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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Tuna fishing agreement with Cabo Verde approved by Parliament

    Source: European Parliament

    56 EU vessels will be able to fish tuna and related species during the next five years in Cabo Verde’s waters, under an updated fisheries deal.

    24 freezer tuna seiners, 10 pole-and-line tuna vessels, and 22 surface longliners from Spain, France and Portugal will be allowed to fish up to 7,000 tonnes of tuna and related species each year until 2029.

    In exchange, the EU will make a financial contribution of €780,000 per year, €350 000 for access rights to the waters of Cabo Verde and €430,000 to support Cabo Verde’s fisheries policy and blue economy sector. In addition, fishing fees paid by vessel owners may add up to almost €600,000 per year.

    The deal aims to enhance cooperation between the EU and Cabo Verde to help the country develop a sustainable fisheries policy and promote socioeconomic development. It is a contribution to wider efforts around fisheries control and the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), as it includes rules to improve vessel monitoring, the management of fishing authorisations, and management measures for shark stocks.

    MEPs gave their consent to the new protocol with 507 votes in favour, 76 against and 16 abstentions.


    Quote by the rapporteur

    “This agreement combines remuneration for fishing opportunities with support for the sustainable development of Cabo Verde’s fishing sector, with control and efforts to fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It will also promote decent working conditions and strengthen scientific capabilities in Cabo Verde. It is a good agreement that protects fishermen from both sides as well as the sustainability of our oceans”, rapporteur Paulo do Nascimento Cabral (EPP, PT) said.


    Background

    The agreement provides the legal framework for EU vessels to be able to fish highly migratory species (tuna and sharks) in Cape Verdean waters. It is part of a network of EU agreements with west-African coastal states, among them Morocco, Mauritania, and Guinea-Bissau.

    The first agreement with Cabo Verde, made in 1990, was replaced in 2007 by the current one, which has been renewed every five years since. The new protocol implementing the agreement has been in provisional application since 23 July 2024.

    It covers fishing for tunas and associated species within the rules defined by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia – B10-0116/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Urmas Paet, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Karin Karlsbro, Michał Kobosko, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Sophie Wilmès, Dainius Žalimas
    on behalf of the Renew Group

    B10‑0116/2025

    European Parliament resolution on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia

    (2025/2522(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia, in particular its resolution of 9 October 2024 on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia[1], and of 28 November 2024 on Georgia’s worsening democratic crisis following the recent parliamentary elections and alleged electoral fraud[2],

    – having regard to the joint statement by the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus and the Standing Rapporteur for Georgia of 29 November 2024 on the Georgian government’s decision to pause its accession to the European Union,

    – having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part[3],

    – having regard to the Council conclusions of 17 December 2024 on Enlargement,

    – having regard to the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos of 1 December 2024 on Georgia,

    – having regard to the joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Poland on 31 December 2024,

    – having regard to Rules 136(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas at the end of November 2024, Irakli Kobakhidze announced the decision by Georgian Dream not to pursue the opening of EU accession negotiations and to reject EU financial support until 2028, thus violating Georgia’s Constitution; whereas part of this funding had, in reality, already been suspended by the Commission on account of Georgia not fulfilling the nine criteria for starting the accession process, as set out by the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 on EU Enlargement Policy (COM(2023)6900);

    B. whereas this announcement followed the parliamentary elections of 26 October 2024, which failed to meet international democratic standards and Georgia’s commitments as a participating state of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; whereas Parliament strongly condemned widespread electoral violations, did not recognise the results of the elections, and called for new elections in an improved electoral environment;

    C. whereas the current Georgian regime, led by the Georgian Dream party and its founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, has orchestrated an unconstitutional usurpation of power, systematically dismantling democratic institutions, undermining judicial independence and eroding fundamental freedoms, thereby deepening Georgia’s political and constitutional crisis; whereas this illegitimate consolidation of power has sparked massive grassroots protests, with hundreds of thousands of citizens peacefully demonstrating every evening throughout the country in support of democratic values and European integration;

    D. whereas the protests have been met with an alarming escalation of state violence, repression and democratic backsliding, with arbitrary detentions of activists, opposition leaders and journalists, and targeted violence by police and informal groups linked to Georgian Dream, and with over 50 political prisoners currently being detained; whereas civil society organisations and the Public Defender of Georgia report credible cases of torture and inhumane treatment without accountability;

    E. whereas riot police deliberately lacking force identification numbers have forcefully dispersed protesters with tear gas and water cannons; whereas numerous journalists reported being targeted and beaten, and having their equipment destroyed and personal items stolen; whereas dozens of protesters were brutally assaulted, and several hundred people were arrested; whereas Georgia’s Public Defender has revealed that 80 % of those detained reported experiencing violence and inhumane treatment at the hands of law enforcement officers;

    F. whereas independent media outlets, such as TV Formula, TV Mtavari and TV Pirveli, face severe operational and financial constraints due to the regime’s interference, while dozens of media representatives are being subjected to various forms of intense physical and psychological pressure; whereas Ivanishvili’s regime and its propagandists continue to disseminate anti-EU disinformation based on lies and conspiracies about the ‘Global War Party’ and ‘Deep State’;

    G. whereas Mzia Amaglobeli, director of the prominent independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was unlawfully arrested twice in January 2025 and is facing politically motivated charges that highlight the misuse of the justice system to suppress dissent; whereas the Public Defender has contested Amaglobeli’s pre-trial detention, citing insufficient evidence and procedural violations of Georgian law and European Court of Human Rights decisions; whereas Mzia Amaglobeli has been on hunger strike since her arrest, and her health has deteriorated, putting her life at risk;

    H. whereas on the night of 14 January 2025, Giorgi Gakharia, opposition leader of the For Georgia party and former Prime Minister, and Zviad Koridze, journalist and Transparency International activist, were physically assaulted by Georgian Dream officials in separate incidents at the same venue in Batumi;

    I. whereas on 2 February 2025, Nika Melia, a leader of the pro-European Akhali party, and Gigi Ugulava, the former mayor of Tbilisi, were arrested during the anti-government protests and subjected to physical violence in detention;

    J. whereas recent amendments by Georgia’s Parliament to the Criminal Code, to the Code of Administrative Offences and to the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations severely restrict freedoms of assembly and expression, expand police powers and introduce penalties for verbal insults of government officials, public servants and law enforcement officers, enabling widespread repression and further undermining democratic rights; whereas these measures, which impose disproportionately harsh punishments, are a direct attack on rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and the Constitution of Georgia ;

    K. whereas new decrees criminalising road blockades aim to intimidate citizens and suppress peaceful assembly; whereas the de facto authorities have increased the maximum term of administrative detention to 60 days and have banned protests in indoor spaces; whereas Georgian Dream has announced plans to introduce new laws targeting media and civil society organisations;

    L. whereas on 14 December 2024, in a process lacking democratic legitimacy, the electoral college controlled by Georgian Dream elected former football player Mikheil Kavelashvili, the sole nominated candidate, as President of Georgia; whereas the EU and most Member States have not formally recognised this sham election; whereas President Salomé Zourabichvili left the presidential palace of her own volition while stating that she would remain in office until new elections are held;

    M. whereas Georgian Dream has announced its intention to introduce new restrictive measures in the coming months, such as a media law that would limit the possibility of receiving financial support from foreign sources, and other measures that include the removal of mandatory civil society participation from the public decision-making process, the further tightening of restrictions on civil society organisations through the adoption of another version of the ‘foreign agent’ law, forcing them to register foreign funds, the tightening of drug policy and legislation, and of juvenile justice, and the banning of civil servants from participating in international projects; whereas the intended education reform, in particular the ‘transformation’ of the university system, targets opposition-minded professors and students; whereas Georgian Dream’s propaganda falsely presents some of the proposed legislative changes as mirroring similar legislation in Western democratic countries;

    N. whereas from the very beginning of its activity, the current Georgian Parliament operates as a one-party (Georgian Dream) organ, which is incompatible with the essence of pluralistic parliamentary democracy; whereas at a plenary session on 5 February 2025, Georgia’s illegitimate parliament voted to strip 49 opposition members of parliament of their mandates, so as to remove their immunity and facilitate their arrest and prosecution, while the remaining parliamentary opposition party, Gakharia for Georgia, has remained in parliament but is boycotting parliamentary activities; whereas the same parliament established a commission to punish former ruling party United National Movement;

    O. whereas the Member States have agreed to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian officials holding diplomatic passports but failed to impose personal sanctions in response to the continued crackdown; whereas several Member States, including Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Czechia, have imposed bilateral sanctions on some Georgian politicians, judges and other officials responsible for the brutal crackdown on protesters, as well as violations of human rights and abuse of the rule of law;

    P. whereas oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Georgian Dream leader, who holds EU citizenship and owns properties and assets in the EU, wields considerable influence over Georgia’s economy and has played a defining role in the country’s democratic backsliding and in undermining its Euro-Atlantic orientation;

    Q. whereas the shift away from EU aspirations has coincided with a move towards Russia-aligned foreign policy and Russian-style laws; whereas there are reports of EU sanctions targeting Russia being circumvented through the Tbilisi Free Zone;

    R. whereas in December 2024, the United States sanctioned Bidzina Ivanishvili, alongside Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri and Deputy Head of the Special Tasks Department Mirza Kezevadze, for their involvement in brutal crackdowns on media representatives, opposition figures and protesters; whereas the UK and Ukraine imposed similar sanctions on high-level Georgian officials; whereas Ivanishvili, through hastily adopted laws tailored to his personal situation, is moving his offshore assets to Georgia in anticipation of further sanctions;

    S. whereas despite international condemnation, the illegitimate Georgian Government has awarded medals to officials involved in the crackdown;

    T. whereas the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has imposed conditions on the Georgian Dream regime including new elections and the release of political prisoners, prompting Georgia to suspend its participation in PACE;

    1. Condemns the violent repression of protesters, the media and opposition leaders; demands the immediate release of all detainees and an end to political persecution and torture, emphasising the need to uphold fundamental rights in line with Georgia’s Constitution and its international obligations;

    2. Recalls that the adoption of anti-democratic laws had effectively suspended Georgia’s EU integration process; demands the repeal of the legislation undermining the rule of law and a pluralistic democracy, including laws on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and on ‘family values and protection of minors’ and the newly adopted laws severely restricting the freedom of peaceful assembly and targeting the civil service; regrets the authoritarian illegal power grab of the current Georgian Dream regime and the betrayal of the Georgian people’s pro-European aspirations;

    3. Condemns the propaganda of Georgian Dream and its justification of repressive laws against civil society and independent media on the pretext that the same laws apply in democratic Western countries, and reiterates its call for the immediate repeal of anti-democratic laws;

    4. Reiterates its unwavering support for the Georgian people’s legitimate European aspirations and their desire for a prosperous and democratic country that upholds fundamental freedoms and human rights and guarantees an independent media and free and fair elections; notes that anti-government and pro-European protests in Georgia have continued for more than 70 consecutive days; urges the Georgian de facto authorities to protect citizens’ right to assemble, and to refrain from using unwarranted force against them;

    5. Reiterates its rejection of the legitimacy of the October 2024 elections and the subsequent Georgian Dream government; considers Georgia as a state captured by the illegitimate Georgian Dream regime; calls for the EU and its Member States, as well as national parliaments and interparliamentary institutions, not to recognise the legitimacy of the current Georgian Dream one-party parliament and the President, appointed on 14 December 2024; continues to recognise Salomé Zourabichvili as the legitimate President of Georgia and representative of the Georgian people; calls for the EU and its Member States to uphold this recognition and to fully support her efforts aimed at settling the current political and constitutional crisis in Georgia;

    6. Underlines that the settlement of the current political and constitutional crisis in Georgia can be achieved only by way of new, free and fair parliamentary elections, with the process conducted in an improved electoral environment by an independent and impartial election administration, under international observation;

    7. Calls for the EU and its Member States not to include Georgian officials in international meetings and to suspend high-level engagements until the political and constitutional crisis is resolved; calls for the EU and the Member States issue clear statements of non-recognition of the illegitimate authorities and call for new elections; welcomes PACE’s decision to challenge the credentials of Georgia’s parliamentary delegation due to democratic backsliding and human rights abuses;

    8. Calls for the immediate release of Mzia Amaglobeli from detention as well as a thorough investigation into the ill treatment she endured during and after her arrest;

    9. Condemns the politically motivated assaults on Giorgi Gakharia and Zviad Koridze and the arrests of and violence against Nika Melia and Gigi Ugulava as a concerning escalation of political violence, recognising them as part of broader efforts to intimidate opposition figures and undermine democratic processes in Georgia;

    10. Calls for the EU and all Member States to join the US and the UK in immediately imposing effective and comprehensive personal sanctions – at the EU level if possible, and otherwise on a bilateral and coordinated basis – on officials and political leaders in Georgia who are responsible for democratic backsliding, violations of electoral laws and standards, administrative abuses, violence and inhumane treatment, as well as on judges issuing politically motivated sentences, media propagandists and members of the business elite who tacitly or openly support the regime; reiterates its call for the EU and its Member States to impose sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, his family and his companies and to strip him of honorific titles and orders for his role in the severe deterioration of the political process in Georgia;

    11. Emphasises that respect for fundamental rights is vital to the EU’s visa liberalisation benchmarks; reiterates its call on the Commission and the Council to review Georgia’s visa-free status, with the possibility of suspension if it is considered that EU standards on democratic governance and freedoms are not being upheld;

    12. Expresses alarm at the climate of intimidation and polarisation fuelled by Georgian Dream representatives; underlines that anything but the full restoration of Georgia’s democratic standards will entail a further deterioration of EU-Georgia relations and result in additional sanctions;

    13. Expresses its concern about recent announcements by Georgian Dream on introducing new legislation, such as a new media law, aimed at further tightening the rights and freedoms of civil society and independent media;

    14. Supports the Council’s decision to redirect funding from the Georgian authorities to civil society; urges the EU institutions responsible to accelerate the process of providing grants to civil society, grassroots movements and independent media, especially since slow EU processes and recently frozen support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) are putting the activities of many civil society organisations and media channels at risk; calls for the EU and its Member States to increase their support to Georgian civil society and ensure it effectively benefits the media outlets currently threatened with closure;

    15. Reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of former President Mikheil Saakashvili on humanitarian grounds for the purpose of seeking medical treatment abroad;

    16. Calls on the President of the European Council to invite President Zourabichvili to represent Georgia at an upcoming European Council meeting and at the next meeting of the European Political Community;

    17. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the de facto authorities of Georgia.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia – B10-0118/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Adam Bielan, Mariusz Kamiński, Rihards Kols, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Assita Kanko, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Roberts Zīle, Michał Dworczyk, Alexandr Vondra
    on behalf of the ECR Group

    B10‑0118/2025

    European Parliament resolution on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia

    (2025/2522(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia,

    – having regard to Georgia’s status as an EU candidate country,

    – having regard to the statement of 1 December 2024 by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos on Georgia’s decision to halt EU accession negotiations and to reject EU financial support until 2028,

    – having regard to the European Council conclusions of 19 December 2024,

    – having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas the situation in Georgia has drastically worsened following the fraudulent parliamentary elections of 26 October 2024, which were condemned by the international community for severe vote manipulation, widespread voter intimidation and systemic suppression of democratic opposition, marking an alarming democratic regression;

    B. whereas the presidential election in Georgia on 14 December 2024 was the first to be conducted under the 2017 constitutional amendments; whereas the Georgian Dream party nominated Mikheil Kavelashvili as the sole candidate, and he was subsequently elected with 224 out of the 225 votes cast, in the absence of alternative candidates;

    C. whereas the Georgian Dream authorities, in a direct violation of the democratic will of its citizens, unilaterally suspended EU accession talks until 2028, disregarding the country’s constitutional commitment to European integration and effectively undermining Georgia’s sovereign Euro-Atlantic aspirations;

    D. whereas the ruling Georgian Dream authorities prioritise partnerships with China and Iran and share many similar views with the Russian Government, despite their publicly declared Euro-Atlantic aspirations;

    E. whereas all across Georgia, massive public demonstrations erupted in response to the decision of the Georgian Dream authorities and in protest against democratic backsliding and actions aimed at limiting fundamental freedoms;

    F. whereas on 5 February 2025, the Georgian Dream parliament terminated the mandates of 49 members of parliament from the Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia and the United National Movement parties, effectively leaving the parliament with only 101 of 150 members;

    G. whereas new legislation that came into effect in Georgia on 30 December 2024 imposes further arbitrary restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly;

    H. whereas journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, who was arrested on 12 January 2025 and faces four to seven years in prison for slapping a police officer, has been on hunger strike in solidarity with all political prisoners in Georgia;

    I. whereas the Georgian Dream authorities have used excessive force and arbitrary detentions against peaceful protesters; whereas on 2 February 2025, Georgian security forces violently suppressed peaceful demonstrations in Tbilisi, leading to the arrest of over 30 protesters, including leaders of the Georgian democratic political forces Nika Melia, Giorgi Ugulava and Elene Khoshtaria;

    J. whereas on 27 January 2025, the Council decided to suspend parts of the EU‑Georgia visa facilitation agreement for Georgian diplomats and officials, while ordinary Georgian citizens will continue to benefit from the visa exemption;

    K. whereas the United States suspended the US-Georgia Strategic Partnership in response to the Georgian Government’s democratic backsliding and it imposed personal sanctions on Georgian Dream officials, as well as on oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili;

    L. whereas on 29 January 2025, the Republic of Georgia withdrew its delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe after the latter demanded new parliamentary elections, the release of political prisoners and accountability for perpetrators of violence;

    M. whereas Georgian Dream officials continue to employ anti-European and pro-Russian rhetoric, falsely accusing the Georgian democratic political forces, independent media and civil society of acting as ‘foreign agents’ while attempting to criminalise pro-European activism; whereas Georgian Dream’s narrative is that the West is trying to push Georgia back into a war with Russia;

    N. whereas Mikheil Saakashvili, who served as President of Georgia from 2004 until 2013 and is leader of the largest pro-Western political party, has been detained since October 2022, has been mistreated in prison and subjected to humiliating treatment during court hearings – actions that represent a clear and present threat to the integrity of Georgia’s democratic credentials; whereas repeated refusals to permit visits to him in prison have deprived him of essential access to legal counsel and family support, further exacerbating the inhumane conditions of his detention;

    1. Strongly condemns the Georgian Dream authorities’ anti-democratic actions, including its unilateral and unconstitutional decision to halt Georgia’s EU accession process until 2028, which directly contradicts the will of the Georgian people and serves the interests of external authoritarian actors; expresses deep regret that the ruling Georgian Dream party has abandoned its path toward European integration and NATO membership, while increasing Georgia’s vulnerability to external influence, particularly from the Kremlin; warns that Georgia’s continued backsliding on democratic governance, the rule of law and human rights will have direct and severe consequences on its EU accession prospects, including the suspension of financial assistance under the EU’s enlargement framework;

    2. Underlines that recent elections were neither free nor fair and were marred by widespread vote manipulation, including multiple voting and a lack of respect for the secret ballot, voter intimidation, vote buying and serious irregularities;

    3. Deeply regrets the cancellation of 49 mandates of members of parliament, which leaves the Parliament of Georgia with no alternative political forces and is a sign of the country’s further democratic backsliding;

    4. Demands immediate, free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections in Georgia, conducted under the full and transparent oversight of international bodies, including the EU, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, and other democratic institutions, to restore legitimate governance and uphold the democratic aspirations of the Georgian people;

    5. Strongly condemns the enactment of draconian legislation that imposes unjustified restrictions on freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly; calls on the Georgian authorities to immediately repeal these repressive laws and to release all political prisoners, including journalist Mzia Amaglobeli;

    6. Is alarmed by the continuous and highly disturbing cases of intimidation and violence against the Georgian democratic political forces, as well as by the threats of further repression voiced by Georgian Dream leadership, including oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, to outlaw the democratic pro-Western opposition and silence dissent;

    7. Demands an independent, transparent and impartial investigation into police brutality and the excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators; calls for those responsible for human rights violations, including members of law enforcement and government officials ordering repression, to be held fully accountable;

    8. Stands in full solidarity with the Georgian people and Georgia’s vibrant civil society, which has traditionally played a very active and central role in bringing the country closer to the West, promoting democratisation and pushing for Euro-Atlantic integration in line with the desires of the Georgian people; deplores, in this regard, the growing anti-Western and hostile rhetoric of the Georgian Dream party’s representatives towards Georgia’s strategic Western partners, including the United States and the EU, including its MEPs and officials, and Georgian Dream’s promotion of Russian disinformation and manipulation;

    9. Is alarmed by the Georgian Dream government’s clear alignment with Kremlin-backed narratives, its growing economic and political ties with Russia, and its deliberate obstruction of Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, which fundamentally contradicts the country’s constitutional and strategic priorities; condemns the strengthening of trade ties with Russia and the refusal to impose sanctions on Moscow, despite its creeping occupation of Georgian territory and its aggression against Ukraine;

    10. Welcomes the strong stance taken by international partners, including the United States, in condemning the Georgian Dream authorities’ anti-democratic actions and the suspension of key bilateral partnerships, such as the US-Georgia Strategic Partnership;

    11. Calls on the Commission to step up and broaden its support for civil society in Georgia, especially in the light of the increasingly draconian measures being imposed on the Georgian people;

    12. Reiterates its call on the Council and the EU’s democratic partners to impose immediate and targeted personal sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili and to freeze all his assets within the EU for his role in the deterioration of the political process in Georgia and for acting against the country’s constitutionally declared interests, including efforts to restore Russia’s sphere of influence over the country;

    13. Calls for the EU and its Member States to impose personal sanctions on the officials and political leaders in Georgia who are responsible for the democratic backsliding, including Irakli Kobakhidze, Mayor of Tbilisi Kakha Kaladze, Shalva Papuashvili and Irakli Garibashvili, Chair of the Georgian Dream party, and to extend these sanctions to judges passing politically motivated sentences;

    14. Welcomes travel bans on Georgian officials imposed by the EU, but underlines that suspending the visa liberalisation agreement with Georgia should be considered only after personal sanctions against members of the ruling party and dominant oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili are put in place;

    15. Supports the immediate suspension of all high-level diplomatic engagements with the Georgian Government until tangible democratic reforms are implemented, while maintaining and expanding direct EU support for Georgia’s civil society, independent media and pro-democratic opposition forces;

    16. Urges the Council to formally assess the implications of Georgia’s democratic decline on its EU candidate status and to make future accession talks conditional on the full restoration of democratic governance, media freedom and the rule of law;

    17. Calls for the suspension of all preferential trade agreements and financial assistance to the Georgian Government if it continues its authoritarian trajectory, ensuring that EU support is exclusively directed towards the Georgian people and civil society actors committed to democratic values;

    18. Calls on all pro-democratic political parties that have received support from the Georgian electorate to formalise their coordination and to create a unified structure that would represent the pro-European aspirations of the Georgian people domestically and abroad;

    19. Strongly reiterates its urgent demand for the immediate and unconditional release of former President Mikheil Saakashvili on humanitarian grounds so he can seek medical treatment abroad; emphasises that the Georgian Dream authorities bear full and undeniable responsibility for the life, health, safety and well-being of former President Mikheil Saakashvili and must be held fully accountable for any harm that befalls him;

    20. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the President, Government and Parliament of Georgia.

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Banking Sector – ASB half year result: Profit up 1% as economy moves toward recovery

    Source: ASB

    ASB has reported a cash net profit after tax (NPAT) of $716 million for the six months to 31 December 2024, an increase of 1% on the prior comparative period, as the economy moves towards recovery.  

    Statutory NPAT is $763 million, a 2% increase on the prior comparative period. The increase in profit reflects a 4% rise in operating income driven by increased lending volumes and favourable interest rate hedging, partially offset by an 8% rise in operating expenses. Home lending grew 5% and business and rural lending grew 2% on the prior comparative period. Margins across lending and deposits remained flat overall.

    Profitability, measured by return on equity, fell 0.6% on the prior comparative period. The increase in profit was more than offset by additional capital requirements, with the total capital ratio rising 80 basis points to 16.3%. During the period there was additional shareholder investment of $700 million, bringing total shareholder investment in ASB to $11.4 billion, supporting growth in New Zealand.

    Chief Executive Vittoria Shortt says ASB has supported its rural, personal and business customers through more than two years of extremely challenging economic conditions and is well positioned to continue backing them as the economy enters the early stages of recovery.

    “New Zealand has been through the most difficult economic cycle in a generation, and we need to be patient with what looks like a gradual recovery. With lower interest rates and inflation providing some relief, and export incomes looking up for a number of sectors, our focus remains on supporting customers and providing capital for the next phase of economic growth.”

    Opening doors for homeowners

    ASB has cut its one-year fixed home loan rate by a total of 1.65% and six-month rate by 1.35% since July 2024.

    “Falling interest rates bring very welcome relief for Kiwi borrowers, but we’re aware most are on fixed mortgages, and the benefit is yet to be felt by many households. Around 45% of our fixed home loan customers are expected to roll onto a lower rate by the end of June, and 70% by Christmas. Since April 2024, we’ve seen borrowers shift toward shorter terms, with close to half of our fixed mortgage customers choosing to fix for just six months.

    “ASB helped more than 23,000 customers build, refinance, buy or move house over the half year, including close to 5,500 first home buyers, with around 3,600 using their ASB KiwiSaver for deposits.

    “We’re backing the build of more warm, dry homes and making it easier for social housing providers to buy them. Since our Accelerated Housing Fund launched in November 2023, we’ve committed $165 million, supporting around 450 new homes for community, affordable and Māori housing.

    “We are continuing to develop new ways to enable Māori to secure lending for housing on Māori land, including supporting papakāinga shared living projects. Through our Accelerated Housing Fund, we’ve now committed $34 million for Māori-led housing developments.”

    Strengthening exports, innovation and New Zealand  

    “ASB provided more than $1 billion in lending to new business, rural and corporate customers over the half year, as we continue to back businesses to compete, scale and drive the growth that will underpin New Zealand’s economic recovery.

    “Our $30 million Clean Tech fund and $20 million ASB ACCESS food and fibre fund are accelerating exporters and innovators ready to grow, but lacking capital to do so. We’re partnering with these emerging business at an early stage, finding new ways to approach lending and unlock their potential. Our food and fibre capability within ASB is also expanding to better support this key sector.

    “Another area where ASB can make an impact on New Zealand’s future is supporting upgrades to infrastructure. We estimate $1 trillion in infrastructure investment is needed over the next 30 years, with energy one of the critical sectors requiring funding. Enabling investment in renewable energy will be an ongoing priority for us, as our research tells us we can help households, businesses and farmers to cut costs, reduce emissions and improve profitability,” says Vittoria.

    Customers also benefit from rate relief

    ASB has passed on Official Cash Rate cuts to more than 110,000 personal, business and rural customers holding variable loans. “The majority of our rural and business customers float some of their lending, so rate relief flows through quickly,” says Vittoria.

    “Farmers have been under pressure in recent years, with depressed commodity prices and increased on farm costs, but conditions are improving for some rural sectors, particularly dairy.

    “We expect dairy revenues to be around $5 billion higher for the 2024/2025 season compared with the season prior through a lift in milk price and production. Beef prices are also up year on year due to tight supply and the lower New Zealand dollar.

    “Our dedicated rural team made 5,000 farm visits this half year to understand the issues and opportunities customers are seeing and to help grow their businesses for the future.”

    Further $140 million to fight fraud, scams and financial crime

    “We are continuing to invest heavily in people, technology and awareness initiatives to protect Kiwi against fraud, scams, and cyber and financial crime and expect to spend another $140 million this financial year.”

    While the volume of online banking fraud and scam cases increased 16%, customer losses were down a third in the year to December 2024. ASB stopped $29 million in suspicious card transactions in 2024 and responded to 18,000 after-hours calls to its 0800 ASB FRAUD hotline in the first year of 24/7 operations. Across the half year ASB identified and took down around 100 fake ASB websites, to prevent further harm from bank impersonation, a significant source of scams and fraud.

    ASB worked with the banking industry to introduce Confirmation of Payee, giving customers an extra layer of reassurance when making payments.

    Supporting customers’ financial progress

    “It’s positive to see customers continuing to save and invest. Our KiwiSaver and Investment funds have performed strongly and together generated more than $1 billion in investment returns for customers this half. The new ASB Aggressive Funds have delivered more than 20% investment returns for our KiwiSaver and Investment fund customers since they launched in November 2023.”[1]

    More than 580,000 customers used ASB’s digital financial wellbeing tools such as Goal Planner and Support Finder in the past year. These features and ASB’s ongoing investment in leading digital services were recognised by CanStar, which awarded ASB Best Digital Bank for the third year in a row.

    Delivering open banking

    Vittoria says: “Our open banking infrastructure is in place and to encourage early-stage uptake we’re providing it free to third-party providers for the first 12 months. The security of customers’ information remains our top priority: as banking continues to evolve it is critical banks, fintechs, global tech companies and all of government work together towards a common goal of the safe and secure sharing of data.”

    Financial overview

    Compared to six months to June 2024 (cash basis)

    • Total lending increased $2.6 billion or 2% to $112 billion
    • Total customer deposits increased $2.3 billion or 3% to $85 billion
    • Impairment losses on financial assets decreased $43 million or 72% to $17 million

    Compared to the December 2023 prior comparative period (cash basis)

    • Total lending increased $4.0 billion or 4% to $112 billion
    • Total customer deposits increased $3.4 billion or 4% to $85 billion
    • Impairment losses on financial assets increased $7 million or 70% to $17 million
    • Net interest margin increased 9 basis points from 2.21% to 2.30%
    • Cost to income ratio increased 140 basis points to 40.7%

    Compared to December 2023 prior comparative period (stat basis)

    • NPAT increased 2% to $763 million
    • Return on equity decreased 60 basis points to 13.5%

    [1] Returns are net of fees but before tax. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance, see ASB’s website for more information.  Interests in the ASB KiwiSaver Scheme and ASB Investment Funds (Schemes) are issued by ASB Group Investments Limited a wholly owned subsidiary of ASB Bank Limited (ASB). For the Scheme’s product disclosure statements, see ASB’s website.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – CBA Financial results 1H25

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    Key news and analysis of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s half year 2025 financial results.

    CommBank CEO Matt Comyn:

    1H25 result

    “During the half, we continued to focus on supporting our customers, investing to protect the community, and providing strength and stability for the broader economy.

    “Every day we lend to more than 200 businesses, help almost 400 households buy a home, process more than 20 million payments, and send customers 18,000 alerts about suspicious account activity.

    We’ve invested more than $450 million to combat fraud and scams, and financial and cyber crime. Our continued investment has reduced customer fraud and scam losses by more than 70 per cent over the past two years.”

    Supporting our customers

    “We know many Australians are continuing to deal with cost-of-living pressures.

    “This half, we maintained our focus on engaging with our customers on a range of support options, and provided more than 65,000 tailored payment arrangements for those most in need of support.

    “We helped more than 3 million customers each month better manage their finances through our digital money management tools.

    “And we’ve kept our promise to keep all of our regional branches open to support communities and jobs in regional Australia.”

    Economic outlook

    “The past four years have been challenging for households.

    “There are some risks around the outlook, however there are reasons for optimism in the Australian economy, with near record low unemployment and real disposable incomes starting to lift.

    “We know many households are looking forward to lower rates.

    “Continued effort is required to get underlying inflation sustainably into the target band.”

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Bill Pursuing $200 Billion in COVID Fraud Advances

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship passed Chair Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) Complete COVID Collections Act to extend the life of the watchdog tasked with tracking down criminals who stole COVID relief designed for small businesses.
    Ernst led several of her Republican colleagues in introducing the bill after the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) warned its authority was expiring and con artists would get away with stealing more than $200 billion.
    “I will not allow fraudsters to get away with stealing hundreds of billions of dollars from taxpayers,” said Ernst. “We are going to recoup every cent and end the cycle in Washington of shrugging off a few billion here and a few hundred million there. That irresponsible mindset is why the federal government is more than $36 trillion in debt. I’m proud to lead this step forward to treat tax dollars like a family treats its budget instead of like a bottomless slush fund.”
    The bill is cosponsored by Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and John Curtis (R-Utah).
    “Programs designed to provide relief to our small businesses were repeatedly taken advantage of, leaving small businesses hurting and taxpayers on the hook,” said Young. “I’m glad to see this effort to recover taxpayer dollars and protect Americans from fraud and abuse pass out of committee. I look forward to voting for this bill on the Senate floor.”
    “During the pandemic, small business owners in need of financial assistance were turned away because criminals, gang members, and drug traffickers stole money from the relief program,” said Blackburn. “This legislation would help ensure we recoup every penny of funding that was wrongly awarded to criminals who gamed the system.”
    “Family-owned businesses in Utah played the rules and used COVID-19 relief funds as intended, but bad actors exploited the system and defrauded taxpayers,” said Curtis. “By extending oversight authority over these programs, our legislation strengthens enforcement efforts and holds criminals accountable for stealing from the American people. I’m proud to see our bill pass out of the Small Business Committee.”

    Click here to view the bill text.
    Background:
    While SBA ran the relief programs on a “first come, first serve” basis, the money ran out quickly, and many qualifying businesses were turned away as felons, gang members, and drug traffickers raked in cash. Some swindlers uploaded pictures of Barbie dolls as photo identification on SBA loan applications that were approved.One alleged fraudster took home $8 million while nearly 2,000 struggling restaurants in Iowa were left empty-handed. Ernst detailed this in her report titled Small Business COVID-19 Fraud: Three Years Later State of Play – where she outlined the Biden SBA’s effort to discount the full extent of fraud and cast doubt on the legitimate estimates made by expert investigators.Ernst’s tireless advocacy forced the Biden administration to eventually take action to recover billions in COVID aid in January 2024.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Reintroduces Impoundment Control Act Repeal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee

    Supports President Trump’s Efforts to Tackle Excessive and Wasteful Spending 

    WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has again introduced legislation to repeal the Impoundment Control Act (ICA) of 1974, a law that undermines the constitutional authority of the President to exercise fiscal restraint by declining to spend appropriated funds. Congressman Andrew Clyde (GA-09) has introduced a companion bill in the House. 

    “The Impoundment Control Act is a Watergate-era relic of misguided overreach,” said Senator Lee. “For nearly two centuries, presidents exercised the authority to impound funds as a critical check on runaway spending. The ICA’s unconstitutional limitations on this power have contributed to a fiscal crisis. Repealing this law will restore the balance of power envisioned by our Constitution and empower the President to reject wasteful, unnecessary spending by administrations that voters resoundingly rejected.“

     “Rolling back the unconstitutional Impoundment Control Act is one of the most effective ways Congress can help President Trump in the fight to deliver the spending cuts and government efficiency that the American people overwhelmingly voted for,” said Representative Clyde. “The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 has unjustly complicated the President’s constitutional impoundment authority for far too long. Every President from George Washington to Richard Nixon possessed this tool to cut wasteful spending until the ICA purported to divest the President of this critical power. In the fifty years since, America’s national debt and Washington’s spending habits have soared out of control. We must defend the presidential power of impoundment to get America’s fiscal house back in order.”

    Background

     

    • Impoundment is the President’s constitutional authority under Article II of the Constitution to refuse to spend funds appropriated by Congress. This power was used by presidents from George Washington to Richard Nixon to cut wasteful spending, address emergencies, and protect taxpayer dollars.
    • The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 was passed in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and significantly constrained the President’s ability to impound funds, marking a fundamental shift in the separation of powers.   
    • Over the past five decades, federal spending has skyrocketed, contributing to a $36 trillion national debt, soaring interest payments, and persistently high inflation.

    For bill text, click HERE 

    For the one-pager, click HERE

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Benefit levels fail to keep families out of poverty

    Source: Green Party

    The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest.

    “Poverty is a political choice this Government is choosing for our communities, intentionally exacerbating inequality and pushing thousands of families into hardship,” says the Green Party Spokesperson for Social Development, Ricardo Menéndez March.

    “In this country, we have the means and resources to ensure all whānau have the basics for a good life and don’t fall through the gaps.

    “Unfortunately half of all children living in material hardship are in benefit households, the very families that this Government is forcing into deeper poverty with policies that sanction and punish beneficiaries.

    “The Salvation Army’s report also highlights the need to transform Work and Income’s culture to one where people are treated with trust and respect. 

    “People should not be declined hardship assistance when they are in need of help, and yet more people have been declined for this very critical support at a time when material hardship for children is increasing.

    “This report also reinforces what people on the ground have been telling us for years: Māori and Pasifika people have been hardest hit by benefit sanctions, lack of access to adequate support, and ongoing discrimination by the very same agencies meant to support them.

    “Poverty is not something we have to accept, we can choose to end it. The Green Party campaigned on ending poverty with our Income Guarantee that would ensure everyone has enough food to put on the table, no matter how tough times get,” says Ricardo Menéndez March.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE arrests TdA gang member suspected in Chicago mass shooting

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    RALEIGH, N.C. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Ricardo Padillia-Granadillo, 24, an illegally present Venezuelan national, Feb. 8 in Raleigh.

    Granadillo, a suspected member of the Tren de Aragua gang and a suspect in a mass shooting in Chicago, was wanted on federal charges for illegal entry into the United States and had a warrant for his arrest.

    Granadillo illegally entered the U.S. near El Paso, Texas, Oct. 1, 2022, and was encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol, paroled into the country and given a notice to appear. He failed to show up for his immigration appointment scheduled for Sept. 12, 2024, and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas issued an arrest warrant.

    Law enforcement officers with ICE, Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Granadillo the evening of Feb. 8 at a residence in Raleigh without incident. Officers found a handgun, ammunition and 10 other Venezuelan aliens in the house while conducting the arrest operation.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety on X at @ICEgov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Sentencing for Violent Confrontation That Turned Nearly Fatal

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been sentenced to 102 months in prison for shooting a victim multiple times and leaving him seriously injured.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court documents, Robert Abeyta, 51, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh, went to John Doe’s residence located on the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo armed with a loaded pistol and confronted Doe. When Doe, who has law enforcement experience, attempted to disarm Abeyta, a struggle ensued during which Abeyta shot Doe multiple times in the head, neck, and shoulder.

    Witnesses reported that Abeyta continued to assault Doe after the shooting. Neighbors intervened, disarming Abeyta and restraining him until law enforcement arrived. Doe’s girlfriend and young child were inside the home during the shooting and witnessed its immediate aftermath.

    Upon his release from prison, Abeyta will be subject to three years of supervised release.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.

    The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Ohkay Owingeh Police Department and Santa Clara Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Recidivist Violent Gang Member Charged with Alleged Armed Robbery

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Defendant allegedly robbed drug customer of approximately $24,000 in drug proceeds at gunpoint during home invasion

    BOSTON – A Lynn man appeared in federal court yesterday in connection with charges involving a January 2023 armed robbery of a drug distributor, during which the defendant and another individual allegedly stole approximately $24,000 in drug trafficking proceeds intended for the purchase of a kilogram of cocaine.

    Claudio Melo, a/k/a “Blue Drilla,” 33, was charged with one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery). Melo is currently being held on unrelated state charges.

    It is alleged that Melo is a Crip Street gang member and, according to court documents, is a convicted felon, having served various state prison sentences including assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, armed robbery, larceny and malicious destruction of property.

    According to the charging documents, on Jan. 30, 2023, a drug transaction was scheduled to take place at an apartment in Woburn, during which an associate of Melo was to deliver a kilogram of cocaine in exchange for approximately $24,000. It is alleged that, during the transaction, Melo and another individual entered the apartment and pointed semiautomatic pistols at the drug customer before taking the $24,000 in cash. According to the charging documents, the $24,000 cash was proceeds of drug trafficking activities the drug customer was engaged in, which had been paced in an unmarked soft black lunch box on a table. Melo and the other individual then allegedly forced the drug customer to open a safe in his bedroom, which was empty. Shortly thereafter, both robbers departed with the $24,000 cash.

    The charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery provides for a maximum penalty of up to 20 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office and the Lynn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Violent Armed Robber Who Stalked, Kidnapped, and Robbed Victims in Virginia and Maryland Is Sentenced to 228 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

               WASHINGTON – Tyree Eugene McCombs, 29, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 228 months in federal prison for his role in the September 2022 stalking, armed robbery, and kidnapping of a pair of victims in Alexandria, Virginia, and for the November 2022 stalking, kidnapping, robbery, and shooting of a woman in Maryland and Washington, D.C. 

               The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division. 

              McCombs pleaded guilty on August 14, 2024, before U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson, to one count of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (a “Hobbs Act” robbery) for the September 2022 offense, and to one count of kidnapping for the November 2022 offense. In addition to the 228-month prison-term, Judge Berman Jackson ordered McCombs to serve five years of supervised release. 

               According to court documents, in September and November 2022, McCombs and his co-conspirators twice executed plans to surveil, stalk, forcibly detain, bind, assault, and rob women at gunpoint. McCombs was a leader in both schemes, personally stalking the victims, holding them at gunpoint, physically assaulting them, and demanding that they pay their own ransoms. In each case, the kidnapping was abruptly cut short either by the sound of an alarm (September) or the victim’s daring escape (November).

               During the first incident, on the evening on September 3, 2022, the two victims entered their car – a black Mercedes S63 AMG Sedan – and drove from Alexandria, Virginia to a family gathering in Maryland. Unbeknownst to the victims, they were being electronically surveilled. A GPS tracking device purchased by McCombs had been placed inside the Mercedes. That night, McCombs and three co-conspirators laid in wait for nearly four hours for the victims to return home to their apartment building in Alexandria. As the couple returned to their building, McCombs and his co-conspirators, wearing masks and blue surgical gloves and carrying zip ties, ambushed them with handguns and robbed them of their most valuable belongings.

               McCombs and his crew stole two Audemars Piguet watches worth about $120,000 from the couple and another $63,500 worth of jewelry, including a Cuban link chain and a custom pendant with the letters “GQ” overlaid on a speedometer. McCombs and his co-conspirators took the keys to the victim’s Mercedes then forced the victims at gunpoint from the parking garage to the victims’ apartment.

               Once inside of the apartment, McCombs and his co-conspirators pistol-whipped the victims and ordered them to tell them where their money was hidden. The co-conspirators ransacked the residence but were unable to find any cash. During the crime, a security alarm activated, and the co-conspirators tore the alarm from the wall and fled the apartment. McCombs and his co-conspirators then fled the apartment complex in a stolen white Kia as well as the victim’s Mercedes, which still had the GPS tracking device inside. The co-conspirators drove the Mercedes into Washington, D.C. then abandoned the vehicle in Maryland, where it was found by law enforcement. About a month later, on October 10, 2022, McCombs sold the custom pendant, worth tens of thousands of dollars, to a pawn shop in Maryland for $200.

               On the night of November 7, 2022, McCombs led another kidnapping and robbery, this time targeting and abducting a 25-year-old woman in Maryland. At the time of this crime, McCombs was on supervised release for a 2019 attempted armed robbery conviction and, two weeks earlier, had been ordered to wear a GPS monitor. McCombs’s GPS data showed that he stalked the woman for hours through the evening of November 7, following her from work to a family member’s home to a bank. Eventually, the victim traveled by car to an apartment building in Elkridge, Maryland. McCombs and a co-conspirator, traveling in a carjacked Toyota Camry, followed her to the Elkridge apartment.

               As the victim exited her vehicle and began to enter the building, McCombs and his co-conspirator grabbed her and forced her into the back seat of the Camry at gunpoint. The kidnappers pistol-whipped the victim, robbed her, and bound her hands behind her back using a black plastic zip tie. McCombs and his co-conspirator then held the woman captive in the vehicle for nearly three hours, driving to various locations in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Surveillance video footage from a gas station in Forestville, Maryland, captured McCombs and his co-conspirator exiting the Camry with the victim still held inside. As McCombs walked into the gas station to purchase gas, the co-conspirator entered the back seat of the vehicle and sexually assaulted the victim. After leaving the gas station, the kidnappers, who had already taken a significant amount of cash and property from the victim, repeatedly demanded to know “who she could call to save her life, that could get more money,” while threatening to kill her.

            The victim, believing she was going to be killed, used her foot to open a rear door of the vehicle, pushed open the door, and, after struggling with McCombs, jumped out of the moving vehicle. As she sprinted down the street, McCombs and the co-conspirator fired at least five gunshots at her, striking her twice in the foot. Within minutes of the shooting, law enforcement identified McCombs based on his GPS data. They located and arrested McCombs, who was still wearing the GPS monitor, several hours later.

               This case was investigated by FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force. The Fairfax County Police Department, Howard County Police Department, and Metropolitan Police Department assisted with the investigation. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Mayer-Dempsey and Charles R. Jones.

    McCombs (center) and his co-conspirators carry the Alexandria victims’ shoes and handbag in the hallway of the apartment building.

    Crime scene photograph taken inside the Alexandria apartment where McCombs’s first victims resided.

    Still images of McCombs and his co-conspirator abducting a woman at gunpoint in Maryland on November 7, 2022.

    McCombs (right) and a co-conspirator talk at the gas station in Forestville, MD, as the victim remains captive in the back seat of a carjacked Toyota Camry.

    22cr377

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Owner of Vancouver, Washington tax preparation business that catered to immigrants sentenced to nine months in prison for tax fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Tacoma –The owner of a Vancouver, Washington, business that sought to assist immigrants with a variety of services was sentenced late yesterday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 9 months in prison and 4 months of electronic home confinement for tax fraud charges, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Saul Valdez was an unlicensed tax preparer who led his immigrant customers to believe he was filling out their tax forms correctly. Instead, from 2016 through 2018, Valdez inserted a variety of false deductions and expenses on tax returns, lowering the customers’ tax obligations. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle said, ““This is a serious offense…. deterrence drives this case. This sentence should be one that deters you and sends a message to you and others like you that there will be a real penalty, not probation, for this conduct.”

    “This defendant built his business by obtaining inflated tax refunds for clients who had little understanding of the U.S. tax system,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Ultimately some of these clients were hit with back tax payments, fees, and penalties because this defendant intentionally filed false tax returns on their behalf.”  

    “Mr. Valdez abused credits designed to help low-income taxpayers, and his clients incurred over $23,000 in penalties along the way,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “We encourage those seeking a tax preparer this season to be vigilant and report dishonest business practices.”

    According to records in the case, Valdez operated Conexion Latina and used programs such as TaxAct and TurboTax to prepare clients’ taxes. For tax year 2017, Valdez admits claiming false and fraudulent expenses, donations, and credits on 36 different tax returns. The tax loss on those 36 returns is $54,045.  That is the amount of restitution Valdez has agreed to pay.

    Using statistical sampling of 50 of some 2000 returns prepared by Valdez from 2016 through 2018, Valdez admits that the total tax loss for his fraud is $1,293,921.

    The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI).

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Foerster.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Tim Pool Joins Rumble & Brings His Exclusive Timcast show to Rumble Premium

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONGBOAT KEY, Fla., Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rumble (NASDAQ:RUM), the video-sharing platform and cloud services provider, today announced that popular content creator Tim Pool is bringing his programming to Rumble, with much of it becoming available exclusively on Rumble Premium. The content is available on Rumble as of February 11, 2025.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Tim Pool to Rumble and look forward to his blunt and insightful commentary and conversations with interesting guests on topics people care about,” said Rumble Chief Executive Officer Chris Pavlovski. “Rumble is the new home for exclusive content from the creators who have the biggest and most active followings. We are proud to welcome Tim Pool and his viewers to Rumble.”

    “We could not be more excited to join Rumble, the home of honest and real conversations,” Pool said. “Working together we will expand our exclusive programs to sports, gaming, and feature length documentaries as we make history as the premiere location for authentic voices and content.”

    Pool is bringing a variety of his productions to Rumble, including Timcast.com content, which will be available exclusively to Rumble Premium subscribers or to those who are already Timcast members. In addition, the show Timcast IRL will be available on the Rumble platform five days each week, while The Culture War will post on Rumble once per week.

    ABOUT RUMBLE

    Rumble is a high-growth video platform and cloud services provider that is creating an independent infrastructure. Rumble’s mission is to restore the internet to its roots by making it free and open once again. For more information, visit: corp.rumble.com.

    Contact: press@rumble.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Dominion Lending Centres Inc. Announces $59.15 million Secondary Private Placement Offering of Class A Common Shares; Provides Preliminary 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES.

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dominion Lending Centres Inc. (TSX:DLCG) (“DLCG” or the “Corporation”), along with Mauris Family Investments Inc. (an entity controlled by Gary Mauris) and 603908 BC Ltd. (an entity controlled by Chris Kayat and family), announced today that they have entered into an agreement with Desjardins Capital Markets as sole bookrunner and lead agent (the “Agent”), on behalf of a syndicate of agents (together “the Agents”), in respect of a fully marketed offering of up to 7,782,400 class “A” common shares (the “Offered Shares”) to be completed by the Selling Shareholders (as defined below) at a price of $7.60 per Offered Share for gross proceeds to the Selling Shareholders of approximately $59.15 million (the “Offering”). DLCG will not receive any proceeds from the Offering. Mauris Family Investments Ltd. (“MaurisCo”) and 603908 BC Ltd. (“KayatCo”) are collectively referred to herein as the “Selling Shareholders”.

    Gary Mauris, Executive Chairman and CEO, commented, “DLCG has been built by forging strong partnerships; partnerships with owners, brokers, lenders and employees. Today, we are announcing a small sale of shares by Chris and I to make room for a few select shareholders who we believe will make good long term partners as DLCG continues to grow. We will continue to hold more than 50% of the outstanding shares and remain fully committed to stewarding DLCG. We look forward to completing the transaction and welcoming our new institutional shareholders to DLCG.” 

    Prior to the Offering, MaurisCo beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of 23,979,733 class “A” common shares, representing approximately 30.5% of the total issued and outstanding class “A” common shares. Prior to the Offering, KayatCo beneficially owns or controls, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of 23,253,532 class “A” common shares, representing approximately 29.5% of the total issued and outstanding class “A” common shares.   Following the closing of the Offering, MaurisCo will beneficially own or control, directly or indirectly, 20,088,533 class “A” common shares and KayatCo will beneficially own or control, directly or indirectly, 19,362,332 class “A” common shares, representing 25.5% and 24.6%, respectively, of the issued and outstanding class “A” common shares.

    Closing of the Offering is expected to be on or about February 28, 2025 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals.

    The Offered Shares will be offered on a “best efforts” basis in each of the provinces of Canada by way of private placement to “accredited investors” or pursuant to other available prospectus exemption under National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions. The Offered Shares may also be offered to accredited investors in the United States pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or in such other manner as to not require registration under the U.S. Securities Act, and on a private placement to other international purchasers. The Offered Shares will be subject to a four month hold period under applicable securities laws.

    Preliminary Year-End and Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

    The Corporation is pleased to announce the following preliminary (unaudited) results:

    • Funded mortgage volume for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 was $67.4 billion and total funded mortgage volume for the three months ended December 31, 2024 (“Q4”) was $19.6 billion, with momentum continuing as January 2025’s volume of over $5.7 billion was a record for any January in the Corporation’s history;
    • Revenue for the year is expected to be between $76.5 million and $77.0 million and total revenue for Q4 is expected to be between $22.0 million and $22.5 million; and
    • Adjusted EBITDA for the year is expected to be between $35.4 million and $36.1 million and adjusted EBITDA for Q4 is expected to be between $9.6 million and $10.4 million.(1)

    Note:

    (1) Estimated “Adjusted EBITDA” for the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the three months ended December 31, 2024 are non-IFRS measures. As contemplated by National Instrument 51-112 – Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measure Disclosure of the Canadian Securities Administrators (“NI 51-112”), because the Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2024 and for the three months ended December 31, 2024 are preliminary calculations, they also may be considered forward-looking non-IFRS financial measures. As required by NI 51-112, the “equivalent historical non-GAAP financial measure” for the Corporation is “Adjusted EBITDA” for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 of $25.746 million and for the three months ended September 30, 2024 of $12.218 million, as disclosed in the Corporation’s MD&A dated November 5, 2024 (the “Interim MD&A”). See “Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures” in the Interim MD&A for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Income Before Income Tax, which is the most directly-comparable measure calculated in accordance with IFRS.

    As previously announced, the Corporation acquired (the “Preferred Share Acquisition”) all issued and outstanding series I class B preferred shares in exchange for class “A” common shares and cash on December 17, 2024 (the “Preferred Share Closing Date”). The Preferred Share Acquisition was initially announced on October 2, 2024 (the “Preferred Share Announcement Date”). During the time between the Preferred Share Announcement Date and the Preferred Share Closing Date, the closing price for the class “A” common shares increased. This closing price was applied to the share consideration issued, creating a significant non-cash loss on the Preferred Share Acquisition, due to the difference between the consideration granted for the preferred shares and their book value (which had been recorded at their amortized cost). As such, the Corporation expects to record a net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 of between $125.8 million and $128.8 million.

    Final revenue, adjusted EBITDA and net loss amounts will be included in the Corporation’s audited annual financial statements, which the Corporation anticipates will be released on or about March 27, 2025.

    Forward-Looking Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures
    Management presents adjusted EBITDA, a non-IFRS financial performance measure, which we use as a supplemental indicator of our operating performance. This non-IFRS measure does not have any standardized meaning, and therefore is unlikely to be comparable to the calculation of similar measures used by other companies and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Non-IFRS measures are defined and reconciled to the most directly-comparable IFRS measure. Although the Corporation has provided forward-looking non-IFRS measures, management is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable efforts, forward-looking adjusted EBITDA to the most comparable IFRS measure, due to unknown variables and uncertainty related to future results. See “Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures” in the Interim MD&A for a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, which is the “equivalent historical non-GAAP financial measure”, to Income Before Income Tax, which is the most directly-comparable measure calculated in accordance with IFRS. The Corporation’s MD&A is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Forward-Looking Information
    Certain statements in this document constitute forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or outlooks. Forward-looking information in this document includes, but is not limited to: the timing and anticipated closing of the Offering; the obtaining of all necessary approvals, and the expected revenue, adjusted EBITDA and net loss for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024.

    Such forward-looking information is based on many estimates and assumptions, including material estimates and assumptions, related to the following factors below that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as at the date of this press release considering management’s experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to:

    • Changes in interest rates;
    • The DLC Group’s ability to maintain its existing number of franchisees and add additional franchisees;
    • Changes in overall demand for Canadian real estate (via factors such as immigration);
    • Changes in overall supply for Canadian real estate (via factors such as new housing-start levels);
    • At what period in time the Canadian real estate market stabilizes;
    • Changes in Canadian mortgage lending and mortgage brokerage laws and regulations;
    • Changes in the Canadian mortgage lending marketplace;
    • Changes in the fees paid for mortgage brokerage services in Canada;
    • Demand for the Corporation’s products remaining consistent with historical demand; and
    • Demand for the Corporation’s class “A” common shares and the satisfaction of the conditions to closing of the Offering

    Many of these uncertainties and contingencies may affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. The foregoing list of risks is not exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this document is made as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.

    About Dominion Lending Centres Inc.
    Dominion Lending Centres Inc. is Canada’s leading network of mortgage professionals. DLCG operates through Dominion Lending Centres Inc. and its three main subsidiaries, MCC Mortgage Centre Canada Inc., MA Mortgage Architects Inc. and Newton Connectivity Systems Inc., and has operations across Canada. DLCG extensive network includes over 8,500 agents and over 500 locations. Headquartered in British Columbia, DLC was founded in 2006 by Gary Mauris and Chris Kayat.

    DLCG can be found on X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn @DLCGmortgage and on the web at www.dlcg.ca. 

    Contact information for the Corporation is as follows:

    Eddy Cocciollo
    President
    647-403-7320
    eddy@dlc.ca    		 James Bell
    EVP, Corporate and Chief Legal Officer
    403-560-0821
    jbell@dlcg.ca    		  
         

    NEITHER THE TSX EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ingersoll Rand Sets Industry Standards for Sustainable Progress

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Ingersoll Rand earns “A List” rating from CDP in the environmental stewardship category for the second year in a row
    • Ranked #1 globally in the Machinery and Electrical Equipment industry with a top 1% score on the 2024 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment and included on the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices for the third year in a row
    • Near-term and net-zero Scope 1, 2, and 3 targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), validating Ingersoll Rand’s proposed emission reduction strategy
    • Named to TIME’s inaugural list of World’s Best Companies in Sustainable Growth

    DAVIDSON, N.C., Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ingersoll Rand Inc., (NYSE: IR) a global provider of mission-critical flow creation and life science and industrial solutions, continues to demonstrate meaningful progress against its ambitious sustainability strategy and goals with new recognition from CDP, the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices (previously the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices), the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and TIME.

    As of February 6, 2025, Ingersoll Rand has been recognized with an “A List” rating by CDP for its effective climate change actions and environmental leadership. Our company stands out among over 22,000 evaluated for its greenhouse gas reduction, sustainable product design, and climate management strategies.

    As of February 10, 2025, Ingersoll Rand received a score of 81 out of 100 on the 2024 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. The company remained in the top 1% of companies in our industry (IEQ Machinery and Electrical Equipment industry) and was included in the Dow Jones Best-in Class World and North America Indices for the third consecutive year.

    In addition, Ingersoll Rand was included on TIME’s inaugural list of the World’s Best Companies in Sustainable Growth, and its near-term and net-zero targets have been validated for Scope 1, 2, and 3 by the SBTi.1 The TIME award and approval of targets by SBTi reinforce Ingersoll Rand’s commitment to both financial growth and sustainable leadership.

    “Being recognized as an industry leader demonstrates how Ingersoll Rand is living our purpose of Making Life Better,” said Vicente Reynal, chairman and chief executive officer of Ingersoll Rand. “From our new product development process to our revenue growth strategy and our commitment to employee safety, we are setting the standard for what it means to leverage sustainability to drive long-term shareholder value.”

    A replay of Ingersoll Rand’s 2024 sustainability investor call and presentation can be found here.

    1 Details on Ingersoll Rand’s validated targets are available on the SBTi dashboard: https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action#dashboard.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to Ingersoll Rand Inc.’s (the “Company” or “Ingersoll Rand”) expectations regarding the performance of its business, its financial results, its liquidity and capital resources and other non-historical statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “target,” “endeavor,” “seek,” “predict,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “on track to” “will continue,” “will likely result,” “guidance” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than historical facts are forward-looking statements.

    These forward-looking statements are based on Ingersoll Rand’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from these current expectations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, (1) adverse impact on our operations and financial performance due to natural disaster, catastrophe, global pandemics (including COVID-19), geopolitical tensions, cyber events or other events outside of our control; (2) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from completed and proposed business combinations; (3) uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the Company; (4) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of completed and proposed business combinations; (5) the ability of the Company to implement its business strategy; (6) difficulties and delays in achieving revenue and cost synergies; (7) inability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel; (8) evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes; (9) changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions; (10) actions by third parties, including government agencies; and (11) other risk factors detailed in Ingersoll Rand’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as such factors may be updated from time to time in its periodic filings with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive.

    Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Ingersoll Rand undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or development, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements.

    About Ingersoll Rand Inc.

    Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR), driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and ownership mindset, is dedicated to Making Life Better for our employees, customers, shareholders, and planet. Customers lean on us for exceptional performance and durability in mission-critical flow creation and life science and industrial solutions. Supported by over 80+ respected brands, our products and services excel in the most complex and harsh conditions. Our employees develop customers for life through their daily commitment to expertise, productivity, and efficiency. For more information, visit www.IRCO.com.

    Contacts:
    Investor Relations:
    Matthew.Fort@irco.com

    Media:
    Meghan.Winston@irco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Belize on Advancing Education for Women and Girls, Raise Questions on Gang Warfare and Gender-Based Violence and on Female Healthcare

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the combined fifth to ninth periodic report of Belize, with Committee Experts commending the State for advancing education for women and girls, while raising questions on gender-based violence in the context of gang warfare and on access to healthcare for women and girls.

    A Committee Expert commended the State party for advancing the rights of women and girls to education, including through the creation of the Belize Education Upliftment Programme launched to improve access to education for students from low-income households. Additionally, the Committee commended the State party for introducing compulsory psychosocial support sessions for children aged five and six, aimed at building their emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and positive behaviours for building relationships.

    Another Expert said the pervasive gender-based violence in Belize needed to be considered in the context of high levels of insecurity, and of proliferation of firearms and their possession and use by criminal networks and armed gangs. About 65 per cent of women and girls who were murdered were victims of gender-related murders or femicide, and 50 per cent of these murders were committed with firearms. What measures would the State party undertake to guarantee quality support services for women survivors of gender-based violence? Another Expert said gang warfare had impacted many women in Belize, including putting them at risk of gender-based violence. How did the Government ensure services for gang-impacted women?

    A Committee Expert said the Committee appreciated that the Government had removed all fees in public hospitals and was very impressed at the recent decision to waive all taxes on female sanitary products. Could statistics on minor girls’ pregnancies and births be provided? What did the State party plan to do to fight the phenomenon of teenage pregnancy? It was concerning that abortion was only permitted in a few circumstances. Did the State party plan to change its criminal law so women and girls could safely access services to terminate unplanned pregnancy? Could statistics on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS be provided? Was radiotherapy, including for breast cancer, still not available in the country?

    The delegation said Belize was carrying out measures to tackle gun violence and drug imports, including through daily policing efforts and conducting regular border checks. There was a close connection between gangs, drugs and guns. Significant work was being done to reach out to vulnerable communities and youth, guiding them away from guns. Interventions and mediations between rival groups was carried out to enhance the security of citizens. Efforts had been made to strengthen reporting around gender-based violence and gun violence. While the data was available, there needed to be further analysis. The State would focus efforts on this.

    The delegation said Belize had taken steps to address the legal and procedural barriers in women’s health services, particularly in regard to access to medical termination of pregnancy. The Government had invested over 200,000 USD in providing contraceptives. Mobile health clinics continued to be implemented within all villages. Mothers received counselling before contraceptives were provided, ensuring informed decision-making. The Government recognised the challenges faced by women in accessing comprehensive cancer care, including the lack of radiotherapy, requiring travelling abroad. Radiotherapy was not feasible for in-country infrastructure, and the Government therefore aimed to provide support and financial aid to women requiring these services. In 2023, Belize eliminated woman to child transmission of HIV and syphilis, which was a landmark medical achievement.

    Introducing the report, Elvia Vega Samos, Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs of Belize and head of the delegation, said the National Gender Policy 2024–2030 represented a landmark achievement in Belize’s ongoing efforts to promote gender equality, providing a comprehensive framework addressing gender-responsive healthcare, education, economic empowerment, institutional strengthening, women’s leadership, and the elimination of gender-based violence. While these achievements demonstrated progress, challenges persisted, including constraints in adequately staffing and retaining professionals in key gender and social service sectors, as well as insufficient investments and funding.

    In closing remarks, Ms. Vega Samos expressed sincere appreciation for the meaningful dialogue. Belize was proud of the progress made. However, the State recognised that challenges remained, particularly when addressing gender-based violence, inequality and the disproportionate impact of climate change.

    In her closing remarks, Nahla Haidar, Committee Chair, thanked Belize for the constructive dialogue which had provided further insight into the situation of women in the country.

    The delegation of Belize was comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the National Women’s Commission.

    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 at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 12 February to begin its consideration of the eighth periodic report of Congo (CEDAW/C/COG/8).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the combined fifth to ninth periodic report of Belize (CEDAW/C/BLZ/5-9).

    Presentation of Report 

    ELVIA VEGA SAMOS, Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs of Belize and head of the delegation, said since the last review, Belize had made significant progress in advancing legal protections and rights for women and girls, including through the enactment of the National Women’s Commission Act in 2023, which formalised the Commission’s role in advancing gender equality and ensuring alignment with the principles of the Convention.

    Other key pieces of legislation included the Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence (Prohibition) Act, which addressed gaps in access to justice and enhanced protections for survivors of gender-based violence; the passage of the Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2024, which raised the legal age of marriage to 18 and prohibited parental consent for minors to marry; a revised and stronger Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, which strengthened workplace protections against harassment; amendments to the Married Women’s Property Act, which expanded women’s economic rights; the Disabilities Act, which reinforced the rights of women and girls with disabilities; the Cybercrime Act 2021, which offered additional legal protections for women and girls in digital spaces; and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2013, which addressed labour and sex trafficking and forced marriage.

    Belize had also acceded to the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of older women.

    The National Gender Policy 2024–2030 represented a landmark achievement in Belize’s ongoing efforts to promote gender equality, providing a comprehensive framework addressing gender-responsive healthcare, education, economic empowerment, institutional strengthening, women’s leadership, and the elimination of gender-based violence.

    Belize had developed and implemented gender-based violence multisectoral protocols alongside the gender-based violence referral mechanism and pathway, improving collaboration among law enforcement, healthcare providers, legal aid services, and social support agencies, and ensuring more timely and effective interventions. Gender-based violence hotlines now provided 24/7 crisis assistance, using multiple modalities such as regular calls, SMS, and WhatsApp. Belize had also advanced efforts to improve gender-based violence data collection, coordination, and reporting efficiency through the integrated data collection and reporting system.

    Belize continued to make progress in increasing women’s representation in leadership across various sectors, strengthening governance and fostering inclusive policies. Promoting gender parity remained a national priority. Women now accounted for 22 per cent of Belize’s National Assembly, the highest representation in the country’s history. The establishment of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus in 2023 was a powerful step forward in creating an inclusive and equitable legislative environment, acting as a formal platform to discuss gender related issues, addressing legislative gaps, advocating for policy changes, and promoting women’s leadership.

    Training programmes under the engaging men and boys initiative had fostered community dialogues and challenged harmful gender norms, supporting women’s participation in leadership roles. Women led major judicial and prosecutorial offices, including the naming of an acting female Chief Justice in 2019 and the appointment of a female Chief Justice in 2022.

    The State had intensified efforts to enhance women’s economic participation through targeted initiatives and policy reforms. Over 1,000 women had received training in business strategy, digital skills, and entrepreneurship through initiatives like the Belize Women’s Economic Empowerment Project. The Decent Work Country Programme, launched in 2024, focused on women’s economic empowerment through skills training, labour rights awareness, and access to financial resources. Programmes such as BOOST (Building Opportunities for our Social Transformation) addressed multidimensional poverty and supported female-headed households through targeted cash transfers and vocational training.

    Belize had made strides in integrating gender-sensitive approaches into education, including introducing a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math Academy to encourage girls’ participation in high-income careers. Comprehensive sexuality education had been integrated into the National Health Curriculum to address social norms and promote gender equality, and programmes targeting school dropout rates among girls due to early pregnancies or child marriage had been initiated, ensuring continuity in education for young mothers.

    While these achievements demonstrated progress, challenges persisted, including constraints in adequately staffing and retaining professionals in key gender and social service sectors, as well as insufficient investments and funding. Gender-based violence remained prevalent, with Belize recording a five per cent increase in domestic violence cases in 2023. The National Gender-Based Violence Action Plan and its accompanying behavioural change communication campaign, “it ends with me,” aimed to challenge harmful norms and reduce violence against women and girls.

    As a small island developing State, Belize faced disproportionate impacts of climate change, which heightened vulnerabilities for women, particularly in rural and indigenous communities. The National Climate Change Gender Action Plan addressed these intersecting challenges, promoting resilience and adaptation strategies. Indigenous women, women with disabilities, and lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and intersex persons faced compounded barriers to accessing justice, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Initiatives like the Essential Services Package for Women Subject to Violence ensured holistic support for marginalised groups.

    The Government of Belize remained steadfast in its dedication to fully realising gender equality. The roadmap for the future included expanding access to gender-responsive social services; enhancing data systems to ensure evidence-based policymaking; strengthening partnerships with civil society, development partners, and international organizations; advocating for removing of cultural and structural barriers that hindered women’s full participation; promoting initiatives targeting young women and girls; and strengthening the legislative framework. Ms. Vega Samos reaffirmed Belize’s commitment to the Convention and welcomed the Committee’s recommendations.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    RHODA REDDOCK, Committee Vice-Chair and Country Rapporteur for Belize, said the dialogue was taking place in a context of extensive gang and gun violence linked to narco-trafficking which affected Belize and the wider Caribbean and Central America. What had been the implications of this for women’s rights and gender equality, and what were the State’s efforts in this regard? In 1990, Belize signed and ratified the Convention and in 2002, it acceded to its Optional Protocol, one of only three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to do so. Unfortunately, there were reservations on articles 8 and 9, which removed access to the inquiry mechanism of the Optional Protocol, reducing its efficacy for Belizean women and Girls. Would the State party reconsider the reservations on articles 8 and 9 of the Optional Protocol to ensure the expansion of rights for Belizean women and girls?

    Ms. Reddock commended the State party on developments since the last dialogue in 2007, including the 2011 amendment of the Labour Act Ch 297 to protect workers from unfair dismissal and unequal treatment due to pregnancy, HIV status, or filing a sexual harassment complaint; the 2013 Criminal Code amendments to strengthen penalties for sexual crimes; the 2016 decriminalisation of same sex unions; and in April 2023 – a waiver of general sales tax on feminine hygiene products, which was very important. However, the Committee remained concerned, at the lack of implementation of many of the important laws and mechanisms.

    What mechanisms were in place to monitor and evaluate impact, and report on progress in the implementation of the new laws and mechanisms? In 2023, Belize enacted the Legal Aid Act to ensure legal assistance to improve access to justice. What was its implementation status?

    Were there plans to domesticate the Convention into local legislation to ensure the applicability of all its provisions? Did the State party plan to incorporate indigenous rights into the Constitution or specific national legislation? Ms. Reddock commended the State party on the 2018 Gender Equality Protocol for Judicial Officers, and efforts to enhance the capacity of Magistrates Courts and the Family Court to enhance protection for women and girls. What had been the impact of these new legal mechanisms in improving access to justice for women and girls in rural and urban communities?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Belize retained its reservations to articles 8 and 9 but recognised the importance of accessing mechanisms for redress. Where allegations arose concerning the matters covered under the Convention, the State held that mechanisms could be established to ensure due process and accountability, within the country’s legal framework.

    The National Women’s Commission provided ongoing education and support to women and girls. It also encompassed workshops, roundtables and community affairs. Special legal clinics were held twice a year targeting vulnerable populations.

    As part of the process of the implementation of the laws, the National Women’s Commission was positioned as the policy and advisory arm in this regard and was supporting in terms of the implementation. The Commission took the lead in terms of advocacy and promoting the acts. There were also national gender and gender-based violence committees, comprised of members of Governments, non-governmental organizations and other partners, that also provided advocacy support and advice on the implementation of the laws. The State understood that more needed to be done to improve the monitoring and reporting in this regard.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert congratulated Belize on the steps taken to transform the National Women’s Commission into an independent body, as well as steps taken to improve the Sub-Committees. What percentage of the budget of the institutions was covered from the regular budget of the State party, and what percentage depended on external financing? What steps were being taken to guarantee the participation of indigenous women in the drafting and assessment of policies which concerned them? When would Belize have a national human rights institution in place which was in line with the Paris Principles?

    Another Expert said women faced persistent challenges during the reporting period, regarding the electoral process. The 2021 municipal elections marked significant progress with 22 per cent of female members of parliament, but this was far below the level of parity. When would the State party impose a gender quota for increasing the political participation of women? Would the State party consider adopting temporary special measures to increase access to education for rural women and girls?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said 60 per cent of the budget of the National Women’s Commission was provided by the Government while 40 per cent was provided by external funding. A roadmap had been approved for transforming the Office of the Ombudsman into the National Human Rights Institution, which was currently under implementation. There was no specific timeline, but a process was underway to expand the mandate of the Ombudsman and ensure the sustainability of the Human Rights Commission. A Committee, consisting of representatives of the Government, civil society, and academic and international partners was monitoring this process. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights had offered technical capacity building in this regard.

    Belize had a Women’s Parliamentary Caucus with a strategic plan. The State would continue to undertake advocacy and ensure changes were made to ensure more women were involved in politics at the higher level.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert said research showed that half of the women in Belize experienced violence at some point in their life. Early marriages and unions still existed as a harmful practice. How would the State party ensure the monitoring of measures of tackling harmful gender stereotypes and cultural practices? The State party was commended for legislation and policy measures to combat gender-based violence. Despite these important steps, women and girls continued to be the main victims of both domestic and sexual violence, with 99 per cent of the victims of sexual violence being females.

    The pervasive gender-based violence in Belize needed to be considered in the context of high levels of insecurity, and of proliferation of firearms and their possession and use by criminal networks and armed gangs. About 65 per cent of women and girls who were murdered were victims of gender-related murders or femicide, and 50 per cent of these murders were committed with firearms. What measures would the State party undertake to guarantee quality support services for women survivors of gender-based violence? Did the State party provide support to women’s non-governmental organizations which provided these services? How many shelters existed?

    Was the practice of mobile women’s centres maintained? How many centres were available in rural and indigenous communities? What programmes were in place for controlling and eliminating the provision of weapons? What was the timeline for explicitly including the crime of femicide within the Penal Code?

    Another Expert commended the State party for legal reforms in trafficking; however, no new prosecutions had been enacted within the last two years. What would be done to improve judicial efficiency? How would the State party ensure adequate sentencing in line with the severity of the crime? What was the timeline for the implementation of the National Action Plan on Trafficking? Would the State party allocate adequate resources to shelters for victim assistance?

    Could information be provided on the new labour policy? What was being done to provide oversight on labour recruitment? How would Belize enhance victim identification and screening processes, including in groups such as Cuban medical workers? What actions did the State party take to address the trafficking and exploitation of Mayan girls? What was being done to prevent the sexual exploitation of children in tourist regions? How was the Government addressing the involvement of international actors in these crimes? What measures was the Government taking to address the underground nature of sex trafficking since the pandemic?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the engagement of the men and boys programme began in 2020 and involved men and boys as advocates. Men from all facets of society were trained all over the country, including from indigenous populations. Around 1,000 men and boys had been trained, and many more had expressed willingness to be involved in the programme. Uniformed services participated in the training and masculinity and femininity were key components of the training programme. The State was aiming to establish a national shelter strategy to cater to the different types of shelters necessary, to provide short- and long-term care, including emergency services.

    The work of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council had been to strengthen overall operations and ability to convict. There had not been programmes which strategically targeted vulnerable groups. However, campaigns were being promulgated in rural and hard-to-reach areas to support victims and survivors.

    In 2023 and 2024, there were 10 women killed as a result of femicide. The State needed a multisectoral analysis approach; this was currently a weak area which needed to be improved.

    Gender training was provided at the Police Academy as part of the training requirements for police.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert said the number of women candidates at the last elections was very low, at 14.8 per cent. In view of the upcoming elections this year, were there any concrete measures planned to increase the number of women in parliament? What were the plans and strategies of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus? How was it resourced?

    The high number of women working in the judiciary in Belize was impressive and should be seen as an example for other countries. The current Governor-General of Belize was a woman; the first indigenous governor-general from the Americas in the Commonwealth. The Committee also welcomed the new gender policy which looked to advance women in politics and government. What measures were being taken to implement goal number five of the gender policy? Who was responsible for implementing the activity? How would the Government strengthen women’s advocacy groups? Could more information be provided about the representation of women, including indigenous women, in Belize’s diplomatic services? What was the percentage of women running in the 2025 elections? 

    Another Expert asked how stateless determination procedures were implemented in Belize? What kind of advocacy programmes were being developed in regard to birth registration? What plans were there to enhance birth registration processes, particularly for migrant women?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the implementation of the gender policy was the responsibility of all organizations which provided gender and gender-based violence services. The National Women’s Commission was responsible for the monitoring of the gender policy. Advocacy groups continued to be a treasured partner of the Government and were included in the trainings and in areas where legislation would be passed. Two indigenous forums had been hosted by women and girls to determine areas which needed improvement. Access to health, affordability of health care services and education were key issues which continued to be raised.

    There had been a lot of work relating to birth registration, with key international partners, and numerous mobile clinics rolled out in this regard. In 2023, thousands of births were documented because of the mobile units. There had been a good uptake in the clinics to ensure there were no barriers in terms of access for indigenous persons due to language.

    Thirty rural communities had benefitted from registration campaigns. Special efforts were made to reach indigenous and Mayan communities and migrant populations. There was a strong network on the ground for people who required support.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    A Committee Expert commended the State party for advancing the rights of women and girls to education, including through the creation of the Belize Education Upliftment Programme launched to improve access to education for students from low-income households. Additionally, the Committee commended the State party for introducing compulsory psychosocial support sessions for children aged five and six, aimed at building their emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and positive behaviours for building relationships.

    What concrete actions was the State party taking to increase enrolment rates and address teen pregnancies in schools. What was being done to support the physical and mental wellbeing of adolescent mothers to support their re-enrolment in school? Could information about the school meal programme be provided? How were nutritional standards being introduced in schools? How was it ensured that nutritious meals were provided at schools? How did the State party ensure the physical and mental safety of girls at school, as well as in the online sphere?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the State was committed to ensuring the continuation of education for all, including girls who became pregnant. The “lead like a girl” forum occurred every year, involving 100 high schools around the country whose students competed in challenges, before launching the “lead like a girl” pledge. Efforts were being made to provide nutritious meal options in schools. There was a zero-tolerance approach to bullying within the school environment and continued efforts were in place to strengthen legislation in this regard.

    The child marriage and early union strategy was in place, and a data profile had been developed to understand the state of this phenomenon within the country. The Marriage Act had been amended to increase the age of marriage from 16 to 18. Specific institutional policies were being developed for schools in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and community education was promoted.

    Recently, a master’s degree in social work had been launched from the University of Belize, and other approaches for strengthening social work were also in progress.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    A Committee Expert commended the State party for its progress in labour and employment, including a decline in the unemployment rate and an increase in the minimum wage across all categories. However, persistent gender disparities remained in the labour force, with women’s participation at around 43 per cent compared to men’s 69 per cent, largely due to domestic and care giving responsibilities. Could the State party elaborate on the decent work programme? What strategies were in place to increase female workforce participation? What measures had been implemented to challenge gender norms which designated unpaid domestic work as a woman’s responsibility?

    What was the current status of the equal opportunities bill and what were the next steps for its advancement? What was being done to enhance the national health insurance system? Was the State party considering accession to the International Labour Organization Convention 189? What specific measures were being implemented to accelerate the reduction of the gender pay gap? The Committee welcomed the new sexual harassment bill endorsed by the Cabinet in 2024. What was its current status and what mechanisms were in place for its implementation?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said there was a particular focus on vulnerable women, and all efforts within the Ministry had been mobilised in that direction. There was only a small percent of people covered by social security schemes, and the State was aiming to increase participation through targeted outreach and involvement in the social protection scheme. Two cohorts had been tested and piloted which were inclusive of direct training and employment services. The State was aiming to include elements such as free or subsided day care as part of the services provided.

    There was increased access to education and skills training for women, particularly those in rural and indigenous areas. The State was looking at financial incentives for female entrepreneurs to decrease their dependence on low paying jobs. Environmental and social safeguards were being put in place to cater to indigenous communities and their livelihoods.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    A Committee Expert said the Committee appreciated that the Government had removed all fees in public hospitals and was very impressed at the recent decision to waive all taxes on female sanitary products. Could statistics on minor girls’ pregnancies and births be provided? What did the State party plan to do to fight the phenomenon of teenage pregnancy? It was concerning that abortion was only permitted in a few circumstances. Did the State party plan to change its criminal law that so women and girls could safely access services to terminate unplanned pregnancy?

    Were contraceptives subsidised by the State? If so, which ones and to what extent? What awareness campaigns were planned to enhance safe reproduction health literacy in Belize, especially to address issues such as unsafe abortion and sexually transmitted diseases? Could statistics on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS be provided? Was radiotherapy, including for breast cancer, still not available in the country? What steps were being taken to address maternal mortality? What were the main challenges in ensuring equitable access to health care services for elderly women?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Belize had taken steps to address the legal and procedural barriers in women’s health services, particularly in regard to access to medical termination of pregnancy. It was important to ensure parents, individuals and schools received the required information, and that contraception was accessible. The Government had invested over 200,000 USD in providing contraceptives. Mobile health clinics continued to be used within all villages. Mothers received counselling before contraceptives were provided, ensuring informed decision-making. Additional measures were being taken to improve the emergency response for survivors of sexual violence.

    The Government recognised the challenges faced by women in accessing comprehensive cancer care, including the lack of radiotherapy, requiring travelling abroad. Radiotherapy was not feasible for in-country infrastructure, and the Government therefore aimed to provide support and financial aid to women requiring these services. There were oncology centres in different parts of the country. Human papillomavirus screening was available to women aged 30 to 49 and human papillomavirus vaccines were administered to adolescents, reducing the risk of cervical cancer to future generations.

    An estimated 3,700 people were living with HIV in Belize, with the majority of them being males. In 2023, Belize eliminated woman to child transmission of HIV and syphilis, which was a landmark medical achievement.

    When a pregnancy posed a risk to the life of the woman, medical termination was legally allowed. It was also allowed to preserve the mental and physical health of the woman, in cases of rape or incest, and in cases of foetal abnormality. Abortion was an area which was under consideration by the Government.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert said the Committee welcomed the revised national gender policy, and its establishment of five priority areas. Was there gender-awareness training for loan officers? What training had been undertaken to increase women’s financial literacy? What social protections existed for self-employed women? What measures existed to ensure girls and women in rural areas enjoyed equal opportunity to participate in sports recreationally and professionally?

    Another Expert said Belize contributed less than 0.001 per cent of global emissions, and was a model of the blue economy, which should be congratulated. What was the leadership role of women in the sustainable use of oceans, including women scientists in marine biology? Gang warfare had impacted many women in Belize, including putting them at risk of gender-based violence. How did the Government ensure services for gang-impacted women? How were the laws of gender-based violence made culturally specific for rural women?

    What was the policy of Mayan women’s consent for companies to operate on Mayan land? The Mayans of Toledo lived in close proximity to land where logging had been permitted. What efforts was the State party taking to secure the land rights of the Mayan women? How many female sex workers were incarcerated? Would the State consider decriminalising prostitution? It was hoped that the State would consider some of the archaic language used in certain laws. What was the timeframe for the adoption of the Older Persons Act?

    RHODA REDDOCK, Vice-Chair and Country Rapporteur for Belize, asked if there was recognition of the special needs of women in detention, particularly regarding childbirth? Would the State consider implementing the Bangkok Rules?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Belize’s investment and climate action plan aimed at addressing several financial barriers for female entrepreneurs, particularly in rural areas. Measures taken included mentorship programmes, capacity building initiatives, and financial literacy training. The plan mandated that 50 per cent of the training budgets be allocated to women entrepreneurs. The programme also encouraged financial institutions to increase small and medium enterprise lending. These measures collectively aimed to level the playing field, enabling women to access and maximise credit resources for sustainable business success.

    The sports policy for 2025 highlighted areas in the expansion of sports, but the investment in women’s infrastructure needed to be reflected, including support for female athletes and the prevention of gender-based violence in sports. Part of the work of indigenous peoples’ affairs was to ensure that the consent of Mayan women was provided. The social policy took aging into consideration.

    Belize was carrying out measures to tackle gun violence and drug imports, including through daily policing efforts and conducting regular border checks. There was a close connection between gangs, drugs and guns, and significant work was being carried out to reach out to vulnerable communities and youth, guiding them away from guns. Interventions and mediations between rival groups was carried out to enhance the security of citizens.

    Belize had embraced the 30 per cent quotas but the Government now needed to implement these. It was hoped the State would eventually reach fifty-fifty parity. It was currently on paper, but the tangible changes were not yet being seen.

    Efforts had been made to strengthen reporting around gender-based violence and gun violence. While the data was available, there needed to be further analysis. The State would focus efforts on this.

    The State would look at the Bangkok Rules as an additional standard which could also be pursued.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    A Committee Expert commended Belize for the steps taken to finetune its legal framework in the sphere of family relationships, including the new law on family and childhood and the new law on married persons. What were the most significant proposals contained in these draft laws? In what way did judges incorporate a gender perspective in cases of family violence? Were there any limitations based on women in care work when it came to inheriting from their deceased husbands?

    What was being done to eradicate early and de facto unions? How was the Government engaging with ethnicities in rural areas in this regard? Would the State recognise same sex marriages and de facto unions going forward? What was being done with the general public, particularly men, to raise awareness about early unions?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Belize had recently increased the age of marriage to 18, with no exceptions. The courts looked at the best interests of the child, and ensured there was engagement of both parents in their parental ability, and also took into account the risk of harm to the child. There had been some recent work done in terms of inheritance and division of assets. Recognising same sex marriages was part of the continued work being undertaken by the Government. The child marriage and early union strategy aimed to work with young people to understand the implications of early unions, and the type of support available for them.

    The State had engaged pastors and leaders when drawing up the child marriage bill, as they had been the ones responsible for marrying young girls. It was one thing to change the law, but another to change hearts and minds. The Government was striving to implement educational strategies, using the media, social media and posters, to foster behavioural change.

    Closing Remarks

    ELVIA VEGA SAMOS, Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs of Belize and head of the delegation, expressed sincere appreciation for the meaningful dialogue. Belize was proud of the progress made. However, the State recognised that challenges remained, particularly when addressing gender-based violence, inequality and the disproportionate impact of climate change. The journey towards gender equality was ongoing, and Ms. Vega Samos thanked all those who had assisted Belize so far in strengthening human rights.

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, thanked Belize for the constructive dialogue which had provided further insight into the situation of women in the country.

     

     

     

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    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. 

     

    CEDAW25.007E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Welcome Croatia’s Anti-Discrimination Measures, Raise Issues Concerning Reported Exploitation of Migrant Workers and the Social Benefit Scheme

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its review of the second periodic report of Croatia under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, with Committee Experts commending the State’s law and national action plan against discrimination, and raising issues concerning reported exploitation of migrant workers and the social benefit scheme.

    Karla Vanessa Lemus de Vásquez, Committee Expert and Lead Member of the Taskforce on Croatia, welcomed Croatia’s law against discrimination and the national action plan on combatting discrimination and protecting human rights.

    Joo-Young Lee, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce on Croatia, said migrant workers in Croatia were particularly vulnerable to poor working conditions, including non-payment for work, and failure to provide breaks or employment contracts.  What measures had been taken to address labour exploitation of migrant workers?

    Ms. Lee also cited reports that social assistance benefits were inadequate and often not sufficient to cover the cost of living.  What measures had the State party taken to address this?  Why had the number of beneficiaries decreased recently, and why did some regions require recipients of benefits to participate in community service?

    Ivan Vidiš, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy of Croatia and head of the delegation, introducing the report, said that the State party was proud of the reforms underway in Croatia.  In early 2023, Croatia joined the Schengen area, and the euro was introduced as a national currency.

    Mr. Vidiš said the National Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination for the period up to 2027 was adopted to ensure coordinated action by State administration bodies in the field of human rights protection and anti-discrimination, and to raise awareness of equality.

    On protections for migrant workers, Mr. Vidiš said labour legislation provided for third-country nationals legally working in Croatia to have the same rights as national workers, and the new Act on Combatting Undeclared Work obliged the employer to pay six months of salary to unregistered workers as well as a fine.

    On the social benefit scheme, the delegation said the number of recipients of the guaranteed minimum benefit had been dropping recently, in line with the reduction in unemployment.  The benefit had been increased three times in recent years, and the State party had developed a new Social Welfare Act that would increase the minimum social benefit.  The Act would also allow for persons to be excused from community service activities if they were unable to participate.

    In concluding remarks, Ms. Lemus de Vásquez thanked the delegation for the information shared, which provided insight into the progress achieved and measures planned to give effect to the Covenant in Croatia.  The Committee’s aim was to ensure the full realisation of economic, social and cultural rights for all persons in Croatia.

    Mr. Vidiš, in his concluding remarks, said Croatia was passionate about its work, open about its challenges, and determined to address them.  Economic, social and cultural rights were the cornerstone of the State party’s efforts.  Mr. Vidiš thanked the Committee for its constructive approach to the dialogue.

    In her concluding remarks, Laura-Maria Craciunean-Tatu, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the open and constructive way in which it had participated in the dialogue.  The Committee hoped that Croatia would address the Committee’s forthcoming recommendations with a constructive spirit.

    The delegation of Croatia was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy; Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Property; Ministry of Science, Education and Youth; Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities; Ministry of Finance; Croatian Employment Service; Ministry of the Interior; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition; Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs; Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation; and the Permanent Mission of Croatia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee’s seventy-seventh session is being held until 28 February 2025.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 12 February to begin its consideration of the fifth periodic report of Peru (E/C.12/PER/5).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the second periodic report of Croatia (E/C.12/HRV/2).

    Presentation of Report

    IVAN VIDIŠ, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy of Croatia and head of the delegation, said that the State party was proud of the reforms underway in Croatia.  In early 2023, Croatia joined the Schengen area, and the euro was introduced as a national currency.  As part of the European Economic Area, Croatia was exposed to inflationary developments caused the pandemic and then the war in Ukraine.  The Government intervened to a limited extent in energy prices and provided seven aid packages, all with the aim of protecting particularly vulnerable population groups.

    The National Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination for the period up to 2027 was adopted to ensure coordinated action by State administration bodies in the field of human rights protection and anti-discrimination, and to raise awareness of equality. 

    The State party had implemented a series of measures to strengthen workers’ rights.  The new Act on Combatting Undeclared Workers provided strict measures for employers who did not declare workers, including giving such workers the right to be registered and receive pay, pension and health insurance for the last six months, and foreign workers had access to the same protections as national workers.  Active employment policy measures had resulted in a historically low number of unemployed people.  Unemployment benefits had been increased and amendments had also been made to the labour legislation, laying down provisions on work through digital labour platforms and limiting the use of fixed-term contracts.

    In 2024, the salaries of civil servants and public service employees financed from the State budget were reformed towards a more transparent and fairer system.  The remuneration system for judges and prosecutors had also been revised to ensure that they could work smoothly and independently.  The minimum wage was constantly increasing and had almost doubled compared to 2019.

    To promote the social inclusion of vulnerable groups, the Government had provided increased rights and coverage for these groups in the Social Welfare Act and adopted the inclusive benefit, which significantly improved living standards.  Further, the State party had implemented measures to support elderly people.

    A new national plan for protection against violence against women and domestic violence, covering the period up to 2028, was under development.  As part of this plan, in 2024, a package of regulations dedicated to combatting violence against women and domestic violence entered into force, which included amendments to the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Act on Protection from Domestic Violence.  The legislative package tightened sentencing and strengthened protective measures for victims.  The revised Criminal Code introduced a definition of “gender-based violence against women” that was in line with the Istanbul Convention and a new criminal offence of femicide.

    There were 123,000 foreign workers in Croatia.  The State party had introduced legislation to combat undeclared work, and existing labour legislation provided for third-country nationals legally working in Croatia to have the same rights as national workers.

    After the 2020 earthquakes, many public facilities had been renovated, and multi-dwelling buildings and family replacement houses were being built.  To ensure the availability of housing, especially for young families, Croatia’s first national housing policy plan up to 2030 had been drawn up.  At the end of 2024, the Government adopted a programme for the construction and renovation of housing units in assisted areas to help young people and families access housing and to encourage population growth in these areas.

    Significant measures had also been taken over the last three years to strengthen the free legal aid system.  A call for funding for projects to provide primary legal aid was launched for a three-year period from 2023 to 2025.  Funding for projects increased by 100 per cent in 2023.

    Croatia expressed its strong commitment to the realisation of the human rights enshrined in the Covenant, demonstrated by its achievement of a high level of human rights protection.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    KARLA VANESSA LEMUS DE VÁSQUEZ, Committee Expert, Country Rapporteur and Lead Member of the Taskforce on Croatia, asked about the number of cases in which the Covenant was invoked in domestic courts.  What was the domestic legal status of the treaty bodies’ observations?  Did Croatia plan to adopt the Optional Protocol?  How had the legislature and civil society participated in implementing the Committee’s previous concluding observations and in drafting the State party’s reports?  Did the State party have a national follow-up mechanism to coordinate follow-up activities?

    Croatia had great potential, considering its location, resources and human capital.  However, the State party was reportedly overdependent on the tourism industry, which hampered the productivity of businesses.  What measures were in place to increase the productivity of the private sector and reduce dependence on tourism?  Were there measures in place to build workers’ capacities?

    Croatia did not have a national action plan on business and human rights and due diligence regulations were not sufficient.  What measures had the State party implemented to transpose the European Union directive on due diligence into national law?  What measures were in place to ensure due diligence in the private sector and to help victims of human rights violations to access justice?

    Croatia had received low grades in greenhouse gas emissions, energy usage, and climate policy in a recent review.  Would Croatia be able to meet its climate commitments for 2030 and 2050?  What were the main challenges in this regard?  How would the State party rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions?  What plans were in place to eradicate subsidies for fossil fuels and to reallocate funds to renewable energy?

    Official development assistance represented 0.2 per cent of gross domestic product, well below the 0.7 per cent recommended by the United Nations.  Were there plans to increase the budget allocated to such assistance in the next few years?

    The Committee welcomed the law against discrimination and the national action plan on combatting discrimination and protecting human rights.  Had the 2024 and 2025 plans been implemented and to what extent?

    The Roma had been facing discrimination regarding access to housing and healthcare in Croatia.  What progress had been made in combatting hate crimes against the Roma and in implementing the national action plan on inclusion of the Roma?  What measures were in place to address the gender gap in participation in the labour market and to combat stereotypes against women in the private sector?  Were there any wage equality measures in place?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Croatia had one of the highest growth rates for gross domestic product in the European Union, at 3.6 per cent.  The State party had been using European Union funds to increase skills for around 140,000 citizens.  Judicial experts and judges had received training on the Covenant.  Croatia was working to continuously train public officers on human rights, particularly the rights of the Roma and vulnerable women and girls.

    Discussion on signing the Optional Protocol was ongoing, with public consultations being carried out.  If stakeholders found that the Optional Protocol was relevant to Croatia, the State party would launch ratification procedures.

    Croatia had working groups for developing legislation that included experts from line ministries and civil society representatives.  Analyses were carried out to determine areas where legislation needed to be aligned with international law and the recommendations of treaty bodies.

    Croatia had a strong tourism industry due to its location and natural and cultural heritage.  The Government was promoting sustainable tourism, implementing accommodation and environmental policies to regulate development in the sector.  There were around 270,000 pieces of property used for short-term renting to tourists.  New regulations addressed this, encouraging owners to provide long-term rental schemes and permanent housing.

    The State party was working on reforming vocational training to increase its availability, quality and relevance, and reduce school dropouts.  A new modular curriculum had been developed to allow students to engage in work experience activities.

    The new national action plan on the inclusion of the Roma covered the period of 2021 to 2027.  Around 57 per cent of financing programmes were in the education field.  The Government was also working on policies promoting access to healthcare and improved quality of life for the Roma population.

    Croatia was a part of the European Union’s ambitious climate policy, which aimed to make Europe climate neutral by 2050.  Under this policy, Croatia was working to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.  The national strategy on low carbon development and the national energy and climate plan had been developed to guide efforts to achieve climate objectives.  The plan included a measure for gradually abolishing subsidies for fossil fuels.  The State party had been monitoring national emissions using a database on emissions.

    Croatia’s gender employment gap, at 11.4 per cent, was lower than the European Union average.  Wage transparency policies were helping the State to achieve equal pay for equal work.  Measures had been developed to support access to employment for women in rural areas and women over the age of 50.

    There had been a spike in hate crimes following the increase in foreign workers in the State party.  To combat this, the Government had developed educational measures to promote the integration of foreign workers in society.

    Croatia was this year preparing to transpose the European Union directive on due diligence.  The national action plan on responsible businesses, which was being drafted by experts, aimed to support the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on measures implemented to bolster the capacity of the Ombudswoman’s office to ensure that it could carry out its mandate; the composition of bodies monitoring the implementation of treaty body recommendations; plans to address challenges related to disparities in regional development; the legal status of the Covenant in domestic legislation; measures to address unequal distribution of free legal aid services across the country; plans to broaden awareness raising activities on economic, social and cultural rights; and whether the State party planned to draft national action plans on human rights protections.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that in Croatia, the Covenant had legal status and was directly applicable.  Public tender was provided to legal clinics to facilitate the provision of free legal aid across the State.  Funds for free legal aid were increased by 100 per cent in 2023 and by a further 30 per cent in 2024.  Transport fees were paid by the State when persons needed to travel more than 60 kilometres to attend courts.

    The salary system for the civil service had been reformed, including salaries for staff of the Ombudswoman’s Office.  On average, salaries for civil servants had been increased by around 30 per cent.  The budget for the Office had increased gradually since 2022.

    The Ministry of Labour, Pension System and Social Policy had a special service coordinating the implementation of the Covenant and other international documents.  Policies related to implementation were discussed with representatives of trade unions and civil society.

    The Federal Government was pursuing fiscal decentralisation and providing local and regional governments with funding to be used in regional development projects.  It sought to address gaps between less and more developed regions.

    The Social Housing Fund encouraged the population to live and work in rural areas, and a new programme on the construction of housing for young people focused on housing developments in rural areas.

    The new national action plan on human rights had been prepared but was currently being discussed in the Government.  The former plan was still in force.  National action plans on combatting trafficking in persons, promoting the inclusion of the Roma, and fighting discrimination were also being implemented.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    JOO-YOUNG LEE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Croatia, said that the State party had implemented employment policy measures focusing on the integration of vulnerable people into the labour market.  What impact had those measures had?  What was the trend in rates of young people who were not in employment, education or training over the last five years?

    What measures were in place to address the discrimination and prejudice faced by Roma persons in the workplace?  The disability employment gap was around 23 per cent as of 2023, related to a lack of reasonable accommodation measures.  How was the State party promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workplace?

    The Committee noted legislation addressing unregistered, unpaid and precarious work, but such work remained prevalent in the State party.  Migrant workers were particularly vulnerable to poor working conditions, including non-payment for work, and failure to provide breaks or employment contracts.  What were the root causes of labour exploitation of migrant workers and what measures had been taken to address them?  How was the State party working to improve the capacity of public officials to uphold migrant workers’ rights and impose appropriate sanctions on persons who violated those rights?

    Social assistance benefits were reportedly inadequate and often not sufficient to cover the cost of living.  What measures had the State party taken to address this?  Why had the number of beneficiaries decreased recently?  What budget had been devoted to social benefits in the last five years?  What measures had been implemented to improve social services for persons with disabilities, older persons, and persons living in rural areas?

    The “at risk of poverty” rate was around 42 per cent in Croatia.  This was reportedly due to strict requirements limiting access to unemployment benefits.  How did the State party ensure that unemployed persons did not fall into poverty?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the State party provided educational and training support to unemployed persons.  Several hundreds of persons had found employment through the Government’s on-the-job training programme.

    Legislative changes and State-funded support centres had led to an increase in the registration of persons with disabilities and their inclusion in the labour market.  The unemployment rate for persons with disabilities was currently at a record low level.  The Government financed up to two-thirds of the salaries of persons with disabilities, including self-employed persons, and financed the adaption of workplaces to the needs of persons with disabilities.  The employment rate of persons with disabilities had increased by 70 per cent in recent years.

    The new Act on Combatting Undeclared Work obliged the employer to pay six months of salary to unregistered workers as well as a fine of 2,600 euros.  There was a public register of employers that had employed unregistered workers.

    The Government also had a register of persons who were not in employment, education or training.  It was planning programmes to involve these persons in education or the labour market.  Only 13 per cent of young people were currently unemployed, down from a historic high of around 50 per cent.  Croatia had removed many restrictions related to accessing unemployment benefits.

    Foreign workers received materials informing them of their rights to State services, including health care, unemployment benefits and complaints mechanisms.  The Government supported foreign workers to learn the Croatian language.

    The guaranteed minimum benefit was provided to persons who did not have basic sustenance.  More than 40,000 persons received this benefit.  The number of recipients had been dropping in recent years, in line with the reduction in unemployment.  The benefit had been increased three times in recent years, and there were plans to increase it further, along with other benefits.  The Government was working to amend the Social Welfare Act to increase the base payment for single parents and their children by 25 per cent.  The national allowance for the elderly provided support to persons who did not have sufficient pensions.  The Government was strengthening the capacities of institutions to monitor poverty and better combat it.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    JOO-YOUNG LEE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Croatia, said it was welcome that the Act on Foreigner Workers would be amended and that the basic social benefit had increased.

    Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on the assessment of measures for housing provided to foreign workers; the methodology used to assess citizens’ risk of poverty; why some regions required recipients of benefits to participate in community service; the timeframe in which the minimum wage had increased and whether it covered the cost of living; whether rules regarding the renewal of temporary work contracts led to unemployment; measures being taken to promote entrepreneurship; the nationalities of migrant workers in the State party; and policies being implemented to enable women to enter the labour market and promote sharing of domestic work tasks.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said there were clear criteria in place regarding the accommodation of foreign workers.  The Government was working with the embassies of foreign countries to inform migrant workers about their rights.

    The percentage of persons at risk of poverty had not increased in recent years.  The State party had developed a new Social Welfare Act that would increase the minimum social benefit and would allow for persons to be excused from community service activities if they were unable to participate.  Community service often helped unemployed persons to enter the labour market.

    Around two per cent of workers received the minimum wage.  The Government had worked to ensure that all workers in vulnerable sectors such as manufacturing received at least the minimum wage.  The nominal minimum wage had been increased by 130 per cent between 2016 and 2025.  The real increase, taking inflation into account, was around 70 per cent.  The minimum wage was calculated considering other benefits being received.

    There were around 6,000 self-employed persons receiving State benefits.  Most benefits were provided in the food and construction industries.

    The State was developing a law to promote women’s return to work after childbirth.  It was financing the construction of kindergartens and schools and providing parental leave for fathers, which more than 60 per cent of fathers were taking.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    ASRAF ALLY CAUNHYE Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Croatia, said the escalation of violence against women in recent years in the State party was of great concern.  What measures were in place to provide support for victims, particularly women with disabilities?  How was the State party preventing the abuse of women with disabilities in institutions and addressing harmful practices affecting Roma women and children?  What measures were in place to prevent all forms of trafficking in persons, identify victims, prevent reprisals against victims after they reported offences, and ensure that penalties for trafficking were commensurate with the seriousness of offences?  How was the State party addressing the effects of inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable persons?

    Croatia did not have a needs-based housing policy or an effective strategy for addressing homelessness.  Approximately 6.5 per cent per cent of the population did not have access to the water supply network and many of the Roma lived in poor housing conditions.  What measures were in place to improve access to housing and housing conditions for vulnerable persons, prevent evictions of the Roma, and tackle homelessness?

    Some people in remote areas, particularly the Roma, had limited access to health services.  There was a shortage in healthcare staff in rural areas and long waiting lists for specialised care.  What measures were in place to provide timely access to quality healthcare in remote areas and to reduce waiting lists?  How would the State party promote access to healthcare for asylum seekers and persons with disabilities?  What steps had been taken to promote access to safe abortions when mothers’ lives were at risk?  What resources had been allocated to setting up mobile health teams and community mental health care services, and to combatting the high suicide rate?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the national action plan on social services aimed to facilitate access to these services, secure a better regional distribution of services, including services for the elderly, and promote deinstitutionalisation and foster care.  Payments to foster families had been increased and media campaigns had been carried out to highlight their importance.  The act on personal assistance of 2023 regulated the recruitment of personal assistants for persons with disabilities.  Over 5,000 assistants were currently employed, and the Government was working to recruit more.

    The Government was conducting roundtables and workshops with employers to encourage the increased employment of the Roma and other vulnerable groups.  Career management centres were being established in every region of the State to support their access to employment.

    Croatia had issues with affordable housing, influenced by the war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, and inflation.  Consultations were being carried out on a national housing plan, which would be adopted soon.  Under the plan, settlement of vulnerable and young persons and settlement in underdeveloped areas would be encouraged.  Croatia had a shortage of around 270,000 residential units compared to demand.  There were also around 50,000 unused residential units; the Government planned to adopt legislation to allow the State to take over empty units and provide them to vulnerable persons.  New laws would make it possible to build more affordable housing and expand land allocated for affordable housing.  The procedure for obtaining permits for building family homes would soon be simplified.

    The State party provided housing for victims of domestic violence and was also building family homes for the Roma community in rural areas.  Housing had also been provided for persons under international protection, and for persons whose homes were destroyed in earthquakes.  The State had also provided accommodation for over 600 homeless persons.  Large cities and counties provided food to homeless persons through social kitchens.

    Croatia had amended the Act on Water, which enhanced access to water for vulnerable groups.  Local government units were obliged to provide water for human use and to install wells in public spaces.  The State was investing heavily in the water distribution network to improve the quality and availability of water.

    The Government had provided seven different support packages to reduce the prices of energy, food, fuel and gas.  As a result, Croatia had the lowest energy prices in the European Union.  Some 70 retail products had also been subsidised by the State to protect vulnerable groups, and cash supports had been provided for more than 700,000 retirees.

    The Government was working to improve the legislative framework against gender-based violence.  Gender-based violence was treated as an aggravating circumstance in the Criminal Code, and Croatia was one of the first countries in Europe to make femicide a stand-alone crime.  The law against family violence had also been amended to increase sanctions for perpetrators and support for victims.  Victims were examined via video-link unless they insisted on being in the courtroom.  Training on gender-based violence was provided for judges, prosecutors and police officers.  

    A new national action plan on the prevention of sexual violence was currently being developed.  Twenty-six shelters were available for victims of sexual and gender-based violence in all territories of the State.  Ten million euros had been devoted to financing these shelters.  A new media campaign was being carried out on preventing violence against women.

    To increase access to primary healthcare, a new healthcare service network had been established that included mobile medical and psychiatric healthcare teams.  These teams covered a wide geographical area and included emergency helicopter and maritime services.  The Government had also increased the availability of telehealth services.  Each county had at least one hospital.  Croatia was close to the European Union average for the number of doctors per 100,000 inhabitants and the number of doctors was increasing.  The Government provided funds for residencies for young doctors.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    One Committee Expert welcomed indicators developed by the State party on measuring poverty, while another praised the State party’s various initiatives promoting access to housing.

    Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on progress in the implementation of the national strategy on reducing drug-related harm; measures to prevent house demolition and forced evictions of vulnerable groups, and remedies provided to affected persons; statistics on homelessness and the average period of stay in shelters; whether takeovers of unused units were temporary or permanent, and whether the Government planned to pay compensation to owners; how the State responded when people could not afford to pay utility bills or their mortgage; measures to prevent the discriminatory effects of reporting obligations required to receive health insurance; and plans to update poverty indicators from a multidimensional lens.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that in 2023, the Government adopted the national strategy on addiction, which aimed to reduce harms and risks related to addiction.  Every year, it implemented over 300 intervention programmes related to addiction.  The Government primarily rehabilitated adults in the social welfare system, but some addicts were in the prison system.  Non-governmental organizations provided counselling and intervention services for addicts.  Around one-third of addicts in treatment were women.  The Government was developing measures to support women addicts and provide social housing for them.

    Under State guidelines on the provision of abortions, patients could demand terminations of pregnancy in all hospitals in the State.  In cases of conscientious objection from doctors, patients were referred to other doctors or institutions.  

    The act on compulsory health insurance provided the right to healthcare for persons under international protection and asylum seekers and their family members, as well as unaccompanied minors.  Many citizens who lived abroad used free telehealth services in Croatia, abusing the system.  This was why the obligation of reporting to authorities once every three months to obtain health insurance had been introduced.

    Croatia had adopted a strategy framework on the development of mental healthcare, which aimed to reduce the suicide rate and improve the mental health of children and workers in particular.

    Courts applied the caselaw of the European Court of Human Rights regarding evictions, so it was very difficult to forcefully evict people from their homes.  The Government was increasing fiscal pressures on unused properties and implementing measures that made long-term rent more beneficial for owners than short-term rent.  The State would also rent and sublet private unused apartments at a reduced price; it would not forcefully take these properties away from owners.  A new property tax had been developed to replace taxation on vacation homes.  All properties used for long-term rent were excluded from the tax.

    It was difficult to count homeless people who had not approached relevant service providers.  Homeless persons could receive personal identification documents by registering at a local institute for social welfare.  The Government was empowering homeless persons to gain employment.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    ASLAN ABASHIDZE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for Croatia, asked for disaggregated data on school enrolment, completion and dropout rates at primary and secondary levels for the last 10 years.  Which ethnic groups had high dropout rates?  What progress had been made in promoting the inclusion of the Roma in the education system?  All children, including Roma children, needed to attend preschool education.  Who was responsible on collecting data on Roma children who were eligible to attend preschool?  How many Roma children had attended preschool over the past five years and how many had progressed to primary and secondary education?  

    What measures were in place to ensure that refugees and migrants had access to quality Croatian language courses and higher education?  Had a new programme been adopted to support these groups in 2025?  Were there specific measures to support Serbian children’s education?  There were reports of vandalism targeting Serbian monuments and Orthodox churches.  Had these incidents been investigated and violators held responsible?  How would the Government ensure that such violence did not occur in the future?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the dropout rate in Croatia was around two per cent, which was around the lowest rate in the European Union.  There was a system that monitored students, but it did not record the national affiliation of students.  Data on Roma students had been gathered since 2008, however.  This data informed the Government’s activities for Roma students.  Around 70 per cent of Roma students attended secondary school; this was lower than the national average.  The national action plan on the inclusion of the Roma included activities encouraging education for Roma children, including scholarships for Roma pupils in secondary schools.  Annually, between 50 and 100 Roma children dropout out of school.  The number of Roma university students receiving scholarships had increased in recent years.  “Roma assistants” were employed in primary schools to support Roma children.  On average, around 400 Roma children were enrolled in kindergartens each year.  Local governments funded kindergarten education for Roma children.

    One year of preschool education was mandatory for all pupils.  The Government funded preschool programmes for each child.  Over the next three years, it would invest around 200 million euros in this public service.  Croatian language courses were provided to all students who did not speak Croatian, starting from primary level.

    Vandalism based on ethnicity was treated as a form of discrimination and a hate crime, and was punished with a harsher sentence.  The State party was cooperating with civil society organizations representing ethnic groups to prevent such incidents and bring perpetrators to justice.

    The Ministry of Culture and Media had secured funds to support the needs of national minorities.  Funds were being devoted to cultural associations, libraries and there were other measures of protecting the cultural heritage of minorities.  Public broadcasters were required to devote a portion of broadcasts to programmes for national minorities.  The Government also helped fund the cultural activities of persons with disabilities.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on whether foreign students received free higher education; the number of foreign students in the State; steps taken to enhance inclusive education for persons with disabilities; whether indexation was used to calculate social assistance benefits; whether trade union rights were adequately granted to all workers, including police and military personnel; measures implemented to encourage reporting of racial discrimination offences and prevent such discrimination; the delegation’s response to reports of insufficient funding and will from authorities to address hate-related crimes; and statistics on crimes against Serbians.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that in 2024, there were 531 foreign students enrolled in Croatian universities.  The Government had adopted guidelines on supporting children with disabilities, who were entitled to specially trained teaching assistants.

    Croatia used automatic indexation to calculate elderly benefits and pensions, based on cost-of-living indicators.  There was no index system for the guaranteed minimum benefit, which was increased once per year by the Government, considering various factors.  A project had been launched to better monitor poverty rates through the Central Population Register, which would be established this year.

    Trade unions in Croatia could create their own networks, participate in the drafting of legislation and national policies, and participate in parliamentary debates.  The Government was drafting an action plan to encourage all employers to conclude collective agreements.  The scope of certain collective agreements was extended by the State to prevent unfair competition or restrictions on workers’ rights.  Only active military personnel were restricted from forming trade unions in line with existing legislation; police officers could form and join unions.  Property used by trade unions was formerly owned by the State, but legislation that entered into force last week transferred ownership to a trade union fund.

    In 2023, the State party recorded 61 hate crimes against ethnic minorities.  This was a decrease from the 67 crimes reported in 2021.  Authorities needed to consider these as serious offences and respond appropriately.  The judicial academy provided training for judges and judicial workers on the prohibition of discrimination, hate crimes and hate speech, including anti-Semitism.  Thirteen workshops would be held in 2025.  Police officers were also involved in workshops on preventing anti-Semitism, hate speech and all forms of discrimination.

    Closing Remarks

    KARLA VANESSA LEMUS DE VÁSQUEZ, Committee Expert, Country Rapporteur and Lead Member of the Taskforce on Croatia, thanked the delegation for the information shared, which provided insight into the progress achieved and measures planned to give effect to the Covenant in Croatia.  The Committee’s aim was to ensure the full realisation of economic, social and cultural rights for all persons in Croatia.  She thanked all persons who had contributed to the successful dialogue.

    IVAN VIDIŠ, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy of Croatia and head of the delegation, said Croatia was making every effort to make progress.  The State party was passionate about its work, open about its challenges, and determined to address them.  Croatia had faced aggression in its past, and the Committee needed to consider the difficult path the country had travelled.  Economic, social and cultural rights were the cornerstone of the State party’s efforts.  The cost-of-living crisis was a major concern currently, but the State party’s measures supporting energy and other costs had lightened the burden for residents.  Croatia was facing a demographic decline, but incentives were in place to support a reversal of demographic trends.  Parliament had recently agreed on a declaration regarding the rights of older people, who made up an increasingly large portion of the population.  Mr. Vidiš thanked the Committee for its constructive approach to the dialogue.

     

    LAURA-MARIA CRACIUNEAN-TATU, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the open and constructive way in which it had participated in the dialogue.  The dialogue with Croatia would continue, as the Committee would select three follow-up recommendations that it called on the State party to address within 24 months.  It hoped that Croatia would continue to address the Committee’s recommendations with a constructive spirit.

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the 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.

     

     

    CESCR25.002E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar: The Republican War on Students will close neighborhood schools, increase class sizes and raise property taxes to finance a $5 trillion tax giveaway to billionaires

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – February 11, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu were joined by Rep. Jahana Hayes, a former National Teacher of the Year, and Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, a former executive director of Michigan Head Start, to highlight the Republican War on Students that will eliminate the Department of Education to pay for tax giveaways to billionaires and corporations like Tesla that don’t pay any federal taxes.

    CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Good morning. The chaos and the corruption at the White House continues unabated. Elon Musk has illegal access to sensitive personal information of every taxpayer in America. He’s setting his sights on cutting Social Security benefits for American seniors who have earned their benefits over a lifetime of work, just so Tesla can continue to pay zero dollars in federal taxes. And now, Donald Trump has directed him to launch a Republican war on students by dismantling the Department of Education. I’m grateful to be joined by Representative Jahana Hayes, a former teacher, a former National Teacher of the Year, and Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet, former director of Michigan Head Start. 

    President Trump and Elon Musk want to cut public education for our children and our neighborhood schools to finance a $5 trillion tax giveaway to billionaires and wealthy corporations. By eliminating the Department of Education, Republicans are sending a clear message that they don’t care about our children reaching their full potential. The American people did not vote for their neighborhood schools to be closed or class sizes to be larger. They did not vote to cut special education. The Republican war on students won’t lower the cost of eggs or groceries, but it will raise property taxes as the cost of Trump’s education cuts will be forced onto parents and homeowners. 

    House Democrats believe that education is the key to unlocking the American Dream. Our focus is on securing the resources needed to improve public education outcomes, raising test scores and lowering dropout rates. If House Republicans won’t stand up for our kids and end their war on students, then they should not ask for our votes to pass a government funding bill. Now, turning it over to Vice Chair Ted Lieu.

    VICE CHAIR LIEU: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar. The Trump Administration has engaged in a number of brazenly, undemocratic and illegal actions, and they are losing in court. 55 lawsuits have been filed, and judges appointed by Ronald Reagan, George Bush and Donald Trump himself, have issued injunctions or temporary restraining orders against the Administration’s actions. For example, a judge issued a nationwide injunction against the Birthright Citizenship Executive Order, which attempted to overturn the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment right to birth right citizenship. A judge halted the attempted freeze of federal funding. A judge halted the attempted cuts to NIH that would have affected cancer research. A judge halted DOGE access to your private Social Security numbers, and on and on. 

    At the same time, none of these actions by the Trump Administration are lowering costs. My wife and I recently went to a grocery store. We went to get some eggs, and we could see the prices of these eggs had now jumped to about $8, but there are no eggs. The shelves are completely empty. Nothing the President is doing is trying to lower costs for the American people, and the American people are now seeing this. A recent poll showed that nearly half of the American people say their costs are actually increasing now. So, we’re asking the Republicans and Donald Trump to focus on lowering costs, which they are ignoring right now. It’s now my pleasure to yield to Congressman Johanna Hayes, who, in addition to being an amazing Member of Congress, as Chairman Aguilar had said, she was also National Teacher of The Year prior to coming to Congress.

    REP. HAYES: Thank you, and thank you so much for being here. The Department of Education was created by an Act of Congress and can only be dissolved by an Act of Congress. This Administration knows that, and I suspect, based on what we’ve seen, that this chaos and confusion, this flooding zone, is going to reign down on the Department of Education, to try to convince the American people that we don’t need it, to strangle out funds meant to support public education and, ultimately, just turn off the lights. 

    It’s important to understand what it means by Republicans calling to end the Department of Education. The Department of Education does not handle curriculum, instruction or instructional materials. Those decisions are already made locally, by state and local boards of education, but what the Department of Education does handle is civil rights protections for all students. They handle support for low-income students through their Title 1 funding. They develop and prepare educators through Title 2 funding and professional development. They provide resources for English language learners, collect statistics on enrollment, staffing and crime in school, and the department is responsible for more than 1.6 trillion dollars in federal student aid. 

    49 million students attend public school in this country, and all of the services provided by the Department of Education are at risk. Of those, 7.5 million students receive special education or related services under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act. IDEA makes a free and appropriate public education available to all eligible students. That means the occupational therapist that helps a student just to hold a pencil—because in their brain, they have all the information, they just need to figure out a way to articulate that—is at risk.

    And I think people need to understand that an IEP is a legal document. It is not solely an education document. Ending federal funding or eliminating the department does not end our legal obligation to provide these services to kids. So, one of two things will happen, either local communities will have to make hard choices about what other resources they have to cut to meet their legal obligation to educate these children, or their taxes will go up to replace the funding that the federal government is no longer sending. 

    Now, I’ve seen the NAEP scores. I’m open to having any conversation to improve education and get better results for students, but I think if we’re looking at those scores, we have to be honest: the numbers are brought down by red states who have failed to invest in education over decades. But any real solution that we’re talking about for improving educational outcomes for our students cannot be limited to funneling money to private voucher programs, which only about 1 million students take advantage of. 

    What about the other 48 million students? Any real solution has to include solving for the barriers that impede education, the things that cause children to show up not ready to learn. Things like housing insecurity; things like empty bellies; things like a lack of health care; no access to FMLA for their families so that their parents can’t stay home with them when they’re sick; Birth to Three initiatives; pre- and post-natal care; gun violence in schools. If you want to have a real conversation about educational outcomes, let’s do it. I’m here for it. But Elon Musk, Donald Trump and the elites in this country don’t need public schools. They don’t have to send their children to public schools. They can afford to send their children somewhere else. I’m standing up for all the students who don’t come from those kinds of families, for all the parents who can’t afford to make those choices, for all the teachers who greet those students and try their best to give them the type of education that they see in other communities—because they deserve it. So, I remain committed to maintaining the integrity of the Department of Education and fighting back against all of these cuts because this smash and grab tactics and attempts to rob the penny bank of America’s children and their future is not something that House Democrats are going to stand for. And with that, my colleague Kristen McDonald Rivet.

    REP. MCDONALD RIVET: Thank you. Thank you so much. Good morning and thank you for joining us. And thank you to Congresswoman Hayes. Thank you to Chairman Aguilar and Vice Chair Lieu for highlighting this urgent issue. 

    So, education, specifically early childhood education, holds a really special place in my heart. First, I parented six kids. Second, I have a daughter who’s a special education teacher, particularly in the early years. But I started my career working in Head Start. I have seen firsthand the impact that early childhood education programs and special education programs play in the lives of children and families. I also served as the chief of staff at the State Department of Education in Michigan, and in the Michigan State Senate, served on the K–12 Appropriations Committee and the Education Policy Committee. So, I’ve spent a little time in education. I can tell you that we do need to improve our education in this country, and we’ve seen things that work. Things like decreasing class size, investing in new teachers, dramatic increases in math and reading programs and robust early childhood programs. These are the kinds of things that make our schools, our families and our kids stronger. 

    But eliminating the Department of Education would be disastrous for our kids. Special education classes would be gutted. Our most unserved communities unable to keep school doors open. Higher property taxes across the country as local districts are forced to pay for federally-mandated programming, and countless teachers losing their jobs due to a lack of funding. It’s simply unacceptable. 

    We can’t go back to a time where we ignore or leave behind our most vulnerable students. As Representative Hayes said, there are roughly 7.5 million students who benefit from the Department of Education’s special education programs, including students with learning disabilities, developmental delays, speech and language deficiencies and much more. If Mr. Musk gets his way, 15% of public school students in America will not receive the programming they need to reach their full potential, and every single classroom will be disrupted. So let me say that again. 7.5 million children. What’s more, state and local governments do not have the resources in place to administer these programs. I know what public school budgets look like. They do not work without federal support. If Mr. Musk slashes it, localities will be forced to cut services to kids. And let me be clear, raise your taxes to close the gaps. 

    To the families in my district working multiple jobs and still struggling to make it to the end of the work week, that’s more costly, not more efficient. Elon Musk’s plan to eliminate the Department of Education would devastate kids, schools and communities in my district and across the country at a time that we simply cannot afford it. Thanks again for joining us. With that, I will turn things back to Chairman Aguilar.

    Video of the full press conference and Q&A can be viewed here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: United Fire Group, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Fourth quarter net income of $1.21 per diluted share and adjusted operating income of $1.25 per diluted share; full year net income of $2.39 per diluted share and adjusted operating income of $2.56 per diluted share

    Fourth quarter 2024 highlights compared to fourth quarter 2023:(1)

    • Net income increased from $19.6 million to $31.4 million.
    • Net investment income increased 21.2% to $23.2 million.
    • Combined ratio improved 4.8 points to 94.4%; composed of an underlying loss ratio of 55.7%, catastrophe loss ratio of 1.6%, no prior year reserve development, and underwriting expense ratio of 37.1%.
    • Underlying combined ratio improved 1.6 points to 92.8%.
    • Net written premiums(2) increased 13% to $278.5 million.

    Full year 2024 highlights compared to full year 2023:(1)

    • Net income increased to $62.0 million.
    • Net investment income increased 37.5% to $82.0 million.
    • Combined ratio improved 10.1 points to 99.2%; composed of an underlying loss ratio of 57.9%, catastrophe loss ratio of 5.4%, no prior year reserve development and underwriting expense ratio of 35.9%.
    • Underlying combined ratio improved 3.3 points to 93.8%.
    • Net written premiums increased 15% to $1.2 billion.
    • Book value per share increased $1.76 to $30.80 as of December 31, 2024, compared to December 31, 2023.
    • Adjusted book value per share increased $1.95 to $33.64 as of December 31, 2024, compared to December 31, 2023.

    CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — United Fire Group, Inc. (“UFG”) (Nasdaq: UFCS) today reported financial results for the three-month period ended December 31, 2024, with a consolidated net income of $31.4 million ($1.21 income per diluted share) and consolidated adjusted operating income of $1.25 per diluted share.

    “Our fourth quarter and full year results reflect the continued progress we are making in the execution of our strategic business plan,” said UFG President and CEO Kevin Leidwinger. “The actions we have taken over the past two years to deepen our underwriting expertise, evolve our capabilities, better align with our distribution partners and improve our investment returns are materializing in our results.

    “In 2024, we achieved the highest level of net written premiums in our company’s 79-year history. In addition, we produced the best annual combined ratio and highest adjusted operating income since 2015. These milestones reflect key steps on our journey to consistently deliver superior financial and operational performance.

    “In the fourth quarter, net written premiums grew 13% led by our core commercial and assumed reinsurance business. Core commercial growth was driven by average renewal increases of 11.9%, a substantial increase in new business production and stable retention. On a full year basis, net written premiums grew 15% to $1.2 billion.  

    “The fourth quarter combined ratio improved to 94.4%, the lowest in 11 quarters, while the full year combined ratio improved 10.1 points to 99.2%. The underlying loss ratio improved to 55.7% for the quarter and 57.9% for the year, reflecting the ongoing benefits of strong earned rate achievement exceeding loss trends and continued underwriting discipline resulting in improved frequency outcomes. Prior year reserve development remained neutral overall in the quarter while the impact from catastrophes was well below historical averages at 1.6% for the quarter and 5.4% for the year.

    “The fourth quarter and full year expense ratios were elevated due to investments in talent to deepen expertise across the company, accelerated development of our new policy administration system that is now poised for implementation in 2025, and increased performance-based compensation for employees and agents due to current year achievements.

    “Net investment income improved to $23.2 million in the fourth quarter and $82.0 million for the full year. Fixed maturity income increased to $70 million for the year as new money yields remained strong. We also benefited from improved valuations on our limited partnership portfolio for the full year. We expect the fixed maturity portfolio to generate over $80 million of annualized fixed maturity income, with potential for further improvement from future reinvestment at higher rates. 

    “Reported book value per share decreased slightly in the fourth quarter due to a change in after-tax unrealized loss caused by increased interest rates. Our improved annual earnings and return on equity of 8.2% allowed adjusted book value per share to grow $1.95 for the year to $33.64.

    “During the fourth quarter, we successfully resolved the rating errors in our core commercial business that were identified in the second quarter, resulting in no financial impact to the company. As a result, we have reversed the $3.2 million contingent liability established in the second quarter.

    “While 2024 marked a return to underwriting profitability for UFG, our work is far from finished. We remain confident in our ability to execute the business plan for improved performance in the years ahead and are grateful for our people and their dedication to delivering the deep expertise, specialized capabilities, personal relationships and responsive service that our partners and policyholders value.

    “Finally, our hearts go out to all those impacted by the devastating wildfires in Southern California. Our claims and risk control professionals continue to assist policyholders in the wake of the destruction. At this time, we estimate losses in the range of $7 million to $10 million from this tragic event.”

    (1) Underlying loss ratio, underlying combined ratio and adjusted book value per share are non-GAAP financial measures. See Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliations to Comparable GAAP Measures for additional information.
    (2) Net written premiums is a performance measure reflecting the amount charged for insurance policy contracts issued and recognized on an annualized basis at the effective date of the policy. See Certain Performance Measures for additional information.

    Consolidated Financial Highlights:

    Consolidated Financial Highlights(1)
    (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31,   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
    (In thousands, except per share data)   2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Net earned premiums $ 308,137     $ 264,366     $ 1,176,750     $ 1,034,587  
    Net written premiums   278,529       246,830       1,231,470       1,066,901  
                   
    Combined ratio:              
    Net loss ratio   57.3 %     64.8 %     63.3 %     74.4 %
    Underwriting expense ratio   37.1 %     34.4 %     35.9 %     34.9 %
    Combined ratio   94.4 %     99.2 %     99.2 %     109.3 %
                   
    Additional ratios:              
    Net loss ratio   57.3 %     64.8 %     63.3 %     74.4 %
    Catastrophes   1.6 %     1.5 %     5.4 %     6.2 %
    Reserve development   — %     3.3 %     — %     6.0 %
    Underlying loss ratio (non-GAAP)   55.7 %     60.0 %     57.9 %     62.2 %
    Underwriting expense ratio   37.1 %     34.4 %     35.9 %     34.9 %
    Underlying combined ratio (non-GAAP)   92.8 %     94.4 %     93.8 %     97.1 %
                   
    Net investment income $ 23,156     $ 19,098     $ 81,986     $ 59,606  
    Net investment gains (losses)   (1,318 )     3,855       (5,429 )     1,274  
    Other income (loss)(2)   300       (1,039 )     (9,388 )     (4,983 )
                   
    Net income (loss) $ 31,442     $ 19,608     $ 61,957     $ (29,700 )
    Adjusted operating income (loss)   32,483       16,564       66,246       (30,706 )
                   
    Net income (loss) per diluted share $ 1.21     $ 0.77     $ 2.39     $ (1.18 )
    Adjusted operating income (loss) per diluted share   1.25       0.65       2.56       (1.22 )
                   
    Return on equity(3)           8.2 %     (4.0 )%
                       

    (1) Underlying loss ratio, underlying combined ratio and adjusted operating income (loss) are non-GAAP financial measures. See Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliations to Comparable GAAP Measures for additional information.
    (2) Other income (loss) is comprised of other income (loss), interest expense and other non-underwriting expenses.
    (3) Return on equity is calculated by dividing annualized net income by average stockholders’ equity, which is calculated using a simple average of the beginning and ending balances for the period.

    Total Property & Casualty Underwriting Results

    Fourth quarter 2024 results:
    (All comparisons vs. fourth quarter 2023, unless noted otherwise)

    Net written premiums and net earned premiums increased by 13% and 17%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2024, led by core commercial and assumed reinsurance business. Commercial lines net written premiums excluding surety and specialty increased 13%, supported by increased pricing with an overall increase in average renewal premiums of 11.9%. Rate increases accounted for 10.8% while exposure increases contributed an additional 1.0%. Excluding the workers’ compensation line of business, the overall average increase in renewal premiums was 12.9%, with 11.7% from rate increases and 1.1% from exposure changes.

    The combined ratio for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 94.4%, improving 4.8 points from 99.2% driven by improvement in the underlying loss ratio. Prior year reserve development, excluding catastrophe losses, was neutral for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 3.3% of unfavorable development in the fourth quarter of 2023. Catastrophe losses added 1.6 points to the combined ratio, an increase of 0.1 points and below both the five-year and 10-year historical averages. The underlying loss ratio of 55.7% improved 4.3 points, reflecting improvement from a combination of rate achievement, continued favorable claim frequency, and lower large loss activity, most notably in the surety portfolio, partially offset by an increase in the umbrella loss ratio, reflecting continued uncertainty from the impact of social inflation. The underwriting expense ratio of 37.1% increased 2.7 points driven by increased performance-based compensation for employees and agents due to current year achievements.

    Full year 2024 results:
    (All comparisons vs. full year 2023, unless noted otherwise)

    Net written premiums and net earned premiums increased by 15% and 14%, respectively, led by core commercial, assumed reinsurance and surety. Commercial lines net written premiums excluding surety and specialty increased 13%, supported by increased pricing with an overall increase in average renewal premiums of 11.8%. Rate increases accounted for 10.1% while exposure increases contributed an additional 1.6%. Excluding the workers’ compensation line of business, the overall average increase in renewal premiums was 12.9%, with 11.2% from rate increases and 1.6% from exposure changes.

    For the full year, the combined ratio was 99.2%, improving 10.1 points from 109.3% driven by improvement in all components of the loss ratio. Prior year reserve development, excluding catastrophe losses, was neutral for the full year 2024 compared to 6.0% of unfavorable development in the full year 2023. Catastrophe losses added 5.4 points to the combined ratio, an improvement of 0.8 points and below both the five-year and 10-year historical averages. The underlying loss ratio of 57.9% improved 4.3 points, reflecting improvement from a combination of underwriting actions, increased pricing, expense management, lower frequency trends and lower large loss activity in the property and surety lines of business, partially offset by an increase in the umbrella loss ratio. The underwriting expense ratio of 35.9% increased 1.0 point primarily due to investments in talent to deepen expertise across the company; accelerated development of our new policy administration system that is now poised for implementation in 2025; and increased performance-based compensation for employees and agents due to current year achievements.

    Investment Results

    Fourth quarter 2024 results:
    (All comparisons vs. fourth quarter 2023, unless noted otherwise)

    Net investment income was $23.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of $4.1 million or 21.2%. Income from the fixed maturity portfolio increased by $4.8 million due to portfolio management actions and investing at higher interest rates. Other investment income increased by $1.2 million driven by $1.1 million of interest on cash and cash equivalents. Income on other long-term investments decreased $1.3 million driven by better returns in the fourth quarter of 2023. Dividends on equity securities decreased $0.5 million due to the strategic re-allocation into fixed maturities.

    Full year 2024 results:
    (All comparisons vs. full year 2023, unless noted otherwise)

    Net investment income was $82.0 million for the full year 2024, an increase of $22.4 million or 37.5%. Interest on fixed maturities was up $13.5 million or 23.9% as a result of portfolio management actions, investing at higher rates, and the strategic re-allocation of equity securities into fixed maturities, which resulted in a decrease in dividend income of $3.2 million. Income on other long-term investments was $8.0 million in 2024 compared to the depressed income of zero for 2023, as the valuation of the investments in limited liability partnerships varies from period to period due to the current market conditions. Other investment income increased $5.6 million, driven by $4.8 million of interest on cash and cash equivalents.

    Investment Results
    (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31,   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
    (In thousands)   2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Investment income:              
    Interest on fixed maturities $ 19,877     $ 15,051     $ 69,703     $ 56,243  
    Dividends on equity securities   —       481       341       3,548  
    Income (loss) on other long-term investments   2,150       3,460       7,939       (31 )
    Other   3,692       2,456       14,951       9,324  
    Total investment income $ 25,719     $ 21,448     $ 92,934     $ 69,084  
    Less investment expenses   2,562       2,350       10,947       9,478  
    Net investment income $ 23,157     $ 19,098     $ 81,987     $ 59,606  
                   
    Average yields on fixed income securities pre-tax(1)   4.15 %     3.39 %     3.73 %     3.28 %
    (1) Fixed income securities yield excluding net unrealized investment gains/losses and expenses.
     

    Balance Sheet

      December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
    (In thousands) (unaudited)    
    Invested assets $                  2,093,094     $ 1,886,494  
    Cash                          200,949       102,046  
    Total assets                       3,488,469       3,144,190  
    Losses and loss settlement expenses                       1,796,782       1,638,755  
    Total liabilities                       2,706,938       2,410,445  
    Net unrealized investment gains (losses), after-tax                           (72,241 )     (66,967 )
    Total stockholders’ equity                          781,531       733,745  
           
    Book value per share $                          30.80     $ 29.04  
    Adjusted book value per share(1)                               33.64       31.69  
    (1) Adjusted book value per share is a non-GAAP financial measure. See Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliations to Comparable GAAP Measures for additional information.
     

    The company’s book value per share was $30.80, an increase of $1.76 per share, or 6.1%, from December 31, 2023. This increase is primarily related to an increase in net income, partially offset with an increase in net unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities and shareholder dividends during the 12-month period ended December 31, 2024.

    Capital Management

    During the fourth quarter of 2024, the company declared and paid a $0.16 per share cash dividend to shareholders of record as of November 29, 2024. UFG has paid a quarterly dividend every quarter since March 1968.

    Earnings Call Access Information

    An earnings call will be held at 9:00 a.m. CT on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, to allow securities analysts, shareholders and other interested parties the opportunity to hear management discuss the company’s fourth quarter of 2024 results.

    Teleconference: Dial-in information for the call is toll-free 1-844-492-3723 (international 1-412-542-4184). The event will be archived and available for digital replay through February 19, 2025. The replay access information is toll-free 1-877-344-7529 (international 1-412-317-0088); conference ID no. 4765665.

    Webcast: An audio webcast of the teleconference can be accessed at the company’s investor relations page at https://ir.ufginsurance.com/event/ or https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=j4u0yn8Q. The archived audio webcast will be available for one year.

    Transcript: A transcript of the teleconference will be available on the company’s website soon after the completion of the teleconference.

    About UFG

    Founded in 1946 as United Fire & Casualty Company, UFG, through its insurance company subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of writing property and casualty insurance.

    The company is licensed as a property and casualty insurer in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and is represented by approximately 1,000 independent agencies. A.M. Best Company assigns a rating of “A-” (Excellent) for members of the United Fire & Casualty Group. For more information about UFG, visit www.ufginsurance.com.

    Contact:

    Investor Relations
    Email: ir@unitedfiregroup.com

    Media Inquiries
    Email: news@unitedfiregroup.com

    Disclosure of Forward-Looking Statements

    This release may contain forward-looking statements about our operations, anticipated performance and other similar matters. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expected and/or projected. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the company, the industry in which we operate, and beliefs and assumptions made by management. Words such as “expect(s),” “anticipate(s),” “intend(s),” “plan(s),” “believe(s),” “continue(s),” “seek(s),” “estimate(s),” “goal(s),” “remain(s) optimistic,” “target(s),” “forecast(s),” “project(s),” “predict(s),” “should,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “hope,” “can” and other words and terms of similar meaning or expression in connection with a discussion of future operations, financial performance or financial condition, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward-looking statements. Information concerning factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements is contained in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (“2023 Annual Report”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 29, 2024. The risks identified in our 2023 Annual Report and in our other SEC filings are representative of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from what is expressed in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release or as of the date they are made. Except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, future dividend payments are within the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on numerous factors, including our financial condition, our capital requirements and other factors that our Board of Directors considers relevant.

    Definitions of Non-GAAP Information and Reconciliations to Comparable GAAP Measures

    The company prepares its financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate its operations and profitability. Management also believes that disclosure of certain non-GAAP financial measures enhances investor understanding of our financial performance. Non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this report include: adjusted operating income, underlying loss ratio, underlying combined ratio, and adjusted book value per share. The company has provided the following definitions and reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures:

    Adjusted operating income: Adjusted operating income is calculated by excluding net investment gains and losses, after applicable federal and state income taxes from net income (loss). Management believes adjusted operating income is a meaningful measure for evaluating insurance company performance and a useful supplement to GAAP information because it better represents the normal, ongoing performance of our business. Investors and equity analysts who invest in and report on the insurance industry and the company generally focus on this metric in their analyses.

    Net Income Reconciliation
    (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31,   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
    (In thousands)   2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Income statement data              
    Net income (loss) $            31,442     $ 19,608     $           61,957     $ (29,700 )
    Less: after-tax net investment gains (losses)                (1,041 )     3,044                   (4,289 )     1,006  
    Adjusted operating income (loss) $            32,483     $ 16,564     $           66,246     $ (30,706 )
    Diluted earnings per share data              
    Net income (loss) $                1.21     $ 0.77     $               2.39     $ (1.18 )
    Less: after-tax net investment gains (losses)                   (0.04 )     0.12                      (0.17 )     0.04  
    Adjusted operating income (loss) $                1.25     $ 0.65     $               2.56     $ (1.22 )
                                   

    Underlying loss ratio and underlying combined ratio: Underlying loss ratio represents the net loss ratio less the impacts of catastrophes and non-catastrophe prior year reserve development. The underlying combined ratio represents the combined ratio less the impacts of catastrophes and non-catastrophe prior year reserve development. The company believes that the underlying loss ratio and underlying combined ratio are meaningful measures to understand the underlying trends in the core business in the current accident year, removing the volatility of prior year impacts and catastrophes. Management believes separate discussions on catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development are important to understanding how the company is managing catastrophe risk and in identifying developments in longer-tailed business.

    Prior year reserve development is the increase (unfavorable) or decrease (favorable) in incurred loss and loss adjustment expense at the valuation dates for losses which occurred in previous calendar years. This measure excludes development on catastrophe losses.

    Catastrophe losses is an operational measure which utilizes the designations of the Insurance Services Office (“ISO”) and is reported with losses and loss adjustment expense amounts net of reinsurance recoverables, unless specified otherwise. In addition to ISO catastrophes, we also include as catastrophes those events, which may include U.S. or international losses, that we believe are, or will be, material to our operations, either in amount or in number of claims made. Catastrophes are not predictable and are unique in terms of timing and financial impact. While management estimates catastrophe losses as incurred, due to the inherently unique nature of catastrophe losses, the impact in a reporting period is inclusive of catastrophes that occurred in the reporting period, as well as development on catastrophes that have occurred in prior periods.

    Adjusted book value per share: Adjusted book value per share is calculated by dividing shareholders’ equity, excluding net unrealized investment gains and losses, net of tax, by the number of common shares outstanding. Management believes adjusted book value per share is a meaningful measure for evaluating the company’s net worth that is primarily attributable to our business operations, because it removes the effect of changing prices on invested assets that can fluctuate from period to period. Book value per share is the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

    Book Value Per Share Reconciliation
    (Unaudited) As of
    (In thousands) December 31, 2024   December 31, 2023
    Shareholders’ equity $                      781,531     $ 733,745  
    Less: Net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax                           (72,241 )     (66,967 )
    Shareholders’ equity, excluding net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of tax $                      853,772     $ 800,712  
           
    Common shares outstanding (basic)                             25,378       25,270  
    Book value per share $                           30.80     $ 29.04  
    Adjusted book value per share                               33.64       31.69  
                   

    Certain Performance Measures

    The company uses the following measure to evaluate its financial performance. Management believes a discussion of this measure provides financial statement users with a better understanding of the company’s results of operations. The company has provided the following definition:

    Net written premiums: Net written premiums is frequently used by industry analysts and other recognized reporting sources to facilitate comparisons of the performance of insurance companies. Net written premiums is the amount charged for insurance policy contracts issued and recognized on an annualized basis at the effective date of the policy. Management believes net written premiums is a meaningful measure for evaluating insurance company sales performance and geographical expansion efforts. Net written premiums for an insurance company consists of direct premiums written and premiums assumed, less premiums ceded. Net earned premiums is calculated on a pro-rata basis over the terms of the respective policies. Unearned premium reserves are established for the portion of written premiums applicable to the unexpired terms of the insurance policies in force. The difference between net earned premiums and net written premiums is the change in unearned premiums and the change in prepaid reinsurance premiums.

    Supplemental Tables

    Income Statement
    (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31,   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
    (In thousands)   2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Revenues              
    Net earned premiums $         308,137     $ 264,366     $      1,176,750     $ 1,034,587  
    Net investment income                23,156       19,098                    81,986       59,606  
    Net investment gains (losses)                (1,318 )     3,855                    (5,429 )     1,274  
    Other income (loss)                  3,200       —                            —       —  
    Total revenues $         333,175     $ 287,319     $      1,253,307     $ 1,095,467  
                   
    Benefits, losses and expenses              
    Losses and loss settlement expenses $         176,486     $ 171,289     $         744,605     $ 769,414  
    Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                76,834       63,291                 281,338       244,991  
    Other underwriting expenses                37,410       27,569                 140,942       115,800  
    Interest expense                  2,481       869                      7,281       3,260  
    Other non-underwriting expenses                     419       170                      2,107       1,723  
    Total benefits, losses and expenses $         293,630     $ 263,188     $      1,176,273     $ 1,135,188  
                   
    Income (loss) before income taxes $           39,545     $ 24,131     $           77,034     $ (39,721 )
    Federal income tax expense (benefit)                  8,103       4,523                    15,077       (10,021 )
    Net income (loss) $           31,442     $ 19,608     $           61,957     $ (29,700 )
                                   
    Net Written Premiums by Line of Business
    (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31,   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
    (In thousands)   2024       2023       2024       2023  
    Net written premiums(1)              
    Commercial lines:              
    Other liability(2) $            90,508     $ 79,393     $         369,454     $ 325,900  
    Fire and allied lines(3)                54,203       51,742                  253,796       249,029  
    Automobile                53,776       46,667                  258,257       218,710  
    Workers’ compensation                14,011       10,530                    61,838       49,128  
    Surety(4)                10,013       11,964                    52,524       47,564  
    Miscellaneous                  3,201       1,356                    13,086       4,776  
    Total commercial lines $         225,712     $ 201,652     $      1,008,955     $ 895,107  
                   
    Personal lines:              
    Fire and allied lines(5) $              3,804     $ 136     $            14,201     $ 4,545  
    Automobile                      764       —                      2,449       —  
    Miscellaneous                        —       1                              5       14  
    Total personal lines $              4,568     $ 137     $            16,655     $ 4,559  
    Assumed reinsurance(6)                48,249       45,041                  205,860       167,236  
    Total $         278,529     $ 246,830     $      1,231,470     $ 1,066,901  
    (1) Net written premiums is a performance measure reflecting the amount charged for insurance policy contracts issued and recognized on an annualized basis at the effective date of the policy. See Certain Performance Measures for additional information.
    (2) Commercial lines “Other liability” is business insurance covering bodily injury and property damage arising from general business operations, accidents on the insured’s premises and products manufactured or sold.
    (3) Commercial lines “Fire and allied lines” includes fire, allied lines, commercial multiple peril and inland marine.
    (4) Commercial lines “Surety” previously referred to as “Fidelity and surety.”
    (5) Personal lines “Fire and allied lines” includes fire, allied lines, homeowners and inland marine.
    (6) Assumed reinsurance includes Funds at Lloyd’s
     
    Net Earned Premiums, Net Losses and Loss Settlement Expenses and Net Loss Ratio by Line of Business
    Three Months Ended December 31,   2024       2023  
    (In thousands, except ratios)     Net Losses           Net Losses    
        and Loss           and Loss    
    Net   Settlement   Net   Net   Settlement   Net
    Earned   Expenses   Loss   Earned   Expenses   Loss
    (Unaudited) Premiums   Incurred   Ratio   Premiums   Incurred   Ratio
    Commercial lines                      
    Other liability $     91,016     $       82,052       90.2 %   $ 83,239     $ 54,991       66.1 %
    Fire and allied lines          62,019               16,515       26.6       61,869       31,994       51.7  
    Automobile          63,276               28,893       45.7       54,068       39,792       73.6  
    Workers’ compensation          14,914                 8,233       55.2       12,626       13,908       110.2  
    Surety          15,537                   (179 )     (1.2 )     12,311       6,591       53.5  
    Miscellaneous            3,223                     611       19.0       1,180       663       56.2  
    Total commercial lines $   249,985     $    136,125       54.5 %   $ 225,293     $ 147,939       65.7 %
                           
    Personal lines                      
    Fire and allied lines $        3,814     $         5,110       134.0 %   $ 165     $ (229 )     (138.8 )%
    Automobile               639                     424       66.4 %     —       (511 )     NM  
    Miscellaneous                    2                         4       NM       4       66       NM  
    Total personal lines $        4,455     $         5,538       124.3 %   $ 169     $ (674 )     (398.8 )%
    Assumed reinsurance          53,697               34,823       64.9       38,904       24,024       61.8  
    Total $   308,137     $    176,486       57.3 %   $ 264,366     $ 171,289       64.8 %
    NM = Not meaningful
     
    Net Earned Premiums, Net Losses and Loss Settlement Expenses and Net Loss Ratio by Line of Business
    Twelve Months Ended December 31,   2024       2023  
    (In thousands, except ratios)     Net Losses           Net Losses    
        and Loss           and Loss    
    Net   Settlement   Net   Net   Settlement   Net
    Earned   Expenses   Loss   Earned   Expenses   Loss
    (Unaudited) Premiums   Incurred   Ratio   Premiums   Incurred   Ratio
    Commercial lines                      
    Other liability $    343,027     $    283,034       82.5 %   $ 320,762     $ 249,106       77.7 %
    Fire and allied lines        252,142             125,807       49.9       244,674       183,533       75.0  
    Automobile        239,964             138,517       57.7       208,874       176,667       84.6  
    Workers’ compensation          54,815               37,524       68.5       53,039       33,224       62.6  
    Surety          60,285               14,812       24.6       39,922       22,259       55.8  
    Miscellaneous             9,802                 5,742       58.6       2,702       940       34.8  
    Total commercial lines $    960,035     $    605,436       63.1 %   $ 869,973     $ 665,729       76.5 %
                           
    Personal lines                      
    Fire and allied lines $      14,237     $         8,325       58.5 %   $ 4,733     $ 3,402       71.9 %
    Automobile             1,214                     732       60.3 %     —       (837 )     NM  
    Miscellaneous                  10                     197       NM       22       (82 )     NM  
    Total personal lines $      15,461     $         9,254       59.9 %   $ 4,755     $ 2,483       52.2 %
    Assumed reinsurance        201,254             129,915       64.6       159,859       101,202       63.3  
    Total $ 1,176,750     $    744,605       63.3 %   $ 1,034,587     $ 769,414       74.4 %
                           

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon powers winning network experience on Super Bowl Sunday

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon powers winning network experience on Super Bowl Sunday

    What you need to know:

    • Verizon customers in New Orleans used 93.5 TB of data on Super Bowl Sunday.
    • The fans at Caesars Superdome used 38.1 TB of data in and around the stadium.
    • Verizon customers benefited from 2.4x faster download and 4.8x faster upload speeds than the competition.

    NEW YORK – As the official 5G network of the NFL, Verizon powered the gameday experience across New Orleans on Super Bowl Sunday. As fans gathered to watch the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Verizon customers used 93.5 TB of data. No matter where they were celebrating, fans benefited from the massive network upgrades made across the city and were able to watch game highlights, keep tabs on players’ stats, and livestream with friends to share their experience.

    The fans in attendance at Caesars Superdome used 38.1 TB of data in and around the stadium, with approximately 53% of the 65,719 attendees using Verizon’s network.

    Verizon customers benefited from super-fast speeds1 in the stadium, with 2.4x faster median download speeds and 4.8x faster median upload speeds than the competition!

    • Peak: Download speed 4,161 Mbps, Upload speed 1,067 Mbps
    • Median: Download speed 1,775 Mbps, Upload speed 159 Mbps

    Committed to New Orleans for the future

    For the past three years, Verizon has been focused on providing the most reliable network experience in New Orleans for our customers, and has been making significant investments that nearly triple New Orleans’ network capacity and ready it for the more than 18 million tourists and business travelers who come to the city each year. Verizon laid out more than 560 miles of fiber in the Greater New Orleans area, which is enough fiber to wrap around the outside of the Caesars Superdome 869 times.

    Verizon added unmatched large capacity connections across the city and at the most congested areas in New Orleans, including Bourbon Street, the New Orleans Convention Center, Louis Armstrong International Airport, Smoothie King Arena, Woldenberg Park, and Jackson Square. This means that when even the largest crowds were gathered, customers had the gold-star network experience they expect from Verizon.

    A super-sized network for the Superdome

    At Caesars Superdome, Verizon delivered an exceptional network experience so fans could capture and share every moment. Verizon’s engineers worked tirelessly to add enough coverage and capacity to cover a small city, deploying 511 5G UltraWideband and 155 C-band radios covering the stadium’s seating areas, back of the house, suites, lounges, press box, concourse areas and entry ways.

    1 Measurement results are based on umlaut testing of 486 to 532 samples per network operator during the actual game, including half time show.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon has the best 5G network in America

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon has the best 5G network in America

    NEW YORK – Verizon’s relentless focus on innovation and customer experience has once again earned them the top spot in the industry, claiming Best 5G, Fastest 5G, and Most Reliable 5G in the 2024 RootMetrics® second half drive tests, the nation’s most rigorous, independent scientific study. This win underscores Verizon’s unwavering commitment to providing customers with a superior 5G network experience where they live, work, and play.

    “Our priority is delivering the best, most reliable, secure 5G network experience for our customers,” said Joe Russo, EVP & President, Global Network and Technology at Verizon. “This recognition from Rootmetrics reflects our dedication to staying ahead of the curve through technology innovation and ensuring our customers can always count on us. It’s why more customers trust us than any other carrier in the nation.”

    Verizon’s success in the 2024 second half testing extends beyond national rankings. In addition to the eighth consecutive national 5G reliability award, Verizon achieved 874 Metro Area RootScore Awards, 70% more awards than the closest competitor. Taken together, these reports offer customers an unbiased, third party end-to-end look at performance from nation to neighborhood.

    Customers expect more. Verizon innovates for them.

    These results don’t happen by accident. Verizon engineers work tirelessly to push the boundaries of innovation, expand access to the network for more customers, and drive continuous improvements in network performance. Below are some of Verizon’s recent efforts that contributed to the outstanding Rootmetrics results and are helping Verizon families do more.

    • Verizon engineers are rapidly expanding the 5G network, ensuring more people have access to faster and more reliable connections than ever before. Now more than 280 million people have access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network.
    • Home Broadband availability is being accelerated to meet the growing demand for high-speed, reliable internet in homes across the country. 
    • Satellite backup connectivity has been introduced to add another level of reliability for customers.
    • The deployment of Verizon’s 5G Standalone Core is enhancing network performance, enabling faster speeds, lower latency, and enabling network slicing capabilities.
    • By integrating 5G Advanced technologies, Verizon is building a network of the future that is more intelligent, efficient, and capable of supporting emerging technologies and applications.
    • To ensure the network can handle the demands of tomorrow, engineers are proactively preparing it for AI workloads, paving the way for future innovations.

    “More people trust Verizon because we deliver where it matters most to them,” added Russo. “We’re building the network of the future, not just for today, which is why we continue to lead in 5G performance and reliability.”

    Based on RootMetrics® State of 5G Report, United States, 2H 2024. Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three national mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. RootMetrics rankings are not an endorsement of Verizon.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Takahē released to grow wild population

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  12 February 2025

    After travelling from Burwood Takahē Centre near Te Anau and Orokonui Ecosanctuary Dunedin, takahē rangers paused briefly at Glenorchy Primary School for children to wave the birds on to the release site.

    Mana whenua Ngāi Tahu welcomed takahē with a mihi whakatau before they were released.

    The decision to release takahē into the Rees Valley was made after takahē released into Greenstone Valley in 2023 showed early signs of successfully adjusting to their new environment – raising offspring and remaining in a healthy condition.

    Thought to be extinct for 50 years, takahē are a taonga of Ngāi Tahu, unique to New Zealand and the largest flightless species of rail bird in the world. They were famously rediscovered in the Murchison Mountains in 1948.

    DOC’s Takahē Recovery Senior Ranger Glen Greaves says existing wild sites in the Murchison Mountains and the Greenstone Valley are reaching capacity, so the focus is now on establishing more wild populations elsewhere.

    “Finding wild sites with the right habitat, and with predator numbers low enough for takahē to thrive is a challenge – but the Greenstone, Rees, and wider Whakatipu areas likely provide high-quality habitat for takahē.”

    Glen says predator control has been a significant factor in ensuring the translocation can go ahead. However, like other large wild sites, predator threats and dispersal into less-protected areas remain.

    “Setting up new wild populations takes perseverance, and success is not guaranteed,” says Glen.

    “We hope people walking the Rees-Dart track and Routeburn tracks will soon have a good chance of seeing takahē thriving in their natural wild habitat.”

    Ngāi Tahu representative on the Takahē Recovery Group, Gail Thompson says the release of takahē into the Rees Valley is a welcome next step towards the goal of increasing the number of takahē roaming free in the wild.

    “It is my hope the manu will thrive in this valley as they have so far in the Greenstone Valley and that current and future generations will have the opportunity to see takahē in their natural environment.

    “Our tīpuna inhabited the valley to the west of Puahiri/Puahere awa/Rees River and this whenua was part of a well-known network of ara tawhito/trails to pounamu sources. It is heartening that these takahē can now make this place their home,” says Gail.

    Today the total takahē population is more than 500 and growing at about five percent a year. More than half the birds now live at wild sites.

    Kaiwhakahaere/co-chair of Southern Lakes Sanctuary, Greg Lind, says their organisation’s work has been to prepare the Rees Valley for takahē to hopefully thrive upon their return to this special area.

    “We have been servicing a network of more than 500 traps in suitable takahē habitats and have been focused on intensive feral cat control,” says Greg.

    “This takahē release is a great example of the power of collaboration, with each party making vital contributions to make this a reality. This includes everyone from donors, iwi, landowners, community groups and DOC.”

    A further two takahē releases into the Rees Valley are planned for later this year, with the aim of establishing a population of up to 80 takahē in the Rees Valley in 2025.

    DOC’s Takahē Recovery Programme, supported by National Partner Fulton Hogan and New Zealand Nature Fund, together with Ngāi Tahu and Southern Lakes Sanctuary have been working together to create one large self-sustaining population of takahē in the Upper Whakatipu – with the shared goal of restoring takahē to whenua they likely inhabited centuries ago. 

    Acknowledgments

    Ngāi Tahu

    Takahē have special cultural, spiritual, and traditional significance to Ngāi Tahu. Ngāi Tahu value takahē as a taonga (treasure) and continue to act as kaitiaki (guardians) of takahē by working with DOC to protect this precious species.

    Seven of the 18 Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga have a shared interest in and around Whakatipu Waimāori, Tāhuna and the inland Ōtākou region. Those seven rūnanga are: Te Rūnanga o Moeraki, Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, Hokonui Rūnanga, Oraka Aparima Rūnaka, Te Rūnaka o Awarua and Waihōpai Rūnaka. The release had their full support.

    DOC and the Takahē Recovery Programme

    Fulton Hogan joined with DOC as a national partner to the Takahē Recovery Programme in July 2016. The New Zealand Nature Fund has a long-standing association with the programme and joined the DOC and Fulton Hogan partnership in July 2016, providing administration and advocacy support. DOC and the Takahē Recovery Programme are also supported by Air New Zealand, and 18 sanctuary sites throughout the country that provide safe breeding places for takahē to grow their numbers to feed into wild sites.

    Southern Lakes Sanctuary

    The Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust is a consortium of six local groups that collectively represent 84 community groups, landowners, and businesses, who in turn have been working for many years to protect and restore the declining biodiversity of the Southern Lakes region. The consortium relies on the mahi of hundreds of committed and dedicated volunteers, throughout the district. Their tireless work, which has been quietly ploughing on for many years, is the foundation upon which the Southern Lakes Sanctuary is built. The group’s extensive predator trapping work in the Rees Valley has been supported by RealNZ, Impact100, Lotteries, Stout Trust, Patagonia, QLDC, CLT, AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand and Heli Glenorchy.

    Takahē thrive in new wild home on Ngāi Tahu whenua in Ōtākou/Otago: Media release 15 August 2024

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Mangham: A Warm Welcome to the 2025 Legislative Session 

    Source: US State of Georgia

    We’re now a quarter of the way through the 2025 Legislative Session, and every day under the Gold Dome, I am reminded why I fight for the people of the 55th Senate District. We began the legislative session on Monday, January 13, and we have hit the ground running with committee meetings, bill hearings and debates. This week marked a major turning point as committees met to take up some of our state’s most pressing issues, from education to healthcare to economic opportunity.

    Over the remaining 30 legislative days, I’m committed to fighting for policies that create a more equitable and inclusive Georgia for all its residents. I am honored to serve on the Senate Committees on Banking and Financial Institutions, Health and Human Services, Interstate Cooperation, Retirement, State and Local Governmental Operations, and MARTOC where we will address pressing issues that affect all Georgians.

    During our first week of session, Governor Brian Kemp delivered his annual State of the State address to a joint session of the Senate and House chambers. While we may not always agree, I look forward to working on areas where we can find common ground, including pay raises for teachers, state employees and first responders, as well as efforts to strengthen our healthcare workforce. Georgia must ensure that every resident has access to affordable healthcare, expand opportunities for quality public education, invest in renewable energy solutions, and address the growing need for affordable housing. These priorities are critical for building a more prosperous and equitable Georgia.

    In January, the Senate Democratic Caucus announced several key legislative priorities for this session. We introduced Senate Bill 50, a bipartisan effort to close health insurance gaps, expand access to mental health and maternal care and ensure working families can afford quality healthcare. Too many Georgians rely on emergency rooms for primary care because they lack affordable insurance. Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege, and we will continue advocating for policies that lower costs and expand coverage. In the coming weeks, our caucus will introduce bills to raise the state minimum wage, strengthen public schools, and improve access to affordable childcare.

    Beyond legislative work, it has been an honor to welcome so many incredible Georgians to the Capitol. Last month, we welcomed members of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the economic achievements of businesses in our district. Gwinnett is a vibrant hub of innovation and growth, and I am proud to support policies that strengthen our local economy. This week, we honored Rosa Parks and her legacy. Her courage and activism sparked the civil rights movement, and we remain deeply grateful for her contributions to justice and equality.

    I also want to encourage students between 12 and 18 to apply for the Senate Page Program. This is a unique opportunity for young people to see how our government operates firsthand. I highly encourage students who are passionate about civic engagement to apply. You can find more details here.

    With the clock ticking for the remainder of the 2025 Session, I promise to keep fighting for a more just and equitable Georgia. I am grateful for your trust, and I urge you to stay engaged. Call, email, or visit my office with questions or concerns.

    # # # #

    Sen. Randal Mangham represents the 55th Senate District which includes portions of Gwinnett and Dekalb County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 657-4640 or by email at Randal.Mangham@senate.ga.gov.

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Combating Homelessness on Staten Island

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of a new Safe Options Support or “SOS” team to help bring stability to individuals who are experiencing chronic homelessness on Staten Island, including those with mental health and substance use challenges. With this expansion, the successful SOS program — which has now placed over 680 people in New York City in permanent housing — is now up and running in each of New York City’s five boroughs.

    “The Safe Options Support program has been a resounding success since its launch two years ago, providing services to individuals experiencing homelessness — including many who live with mental illness — and helping them to secure permanent housing,” Governor Hochul said. “By expanding this effort to Staten Island, we can help more New Yorkers connect with the support they can rely on to bring lasting stability in their lives.”

    OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “The Safe Options Support teams operating in New York City and throughout the state are helping to connect chronically unsheltered homeless individuals living with mental illness with the supports and services they can rely on to secure permanent housing. Breaking Ground’s new team is now canvassing areas throughout Staten Island, engaging individuals and helping them onto the path to lasting stability. The expansion of this program to all five boroughs reflects Governor Hochul’s continued support for these teams and how this unique program continues to change lives for the better.”

    State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said, “Bringing the Safe Options Support (SOS) team to Staten Island is a step in the right direction. Communities across New York City have struggled with chronic homelessness, particularly mental health crises and substance use, for far too long, and this program offers real solutions. Expanding SOS to Staten Island means providing our most vulnerable and at-risk residents with the support and stability they need while also promoting public safety. The program’s proven success in other boroughs speaks volumes, and I am confident this initiative will make a meaningful difference in my district.”

    Assemblymember Charles Fall said, “As someone who sees firsthand the struggles of those facing homelessness on Staten Island, I know how life-changing programs like Safe Options Support can be. Expanding this program to our borough means more individuals will get the outreach, care and permanent housing they desperately need. I commend Governor Hochul for recognizing the importance and urgency of bringing this support to Staten Island. My office remains committed to working with local partners to ensure everyone has the stability and dignity they deserve.”

    Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon said, “As Staten Island’s chief law enforcement officer, I understand the fundamental and intrinsic link between mental illness, chronic homelessness, extreme poverty, substance abuse and crime. Simply put, if we want to end the revolving door of recidivism plaguing our State, we must do more to connect those struggling to treatment, services, housing and additional supportive resources. I commend Governor Hochul for expanding this successful program by launching a dedicated and full-time Safe Options Support or ‘SOS’ team to Staten Island whose primary mission it will be to conduct outreach to our borough’s most vulnerable populations. The men and women of my office are eager and ready to assist in any way we can and we look forward to working in partnership with Staten Island’s new ‘SOS” team to ensure that residents in the throes of homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse are given the support they need to thrive and change their lives for the better and so that our transit hubs are made safer for all Staten Islanders.”

    Breaking Ground Chief Operating Officer Amie Pospisil said, “We are dedicated to helping people get off the streets, restore their dignity and find stability in housing. The launch of Safe Options Support teams for Staten Island will ensure that more unsheltered New Yorkers get connected to the services and housing they need to transform their lives. We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the New York State Office of Mental Health for investing in solutions that work for our vulnerable neighbors.”

    The team canvasses several areas including the Staten Island Ferry and its terminals, the Staten Island Railway and its trains and platforms.

    New York City now has 16 SOS teams operating in the five boroughs. These teams canvas the subways and transit locations and have so far helped 682 individuals find permanent homes, including 134 who are living in OMH-licensed housing.

    The SOS program uses Critical Time Intervention, an evidence-based practice that helps connect vulnerable individuals in crisis to housing and supports, including critical mental health services. Teams work with individuals experiencing homelessness to strengthen their skills and support network so that they can be successfully housed, and their care can be transferred to community-based providers.

    Services are provided for up to 12 months, pre- and post-housing placement, with an intensive initial outreach and engagement period that includes multiple visits per week. OMH coordinates with the MTA, New York City’s Department of Homeless Services, and other organizations to identify priority stations based upon reported density and level of need.

    Initially provided $25 million in the FY 2023 State Budget, Governor Hochul expanded funding for the SOS teams to nearly $34 million last year, and then $35.2 million in FY 2025. This has allowed the program to grow beyond the first teams established in New York City in 2022 to incorporate teams in upstate New York and one on Long Island.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 02.11.2025 Sen. Cruz, Rep. Jackson Reintroduce Tax Relief Bill for Panhandle Wildfires Victims

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas-13) reintroduced the Wildfire Victim Tax Relief and Recovery Act. The bill would provide tax relief for victims who suffered significant losses in the Panhandle last year when wildfires burned 1.2 million acres, destroyed homes, and killed thousands of cattle.
    Upon reintroduction, Sen. Cruz said, “Last year, historic wildfires destroyed the Panhandle, taking the homes and livelihoods of thousands of Texans. This bill will deliver much needed tax relief to support these communities in their ongoing recovery efforts. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill without delay.”
    Rep. Jackson said, “The historic wildfires that tore through the Texas Panhandle last year have left a lasting mark on all the ranchers, families, and communities involved. I’m honored to reintroduce this critical legislation and am committed to making sure those hit hardest by this catastrophic disaster can use the assistance they’ve received to rebuild their farms, ranches, and livelihoods, not pay the federal government.”
    Read the bill text here.
    BACKGROUND
    The Wildfire Victim Tax Relief and Recovery Act:

    Exempts government relief payments and settlement payments from Xcel Energy from income taxes.
    Provides tax relief to producers who were forced to sell livestock due to the Panhandle fires.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Finance – ASB drops mortgage rates further

    Source: ASB

    ASB has today announced decreases on some of its most popular mortgage terms, with market-leading rates across the major banks on 6-month, 1-year and 18-month terms from today. The 6-month term drops 10 basis points to 5.89%, the 1-year rate drops to 5.49% while the 18-month term falls 15 basis points to 5.19%.

    ASB’s Executive General Manager Adam Boyd says today’s rate changes will be welcome news for home loan customers and those looking to refix or buy.

    “We’ve lowered rates across several terms three times in the past month, giving our customers and prospective buyers a range of options – whether they’re after short-term relief or longer-term certainty. We already know how popular the short-term rates are, and we’ve seen growing interest in the 18-month term this year. Competition is fierce when it comes to interest rates, and we’re pleased to be offering lower mortgage rates for New Zealanders”, says Boyd.

    In line with falling wholesale rates, ASB has also reduced some of its term deposit rates.  “We know that an easing interest rate environment can mean different things for homeowners and for savers. We’ve got a range of options available to support our customers and we encourage them to reach out to us for tailored guidance and advice.”

    All rate adjustments are effective immediately for new and current customers.

     

      Fixed home lending term

    Previous rate

    New rate

    Rate decrease

    6-month

    5.99%

    5.89%

    – 10 bps

    1-year

    5.54%

    5.49%

    – 5 bps

    18-month

    5.34%

    5.19%

    – 15 bps

     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Energy Sector – Energy Competition Task Force identifies new ways to empower electricity consumers

    Source: Electricity Authority

    The Energy Competition Task Force (the Task Force) has identified new ways to give consumers more control over their energy costs and to harness the power of rooftop solar and batteries. The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (the Authority) is now seeking feedback on three proposed changes to regulation to promote competition, reliable power supply, and efficient operation of the electricity market for the long-term benefit of all New Zealanders.
    Two of the three proposed changes are about rewarding consumers for supplying electricity to the network at peak times, typically through their own solar and battery systems. The other would make ‘time-of-use’ power plans (plans that reward off-peak electricity use) available to most New Zealanders.
    Electricity Authority Chair and Task Force member Anna Kominik says there are real benefits if consumers are empowered to more actively participate in the electricity market, including increased energy resilience and reduced power costs over time.
    “New Zealand’s electricity market currently relies on a few big generators to supply electricity at select locations and transmit it to households and businesses across the country. But as uptake of solar and battery systems continues to increase, more consumers will be able to contribute to our electricity system. And as smart electronics and vehicles become more ubiquitous, consumers will also be able to more actively manage their own energy use and costs.
    “We’re proposing three changes to help support this consumer empowerment and decentralisation of our energy system. Over time, this will increase community resilience and lower power costs for everyone,” she said.
    The proposals would require:
    • Consumer-supply rebates from distributors: lines companies to provide a rebate when consumers supply energy into congested parts of the network (Task Force Initiative 2A)
    • Time-varying retail pricing for consumption: large electricity retailers to offer at least one time-of-use pricing plan to all their customers (Task Force Initiative 2B)
    • Time-varying retail pricing for supply: large electricity retailers to offer at least one time-varying rate for when they buy electricity from consumers (Task Force Initiative 2C).
    Making ‘time-of-use’ power plans more widely available for Kiwis
    Commerce Commission Chair and Task Force member, Dr John Small, said the Initiative 2B proposal would significantly increase availability of ‘time-of-use’ pricing plans. These plans reward consumers for using power during off-peak hours, meaning they can take advantage of cheaper off-peak power, instead of paying a single flat rate.
    “While time-of-use pricing plans aren’t new, many consumers don’t have access to one through their current retailer. As these plans provide a simple, effective tool for consumers to manage their energy use and costs, we’d like to see all major retailers offer them, so more consumers have this choice.”
    Dr Small said the plans have the additional benefit of reducing overall electricity costs for consumers across the country.
    “People on these plans are incentivised to shift their use away from peak periods when electricity is most expensive. The more consumers shift their use at these times – for example by running EV chargers later at night when electricity demand is generally lower – the less high-cost electricity needs to be generated, and this lowers costs for everyone,” he said.
    Rewarding consumers for supplying electricity to the network at peak times
    Kominik explains that the initiative 2A and 2C proposals would reward consumers who can supply electricity when demand on the network is peaking, typically through their own solar and battery systems.
    “We’d like to see people fairly rewarded for supplying power when it’s needed, and incentivise efficient uptake of flexible, small-scale electricity generation systems such as rooftop solar and batteries. Energy from rooftop solar supplied at peak times can ease pressure on the electricity network, reducing demand and keeping the lines costs we all pay for through our power bills to a minimum.
    “By incentivising households and businesses to invest in their own generation, we can help meet New Zealand’s electricity needs when demand is high and improve community resilience,” she said.
    The Task Force invites feedback on these proposals through the eight-week consultation period, which closes at 5pm on Wednesday 9th April, with two further weeks for cross-submissions.
    As part of this consultation package, the Electricity Authority is releasing an issues paper that explores whether the existing pricing rules for distributed generation are fit for purpose. The issues and potential solutions explored in this paper support the proposals in the Task Force initiative 2A consultation paper. Visit this Authority webpage for more information on the issues paper.
    The Energy Competition Task Force was established by the Commerce Commission Te Komihana Tauhokohoko and Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko in August 2024 to investigate ways to improve the performance of the electricity market.
    The Task Force is considering eight initiatives that will encourage more and faster investment in new electricity generation, boost competition, enable homes, businesses and industrials to better manage their own electricity use and costs, and put downward pressure on prices.
    The attached diagram illustrates the various charges between distributors, retailers and consumers and where proposals for initiatives 2A and 2C would be incorporated. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Empowerment of Women

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:47PM by PIB Delhi

    Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) accords priority for gender empowerment through its policies and programmes. The Gender Programme is integrated within Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana -National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) interventions. DAY-NRLM recognizes addressing gender inequality as a pre-requisite to social and economic empowerment. The Programme builds capacity of State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) to integrate Gender in its operations and create an architecture of support at the community level for women’s collectives to identify and take action on gender discriminatory practices. Series of training and perspective-building inputs are made available on these platforms and are provided to Social Action Committees (SAC) under Village organization (VO), and cluster level federation (CLF) by the trained pool of Gender Cadres. These bodies primarily function on the premise of uplifting women’s condition and position in society by identifying, acknowledging, and addressing issues of discrimination. The program also conducts several large-scale advocacy outreach through the National Gender Campaign (Nayi Chetna). DAY NRLM is empowering women SHGs to access credit from Banks from Banks. Credit accessed by women Self Help Groups during the last five years is as under:

    1. 2019-20 Rs. 70,977 crores
    2. 2020-21 Rs. 84,717 crores
    3. 2021-22 Rs. 1,20,477 crores
    4. 2022-23 Rs. 1,57,370 crores
    5. 2023-24 Rs. 2,07,820 crores

    Further, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, being implemented by MoRD requires that priority shall be given to women in such a way that at least one-third of the beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested for work. Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is a gender-neutral scheme that promotes participation of women by providing wage parity with men, provision of separate schedule of rates of wages for women, facilities for crèche, work-side sheds for children and child care services. In convergence with the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), women mates have also been introduced, which again facilitates the participation of women. The rate of participation of women (percentage of women person-days out of a total in percentage) under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS from 2019-20 to 2023-24 is given below: –

    Financial Year

    2019-20

    2020-21

    2021-22

    2022-23

    2023-24

    Women participation rate (%)

    54.78

    53.19

    54.82

    57.47

    58.9

    (As per NREGASoft)

    MoRD is implementing a women-specific Scheme i.e. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). The central pension under the IGNWPS is Rs. 300/- per month per beneficiary. State Governments have been advised to contribute at least an equal amount from their resources. The applicant must be a widow in the age group of 40-79 years. The applicant should belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) household according to the criteria prescribed by the Central Government. On reaching the age of 80 years, the beneficiaries get enhanced assistance of Rs.500/- per month. At present widow beneficiaries are getting pension between Rs. 300/- to Rs. 2800/- depending on the State pension amount which varies from State to State. At present, the ceiling under the scheme for all States and UTs is pegged at 67.36 lakh.

    MoRD is also implementing two welfare programmes in skill development for rural poor youth under NRLM as follows: –

    1. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) which is a placement-linked skill development program for rural poor youth in the age group of 15-35 years. It empowers the rural poor youth with employable skills and facilitates their participation in regular labour markets, thus providing them with jobs having regular monthly wages at or above the minimum wages. Under DDU-GKY, coverage of 33% of women is mandatory. The details of the total candidates and women candidates trained and placed for the last 5 years under DDU-GKY is provided below:

     

    FY

    Total

    Women

    Trained

    Placed

    Trained

    Placed

    2019-20

    247177

    150214

    126691

    66440

    2020-21

    38289

    49563

    19685

    22640

    2021-22

    97006

    45612

    58443

    26040

    2022-23

    231491

    158078

    133519

    92065

    2023-24

    199524

    157456

    122250

    94684

    2024-25 till

    Dec., 24

    69086

    53810

    43228

    33646

     

    1. Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI) scheme is applicable to all the categories including women. Any unemployed youth in the age group of 18-45 years, irrespective of Caste, Creed, Religion, Gender and Economic Status, having aptitude to take up self-employment or wage employment and having some basic knowledge in the related field can undergo training under RSETI. The details of the total candidates and women candidates trained and settled for the last 5 years under RSETIs is provided below:

    FY

    Total

    Women

    Trained

    Settled

    Trained

    Settled

    2019-20

    384025

    281645

    274135

    202010

    2020-21

    255141

    185234

    206794

    138538

    2021-22

    314114

    256429

    257107

    212400

    2022-23

    409802

    325880

    331898

    272977

    2023-24

    451419

    350272

    360318

    290392

    2024-25
    (till 31-12-2024)

    471968

    299356

    382796

    249717

     

    The other schemes of MoRD accord priority to genders in general. The guidelines under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin provides that allotment of house shall be made jointly in the name of husband and wife, except in the case of widow/unmarried/separated person. The State may also choose to allot the house solely in the name of woman. Under Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY), the scheme guidelines have enough provisions for giving representation to women during planning and implementation. four members watershed development team (WDT) set up by the project implementation agency for planning and implementation of the watershed projects should have at least 1 women member. Similarly, the 11 members Watershed Committee constituted by the Gram Sabha for executing project development activities at village level should have at least two women representatives. Further the self-help groups constituted under WDC-PMKSY have maximum women members.

    So far as land ownership is concerned, SVAMITVA Scheme of Ministry of Panchayati Raj, which significantly contributes to the economic empowerment of rural women. By providing legally recognized property ownership in village Abadi areas, the scheme ensures that women, including those from marginalized communities, have secured land tenure. Further, as informed by Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Article 243D of the Constitution of India provides for not less than one-third reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), out of total number of seats to be filled by direct election and out of total number of offices of chairpersons of Panchayats. However, 21 States and 2 UTs, have gone even further and have made provisions of 50% reservation for women in PRIs in their respective Panchayati Raj Acts. As per the information available with the Ministry, 21 States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and 2 Union Territories namely “Lakshadweep” and “Dadra & Nagar haveli and Daman & Diu”, have made provision for 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts. In respect of remaining States and Union Territories, Constitutional provision as prescribed in Article 243D (i.e. not less than one-third reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions) applies.

    Government has been encouraging increased involvement of women in the functioning of Panchayats through active participation in the Gram Sabha meetings for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans and various schemes being implemented by the Panchayats. This Ministry has also issued advisories to the States to facilitate holding of separate Ward Sabha and Mahila Sabha meetings prior to Gram Sabha meetings, enhancing the presence and participation of women in Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings, allocation of Panchayat funds for women centric activities, combating the evil of women trafficking, female foeticide, child marriage etc.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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    MG/KSR/1164

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Funds for Construction of Houses under PMAY-G

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:46PM by PIB Delhi

    The Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) aims at providing pucca houses for all persons having kutcha houses up to 2 rooms or less and whose names are included in properly verified Permanent Waiting List (PWL) & Awaas+ list. The beneficiaries have been identified based on the housing deprivation parameters and exclusion criteria prescribed under Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC)- 2011. On application of exclusion criteria, a priority list called the Permanent Wait List (PWL) is prepared for the States/UTs. The PWL is further subjected to verification by Gram Sabhas and completion of an Appellate Process thereafter. This process of exclusion is also applied to beneficiaries registered by the States/UTs in Awaas+.

    The Union Cabinet has approved the implementation of the scheme for 5 more years during FY 2024-25 to 2028-29 to provide assistance for the construction of 2 crore additional rural houses. Approval has also been provided for updating the Awaas+ List for identifying eligible rural households using modified exclusion criteria under the scheme. In line with the approval of the Union Cabinet, a survey is being conducted for the identification of additional eligible rural households under the scheme. The survey is being conducted through Awaas+ 2024 Mobile App which has already been launched on 17.09.2024 with modified exclusion criteria.

    (b) & (c):         Under PMAY-G, the unit assistance of Rs. 1.20 lakh in plain areas and Rs. 1.30 lakh in North Eastern States, Hilly States (including UTs of J&K and Ladakh) is provided. In addition to the unit assistance, the beneficiaries are facilitated with 90/95-man days of unskilled labour wages through mandatory convergence with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Support of Rs. 12,000 for construction of toilet is also provided through Swacch Bharat Mission – Gramin (SBM-G), MGNREGS or any other dedicated source of funding.

    The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of PMAY-G till March, 2029 as per the existing unit assistance for construction of 2 crore more houses.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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