrer,’ 1839. Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    On the night of July 1, 1839, 53 enslaved Africans revolted aboard the slaving schooner La Amistad – Spanish for “Friendship” – while they were being shipped to a plantation in Puerto Príncipe, Cuba.

    Kidnapped and trafficked from modern-day Sierra Leone to Havana on a larger vessel, they had been transferred to the smaller La Amistad to reach Puerto Príncipe.

    A 25-year-old man named Sengbe Pieh led the rebels, who suffered 10 fatalities in the fray. They still managed to kill the captain, Ramon Ferrer, and take control of the ship, ordering the surviving crew to return them to Sierra Leone. But the crew instead sailed the vessel north, where it was captured in Long Island Sound.

    With the rebels detained in Connecticut, their fate would be decided by the state’s legal system.

    A remarkable set of 22 drawings reveal the faces of these rebels, providing a rare glimpse into their humanity when they were affirming their right to live free.

    I served as the lead historian and researcher for an exhibition where three of these portraits are now on display, “In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World,” at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

    Few images exist

    In 1808, the United States, along with a host of other countries, banned the participation of its citizens in the transportation of enslaved people from Africa to the Americas. Nonetheless, at least 2.8 million Africans were brought to the Americas between 1808 and 1866, primarily to work on sugar plantations in Brazil and Cuba. Shippers, plantation owners, merchants and crews reaped massive profits.

    But historians know very little about the individuals aboard these slave ships. More often than not, their existence was reflected in numbers on ledgers and spreadsheets. Their birth names, birth dates, family histories – anything that would have humanized them – were hard to come by.

    Portraits of enslaved people from the 19th century were also unusual. Enslavers often viewed them as mere chattel and not worth the expense and effort of commissioning a painting. If they did appear in art, it was in the background as loyal servants, helpless victims or stereotypical brutes.

    Putting faces to the names

    That’s what makes these drawings, created by Connecticut artist William H. Townsend during the trial, so remarkable.

    ‘Fuli,’ by William H. Townsend.
    Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University

    Historians don’t know exactly why Townsend decided to draw them, only that he lived locally and sat in the courtroom during the trial. In 1934, these portraits were donated to Yale University’s Beinecke Library by one of Townsend’s descendants.

    While his motivations for drawing these portraits remain unclear, the humanity he depicted is clear. The expressions of his subjects often evoke both their resistance and their desire for freedom.

    Fuli, one of several captives who had stolen water on board the vessel and had been ordered flogged by Captain Ferrer during the voyage, gazes at the viewer with a solemn, self-possessed air. It’s easy to imagine him as a leader steeled by all the suffering he experienced over the course of his journey.

    Marqu – or Margru – was one of the three young girls who were aboard the Amistad. In her portrait, she gently smiles – a glint of a personality that’s persevered despite the trauma of the voyage and her time spent in prison awaiting trial.

    Marqu, drawn by William H. Townsend, was one of three enslaved girls aboard the Amistad.
    Library of Congress

    Grabo – or Grabeau – was second-in-command to Pieh in the revolt. He was a rice planter and was married at the time of his capture, and was enslaved to repay a debt his family owed. In his portrait, he gazes with his eyebrows raised – inquisitive, proud and at ease.

    Lights of freedom

    Despite their different facial expressions, the three appear to be united in their collective determination to be agents in their own liberation. In Pieh’s words: “Brothers, we have done that which we purposed. … I am resolved it is better to die than to be a white man’s slave.”

    Grabo, second-in-command of the rebels aboard the Amistad, drawn by William H. Townsend.
    Library of Congress

    The lawyers hired by abolitionists to represent the 53 surviving rebels – Roger S. Baldwin, Theodore Sedgwick and Seth Staples – argued that they rebelled because “each of them are natives of Africa and were born free, and ever since have been and still of right are and ought to be free and not slaves.”

    Eventually, the case made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court found that because the captives aboard the Amistad were free at the time of their capture in Long Island, they could not be considered property of Spain.

    The verdict became a landmark case for litigating the illegal slave trade, which continued to expand over the next two decades until finally ending in the 1860s. The Amistad rebels inspired other captives: In 1841, as the American ship Creole traveled between Richmond, Virginia, and New Orleans, those on board revolted, wresting control of the ship and sailing it to the Bahamas, where they eventually gained their freedom.

    These portraits, like the testimony in court and the revolt onboard the Amistad, bring the massive, messy, contested story of slavery down to the scale of individual humans. Their visages call upon present and future generations to collectively imagine not only the horrors of the slave trade, but also the power of individual dignity and collective resistance.

    They light the darkness – in the 1840s and in the world today.

    Kate McMahon does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Rare portraits reveal the humanity of the slaves who revolted on the Amistad – https://theconversation.com/rare-portraits-reveal-the-humanity-of-the-slaves-who-revolted-on-the-amistad-245133

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –