NewzIntel.com

Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI Security: COVID Scammer Admits to Defrauding Investors with Fake Products and False Documents

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    OUSTON – A 30-year-old Los Angeles, California, resident has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a $12.5 million scam that victimized investors in the Southern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    In the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Robert Maxwell falsely represented to investors that he had procured a manufacturing contract with a Chinese company for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves. He also purported to have a domestic agreement to sell the PPE. 

    He used fabricated bank records, agreements and other documents to solicit millions in investments to aid in this purported venture. He then pocketed the investment funds, while the PPE never existed.    

    At the same time, Maxwell agreed to help produce an at-home aerosol product intended to kill coronavirus. While again taking in millions from investors, Maxwell claimed he was working with a manufacturing plant in Texas and an out-of-state distributor to produce and deliver the product to major retailers. 

    Maxwell told victims that retailers were selling out of the product and ordering millions of additional units in a bid to obtain additional investor funds. However, the entire arrangement was a fraud. No one had even manufactured the product, retailers had never heard of it nor of Maxwell, and he had fabricated all the documents he showed to investors to bolster the scheme.   

    Maxwell admitted to stealing more than $12.5 million from victims in the course of his fraudulent scheme. 

    “The Southern District of Texas takes an aggressive approach against would-be fraudsters and swindlers,” said Ganjei. “Those who take advantage of a national emergency to enrich themselves by false pretenses will find themselves where they belong – in prison.”

    U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett will impose sentencing July 17. At that time, Maxwell faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

    He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

    The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Carter and Christian Latham prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Marshall and Klobuchar Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation Fighting for Farmers with Biofuel Tax Credit 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) today reintroduced the bipartisan and bicameral Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act, which would protect American farmers by restricting the eligibility of the 45Z Tax Credit to renewable fuels made only from domestically sourced feedstocks. U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (R-Kansas-01) and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio-09) have introduced an identical bill in the House of Representatives.
    This bill would extend the 45Z tax credit and give the ethanol industry the time and financial incentive to build up the infrastructure needed for the U.S. to be less reliant on foreign fuel, open new markets for farmers, and increase ethanol production across the Midwest. Additionally, this bill fixes the glaring flaw in 45Z that negatively impacts farmers wanting to sell feedstocks to the biodiesel and renewable diesel industry. If 45Z continues as-is, taxpayers are at risk of further subsidizing Chinese-used cooking oil and undermining the use of soy, canola, sorghum, and corn oil in renewable fuels.
    “The Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act is commonsense legislation that stops sending American taxpayer dollars to China, expands robust domestic markets for agriculture producers, and increases certainty for the biofuels industry,” said Senator Marshall. “With President Trump in the White House and Republicans leading both the Senate and House, we are finally putting American farmers first and supporting biofuels made in the U.S.A. It’s time our energy and agricultural policies reflect that.”
    “Domestically produced biofuel strengthens our energy independence, supports our farmers, and boosts rural economies,” said Senator Klobuchar. “The introduction of the Farmers First Fuel Incentives Act is an important step as we work to maximize the potential of the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit and clean fuel investments across rural America. By extending the credit for another ten years, this legislation gives farmers and biofuel producers the certainty they need to provide consumers with affordable, lower-carbon fuel options.” 
    “American tax incentives should benefit American-grown products and American farmers, not foreign producers,” said Representative Mann. “Foreign feedstocks can play a significant role in producing domestically manufactured ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel, but we cannot allow them to displace harvest grown right in our backyard. Our tax code should reward their grit and tenacity, not prop up feedstocks grown overseas.”
    “Today, I joined my colleagues in this important bicameral and bipartisan effort because helping American farmers, producers, and growers goes beyond state and party lines, and is more important now than ever,” said Representative Kaptur. “We must ensure the Clean Fuel Production tax credit is structured in a way that benefits domestic producers, and not one that advantages foreign-produced feedstocks from China or Brazil. Our legislation extends this credit through 2034 and will bolster American energy independence by prioritizing American producers and the production of domestic biofuels.”
    This legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), and Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska).  
    “Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve led the charge to build certainty and clarity into biofuel policies and put Iowa farmers at the forefront of delivering better, more affordable options at the gas pump,” said Senator Ernst. “The Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act does just that by giving producers the long-term certainty they need to go all-in on increasing production of domestic biofuels. It’s critical that we fully leverage homegrown, American biofuels and ensure not a cent of taxpayer dollars fund fuel produced with foreign crops.”
    “America’s biofuel producers are a key piece in helping to secure U.S. energy independence,” said Senator Fischer. “That’s why Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars should support home-grown feedstocks—not incentivize foreign competitors. Our bipartisan legislation ensures that renewable fuel tax incentives support American producers—not overseas interests.” 
    “American tax credits should support American farmers. The Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act provides long-term certainty for Nebraskan producers through tax policy that makes sense,” said Senator Ricketts. “By bolstering the development of a domestic fuel supply chain, this bipartisan bill puts American farmers first.”
    The legislation is supported by Growth Energy, American Soybean Association, National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), National Corn Growers Association, National Sorghum Producers, U.S. Canola Association, and Renewable Fuels Association.
    “Farmers and businesses need to know this tax credit is here to stay before they can invest in dozens of new energy projects across rural America. With this bill they’ll have the certainty they need to accelerate innovation, create thousands of new jobs, and secure new markets for farmers and biofuel producers,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “We applaud Sen. Marshall and Sen. Klobuchar for their leadership and thank all our rural champions for working to put American renewable fuel producers and farmers in the best possible position to succeed in next generation fuel markets.”
    “ASA thanks Senators Marshall and Klobuchar for their leadership to ensure the 45Z tax credit supports domestic biofuel producers and domestic biofuel feedstock suppliers like soybean farmers,” said American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland. “The updated Farmers First Fuel Incentives Act includes one of our top priorities: removing arbitrary indirect land use change calculations, which put soy and all of U.S. agriculture at a disadvantage to imported waste feedstocks of dubious origin. This legislation provides a roadmap for how the 45Z tax credit can be improved to support farmers, and we are glad to support its introduction.”
    “American tax incentives should support American farmers — not put them at a disadvantage. Ensuring that only domestic feedstocks such as U.S.-grown soybeans qualify for U.S. tax credits is a straightforward way to strengthen our domestic supply chain and rural economy,” said National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) President and CEO Devin Mogler. “At the same time, eliminating the outdated and flawed Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) penalty removes an arbitrary barrier that unfairly punishes U.S. producers while benefiting foreign competitors. We appreciate Senators Marshall and Klobuchar for their leadership to ensure the Clean Fuel Production Credit works as intended — to support American agriculture and American energy.”
    “We are deeply appreciative of these leaders for introducing legislation that establishes requirements for a tax credit that will level the playing field for America’s corn growers,” said National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman Jr. “This bill brings American farmers a step closer to unlocking an exciting new market with global reach.”
    “We appreciate the focus on “farmers first” legislation and the support of 45Z and domestic feedstocks like sorghum,” said Amy France, Chair of the National Sorghum Producers. “Domestic biofuel production remains critical to our farm and our country’s success.”
    “The U.S. Canola Association strongly supports the removal of arbitrary and uncertain indirect land use change (ILUC) assumptions from the calculation of federal clean fuel production tax credits,” said Tim Mickelson, President of the U.S. Canola Association. “We applaud Senator Marshall, Senator Klobuchar and the co-sponsors for their efforts to improve and extend the tax credit for biofuels. The flawed assumptions used to calculate indirect emissions have resulted in canola being excluded despite being a proven feedstock that the U.S. EPA’s analysis conservatively shows reduces emissions up to 78%.  We urge Congress to enact these important changes to provide certainty, stability, and market opportunity for canola growers and our biofuels industry partners.” 
    Click HERE to read the full bill text.
    Background:
    Senator Marshall initially introduced this legislation in 2024.
    In 2024, Senator Marshall also led a bipartisan letter calling for the U.S. Department of the Treasury to restrict the eligibility of the 45Z Tax Credit to renewable fuels made only from domestically sourced feedstocks, like Kansas soybean oil and corn oil.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: REPORT: Report: National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology Urges Swift Action to Protect U.S. National Security

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (OK-05)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) delivered its major report and action plan to Congress. Representative Bice (R-OK-05) serves as one of the Commissioners.  

    The Commission’s top assessment is that urgent Congressional action is needed to bring the full weight of American innovation to bear on the biotechnology challenge and maintain U.S. global leadership in this transformative area. 

    For decades, the U.S. has been the global leader in biotechnology innovation. Now, the Commission finds that the U.S. is dangerously close to falling behind China. 

    “The United States is locked in a competition with China that will define the coming century. Biotechnology is the next phase in that competition. It is no longer constrained to the realm of scientific achievement. It is now an imperative for national security, economic power, and global influence. Biotechnology can ensure our warfighters continue to be the strongest fighting force on tomorrow’s battlefields, and reshore supply chains while revitalizing our manufacturing sector, creating jobs here at home,” said NSCEB Chair Senator Todd Young (R-IN). 

    The Commission reports that the United States’ growing dependence on China for numerous critical supply chain elements is a national security vulnerability. Biotechnology can be the key to increasing supply chain security, resilience, and scalability, by allowing the U.S. to control its own access to critical components. 

    “Technology is not inherently good or bad, but who uses it matters. Biotechnology can have tremendous potential for good or tremendous potential for harm. The Chinese government has made biotechnology a strategic national priority for 20 years. The U.S. must reassert our global leadership to remedy this strategic weakness. We must be the ones driving the standards for how biotechnology is developed and used,”said NSCEB Vice Chair Dr. Michelle Rozo. 

    The Commission finds that emerging biotechnology is rapidly advancing, and the impact of biotechnology innovation already extends far beyond health, touching industries from agriculture and infrastructure, to manufacturing and defense. The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology is accelerating this impact. 

    “Biotechnology holds immense potential to transform numerous key sectors of our economy and will create good paying jobs at all skill levels in agriculture, health care, defense, industrial manufacturing, and more. I am proud to be part of this commission that is ensuring the United States maintains our national security and economic competitive advantages as biotechnology grows across industries,”said NSCEB Commissioner Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). 

    The Commission reports that biotechnology will drive the next wave of battlefield innovation, used to secure supply chains, enhance readiness, streamline logistics, improve resilience, and counter biological threats before they emerge. 

    “As emerging technologies transform the national security landscape, both the United States and our adversaries are gaining new capabilities. The United States must take the lead in biotechnology and propel us ahead of China in the 21st century,”said NSCEB Commissioner Representative Stephanie Bice (R-OK-5). 

    The Commission’s assessment is that the future of American biotechnology leadership is only possible through strategic federal action that encourages innovation by spurring private investment. This includes targeted investments and strategic government reforms to reduce regulatory bottlenecks. 

    “We must embolden the best and brightest in biotechnology to innovate boldly. American ingenuity is stifled by outdated regulations in this sector. Only Congress can open the door to the American-led biotechnological future,”said NSCEB Commissioner Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA-17). 

    The Commission’s report lays out six pillars for action and makes 49 recommendations. 

    Pillar 1: Prioritize biotechnology at the national level 

    Pillar 2: Mobilize the private sector to get U.S. products to scale 

    Pillar 3: Maximize the benefits of biotechnology for defense 

    Pillar 4: Out-innovate our strategic competitors 

    Pillar 5: Build the biotechnology workforce of the future 

    Pillar 6: Mobilize the collective strengths of our allies and partners 

    Background on NSCEB: 

    The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a time-limited, high-impact legislative branch advisory entity whose purpose is to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies for U.S. national security and to prepare the United States for the biorevolution. NSCEB published a comprehensive report in April 2025, including recommendations for action by Congress and the federal government. The bipartisan Commission is composed of Congressionally-appointed Commissioners with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as experts from industry, academia, and government. For more information about the Commission and to view the report, visit biotech.senate.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Israel’s Actions ‘Threaten Syria’s Fragile Political Transition’, Senior Official Tells Security Council, Calling on All States to Respect Country’s Sovereignty

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Opportunity to Bring Syria Back to Peace, Legitimacy ‘Must Not Be Derailed as Result of Syria Regressing into Geopolitical Battlefield’, Delegate Stresses

    In the wake of hundreds of reported Israeli air strikes across Syria since 8 December 2024, the Israel Defense Forces’ public confirmation that it built multiple positions in the area of separation and statements by Israeli leaders on their intent to stay in Syria for the foreseeable future, senior UN officials told the Security Council today that all parties must uphold their obligations under the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.

    “Such facts on the ground are not easily reversed — they do threaten Syria’s fragile political transition,” observed Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations.  He pointed to reports of multiple Israeli air strikes across Syria on 3 April, as well as earlier indications by the authorities in Damascus on “not presenting threats to [Syria’s] neighbours and seeking peace on their borders”.  He also pointed to the Israel’s Defence Minister’s 3 April statement qualifying the strikes as “a warning for the future”.

    “Considering these developments”, he spotlighted the Council’s 14 March presidential statement calling on all States to respect Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity and to “refrain from any action or interference that may further destabilize Syria”.  Underscoring that the Council’s commitment to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity “grows in importance by the day”, he urged:  “Syria’s opportunity to stabilize after 14 years of conflict must be supported and protected, for Syrians and for Israelis, this is the only way regional peace and security can be realized.”

    Providing additional information, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, said that the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) area of operations is characterized by significant violations of the Disengagement Agreement.  Israeli forces currently occupy 10 positions in the area of separation and 2 in the area of limitation.  They also continue to construct countermobility obstacles along the ceasefire line and have flown aircraft across the line and into the area of separation.

    Detailing the incident on 3 April, he said that UNDOF personnel observed the movement of Israeli troops in vehicles.  Such personnel later heard and observed multiple explosions, assessing them to be a result of Israeli artillery fire, likely in Nawa and Tasil.  It remains critical, he emphasized, that all parties uphold their obligations under the Disengagement Agreement — including by ending all unauthorized presence in the areas of separation and limitation — and he underscored:  “There should be no military forces or activities in the area of separation other than those of UNDOF.”

    As the floor opened, the representative of Algeria — also speaking for Guyana, Sierra Leone and Somalia — condemned Israel’s military operations in Syria as violations of international law.  “It is crucial to highlight that Syria has neither threatened nor attacked Israel,” he added.  “Upholding international law is not a matter of choice,” he underscored, stating that these escalatory actions — coupled with inflammatory statements by Israeli officials regarding the “indefinite” presence of their forces in Syria — “are contributing to instability and threatening regional peace and security”.

    “In the four months since the change of power in Damascus, Israel has already carried out more than 700 strikes targeting Syria,” said the representative of the Russian Federation, adding that the geographical span of these strikes has recently expanded.  He stressed:  “These actions are a gross violation of Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity, which under no circumstances need to be called into question — regardless of who holds power in Damascus.”

    Similarly, the representative of Pakistan said that Israel’s recent air strikes — flagrant violations of international law — “further undermine Syria’s pursuit of political stabilization and national reconciliation”.  Moreover, he pointed to a “deeply troubling pattern” of Israel’s continued, unprovoked military aggression, repeated violations of the Disengagement Agreement, illegal military presence in the area of separation and open declaration of indefinite occupation.  “The Security Council cannot allow illegal military actions to set dangerous precedents,” he urged.

    “The fragmentation of Syria is in no one’s interest,” said the representative of France, Council President for April, speaking in his national capacity.  He therefore joined others in calling on Israel to cease its military activities in Syrian territory, respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and withdraw from the area of separation.  In addition to making those calls, China’s representative said that “a smooth political transition is the key to restoring peace and stability in Syria and should be the primary goal of the joint efforts of all parties”.

    Several Council members underlined the deleterious effect that instability could have on that transition.  While acknowledging neighbouring countries’ interest in ensuring that events in Syria do not pose a risk to their security, Slovenia’s representative stressed:  “We remain convinced that external military interventions in the fragile moment of Syrian transition do not contribute to this legitimate objective — indeed, they could have a countereffect.”  The “historic opportunity” to bring Syria back to peace and legitimacy “must not be derailed as a result of Syria regressing into a geopolitical battlefield”, urged the representative of the Republic of Korea.

    “Events reported by different sources cause concern for a number of reasons,” said Panama’s representative — particularly when they result in mass casualties, significant material damage and generate a climate of greater uncertainty and instability “at a particularly delicate time for the country”.  He also expressed concern over the impact on civilians, underscoring the importance of guaranteeing the protection of civilians and respecting international humanitarian law “at all times”.

    “After 14 years of tyranny and conflict at the hands of the Assad regime, the Syrian people still face staggering humanitarian needs,” observed the representative of the United Kingdom, noting that her country has recently pledged up to $207 million in critical humanitarian assistance. “Our focus now should be on supporting Syrians to rebuild their country,” she stressed.  Similarly, the representative of Greece urged those present not to lose sight of Syria’s humanitarian crisis, highlighting the European Union’s overall commitment of some €2.5 billion for Syria’s recovery.

    Stating that Council members should all agree that a stable, sovereign Syria is “critical for our collective security”, the representative of the United States stressed:  “Israel has an inherent right of self-defence, including against terrorist groups operating close to its border.”  She urged the Council to “recommit itself to combating terrorism in Syria, call on Iran and other external actors to stop arming and advising terrorist groups, and urge regional States to rein in the actions of proxies who threaten regional peace and security”.

    Also acknowledging Israel’s legitimate security concerns, Denmark’s representative nevertheless expressed concern over its recent attacks in Syria.  Expressing support for UNDOF, which “has worked to address both Israel’s and Syria’s security concerns” for decades, she urged Israel to withdraw from the area of separation.  With both progress made and challenges present on Syria’s path to a new future, she stressed: “The international community — in particular this Council — has a responsibility to support the people of Syria on that path.”

    Syria’s representative, for his part, noted the “positive and constructive declarations and initiatives undertaken by Member States, international organizations and political groups to support Syria and its people”.  However, in parallel, Israel has challenged international efforts, threatened Syria’s territorial integrity and undermined Government efforts.  Citing the Secretary-General’s latest report, he pointed to “the incursion of the Israeli occupation forces into the buffer zone, the significant alteration of the situation therein and the impact on [UNDOF’s] operations since 8 December [2024]”.

    Israel is also threatening Syria’s water security, establishing military outposts for its forces and promoting tourist tours for settlers in the areas it has invaded, he stressed.  “This exposes the falsity of the occupation entity’s claims that its incursion is temporary and limited — it clearly reveals its aggressive and expansionist intentions,” he added.  Calling on the Council to end Israel’s ongoing aggression and compel its withdrawal from all Syrian lands, he concluded:  “Attempts to impose solutions by force — and to give precedence to the law of force over the force of law — are doomed to failure.”

    Meanwhile, the representative of Israel said:  “We will do whatever is necessary — for however long it takes — to prevent another 7 October [2023].”  Israel’s actions, he stressed, have been guided not by ambitions of expansion, but by necessity, security and prevention.  Pointing, as an example, to the Israel Defense Forces’ dismantling of an underground missile factory “constructed by Iran” in central Syria, he said that “this factory of death had already begun producing precision-guided missiles, several of which were subsequently used in attacks on Israeli territory by Hizbullah”.

    While underscoring that “Israel does not seek territorial gains in Syria”, he stated:  “Where threat exists, we will meet it without hesitation.”  For its part, Israel continues to coordinate with UNDOF under the framework of resolution 350 (1974).  He emphasized, however, that peacekeeping efforts alone cannot stop the spread of sophisticated weapons, intercept Iranian missile parts, dismantle terrorist tunnels or prevent the creation of launch sites embedded in civilian terrain. While Israel is committed to deconfliction and dialogue, he stressed:  “But we are also committed to the protection of our people, and that must take precedence when lives are at stake.”

    For his part, the representative of Libya spoke for the Arab Group to condemn Israel’s repeated aggression against Syria as “blatant” violations of international law.  “They are undoubtedly a threat to the peace and security of the entire region,” he stressed, calling on the international community — particularly the Council — to shoulder its legal and moral responsibility to pressure Israel to immediately cease its aggression and withdraw from all Syrian territory.

    Türkiye’s representative, stating that eliminating terrorist organizations in Syria “remains essential for lasting peace and unity”, stressed that all armed elements must surrender their weapons to the Syrian State, that all terrorist entities must be removed from Syrian territory and that security responsibilities for detention centres and camps in the country’s north-east must be swiftly transferred to the Syrian administration.  “Failure in Syria is not an option,” she said.

    __________

    * The 9895th Meeting was closed.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CASTOR OPPOSES REPUBLICAN TAX GIVEAWAY FOR BILLIONAIRES, WARNS OF HARM TO MIDDLE-CLASS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) voted ‘no’ on the Republican “budget for billionaires” that would gut health care for children, seniors and people with disabilities – all for $7 trillion in giveaways to GOP billionaire donors. The Republican scheme to make the richest Americans richer will explode the deficit by heaping trillions of dollars of debt on children and middle-class families.

    “Republicans in Congress are intent on saddling middle-class Americans with higher costs and more debt, so their billionaire donors can buy another vacation home or private jet,” said Rep. Castor. “In the Tampa Bay area, the GOP budget would gut Medicaid health care for over 682,000 neighbors, raise health care premiums by $430 on average per year, slash food assistance for 481,000, and jeopardize Pell grants for over 78,000 students.”

    The vast majority of health care cuts will be fought out in Castor’s Energy and Commerce Committee, where she will defend her neighbors, their health care, and their wallets. In Castor’s district alone, 148,000 are covered through the Affordable Care Act and are protected from discrimination for preexisting conditions. Under the GOP budget, the average premium would increase by $430 per year on average- a stunning 65% increase.

    In addition to deeply harmful health care cuts, the Republican plan threatens nutrition assistance for 179,000 people in FL-14 by slashing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) at a time when families are struggling with high grocery prices and rebuilding their lives after the devastating hurricanes.

    Rep. Castor is committed to fighting back against this reckless Billionaires’ Budget and standing up for Florida families.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Sudan: Rapid Support Forces horrific and widespread sexual violence leaves lives in tatters – new report

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Gang rapes of 36 women and girls as young as 15 recorded between April 2023 and October 2024 

     Woman torn away from breast feeding baby and attacked and 11-year-old boy beaten to death as he tried to help his mother 

     RSF soldiers tied a woman to a tree before one raped her as the others watched – ‘It was the most horrific day in my life’ 

     For survivors, cuts to vital USAID-funded programmes have diminished prospects for accessing comprehensive sexual health care 

     ‘The RSF’s attacks on civilians are shameful and cowardly, and any countries supporting the RSF, including by supplying them with weapons, shares in their shame’ – Deprose Muchena 

    The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has inflicted widespread sexual violence on women and girls throughout Sudan’s two-year civil war to humiliate, assert control and displace communities across the country. The RSF’s atrocities, including rape, gang-rape and sexual slavery, amount to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said in a new 34-page report.  

     The report, “They raped all of us: Sexual violence against women and girls in Sudan”, documents RSF soldiers raping or gang-raping 36 women and girls as young as 15, plus other forms of sexual violence, in four Sudanese states between April 2023 and October 2024. Violations include raping a mother after tearing away her breastfeeding baby and the 30-day sexual enslavement of a woman in Khartoum, as well as severe beatings, torture with hot liquid or sharp blades, and murder. 

     Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Regional Human Rights Impact, said: 

     “The RSF’s assaults on Sudanese women and girls are sickening, depraved and aimed at inflicting maximum humiliation. They have targeted civilians, particularly women and girls, with unimaginable cruelty during this war. 

     “The world must act to stop the RSF’s atrocities by stemming the flow of weapons into Sudan, pressuring the leadership to end sexual violence, and holding perpetrators including top commanders to account. 

     “The horror of the RSF’s sexual violence is overwhelming, but the cases documented among refugees represent a small fraction of the violations likely committed. The RSF’s attacks on civilians are shameful and cowardly, and any countries supporting them, including by supplying them with weapons, shares in their shame. 

     “The international response to the suffering of Sudanese women and girls has been reprehensible. The world has failed to protect civilians, provide sufficient humanitarian aid or hold perpetrators accountable for these crimes. It’s time for people and governments around the world to establish the truth of what has happened in Sudan, bring suspected perpetrators to justice and provide reparations and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care to survivors.” 

     Eruption of violence and war crimes since April 2023 

     Sudan’s civil war erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), killing tens of thousands of people and displacing more than 11 million to date. Both sides have committed serious violations of international humanitarian law, some of which amount to war crimes, including sexual violence against women and girls.  

     For the report, Amnesty interviewed 30 people, mostly survivors and relatives of survivors in Ugandan refugee camps. All survivors and witnesses identified RSF fighters as perpetrators. The RSF’s use of sexual violence throughout the conflict and across Sudan, combined with the fact that many attacks took place in the presence of other soldiers, victims and other civilians, indicates perpetrators did not feel compelled to hide their crimes and did not fear any response.  

      The RSF did not respond to Amnesty’s requests for comment.  

     ‘The most horrific day in my life’  

     Every survivor of sexual violence who was interviewed described how the attack caused massive physical or mental harm and had devastating impacts on their families. All fled their homes after.  

     In Nyala, South Darfur, RSF soldiers tied a woman to a tree before one raped her as the others watched. “It was the most horrific day in my life,” she said.  

     In Madani, Gezira, three RSF soldiers’ gang-raped a woman in front of her 12-year-old daughter and sister-in-law. “It was so humiliating,” the woman said. “I feel broken.”  

     Numerous survivors said RSF soldiers raped them on suspicion of SAF affiliation. Female medical workers said RSF troops raped them if they could not save wounded soldiers. In one such case, a nurse said 13 soldiers abducted her in Khartoum North and forced her to treat severely injured men before gang-raping her, leaving her unconscious.  

     Amnesty found two cases of sexual slavery in Khartoum, including a woman who said RSF troops held her captive in a house for a month, raping her almost every day.  

     Survivors said anyone who resisted rape risked beatings, torture and other ill-treatment, or murder, including an 11-year-old boy who an RSF soldier beat to death as he tried to help his mother.  

     A ‘reprehensible’ response  

     The world’s response has likewise been shameful as victims and survivors lack both health care and justice.  

    No survivors accessed timely post-rape care or reported attacks to Sudanese authorities due to ongoing fighting or fear of stigma and reprisals. Some suffer kidney pains, irregular periods, walking difficulties or long-term psychological trauma. Children who saw relatives raped suffer nightmares.  

    As refugees, all survivors said their priority was to get medical treatment for injuries and diseases inflicted by the RSF or for health conditions developed in their captivity. However, cuts to vital USAID-funded programmes have diminished prospects for accessing comprehensive sexual health care.  

    Survivors also demanded justice and accountability. One woman raped in Omdurman said: “Women are not leading or participating in this war, but it is women who are suffering the most. I want the whole world to know about the suffering of Sudanese women and girls and ensure that all the bad men who raped us are punished.”  

     UK Government to host conference on 15 April 

    The UK Government is due to host a ministerial-level international Sudan Conference in London on 15 April aimed at strengthening the international community’s response to the conflict.  

    Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s, Chief Executive, said:  

    “Bringing together international leaders could not come at a more vital time for the UK to champion the protection of women and girls from conflict in Sudan. However, the UK’s own drastic aid cut plans are deeply worrying and set a poor example – especially when the world is seemingly turning its back on those experiencing extreme violence. Despite the Prime Minister stressing that the UK will still hold a key humanitarian role in Sudan, its aid cut plans may well discourage additional funding from other states. This conference must recognise the horrendous findings from Amnesty’s report and remain prioritising funds for those most at risk.” 

     

     

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Yemen: US abrupt and irresponsible aid cuts compound humanitarian crisis and put millions at risk   

    Source: Amnesty International –

    The United States government’s abrupt and irresponsible termination of foreign assistance is putting the health and human rights of millions of people in Yemen who depend on humanitarian aid at risk, Amnesty International said today.   

    After a decade of a devastating conflict, Yemen continues to face one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.   

    Aid workers described to Amnesty International how President Donald Trump’s decision to cut US aid funding has led to the shut-down of lifesaving assistance and protection services, including malnutrition treatment to children, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, safe shelters to survivors of gender-based violence, and healthcare to children suffering from cholera and other illnesses.   

    The abrupt and irresponsible cuts in US aid will have catastrophic consequences on Yemen’s most vulnerable and marginalized groups.

    Diala Haidar, Amnesty International’s Yemen Researcher  

    “The abrupt and irresponsible cuts in US aid will have catastrophic consequences on Yemen’s most vulnerable and marginalized groups, including women and girls, children, and internally displaced people, jeopardizing their safety, dignity, and fundamental human rights,” said Diala Haidar, Amnesty International’s Yemen Researcher.  

    “Unless the US immediately reinstates sufficient funding for lifesaving aid to Yemen and ensures the money is disbursed expeditiously, an already devastating humanitarian situation will further deteriorate and millions of people in Yemen are going to be left without desperately needed support.  

    “Other donor states must also act urgently to uphold their human rights obligations by providing humanitarian assistance and supporting human rights in Yemen.”  

    After years of conflict and compounding crises, an estimated 19.5 million people, over half the population, are dependent on aid in Yemen. Yemen has the fifth-largest displacement crisis globally, with an estimated 4.8 million internally displaced people, most of whom are women and children, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Over the last five years, during both President Trump’s first term and President Biden’s, the US has consistently been Yemen’s largest donor, providing $768 million dollars’ worth of support in 2024, comprising half of Yemen’s coordinated humanitarian response plan.  

    Amnesty International interviewed 10 humanitarian experts and aid workers with direct knowledge of the situation on the ground and six representatives of local human rights organizations, five of which provide direct services to vulnerable groups, all of whom said the impact of the cuts will be devastating, leading to suffering, death and more instability for an already fragile country. All of those interviewed requested to remain anonymous.  

    The manner in which the US State Department designated the Huthis a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) has further compounded the humanitarian situation. The difficulty for aid organizations to certify compliance with the designation in the complex humanitarian environment in northern Yemen forced several international humanitarian organizations to suspend operations in Huthi-controlled territories.  The designation created significant confusion and concern, aid workers told Amnesty International. An executive order initiating the designation process did not reference any humanitarian exemptions and ordered that funds be cut off to any organization that “criticized international efforts to counter Ansar Allah [the Huthis] while failing to document Ansar Allah’s abuses sufficiently”.   

    “US measures targeting the Huthi de facto authorities should provide clear and effective exemptions for humanitarian aid operations and the delivery of life-saving supplies. The majority of civilians in critical need of aid live in Huthi-controlled areas in northern Yemen. The US’s designation of the Huthis as a terrorist organization should not obstruct aid and other supplies indispensable for keeping people alive, in good health and in safety,” said Diala Haidar.  

    Since 15 March, the US has also intensified its military operations in Yemen, carrying out several waves of air strikes against Huthi targets, including air strikes on Sana’a, Sa’adah, Hodeidah and other governorates under Huthi control.   

    “Hungry, displaced, and exhausted by violence, people in Yemen already lived in one of the most dire humanitarian crises in the world. The military escalation in Yemen, along with the US aid cuts, will compound the humanitarian disaster already facing a population still reeling from the long-standing conflict. it doesn’t have to be this way—the US should restart funding to these programmes immediately,” said Diala Haidar.   

    ‘We have been forced to make life and death decisions’  

    On 20 January, US President Donald Trump signed a presidential executive order, ordering that all foreign aid be paused during a 90-day review to ensure alignment with his administration’s foreign policy. On 24 January, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stop work order to those delivering assistance worldwide. The US said some exemptions would be granted, including to “life-saving humanitarian assistance”. On 10 March, only six weeks after the review was ordered, Rubio wrote on X that 83% of the foreign aid programmes at USAID had been officially cancelled.   

    Humanitarian organizations were left with impossible decisions to make on life-saving services while lacking clear communication from US agencies, such as USAID, multiple aid workers told Amnesty International.   

    One aid worker said: “We’ve been forced to make life and death decisions on little to no information. Often there is no one to speak to because USAID has been gutted. People you are emailing are not there. This is impacting our Yemen grant as well as many others elsewhere.”  

    On 28 March, the US State Department formally notified Congress it is dissolving USAID, eliminating some functions and moving the remainder under the State Department.  

    Devastating impact on women and girls  

    Women and girls across Yemen have long faced systemic discrimination and gender-based violence. Yemen has no legal minimum age of marriage, and almost one third of women are married before the age of 18. Child marriage is associated with a life-time of human rights harms. Yemen also has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the Middle East and North Africa, with nearly 200 women dying for every 100,000 births, according to UNFPA.  

    According to experts and aid workers interviewed by Amnesty International, by March 2025, the US aid funding cuts had already forced the shutdown of dozens of safe spaces—designed to prevent or respond to gender-based violence—for women and girls across Yemen. They warned that if funding was not restored, dozens of health facilities and reproductive health and protection clinics would shut down, denying hundreds of thousands of women and girls, including survivors of gender-based violence, access to life-saving healthcare, psychosocial support and legal aid.  

    A representative of a local organization that provides a range of services to survivors of gender-based violence, including safe shelter, legal aid, and psychosocial support, said the US aid cuts had severely impacted more than half of their programmes. She told Amnesty International:   

    “Hundreds of women will be impacted… We are no longer providing psychological support, which is a crucial service for women survivors of gender-based violence. Legal aid counselling will also stop.”   

    In addition to the funding cuts, the US designation of the Huthis as an FTO led international organizations running lifesaving programmes that provided support to malnourished children and pregnant and breast-feeding mothers to suspend operations in Huthi-controlled areas. 

    The US is weakening years-long efforts by Yemeni women-led organizations to support and empower other women.

    Diala Haidar, Amnesty International’s Yemen Researcher

    “The US is weakening years-long efforts by Yemeni women-led organizations to support and empower other women,” said Diala Haidar. “When survivors of gender-based violence lose access to shelters, psychosocial support, referrals to health centres, legal aid and other critical services, they face life-threatening consequences. Funding cuts risk dismantling the existing network of protection and support that has been built over years by Yemeni women human rights defenders and humanitarian organizations, which in turn makes girls increasingly vulnerable, including to child marriage, human trafficking, begging and child labour.”   

    US policies on Yemen have also impacted other vulnerable groups, including children and the internally displaced. Approximately 2.3 million children in Yemen, nearly half of children under five, are acutely malnourished according to OCHA. A number of organizations have had to pause or end protection, health and nutrition services they were providing for infants and young children. Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people are also projected to lose access to life-saving emergency relief as a result of the funding cuts.   

    ‘Funding cuts silence victims’ voices and weaken justice’  

    Representatives of local human rights organizations in Yemen also described how the abrupt US funding cuts jeopardized their work monitoring human rights violations and abuses whilst also undermining the rights of hundreds of the people they have been helping to find shelter, legal aid, and safety, including survivors of gender-based violence, women human rights defenders, and families of victims of enforced disappearance. They described how the move undermined their efforts to pursue justice and accountability in Yemen and feared that it will further embolden perpetrators of abuses   

    In describing the cuts, one human rights defender said: “We are already facing restrictions on our [human rights] work by the different authorities [in Yemen], so this felt as if the international community has abandoned us.”   

    A woman human rights defender explained that the US funding cuts would have a direct impact on victims of human rights violations, including the arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared because their documentation work and legal aid services will end. She said: “These victims and their families right to truth and justice is at stake.”  

    Another human rights defender said: “Funding cuts do not just end projects, funding cuts silence victims’ voices and weaken justice in Yemen.”  

    Background  

    Over the last five years, the United States has consistently been Yemen’s largest humanitarian donor. Other major donors to the humanitarian response include the United Kingdom, the European Commission, Saudi Arabia and Germany. Even before the US aid cuts, Yemen’s humanitarian response plan was consistently and severely underfunded for years. As of April 2025, the plan was only 6.9% funded.  

    The Huthis have also exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, targeting aid workers and other international staff working to deliver life-saving services in northern Yemen. Starting on 31 May 2024, they conducted a series of raids in areas under their control, arbitrarily detaining 13 UN staff and at least 50 staff from Yemeni and international civil society organizations. Between 23 and 25 January 2025, the Huthis conducted another wave of arrests arbitrarily detaining eight UN staff. On 11 February, one of the eight detained UN staff members died in Huthi custody. Many of those arrested were working to provide assistance or protection to those most in need, and the arrests prompted the UN to announce the suspension of all official movements into and within areas under Huthi control in January 2025.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Yemen: US military escalation and aid cuts will have ‘catastrophic consequences’ for millions of people – aid worker testimonies

    Source: Amnesty International –

    An estimated 19.5 million people are dependent on aid in Yemen

    Yemen has the fifth-largest displacement crisis globally and most are women and children

    Funding cuts makes girls increasingly vulnerable to child marriage, human trafficking, begging and child labour

    ‘We’ve been forced to make life and death decisions on little to no information. Often there is no one to speak to because USAID has been gutted’ – Aid worker

    ‘Hungry, displaced, and exhausted by violence, people in Yemen already lived in one of the most dire humanitarian crises in the world’ – Diala Haidar

    The United States government’s abrupt and irresponsible termination of foreign assistance is putting the health and human rights of millions of people in Yemen who depend on humanitarian aid at risk, Amnesty International said today.    

    After a decade of a devastating conflict, Yemen continues to face one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.   

    Aid workers described to Amnesty how President Donald Trump’s decision to cut US aid funding has led to the shut-down of life-saving assistance and protection services, including malnutrition treatment to children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, safe shelters to survivors of gender-based violence, and healthcare to children suffering from cholera and other illnesses.   

    After years of conflict and compounding crises, an estimated 19.5 million people – over half the population – are dependent on aid in Yemen. It has the fifth-largest displacement crisis globally, with an estimated 4.8 million internally displaced people, most of whom are women and children, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Over the last five years, during both President Trump’s first term and President Biden’s presidency, the US has consistently been Yemen’s largest donor, providing $768 million dollars’ worth of support in 2024, comprising half of the country’s coordinated humanitarian response plan.  

    Diala Haidar, Amnesty International’s Yemen Researcher, said:

    “The abrupt and irresponsible cuts in US aid will have catastrophic consequences on Yemen’s most vulnerable and marginalised groups, including women and children, and internally displaced people, jeopardising their safety, dignity, and fundamental human rights.

    “Unless the US immediately reinstates sufficient funding for life-saving aid to Yemen and ensures the money is disbursed expeditiously, an already devastating humanitarian situation will further deteriorate and millions of people will be left without desperately needed support.   

    “Other donor governments must also act urgently to uphold their human rights obligations by providing humanitarian assistance and supporting human rights in Yemen.”  

    Aid workers on the ground

    Amnesty interviewed 10 humanitarian experts and aid workers with direct knowledge of the situation on the ground and six representatives of local human rights organisations, five of which provide direct services to vulnerable groups, all of whom said the impact of the cuts will be devastating, leading to suffering, death and more instability for an already fragile country. All of those interviewed requested to remain anonymous.   

    The US State Department designating the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation has further compounded the humanitarian situation. The difficulty for aid organisations to certify compliance with the designation in the complex humanitarian environment in northern Yemen forced several international humanitarian organisations to suspend operations in Houthi-controlled territories. The designation created significant confusion and concern, aid workers told Amnesty. An executive order initiating the designation process did not reference any humanitarian exemptions and ordered funds be cut off to any organisation that “criticised international efforts to counter Ansar Allah [the Houthis] while failing to document Ansar Allah’s abuses sufficiently”.   

    Since 15 March, the US has also intensified its military operations in Yemen, carrying out several waves of air strikes against Houthi targets, including air strikes on Sana’a, Sa’adah, Hodeidah and other governorates under Houthi control.   

    Diala Haidar added:

    “The majority of civilians in critical need of aid live in Houthi-controlled areas in northern Yemen. The US’s designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organisation should not obstruct aid and other supplies indispensable for keeping people alive, in good health and in safety.

    “Hungry, displaced, and exhausted by violence, people in Yemen already lived in one of the most dire humanitarian crises in the world. The military escalation in Yemen, along with the US aid cuts, will compound the humanitarian disaster already facing a population still reeling from the long-standing conflict. It doesn’t have to be this way – the US should restart funding to these programmes immediately.”  

    USAID gutted

    On 20 January, Donald Trump signed a presidential executive order ordering that all foreign aid be paused during a 90-day review to ensure alignment with his administration’s foreign policy. On 24 January, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stop work order to those delivering assistance worldwide. The US said some exemptions would be granted, including to “life-saving humanitarian assistance”. On 10 March, only six weeks after the review was ordered, Rubio wrote on X that 83% of the foreign aid programmes at USAID had been officially cancelled.   

    Humanitarian organisations were left with impossible decisions to make on life-saving services while lacking clear communication from US agencies, such as USAID, multiple aid workers told Amnesty.   

    One aid worker said:

    “We’ve been forced to make life and death decisions on little to no information. Often there is no one to speak to because USAID has been gutted. People you are emailing are not there. This is impacting our Yemen grant as well as many others elsewhere.”  

    On 28 March, the US State Department formally notified Congress it is dissolving USAID, eliminating some functions and moving the remainder under the State Department.  

    Devastating impact on women and girls  

    Women and girls across Yemen have long faced systemic discrimination and gender-based violence. Yemen has no legal minimum age of marriage, and almost one third of girls are married before the age of 18. Child marriage is associated with a lifetime of human rights harms. Yemen also has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the Middle East and North Africa, with nearly 200 women dying for every 100,000 births, according to UNFPA.  

    According to experts and aid workers interviewed by Amnesty, by March 2025, the USAID funding cuts had already forced the shutdown of dozens of safe spaces designed to prevent or respond to gender-based violence for women and girls across Yemen. They warned that if funding was not restored, dozens of health facilities and reproductive health and protection clinics would shut down, denying hundreds of thousands of women and girls, including survivors of gender-based violence, access to life-saving healthcare, psychosocial support and legal aid.  

    A representative of a local organisation that provides a range of services to survivors of gender-based violence, including safe shelter, legal aid, and psychosocial support, said the US aid cuts had severely impacted more than half of their programmes. She told Amnesty:   

    “Hundreds of women will be impacted… We are no longer providing psychological support, which is a crucial service for women survivors of gender-based violence. Legal aid counselling will also stop.”   

    Diala Haidar, added:

    “The US is weakening years-long efforts by Yemeni women-led organisations to support and empower other women. When survivors of gender-based violence lose access to shelters, psychosocial support, referrals to health centres, legal aid and other critical services, they face life-threatening consequences. Funding cuts risk dismantling the existing network of protection and support that has been built over years by Yemeni women human rights defenders and humanitarian organisations, which in turn makes girls increasingly vulnerable, including to child marriage, human trafficking, begging and child labour.”   

    US policies on Yemen have also impacted other vulnerable groups, including children and the internally displaced. Approximately 2.3 million children in Yemen, nearly half of children under five, are acutely malnourished according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Several organisations have had to pause or end protection, health and nutrition services they were providing for infants and young children. Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people are also projected to lose access to life-saving emergency relief because of the funding cuts.   

    Restrictions on human rights work

    Representatives of local human rights organisations in Yemen also described how the abrupt cuts jeopardised their work monitoring human rights violations and abuses whilst also undermining the rights of hundreds of the people they have been helping to find shelter, legal aid, and safety, including survivors of gender-based violence, women human rights defenders, and families of victims of enforced disappearance. They described how the move undermined their efforts to pursue justice and accountability in Yemen and feared that it will further embolden perpetrators of abuses   

    One human rights defender said: 

    “We are already facing restrictions on our [human rights] work by the different authorities [in Yemen], so this felt as if the international community has abandoned us.”

    A woman human rights defender explained that the US funding cuts would have a direct impact on victims of human rights violations, including the arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared because their documentation work and legal aid services will end. She said: “These victims and their families right to truth and justice is at stake.”  

    Another said:

    “Funding cuts do not just end projects, funding cuts silence victims’ voices and weaken justice in Yemen.”  

    UN workers detained    

    The Houthis have also exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, targeting aid workers and other international staff working to deliver life-saving services in northern Yemen. Starting on 31 May 2024, they conducted a series of raids in areas under their control, arbitrarily detaining 13 UN staff and at least 50 staff from Yemeni and international civil society organisations. Between 23 and 25 January this year, the Houthis conducted a wave of arrests arbitrarily detaining eight UN staff. On 11 February, one of the eight detained UN staff members died in Houthi custody. Many of those arrested were working to provide assistance or protection to those most in need, and the arrests prompted the UN to announce the suspension of all official movements into and within areas under Houthi control in January.  

    Humanitarian donors

    Over the last five years, the US has consistently been Yemen’s largest humanitarian donor. Other major donors to the humanitarian response include the United Kingdom, the European Commission, Saudi Arabia and Germany. Even before the US aid cuts, Yemen’s humanitarian response plan was consistently and severely underfunded for years. As of this month, the plan is only 6.9% funded.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: In Dialogue with Mauritius, Experts of the Committee against Torture Praise the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment, Ask about the Minimum Penalty for Torture and Prison Conditions

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee against Torture today concluded its consideration of the fifth periodic report of Mauritius, with Committee Experts praising the prohibition of corporal punishment through the children’s act of 2020, and raising questions about the minimum penalty for torture offences, prison conditions and the treatment of prisoners.

    Naoko Maeda, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, commended the children’s act of 2020, which prohibited corporal punishment in all settings and established a special court for children.  Would the State party establish a time limit for pre-trial detention of children that was in accordance with the Beijing Rules?  How many children were in pre-trial detention?

    Bakhtiyar Tuzmukhamedov, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the section of the Criminal Code on police brutality had been amended to increase the upper threshold of fines and prison sentences for the offence.  However, it did not set lower thresholds for these punishments. Would this section apply to acts of torture and were the punishments sufficient?

    Ms. Maeda expressed concern regarding reports of inadequate food and material conditions in prisons, insufficient access to medical and rehabilitation services and family visits, and the number of detainees who died in police custody. How were these issues being addressed?

    She further noted with concern that the provisional charges system was still in place, under which persons could be detained on suspicion of commission of a serious offence. How did the State party ensure detainees’ rights from the moment of detention, including the right to be presented before a judge?

    Introducing the report, Gavin Patrick Cyril Glover, Attorney-General of Mauritius and head of the delegation, said the children’s act of 2020 prohibited the infliction of corporal or humiliating punishment on a child as a discipline measure.  The act also set the age of criminal responsibility at 14 years and stressed that the detention of a juvenile suspected of having committed a criminal offence was imposed only as a measure of last resort.

    On the minimum penalty for torture, the delegation said prosecutors typically called for the highest penalty in cases of torture, but judges had the ability to issue lesser penalties.  The State party would address the lack of minimum penalties for torture crimes in its legislation.

    Mr. Glover said Mauritius’ Constitution, the reform institutions act, and prison regulations provided for the safe and humane treatment of prisoners.  The National Preventive Mechanism Division examined the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty, and police and prison officers received training on international and regional human rights standards prohibiting torture.

    The delegation added that there had been some worrying reports of abuse of authority by police officers.  The Independent Police Complaints Commission had taken on the burden of investigating these cases and determining accountability.  The delegation cited four cases of deaths in custody for which judicial inquiries had been launched.

    The police and criminal evidence bill had yet to be adopted, the delegation said, but it would likely be adopted within a year. It set a time limit for the detention of persons awaiting trial, and stated that arrests could not be carried out without sufficient evidence.

    In closing remarks, Claude Heller, Committee Chair, said the Committee was encouraged by the dialogue and expressed hope that the rule of law was being strengthened in the State.  The Committee hoped that its recommendations would have a positive impact on the human rights situation in Mauritius.

    In his concluding remarks, Mr. Glover said that the Committee’s review would help to ensure that deficiencies in Mauritius’ legal and policy framework would be addressed.  The State party would ensure that the winds of change that started to blow with the election of the new Government in November 2024 would continue.

    The delegation of Mauritius consisted of representatives from the Attorney-General’s Office; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade; and the Permanent Mission of Mauritius to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue concluding observations on the report of Mauritius at the end of its eighty-second session on 2 May.  Those, and other documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, will be available on the session’s webpage.  Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, and webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

    The Committee will next convene in public on Monday, 14 April at 11 a.m. to hear the presentation of the annual report of the Chair of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture.

    Report

    The Committee has before it the fifth periodic report of Mauritius (CAT/C/MUS/5).

    Presentation of Report

    GAVIN PATRICK CYRIL GLOVER, Attorney-General of Mauritius and head of the delegation, said Mauritius had always strived to uphold its obligations under international law.  This could be seen through the ratification of seven core United Nations human rights treaties and five Optional Protocols to these treaties, including the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture.  The provisions of these instruments had been incorporated in the domestic legislative framework through various legislation.  The provisions of the Rome Statute had also been domesticated, thus providing national courts with universal jurisdiction over war crimes, including torture.

    Last December, the Government translated the Convention into the widely spoken dialect of Kreol Morisien and published this translation online to raise awareness about its content.  Police and prison officers were directed to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Convention.  In addition, in order to promote the universal accession of the Convention, Mauritius had joined the Convention against Torture Initiative.

    Last year’s general elections in Mauritius demonstrated the vibrancy of the State’s democracy, with a very high turnout of almost 80 per cent of voters.  The new Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, had embarked on a mission to strengthen democratic principles and access to justice.  The new Government would set up a Constitutional Review Commission to make recommendations for constitutional reforms that enhanced the protection of fundamental rights.

    On 4 April 2025, the Cabinet agreed to the introduction of the Constitution (amendment) bill and the Criminal Code (amendment) bill into the National Assembly. The first bill aimed to repeal section 7 (2) of the Constitution to ensure the absolute prohibition of torture in all circumstances, and the second bill would bring the Criminal Code provisions on homicide, wounds and blows under lawful authority in line with the absolute ban on torture.  The Cabinet had also approved an amendment to the Criminal Code that removed provisions excusing manslaughter committed on spouses found committing the act of adultery. These revisions were in line with Committee recommendations.

    The police and criminal evidence bill would soon be adopted. This would become one of the most significant pieces of legislation in the criminal justice system, impacting the work of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.  Additionally, the Government would adopt a zero-tolerance policy and a victim-oriented approach to domestic abuse and human trafficking. Consultations were ongoing for the introduction of a new domestic abuse bill, which would define marital rape as a specific criminal offence with appropriate penalties.

    The children’s act of 2020 promoted the best interests of the child and prohibited the infliction of corporal or humiliating punishment on a child as a discipline measure. The offence carried, as penalty, a fine not exceeding 200,000 rupees and a prison term not exceeding five years. The act also set the age of criminal responsibility at 14 years and stressed that the detention of a juvenile suspected of having committed a criminal offence was imposed only as a measure of last resort.  A Children’s Court had been set up and was operational.  The 2020 child sex offender register act aimed to reduce and prevent the risk of sexual offences against children, as recommended by the Committee.

    Mauritius had developed a National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons 2022-2026, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration.  Following amendments in 2023, the combatting of trafficking in persons act provided for a victim-centred approach, allowing for more rigorous identification and prosecution of cases of trafficking in persons. It established an effective institutional framework and provided additional legal powers to the police to protect victims.

    The Constitution of Mauritius, the reform institutions act, the prison regulations, and the prison standing orders provided for the safe and humane treatment of prisoners in Mauritius.  The Mauritius Prison Service adhered to the Nelson Mandela Rules.  The National Preventive Mechanism Division examined the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty with a view to ensuring their protection against torture and made recommendations regarding the improvement of prison conditions.  Officers from police and prison departments regularly received training courses on international and regional human rights standards prohibiting torture, and national and international codes of conduct for law enforcement.

    Mauritius was committed to upholding its obligations towards human rights treaty bodies, including the Convention, as demonstrated by its serious endeavours to comply with the Committee’s recommendations.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    BAKHTIYAR TUZMUKHAMEDOV, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the State’s Constitution upheld the right to be free from “torture or inhuman or degrading punishment or other such treatment” but did not mention “cruel” treatment.  Why was this?  The Committee hoped that the planned amendments to the Constitution were successful. Was the right to be free from torture non-derogable and absolute, including in states of emergency?  Did the Convention take precedence over domestic legislation?  Were the provisions of the Convention that referenced “cruel treatment” deemed to be contrary to the Constitution?

    The definition of torture in the Criminal Code made exceptions for offences committed by public officials carrying out punishments determined by law.  Why was this?  Did the State’s legislation address the offence of planning to commit torture? Could the Convention be invoked in domestic courts?  Why was the Supreme Court reluctant to cite applicable provisions of the African Charter?

    The section of the Criminal Code on police brutality had been amended to increase the upper threshold of fines and prison sentences for the offence.  However, it did not set lower thresholds for these punishments.  Would this section apply to acts of torture and were the punishments sufficient?  The penalty for acts of corporal torture in the Code was far higher.  Why was this?  If police officers committed acts of torture, under what provision were they investigated?

    Who appointed judges in Mauritius, how were they selected and how independent and impartial was the process? Were judges required to continue their education throughout their careers?  How ethnically diverse was the judiciary and law enforcement?  How were elements of traditional justice harmonised with the ordinary legal system?

    The displacement of the inhabitants of the Chagos islands amounted to inhuman treatment by a foreign State. What measures were in place to support them?  What were their chances of obtaining full redress and compensation, including relocation to their native islands?

    What measures had the State party taken under the Prevention of Terrorism Act?  How did the Government ensure that these measures complied with its obligations under international law, including the Convention?  Would the State party consider acceding to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees?  Mauritius was not a party to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, or to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.  Did Mauritius intend to complete accession to those instruments?

    Did the Constitution allow for the potential reinstatement of capital punishment?  What percentage of police and prison officers completed training programmes on preventing torture?  Did this training address the revised Istanbul Protocol of 2022?

    NAOKO MAEDA, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the National Human Rights Commission of Mauritius had “A” status under the Paris Principles.  How was the State party promoting the participation of civil society in the Commission and ensuring that the appointment process for members was transparent?  What resources were provided to the Commission over the reporting period?

    The Committee was concerned that the police and criminal evidence bill had yet to be introduced in the National Assembly and the provisional charges system was still in place, under which persons could be detained on suspicion of commission of a serious offence.  How did the State party ensure detainees’ rights from the moment of detention, including the right to be presented before a judge and the right to access a lawyer and free legal aid where applicable?

    The Committee commended increases in the numbers of judges and magistrates and measures to reduce lengths of trials and pre-trial detention.  However, there was still a high rate of lengthy pre-trial detention. What measures were in place to reduce the length and use of pre-trial detention, and to introduce alternatives to detention, in accordance with the Tokyo Rules?

    The Committee commended the creation of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which investigated complaints against the actions of police officers.  However, the three members of this body continued to be appointed by the President.  What measures were in place to ensure the independence of this Commission?  How did the State party ensure that the Commission’s investigations were conducted in a timely manner?  There was a low rate of investigated and prosecuted cases as of 2021. How many investigations had resulting in findings of torture by the police?  How did the State party ensure that complainants did not face reprisals?

    The Committee welcomed training for police officers on topics such as the inadmissibility of evidence obtained under duress.  How many officials had been prosecuted for extracting evidence under duress, and in how many cases had courts rejected such evidence?

    The Committee was concerned by reports of inadequate food and material conditions in prisons, as well as insufficient access to medical and rehabilitation services and family visits. How were these issues being addressed? The Committee was concerned by the number of detainees who died in police custody.  What measures were in place to investigate and prevent such deaths? The National Human Rights Commission had also raised concerns about remand detainees being held with convicted detainees, contrary to the Mandela Rules.  What measures were in place to address this?  There were 140 women in prison in Mauritius, the majority of whom were foreigners.  What were foreign detainees charged with?  How did the State party ensure that prison conditions for women detainees were appropriate?

    The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment’s report on its last visit to Mauritius had not been made public by the State party. The Committee called on the State party to do so, and to present measures taken to address the report’s recommendations.

    The Committee commended the children’s act of 2020, which prohibited corporal punishment in all settings and established a special court for children.  However, the Committee was concerned about the lack of progress in establishing the juvenile justice system prescribed by the Act.  Would the State party establish a time limit for pre-trial detention of children that was in accordance with the Beijing Rules? How many children were in pre-trial detention?  Could children be tried in the absence of their legal guardian?

    There were no legal provisions banning marital rape.  What steps had been taken to develop such provisions?  There had reportedly been an increase in sexual and gender-based violence in the State and under-reporting of such cases by victims due to fear of stigmatisation.  Had the State party taken actions to improve the mechanism for reporting violence against women?  What support services were available for victims?  The Criminal Code criminalised all acts related to the provision of abortions, even in cases of sexual violence.  Would the State party reconsider its blanket ban?

    What policy reforms were being made to protect asylum seekers from non-refoulement and create a more supportive environment for asylum seekers?  The State party did not have an established procedure for dealing with statelessness.  Did it plan to accede to international conventions on statelessness?

    Another Committee Expert asked how asylum seekers were treated while waiting for processing of their asylum applications.  Were they detained and did they have access to healthcare and education services?

    One Committee Expert noted the steps taken to amend the Constitution and the Criminal Code, including to set the age of minimum criminal responsibility to 14 years.  What steps had been taken to enable victims of torture to access redress and rehabilitation programmes?  Could the delegation provide statistics on court cases concerning redress and alleged violations of rights under article 14 of the Convention?  Had measures been taken to incorporate elements of the Convention on redress into domestic legislation?

    Another Committee Expert said it was commendable that in October 2023, the Supreme Court made a historic decision to decriminalise same-sex relations between consenting adults.  However, there were still reports of hate crimes against individuals based on their perceived sexual orientation and gender identity, and a lack of investigations into such cases.  How was the State party addressing this issue?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the 2024 elections gave the Government the majority in the National Assembly needed to push through amendments to the Constitution and the Criminal Code related to torture. The State party aimed to completely overhaul its justice system to enhance access to justice.  The Constitutional Review Commission would consider revising the Constitution to address acts of cruelty.  The State party aimed to bring the Constitution and its legislative framework in line with the international treaties to which Mauritius was a party.

    Criminal Code provisions on “conspiracy offences” specified that there was a possibility to prosecute for “wrongful” acts that did not breach specific laws.  Planning to commit serious offences such as torture could be prosecuted under this provision.  Prosecutors typically called for the highest penalty in cases of torture, but judges had the ability to issue lesser penalties.  The State party would address the lack of minimum penalties for torture crimes in its legislation.

    There was a case concerning a death in detention that was before the Supreme Court, and three other cases on deaths in custody before other courts.  There had been some worrying cases of abuse of authority by police officers. The Independent Police Complaints Commission had taken on the burden of investigating these cases and determining accountability.  The Public Prosecutor had opened a judicial inquiry to find out the facts in one case, responding to the recommendations of the Commission.

    Judges of the Supreme Court were appointed from State Law Offices based on seniority.  Judges typically had at least 20 years of experience at the time of their appointment.  This system did not involve the executive; the chief judges of the Supreme Court were responsible for appointments.  There were no ethnicity considerations in appointments.  Continuous training on human rights was provided to members of the judiciary.  The State party was considering opening a magistracy school, but this had not been achieved yet.

    The death penalty was abolished in the Criminal Code in 1995, but a motion to amend the reference to the death penalty in the Constitution was rejected by the Parliament at that time. This was why the State party had not ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  All death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment after the abolition.  The Constitutional Review Committee would consider amending the Constitution to remove the reference to the death penalty.

    The police and criminal evidence bill had yet to be adopted, but it would likely be adopted within a year. Its name would be changed to the police and criminal justice bill.  The bill would regulate police officers’ powers to investigate, arrest and detain suspects, set a time limit for the detention of persons awaiting trial, and guarantee the human rights of detainees.  The bill stated that arrests could not be carried out without sufficient evidence and had provisions to govern the admissibility of confessions. The limit for pre-trial detention was set by the bill at 48 hours but could be extended to a maximum of 72 hours for serious offences.

    Domestic courts had not cited recent international court cases related to the Chagos islands.  Mauritius’ position was that the United Kingdom owed redress and compensation to native Chagossians and their descendants.  The Government of Mauritius had developed measures to promote the integration of the Chagossian community into Mauritius, including scholarships, housing services, food distribution, and recreational activities.  Negotiations related to sovereignty of the islands and resettlement were ongoing with the United Kingdom, but the Government believed that the relocation of Chagossians had to occur at some point in time.

    Mauritius was previously a French and English colony, and its laws on human rights were inspired by the European Convention of Human Rights.  This was why courts often referenced this Convention.  However, many courts had also referred to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

    Current thresholds for legal aid were ridiculous; legal aid was currently only available to persons who earned less than 15,000 rupees a month, even though the minimum wage was 20,000 rupees a month.  The Government was reviewing legislation to promote better access to legal aid for persons with low incomes.  The Criminal Procedural Act and other legislation had also been amended to ensure that courts gave persons full credit for time spent in pre-trial detention when issuing prison sentences.

    The delegation cited four cases of deaths in custody for which judicial inquiries had been launched.  In one case, the inquiry found that blows to the victim were not made to extract a confession, while in another, nine police officers were being prosecuted for offences including bodily harm to the victim and the hiding of evidence.  In a 2022 case, a citizen was reportedly taken to a police station and tasered while completely naked.  The police officers who allegedly engaged in this act were now being prosecuted. There were several cases of victims seeking damages for alleged human rights violations by public officials that were pending before the Supreme Court.  One case had been settled out of court without an admission of guilt by the State.

    There were currently 18 refugees and 80 asylum seekers in Mauritius.  Persons who were not lawful residents of Mauritius did not have access to public education services.  However, Caritas provided private education to the children of asylum seekers.  The previous Government had decided in 2023 not to implement an asylum processing system proposed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.  Mauritius had not ratified international conventions on statelessness or refugees, as doing so would have serious implications on the State’s limited resources. The Prime Minister had the authority to grant nationality to any stateless persons; currently, the State was not aware of any stateless persons on its territory.

    The Criminal Code provided for a minimum period of three years imprisonment for unlawful arrests.  The probation of offenders act was last amended 15 years ago, and there was a need to modernise it.  Probation was currently rarely used in Mauritius, but courts had alternatives to detention such as community service.

    There was legislation that allowed for lawful abortions when specialists determined that the pregnancy endangered the mother’s life, would result in malformation of the foetus, resulted from rape, or when the mother was aged 16 or under.  The Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare conducted awareness raising campaigns on domestic violence.  There were around 500 cases of domestic violence reported in the past few weeks thanks to efforts to raise awareness of reporting channels.  Victims were supported by the State and non-governmental organizations to access temporary shelter, legal advice, psychosocial support, and other services.  In 2024, the Government introduced a policy on workplace sexual harassment.

    Children aged 14 and under who were in conflict with the law were not detained but could be placed in “places of safety” if necessary.  The criminal division of the Children’s Court had exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving child offenders aged 14 to 17.  If the detention of juveniles was necessary, they were detained in the youth detention centre, where juveniles under pre-trial detention were separated from those serving sentences.  While there were over 50 arrests of children in 2022, there were only 12 in 2024 and thus far four in 2025.  This demonstrated that the new laws were working.

    A digital interview recording system was operational in eight places of deprivation of liberty in Mauritius. Interviewees had the right to refuse digital recording of statements.  Thus far, courts had found evidence to be inadmissible in only a small number of cases, due to legal limitations.  The police did not work within a rigid protocol and had pushed back against the police and criminal justice bill.  The new police and criminal justice bill would address these issues.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    NAOKO MAEDA, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the involuntary hospitalisation of persons with disabilities, including children, was still allowed in Mauritius.  How many cases of involuntary hospitalisation had oversight bodies reviewed and what were their outcomes?  Could the national preventive mechanism conduct unannounced visits to residential care homes and hospitals?  Had there been reports of ill-treatment in these institutions?

    Could the delegation comment on reports of increased arbitrary arrests, threats and attacks experienced by human rights defenders, a worsening environment for human rights lawyers, and intimidation and harassment of journalists?

    Despite the State party’s efforts, including through training for police officers and the 2023 amendments to the combatting in trafficking persons act, human trafficking was reportedly still prevalent, notably sex trafficking of women and children and trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation in the manufacturing and construction sectors. What measures were in place to tackle difficulties in gathering evidence of trafficking and to provide support services to all victims?

    The presence of civil society from Mauritius in the reporting process was relatively low.  How did the State party encourage civil society organizations to participate and disseminate the Convention and the Committee’s recommendations?

    BAKHTIYAR TUZMUKHAMEDOV, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, welcomed that the State party was seemingly preparing to make constitutional amendments to address the issues raised in the dialogue.  Was the minimum punishment for police brutality three years imprisonment? Persons under suspicion of an offence relating to terrorism could be detained for a period of up to 36 hours, which could amount to incommunicado detention.  Was the denial of bail act still being applied? 

    The Committee welcomed that Mauritius was participating in the Convention against Torture Initiative. Was it taking measures to prevent the trade of equipment solely used for torture?

    Another Committee Expert asked if the State party had taken initiatives such as training to better control the police.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the last 10 years in Mauritius had been very difficult for its citizens.  The resounding victory of the current Government in the most recent elections was evidence that things were changing in the country.  The Government was working to strengthen training for police officers on human rights and regulation of the police force.  It would push for the adoption of the police and criminal justice bill as quickly as possible.

    The National Human Rights Commission had the power to conduct unannounced visits of residential homes. The Government would call on the Commission to exercise this power to protect the rights of the elderly.

    There were around 10 human rights lawyers in Mauritius, who had had great difficulty in accessing their clients. Some had been arrested in the exercise of their duties.  The police now knew that they needed to respect the rights of these human rights defenders.  Since November 2024, human rights lawyers had not complained about their treatment by police officers.  Planned legislation would prevent police from obstructing human rights defenders.

    The Government had a zero-tolerance policy to trafficking in persons.  Much had been done to fight trafficking, underpinned by the national action plan on trafficking, which was developed in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration.  The Director of Public Prosecutions had set up a taskforce to investigate trafficking cases and support victims. There were 48,000 migrant workers in Mauritius, many of whom were working without permits.  The Government aimed to protect these workers from trafficking and ensure that employers educated workers on their rights.

    Suspects could be held under the terrorist act in incommunicado detention for up to 36 hours.  There were only two drug-related cases in which suspects had been held in incommunicado detention in the last 10 years.  The denial of bail act had been declared unconstitutional but was still on the law books; it needed to be removed.

    Mauritius did not trade in goods for capital punishment.  It imported equipment for police officers that was meant exclusively to protect police officers when they were being violently attacked.  The firearms act prohibited the manufacturing or purchase of noxious liquids.

    Concluding Remarks

    CLAUDE HELLER, Committee Chair, said that the Committee appreciated the delegation’s frank approach to the dialogue.  It was encouraged by the winds of change described by the delegation and expressed hope that the rule of law was being strengthened in the State.  The Committee would consider the difficulties faced by the State party in changing the mindsets of law enforcement officials. Based on the dialogue, it would select priority recommendations that the State party could implement within a year. It hoped that these recommendations would have a positive impact on the human rights situation in Mauritius.

    GAVIN PATRICK CYRIL GLOVER, Attorney-General of Mauritius and head of the delegation, said the Committee’s review would help to ensure that deficiencies in the State’s legal and policy framework would be addressed.  Mauritius looked forward to the Committee’s observations.  The dialogue had been frank and positive.  The State party would work to ensure that the winds of change that started to blow with the election of the new Government in November 2024 would continue.

    ___________

    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.

     

    CAT25.003E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers Congratulate Jamaica on Training Programmes for Officials, Raise Questions on Current Bilateral Agreements and the State’s Treatment of Undocumented Migrants

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families today concluded its consideration of the combined initial and second periodic report of Jamaica.  Committee Experts commended the State on training programmes for officials and raised questions on the current bilateral agreements in place, most notably with Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, and the treatment of undocumented migrants. 

    Ermal Frasheri, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said Jamaica should be congratulated on the State’s various training programmes for officials, asking questions about specific trainings pertaining to the Convention. 

    Prasad Kariyawasam, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked about the labour agreements in place between Jamacia and the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom; what kind of agreements were in place with these countries at this point? How did the provisions affect Jamaican migrant workers in those countries?  What kind of consular diplomatic representation did Jamaica have in those countries?  What were the main challenges faced and what was the State party doing to address these challenges? 

    Jasminka Dzumhur, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked about migrants approaching Jamaica from Cuba by boat; how were they treated when they did not have documents?  How did the State return them?  What happened to those who were found undocumented in Jamaica?  Where were they sent?  Who provided legal aid to migrants? 

    The delegation said Jamaica had bilateral working arrangements in place with Canada and the United States, although the agreement with the United States was not a written agreement and was more of an understanding.  Many Jamaicans had travelled to the United Kingdom after World War II to work, but there was no current bilateral agreement in place with the United Kingdom.  A seasonal agricultural worker’s programme was in place with Canada, which had been created in 1966 and re-signed in 1995.  Each worker was required to sign an employment contract which entitled them to lodgements, meals, and payment of wages.  Jamaica had appointed liaison officers in Canada, across four offices, where the largest concentrations of workers were located. 

    The delegation said Jamaican law considered irregular migrants as being in breach of the detention law, and when they were detained, their rights were enshrined within the Jamaican Constitution.  Irregular migrants were held at local police stations, usually close to their place of entry.  If a person requested to apply for refugee status, they could not be removed from Jamaica until this application was considered, regardless of their nationality or means of entering the country.  The State did not seek to criminalise those in irregular migration. There was no cross-contamination of migrants with convicted men and women, even if they were housed in correctional facilities. 

    Pearnel Charles Jr, Minister of Labour and Social Security of Jamaica, speaking via a video recording, said migration was an integral part of Jamaica’s national experience, and the State continued to prioritise policies that promoted safe, orderly, and regular migration, in alignment with international standards. 

    Jamaica had introduced several key policy initiatives and programmes aimed at ensuring the fair treatment and protection of migrant workers, particularly in the areas of labour mobility, social protection, and anti-exploitation measures.  Despite this progress, challenges remained, including expanding access to social protection for all migrant workers, regardless of their status, and strengthening data collection to improve policy responses to migration trends. 

    In concluding remarks, Mr. Kariyawasam thanked Jamaica for the professional and constructive dialogue. It was a challenging time for migrants’ rights and this interaction was very important.  Jamaica had a vibrant history and had a special role to play in setting standards in the region and the world. 

    Tyesha Turner, Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the constructive dialogue and all those who had made the dialogue possible. Jamaica apologised for the delay in submitting the report and recognised the importance of complying with its obligations.  Jamaica would continue to work to ensure that all migrant workers and members of their families enjoyed the full protection of their rights. 

     

    The delegation of Jamaica was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security; the Ministry of National Security; and the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations Office in Geneva. 

    The webcast of Committee meetings can be found here.  All meeting summaries can be found here.  Documents and reports related to the Committee’s fortieth session can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 15 April, to launch its general comment no. 6 on the convergent protection of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families through the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

    Report

    The Committee has before it the combined initial and second periodic report of Jamaica (CMW/C/JAM/1-2). 

    Presentation of Report

    PEARNEL CHARLES JR, Minister of Labour and Social Security of Jamaica, speaking via a video recording, reaffirmed Jamaica’s unwavering commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of migrant workers and their families.  Migration was an integral part of Jamaica’s national experience, and the State continued to prioritise policies that promoted safe, orderly, and regular migration, in alignment with international standards. 

    Jamaica had introduced several key policy initiatives and programmes aimed at ensuring the fair treatment and protection of migrant workers, particularly in the areas of labour mobility, social protection, and anti-exploitation measures.  The State maintained long-standing bilateral labour agreements with countries such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, which facilitated the annual employment of thousands of Jamaican workers, particularly in agriculture, construction and hospitality.  These agreements were routinely reviewed and strengthened to improve working conditions, ensure fair wages, and secure access to social benefits. 

    Jamaica was home to a growing number of migrant workers, primarily from the Caribbean, who contributed significantly to sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare and tourism.  The State’s labour laws provided core protections, including equal pay, non-discrimination and workplace safety, in accordance with international standards. Efforts were underway to streamline the work permit process to make it more efficient and accessible, ensuring that migrant workers were able to work legally and benefit from the protections to which they were entitled. 

    Jamaica maintained a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of exploitation, including trafficking in persons.  The National Task Force against Trafficking in Persons continued to spearhead national efforts in prevention, prosecution and victim support.  The State had strengthened monitoring systems to identify and prevent exploitative labour practices and had expanded training for immigration and law enforcement officials, to improve their capacity to identify, investigate and respond to trafficking cases, including those involving migrant workers. 

    Despite this progress, challenges remained, including expanding access to social protection for all migrant workers, regardless of their status, and strengthening data collection to improve policy responses to migration trends.  Jamaica remained fully committed to enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation to improve labour migration frameworks, continuing efforts to prevent exploitation and trafficking in persons, and ensuring timely and effective engagement with international mechanisms, including the Committee. 

    TYESHA TURNER, Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations Office at Geneva, and head of the delegation, said the delegation appreciated the patience of the Committee on the issue of the submission of the report. It had been hoped that the report would be submitted prior to the dialogue, however, Jamaica aimed to submit the report by the time the dialogue concluded.  Jamaica regretted the delay in submitting the report but hoped that the delegation’s appearance before the Committee was evidence of the State’s commitment to protecting and promoting the rights of migrant workers. 

    The liquidity crisis continued to impact the treaty bodies, including the Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers, and the lack of hybrid services had an impact on small island developing States.  Jamaica would consult with members of the delegation in Kingston to provide all information necessary to the Committee. 

    Questions by Committee Experts

    JASMINKA DZUMHUR, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the concluding observations of the Committee could only be based on what was discussed today.  In these circumstances it was difficult to have a constructive dialogue, and it was hoped lessons would be learnt from this process.  Could more information be provided on Jamaica’s national action plan on development? How did this plan relate to migrants?  Could information be provided on the medium-term socio-economic policy framework?  Which new strategic documents had been adopted related to the combatting of trafficking in persons? 

    What was the status of the ratification of International Labour Organization Conventions? How many migrants were on the territory of Jamaica?  From which countries?  Had there been any progress relating to the establishment of the national human rights institution?  How much coordination was undertaken with civil society organizations?  What was the mechanism for the protection of trafficking victims?  What did the system include?  What kinds of measures and activities were in place to support victims?  What information was available on cases of trafficking in children?  Had any perpetrators been brought to justice? 

    The Committee had received information that those approaching Jamaica by boat were detained in one house in poor conditions, with families separated from their children; could the delegation comment on this?  Could information be provided on existing legislation related to asylum seekers and their protection?  Was there any option which allowed undocumented migrants to work? 

    PRASAD KARIYAWASAM, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked about the labour agreements in place between Jamacia and the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom; what kind of agreements were in place with these countries at this point?  How did the provisions affect Jamaican migrant workers in those countries?  What kind of consular diplomatic representation did Jamaica have in those countries?  What were the main challenges faced and what was the State party doing to address these challenges?  Did Jamaica provide legal support, consular assistance, repatriations etc?  How many Jamaicans were working abroad? 

    The Committee had received substantive information that people came to Jamaica from Haiti and Cuba in search of work; these were undocumented migrants who were protected under the Convention.  How was the Convention invoked when dealing with these people?  The Committee had heard there was detention and collective expulsions of these people, and their children were not provided with education; could the delegation comment on these allegations?  What efforts was the State undertaking to provide education for children of undocumented migrant workers?  What measures was Jamaica taking to prevent these workers from being exploited and to provide them with a decent wage? 

    ERMAL FRASHERI, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked if there were any issues Jamacia had which arose from enforcing the Convention?  Was there anything the State believed that the United Nations mechanisms, including the Committee, could do to help? 

    MAMANE OUMARIA, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, commended the Jamaican delegation for travelling to Geneva for the dialogue.  Without the report, it was difficult to ask questions.  Jamaica was a country of origin of migration. The State had established an effective protection mechanism for Jamaican migrants abroad, through consular missions. Was there a protection mechanism in place for domestic workers?  What difficulties did Jamaican migrant workers face when they travelled to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom?  Had Jamaica established a national human rights commission?  Was it operational?  Did it hold A Status? 

    A Committee Expert asked about the Haitian population.  The depth of the crisis Haiti faced had led to growing migration across the region.  How was the State treating this population?  Were there any initiatives from the Caribbean Community to support these people?  What types of policies and measures were developed to protect Haitian migrants abroad?  What were the consulates doing to assist Jamaican nationals living abroad? What support was being given to families regarding the arbitrary migration policies implemented by the United Kingdom, including in response to the Windrush scandal? 

    Another Committee Expert asked if Jamaica expected more deportations from the United States? What were the reasons for these deportations?  What tools did the State have to counter these problems?  There was a large community of Jamaicans in the United States; was this community disturbed by the behaviour of the host Government? 

    One Expert congratulated Jamaica on ratifying eight out of the 10 basic International Labour Organization Conventions.  However, there were two which had not been ratified, including the Convention on Labour Inspection.  Did the State have a labour inspection body?  Did this body have effective resources to carry out its tasks?  Did the country intend to ratify both Conventions? What measures had the State party taken to avoid and combat discrimination against migrants? 

    A Committee Expert said it was necessary to submit a written report prior to the dialogue, to ensure it could be constructive.  The non-submission of a report prevailed over the presence of the State for a constructive dialogue.  Without the report, the Committee had limited information.  The non-submission of the report was a violation of an obligation, and also violated the rights of all citizens to know whether the State was standing by its international obligations.  Had something been done to ensure irregular immigration was not criminalised?  Was there a law regulating the protection of asylum seekers and refugees?  What had Jamaica done to eradicate statelessness in the State party? 

    Another Committee Expert asked what type of services were provided by consular services to Jamaican migrants abroad?  Did they extend to the elections in Jamaica?  Did the consular offices provide migrant workers from Jamaica with the opportunity to participate in the elections? 

    An Expert commended the Jamaican delegation for being present in Geneva to submit the report.  Jamaica’s Minister should be congratulated for supporting the Committee’s values and principles on migration as a driver for sustainable and economic development.  Could information be provided on legal aid for unaccompanied or separated children of migrant workers who had run into trouble with the law?  Were there procedures to promote the social reinsertion of these children? 

    What healthcare protection did children of migrant workers have?  Were there specific data indicators on the children of migrant workers? Jamaica had deployed a campaign with the International Labour Organization which showed the State’s willingness to eliminate child labour and exploitation.  Was there disaggregated statistical data on the economic exploitation of migrants or separated children? 

    A Committee Expert said not having a report was a violation of the Convention and a missed opportunity.  Was the Convention and its provisions relied upon in the courts of Jamaica?  Did the case law of the courts refer to the Convention or to the rights of migrant workers in general?  What impact did this have on the legal order?  What safeguards were available to migrant workers?  What practical measures existed to ensure bilateral obligations were complied with? 

    What was the situation in practice when it came to implementing the bilateral agreements? What was the scope of the social protection mechanisms available to migrant workers?  What kind of challenges existed?  What category of migrant workers were affected by these challenges? What strategies existed for vulnerable migrant workers to access social protection?  What efforts were being deployed to protect seasonal, agricultural and domestic workers? 

    Responses by the Delegation 

    The delegation said Jamaica was a dualist State and as such did not have automatic incorporation of the Convention into law.  However, Jamaica had several acts which covered the provisions of the Convention. Jamaica emphasised through public information campaigns, the Conventions which it had ratified.  Jamaica had ratified Convention 189 on domestic workers and was currently working on amending the employment, termination and redundancy act and the minimum wage act, to ensure the provisions of the Convention were properly covered.  The minimum wage act meant no employer could go below the minimum wage stipulated. There were labour inspectors employed across the entire island to ensure the minimum wage and other provisions were being adhered to. 

    Jamaica regretted that the report was not completed on time and would endeavour to ensure this was not a repeated occurrence.  The creation of a national human rights institution was under review and the State was committed to pursuing the creation of this mechanism. 

    Jamaica had a regulated framework in place for money transfers and remittances.  The Bank of Jamaica regulated these providers.  Only entities licensed by the Bank of Jamaica were authorised to receive and send remittances.  These providers were strategically located at approved service points. 

    At this point, Jamaica was not considering the decriminalisation of irregular migrants. However, everyone who entered Jamaica was afforded protection.  The labour inspectorate in Jamaica currently inspected various workplaces to ensure compliance.  Jamaica was currently in the process of reviewing its labour officers (powers) act, with the intention to amend that act and put forward a recommendation for the approval to ratify part two of Convention 181.  Jamaica was actively in the process of completing a gap analysis with the International Labour Organization with the view to ratifying Convention 190.

    The 2019 diaspora policy had been updated in 2022.  The State now had a paternity leave policy, created in 2023.  Jamaica faced challenges with data collection.  A recruitment drive had been undertaken to appoint more judges to clear the backlog of cases, particularly when it came to migrant workers. 

    Jamaica had tabled its migration and development policy in 2017, which had been informed by civil society organizations.  These groups played an active role in the reintegration of involuntarily returned migrants, working with Government agencies to meet with the migrants who were arriving, collecting data from the migrants, and providing them with basic social services.  Civil society played a key role in settling involuntary returnees and integrating them back into the Jamaican society. 

    There had been public outreach regarding the Windrush situation, and the State had responded appropriately to those who came forward as a result.  There was a dedicated department to provide consular services for Jamaicans abroad.  Through a network of over 20 embassies, high commissions and consular generals, Jamaica made every effort to ensure that those detained overseas were supported.  The consular offices notified families of the persons detained or under arrest, obtained information about the status of the cases, provided families with a list of local lawyers if available, and facilitated the transfer of funds to a detained person, among other services. Jamaica had undertaken efforts to expand the network of counsels, particularly in areas where many Jamaicans visited. 

    There was no collective expulsion of migrant workers from any nationality and no use of arbitrary detention of migrant workers and their families in Jamaica.  All detentions of migrants of any category were pursuant to the judicial or administrative processes outlined in Jamaican law.  Any deprivation of liberty must be carried out in line with due process and was subject to judicial oversight. 

    Jamaica had bilateral working arrangements in place with Canada and the United States, although the agreement with the United States was not a written agreement and was more of an understanding.  Many Jamaicans had travelled to the United Kingdom after World War II to work, but there was no current bilateral agreement in place with the United Kingdom. 

    A seasonal agricultural workers programme was in place with Canada, which had been created in 1966 and re-signed in 1995.  A memorandum of understanding had been established to enabled Jamaicans to travel to Canada and work.  Each worker was required to sign an employment contract which entitled them to lodgements, meals, and payment of wages.  The contracts of employment were available online.  Jamaica had appointed liaison officers in Canada, across four offices, where the largest concentrations of workers were located. Each worker, upon departing from Jamaica, was assigned a liaison officer.  They were available to assist workers on a 24-hour basis, and conducted predominantly unannounced visits to the farms to monitor working situations. 

    Questions by Committee Experts

    JASMINKA DZUMHUR, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked about migrants approaching Jamaica from Cuba by boat; how were they treated when they did not have documents?  How did the State return them?  What happened to those who were found undocumented in Jamaica?  Where were they sent?  Who provided legal aid to migrants?  Were there any strategic plans for communicating with the diaspora?  How were those who returned to Jamaica reintegrated back into society? 

    PRASAD KARIYAWASAM, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked if there were special banks established to facilitate the return of voluntary and non-voluntary migrants?  Was there an institutional set up which handled the concerns of irregular migrants? Where could irregular migrants seek redress?  How was birth registration handled in regard to irregular migrants?   

    A Committee Expert asked about the outcomes of the programme launched with the United Nations Development Programme on migration and development 10 years ago? 

    FATIMATA DIALLO, Committee Chair, said it would be appreciated if the State could send the report before the conclusion of the dialogue. 

    At the beginning of the second day of the dialogue, Ms. Diallo thanked the delegation of Jamaica for submitting the combined initial and second periodic report. 

    Responses by the Delegation 

    The delegation said Jamaica noted the concern raised by the Committee relating to the lack of local legislation for asylum seekers.  However, Jamaica maintained its treaty obligations under the national refugee policy.  Migrants were screened by health officials and received treatment if necessary, and were provided with food and water, as well as a translator if needed.  Jamaica had demonstrated compliance with its policy, as evidenced by 70 per cent of those who had applied for asylum and had had their applications heard.

    Jamaica took note of the Committee’s concerns regarding the treatment of Haitian asylum seekers; however, Jamaica maintained a strong rights-based approach towards discrimination, and this was applied to nationals from all countries.  A group of 37 Haitian nationals who had arrived in July 2023 were given immediate refugee status and were currently in Jamaica under Government care while their applications were being processed. 

    All children born in Jamaica were entitled to birth registration under Jamaican law.  All migrant children who were arrested were given due process, including legal representation and access to medical care. All children were treated equally in Jamaica; there was no mention of race in any acts pertaining to children. The child diversion committee and act incorporated safeguards to protect children and prevented the commencement of criminal proceedings against children while they were enrolled in the programme. 

    Jamaica had put measures in place to facilitate the free movement and entry of skilled nationals from the Caribbean Community into its territory.  The Government of Jamaica conducted routine inspections to ensure fair labour standards for all workers, including migrants.  Jamaican law guaranteed equal treatment for all, and migrant workers were to be treated no differently than Jamaican nationals.

    Jamaican law treated irregular migrants as being in breach of detention law, and when they were detained, their rights were enshrined within the Jamaican Constitution. Irregular migrants were held at local police stations, usually close to their place of entry.  Migrants would be interviewed to determine if they could speak English and if necessary, an interpreter would be provided.  If possible, the consular representative would be contacted. If a person requested to apply for refugee status, they could not be removed from Jamaica until this application was considered, regardless of their nationality or means of entering the country. The State did not seek to criminalise those in irregular migration.  There was no cross-contamination of migrants with convicted men and women, even if they were housed in correctional facilities.  An independent body was tasked with investigating any accusations of unlawful actions by law enforcement. 

    The Jamaican Government was aware that although progress had been made over the year to improve the facilities, more needed to be done.  The facility at Camp Cape Clare was used to house foreign nationals, and had been repeatedly utilised by the United Kingdom’s Peace Corps.  Two large rooms had been refurbished, and it was ensured that proper care was provided to the migrants residing there, in line with international standards.  Food items were delivered every week and distributed daily by the manager, with food cooked each day.  A private security was contracted to work on the centre, to ensure the migrants living there were safe. 

    Workers who participated in the seasonal workers programme were covered by a range of benefits, including maternity allowance, a retirement pension, an invalidity benefit, and a spousal allowance.  Jamaica had signed social security arrangements with several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Quebec and the 12 Caribbean Community States. 

    It was ensured that schools were equipped to provide education to children from all backgrounds, including migrant children.  International migration was mobilised to support Jamaica’s national development. It should be facilitated and managed to benefit the families.  The national policy aimed to ensure that migration was a matter of choice, and to strengthen legislation around migration.

    The State faced challenges in the delivery of consular services, due to a lack of resources on the ground and limited data to track Jamaican nationals overseas.  In 2024, Jamaica launched the diaspora register act which enabled every Jamaican working overseas to register via their smartphones. 

    The aliens act did not automatically confer a suspensive action on appeal.  Legal assistance was available to those who could not pay for legal representation themselves, through the Legal Aid Council. Jamaica did not pursue repatriation arbitrarily, nor was it a punitive measure, but rather an administrative procedure governed under the rule of law and in line with international human rights standards.  The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency was the lead agency responsible for coordinating these procedures.  Where it was possible, the Government encouraged and facilitated voluntary returns, including by offering predeparture counselling and reintegration assistance. 

    Jamaica’s trafficking in persons act was amended in 2021 to remove the option of fines for sentencing.  The State was party to the Palermo Protocol and was now considering bilateral cooperation avenues.  Hotlines were available to provide services to potential victims, and a unit had been created within the Office of the Children’s Advocate which provided a 24/7 phone line.  Many ministries, including the Ministry of Tourism, had received training on how to recognise cases of human trafficking.  More than 60 doctors across Jamaica had also been trained in this regard. The Jamaican legislation was premised on non-discrimination.   

    Questions by Committee Experts

    JASMINKA DZUMHUR, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, thanked the delegation for the huge efforts made to prepare responses to the Committee’s questions. What was the status of the national human rights institution?  Had the State asked the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the United Nations Children’s Fund to provide technical assistance in the process of reporting?  It was good that the forum for the diaspora had been established; what could returning Jamaicans expect when they returned to the country? 

    ERMAL FRASHERI, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, appreciated the submission of the combined initial and second report.  What types of inconsistencies did Jamaica find when it reviewed State legislation against the Convention?  Jamaica should be congratulated on the State’s various training programmes for officials.  Were there specific training programmes on the Convention?  Who provided these trainings? 

    PRASAD KARIYAWASAM, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, congratulated Jamaica on the submission of the report and for the State’s professional responses. It was recognised that Jamaica had an interministerial committee on human rights and a national working group on national migration and development.  These were good institutions in which the State could provide and implement best practices.  When employment agencies were monitored, was there a cap on what they could charge?  How was this monitored?  Did the Committee which monitored the human rights treaty bodies have the power to provide recommendations to the Government?  Launching the app for the diaspora was a commendable act; how did this work?  Was there a mechanism to monitor and respond to the app?

    A Committee Expert said Jamaica had set up a law on the protection of children in 2004 and had several protection programmes, including one which assessed the living conditions of children and recommended the type of assistance to be provided to those children.  How were those programmes prepared and follow-up guaranteed?  Did the law on the protection of children take into account migrant, unaccompanied and separated children? 

    As part of its prerogatives, the Ombudsman’s office for children was obliged to submit a report to parliament which was an excellent initiative; it reflected the State’s commitment and political will to the protection of children.  Was this report in line with the treaty body provisions, regarding the children of migrant workers.  The age of 16 was the cut off age for sexual consent; what was the harmonisation of the law with human trafficking and sexual exploitation? Could more information be provided about the definition of illegal minors? 

    An Expert asked what the real accurate figures on the diaspora were? 

    A Committee Expert said Jamaica was one of the few countries that had ratified International Labour Organization Convention 189, and the Committee thanked them for this. What type of training was provided to the various labour inspectorates?  What training or capacity building was provided to the administration which dealt with labour, force and work?  What was the role of the labour inspectorate? 

    Responses by the Delegation 

    The delegation said Jamaica was committed to pursue the development of a national human rights institution for the promotion and protection of human rights.  Over 331 police officers had been trained on human trafficking topics, including victim care and identification, and the psychological impact of human trafficking, among other topics.  In 2023, there were three convictions of persons involved in human trafficking, and two in 2024.

    Employment agencies for persons heading overseas could only charge a maximum of 4,000 Jamaican dollars for assistance, and any more could see them brought before the courts. The International Organization for Migration had spent time with Jamaican private employment agencies to provide training regarding integrity in recruitment.  Workers were sensitised on how to treat migrant related issues. 

    The interministerial committee on human rights was comprised of 19 ministries and agencies from the Jamaican Government.  The members of the Committee served as the core contacts for human rights issues in their respective ministries and agencies.  This involved sensitising and sharing information on human rights, working on developing a human rights strategy, and preparing Jamaica’s national report to the Human Rights Council and human rights treaty bodies, among others. 

    It was recognised that returning migrants could contribute to the country’s development. Jamaica had implemented several initiatives to facilitate the return and reintegration of voluntary and involuntary returnees.  Data was collected on the returnees, which allowed for the evaluation of the cohorts regarding the types of services provide to them.  Services provided included training and reskilling, career guidance workshops, skill development programmes, and job opportunities. 

    Efforts were currently underway to amend the minimum wage act to ensure domestic workers were provided with the protections outlined in the Convention.  This remained a priority for the Government.  Efforts had recently been made 

    to increase the number of labour officers to serve the general public. 

    The cabinet was required to review any amendments to laws prior to them being amended. Jamaica understood that much of the language in current legislation did not align with international obligations, and was currently reviewing acts, including the aliens act in this regard. 

    Closing Remarks

    JASMINKA DZUMHUR, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the delegation had made an extraordinary effort to answer all questions and provide as much information as possible.  It was hoped that the next periodic report would come on time.  The biggest challenge was the size of the State and the many international obligations, but Jamaica was encouraged to establish strong mechanisms.  Ms. Dzumhur extended best wishes to all the migrants on the territory of Jamaica.   

    ERMAL FRASHERI, Committee Expert and Co-Rapporteur, congratulated Jamaica on the dialogue. It was recommended that Jamaica take all steps to ensure that the Convention was implemented and enforced within the country’s legal system.  The State should make use of the Committee as it was ready to provide assistance in understanding the Convention and building capacities on the ground.  The Committee stood ready to continue its collaboration with Jamaica. 

    MAMANE OUMARIA, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, commended the Jamaican delegation for its hard work, considering that the report was not submitted within the deadline.  It was hoped next time the document could be provided beforehand, as it was important for the interactive dialogue.  It was important that Jamaica established the national human rights institution in the country.

    PRASAD KARIYAWASAM, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, thanked Jamaica for the professional and constructive dialogue.  It was a challenging time for migrants’ rights and this interaction was very important.  Jamaica had a vibrant history and had a special role to play in setting standards in the region and the world.  The Committee’s concluding observations would reflect the push for improvement. 

    FATIMATA DIALLO, Committee Chair, said the dialogue had been fruitful and commended Jamaica for the efforts undertaken.  The Committee always sought for improvement, which would include receiving the report on time.  This would allow the best possible concluding observations to be provided.

    TYESHA TURNER, Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the constructive dialogue and all those who had made the dialogue possible. Jamaica welcomed the opportunity to rise to the challenges with the Committee.  The State apologised for the delay in submitting the report and recognised the importance of complying with its obligations.  Jamaica would continue to work to ensure that all migrant workers and members of their families enjoyed the full protection of their rights. Ms. Turner thanked the Jamaican team who had travelled to Geneva and those who had followed the dialogue from Jamaica. 

    ___________

    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.

     

    CMW25.004E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Announces Investments to Expand Services that Prevent Incarceration in Western North Carolina Counties Impacted by Hurricane Helene

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Announces Investments to Expand Services that Prevent Incarceration in Western North Carolina Counties Impacted by Hurricane Helene

    NCDHHS Announces Investments to Expand Services that Prevent Incarceration in Western North Carolina Counties Impacted by Hurricane Helene
    jawerner

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced funding to community-based programs in Western North Carolina that provide alternatives to incarceration. The $6.5 million will support diversion programs and reentry services in counties that were heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. These counties include, but are not limited to, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Rutherford, Surry and Wilkes.

    “At a time when our western counties are struggling to rebuild infrastructure and meet daily needs, programs that help people avoid entering or remaining in the justice system are more important than ever,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “We know that half of the people in North Carolina prisons and jails have mental health needs, and three-quarters have substance use disorders. They need treatment and support to prevent further involvement in the system and to find a path toward recovery.” 

    Of the organizations receiving funding, three will establish or expand their Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) programs: Project Lazarus, HealthBook, and Vaya Health. LEAD supports community-based alternatives to jail and incarceration. The program connects individuals who are at risk of being arrested with mental health, medical and social services. 

    Diversion programs like LEAD provide dedicated resources to give law enforcement alternatives to punitive action for addressing low-level non-violent crimes through referrals to treatment or community services. Approaches vary, but it is common for law enforcement to partner with community agencies to support the referral process. Diversion programs provide appropriate safety nets along the way to reduce the chance of a return to jail or prison.

    “Our western counties impacted by Hurricane Helene need support for programs that prevent detention.  When these types of programs aren’t available, people who need treatment for mental health and substance use disorders can end up in carceral settings,” said Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services. “We know that incarceration raises the risk of drug overdose, post- traumatic stress disorder  and chronic health conditions. LEAD programs, transitional housing and employment services are crucial interventions that steer people away from incarceration and toward recovery and stability.”

    HealthBook, FIRST at Blue Ridge, Oxford House, and Freedom Life Ministries will all receive funds to support housing services, while both Healthbook and FIRST at Blue Ridge will also receive funding for employment services. All six awardees support reentry programs to provide dedicated resources before or immediately after release from incarceration, so people transition back into their communities safely and successfully. 

    Reentry programs include guidance and case management support as well as addressing non-medical needs like transportation, housing and employment. The goal of reentry programs is to reduce the number of people who cycle back into the justice system. Supporting people upon their release with housing, employment and other needs is critical to stopping the cycle of justice system involvement. It also improves outcomes and efficiency across our health and justice systems.

    This $6.5 million funding announcement builds on a previous announcement of $11 million for people at risk of incarceration and is part of NCDHHS’ historic $835 million investment to transform behavioral health in North Carolina. The department is investing $99 million to support people involved in the justice system by increasing services related to diversion, reentry and capacity restoration.

    Looking ahead, the department plans to leverage the $835 million investment to further expand services and continue to build toward an integrated behavioral health system that works for all North Carolinians. 

    More information on North Carolina’s investments in behavioral health is available in the following report: Transforming North Carolina’s Behavioral Health System: Investing in a System That Delivers Whole-Person Care When and Where People Need It. Additionally, the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 details plans for driving innovation and positive change for all North Carolinians. 

    El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte anunció hoy la financiación de programas comunitarios en el oeste de Carolina del Norte que ofrecen alternativas al encarcelamiento. Los $ 6.5 millones apoyarán programas de alternativas y servicios de reingreso en condados que fueron fuertemente afectados por el huracán Helene. Estos condados incluyen, entre otros, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Rutherford, Surry y Wilkes.

    “En un momento en que nuestros condados occidentales están luchando por reconstruir la infraestructura y satisfacer las necesidades diarias, los programas que ayudan a las personas a evitar ingresar o permanecer en el sistema de justicia son más importantes que nunca”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Dev Sangvai. “Sabemos que la mitad de las personas en las prisiones y cárceles de Carolina del Norte tienen necesidades de salud mental, y tres cuartas partes tienen trastornos por uso de sustancias. Ellos necesitan tratamiento y apoyo para evitar una mayor participación en el sistema judicial y encontrar un camino hacia la recuperación”.

    De las organizaciones que reciben fondos, tres establecerán o ampliarán sus programas de alternativos asistido por la policía (LEAD, por sus siglas en inglés): Project Lazarus, HealthBook y Vaya Health. LEAD apoya alternativas a la cárcel y el encarcelamiento basadas en la comunidad. El programa conecta a las personas que corren el riesgo de ser arrestadas con servicios de salud mental, médicos y sociales.

    Los programas de alternativas como LEAD proporcionan recursos dedicados a brindar alternativas de aplicación de la ley a la acción punitiva para abordar delitos no violentos de bajo nivel a través de remisiones a tratamiento o servicios comunitarios. Los enfoques varían, pero es común que las fuerzas del orden se asocien con agencias comunitarias para apoyar el proceso de alternativas. Los programas de alternativas proporcionan redes de seguridad apropiadas en el camino para reducir la posibilidad de un regreso a la cárcel o prisión.

    “Nuestros condados del oeste afectados por el huracán Helene necesitan apoyo para programas que prevengan la detención.  Cuando este tipo de programas no están disponibles, las personas que necesitan tratamiento para la salud mental y los trastornos por uso de sustancias pueden terminar en un entorno carcelario”, dijo Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, directora de la División de Salud Mental, Discapacidades del Desarrollo y Servicios por Uso de Sustancias de NCDHHS. “Sabemos que el encarcelamiento aumenta el riesgo de sobredosis de drogas, trastorno de estrés postraumático y enfermedades crónicas. Los programas de LEAD, la vivienda de transición y los servicios de empleo son intervenciones cruciales que alejan a las personas del encarcelamiento y las llevan hacia la recuperación y la estabilidad”.

    HealthBook, FIRST en Blue Ridge, Oxford House y Freedom Life Ministries, recibirán fondos para apoyar los servicios de vivienda, mientras que Healthbook y FIRST en Blue Ridge también recibirán fondos para servicios de empleo. Los seis seleccionados apoyan los programas de reingreso para proporcionar recursos dedicados antes o inmediatamente después de salir del encarcelamiento, para que las personas regresen a sus comunidades de manera segura y exitosa.

    Los programas de reingreso incluyen orientación y apoyo en el manejo de casos, así como abordando necesidades no médicas como transporte, vivienda y empleo. El objetivo de los programas de reingreso es reducir el número de personas que vuelven al sistema judicial. Apoyar a las personas tras su liberación con vivienda, empleo y otras necesidades es fundamental para detener el ciclo de participación en el sistema de justicia. También mejora los resultados y la eficiencia en nuestros sistemas de salud y justicia.

    Este anuncio de financiamiento de $6.5 millones se basa en un anuncio anterior de $11 millones para personas en riesgo de encarcelamiento y es parte de la histórica inversión de $835 millones de NCDHHS para transformar la salud del comportamiento en Carolina del Norte. El departamento está invirtiendo $99 millones para apoyar a las personas involucradas en el sistema de justicia mediante el aumento de los servicios relacionados con el desvío, el reingreso y la restauración de la capacidad.

    Mirando al futuro, el departamento planea utilizar la inversión de $835 millones para expandir aún más los servicios y continuar avanzando hacia un sistema integrado de salud conductual que funcione para todos los habitantes de Carolina del Norte.

    Puede encontrar más información sobre las inversiones de Carolina del Norte en salud conductual en el siguiente informe: Transformar el sistema de salud conductual de Carolina del Norte: invertir en un sistema que brinde atención integral cuando y donde las personas la necesiten. Además, el Plan Estratégico para 2024-2029 de la División de Salud Mental, Discapacidades del Desarrollo y Servicios de Uso de Sustancias del NCDHHS detalla planes para impulsar la innovación y el cambio positivo para todos los habitantes de Carolina del Norte.

    Apr 10, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kelly, Larson reintroduce Neighborhood Homes Investment Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chairman of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax and John Larson (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Social Security Subcommittee, reintroduced the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act. This bipartisan legislation creates a new tax incentive to build and preserve more than 500,000 affordable, single-family homes for homeownership over ten years in under-resourced communities.

    “The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act will allow homeowners and developers to not only affordably restore beautiful homes, but also to build and create more affordable housing in communities that need it the most. For the families whose dreams of homeownership feel unattainable, this bill could make those dreams closer to reality,” said Rep. Kelly. “I am proud to join my colleagues in leading the bipartisan Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, which will create stronger homes, stronger families, and stronger neighborhoods.”

    “I am proud to join my colleague, Rep. Mike Kelly, to introduce a bipartisan solution to bring down costs and increase the supply of affordable housing,” said Rep. Larson. “The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act will tackle our housing crisis by incentivizing the construction of new homes and the revitalization of vacant homes in need of repair. We will continue to work together to spur the development of good, quality housing in the Northeast and across the country, and make homeownership a reality for more of our nation’s families.”

    The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act gained strong backing in the 118th Congress, with 111 House cosponsors, including 17 members of the House Ways & Means Committee. The Senate version of the bill had 16 cosponsors last Congress, and a companion Senate bill is anticipated to be reintroduced later this month by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Mark Warner (D-VA).

    House original co-sponsors include Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Carol Miller (R-WV), Mike Carey (R-OH), David Kustoff (R-TN), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Danny Davis (D-IL), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).

    BACKGROUND

    Under this legislation:

    • Tax credits would be awarded to project sponsors through statewide competitions administered by state housing finance agencies.
    • Sponsors, which could include developers, lenders, or local governments, would use the credits to raise capital for their projects, and investors would claim the credits against their federal income taxes.
    • The credits can only be claimed for homes developed or rehabilitated in eligible low-income
      communities, and only after the homes are sold and occupied by lower or middle-income families.

    The Neighborhood Homes Coalition estimates that the legislation would support a substantial economic impact over the next 10 years. The 500,000 homes that would be developed or rehabbed would:

    • Spur $125 billion in total development activity.
    • Support 861,000 jobs in construction and construction-related industries.
    • Create $56 billion in wages and salaries.
    • Produce $26 billion in federal and $12 billion in state and local tax revenues and fees.

    You can read the full bill text here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Newhouse Statement on Passage of House Budget Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

    Headline: Newhouse Statement on Passage of House Budget Resolution

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement on passage of the House budget resolution to unlock the reconciliation process in Congress. 

    “Passing the budget resolution unlocks the next step in the reconciliation process allowing Congress to reduce federal spending, lower inflation, and advance a conservative agenda to get our country back on track. It will be no easy task, but Republicans must stay unified to deliver for the American people.” 

    The legislation passed the House with a vote of 216-214.  

    ###  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CLARKE ISSUES STATEMENT ON REPUBLICANS PASSING VOTER SUPPRESSION BILL

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke (9th District of New York)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    April 10, 2025

    MEDIA CONTACT: 

    e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

    c: 202.913.0126

    Washington, DC – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement on the passing of the Republican-led SAVE Act:

    “I am disturbed that Republicans are bending the knee to Donald Trump by passing this extreme anti-voting bill that disenfranchises voters and will collectively cost Americans billions. Every time we get to the finish line, Republicans move the line even further to support their agenda. Now, a driver’s license or a state-issued identification card isn’t enough. Republicans want voters to present a passport, birth certificate, and military service papers just to vote. This draconian legislation targets election officials, married women, students, military voters, and rural, minority, and low-income voters – putting them at risk of not being able to exercise their civic duty due to the unnecessary cost and requirements this bill will inflict on voters. I am appalled at their obsessive attempt to impede on citizen’s voting rights – disenfranchising and excluding millions of Americans under the guise of preventing non-citizens from voting. 

    “I’m calling this sham for what it is. This is modern-day Jim Crow and voter suppression. Trump and spineless Congressional Republicans want to take us back.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus Meets with Former Hostages and Families of Those Still in Captivity

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.– Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), issued the following statement after meeting with recently released hostages and family members of current hostages:

    “As co-chairs of the bipartisan Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus, we met with American Keith Siegel–who after an agonizing 15 months of brutal Hamas captivity–was finally reunited in February with his wife, Aviva, who was also held hostage for more than 50 days. Having met with Aviva several times, we are deeply relieved that she and Keith are finally reunited.

    “We also heard from other recently released hostages and their loved ones, including Iair Horn, a dual Argentine-Israeli who was taken from his home on October 7 alongside his brother Eitan, who remains in captivity; Liran Berman, the older brother of Ziv and Gali Berman––27-year-old twins kidnapped from their home by Hamas; and Ilay David, the brother of 24-year-old Evyatar David, who was abducted by Hamas while attending the Supernova Music Festival.

    “Our hearts break for the victims of October 7. The firsthand accounts of the horrific conditions endured––including mental torture and sexual and physical violence––are deeply disturbing. No human being should ever suffer such cruelty. We assured them that their loved ones are not forgotten.

    “It has now been one year and six months since Hamas terrorists launched the deadliest attack in Israel’s 76-year history, massacring over 1,200 innocent men, women, and children, and kidnapping more than 250 hostages. Today, 59 hostages, including Americans, remain in Hamas captivity.

     “Congress must remain united in unwavering, bipartisan support and solidarity with our ally, Israel, and we must continue efforts to secure the immediate release of the remaining hostages. We will never forget the lives lost, the pain endured, or the families still waiting to be reunited. And we will not stop working for the safe release of all the hostages, and for their captors to be held accountable.”

     

    In addition to the co-chairs of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, the following officials and individuals were present in solidarity during the meeting:

    • Alejandro Oxenford, Ambassador of Argentina to the United States
    • Dina Siegel Vann, Director of the Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs, American Jewish Committee

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Veterans Services Volunteers Help Vietnam Veterans, Families Claim Benefits

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    The Dale K. Graham Veterans Foundation (DKGVF) in Norman, Okla. is one of the top-10Veteran Service Organizations, as ranked by the Veterans Administration (VA). Their annual Vietnam era veterans event was held two days before the federally recognized National Vietnam War Veterans day on March 29.  The IAM Union sent volunteers and a donation to help with this year’s event.

    More than 100 Vietnam era veterans and their families were processed for help with VA benefits. Over 20 of the veterans were first time visitors to the DKGVF, some standing in line for hours before the event – which has become somewhat of a tradition.

    “One event, we had 75 people in campers overnight to be first in line for help the next morning” said the Founder, Dale K. Graham.  “I guess the word gets out that we do good work, and they are willing to line up to get it.”

    The work that Graham and his rifle platoon-sized team of volunteers provide year-round involves providing expertise to help navigate the systems and processes necessary for nearly 8,000 clients to access the VA benefits earned during service.

    The IAM Union sent in a three person team to support that platoon for this event. 

    “We are here to help and learn,” said Toni Buoy of the IAM Retirees and Membership Assistance Department.  “We want to learn from the best and this is one of the best run events we have witnessed, so we were glad to pitch in and help!”

    IAM Veterans Services Program gained Veteran Service Organization (VSO) status in January of 2025.  “We are just starting to stand up the VSO side of the Veterans Services Department, and we hope to learn a lot from Dale and his foundation,” said Bryan Stymacks, IAM Assistant Veterans Services coordinator.

    “What these volunteers did today is what they love to do everyday,” said Taylor Poindexter, CEO of the Dale K. Graham Foundation. “They love helping veterans.”  

    The former military pilot gave a detailed report that shows the foundation has helped veterans nationwide claim over $450 million worth of benefits. In Oklahoma itself, 11,000 veterans are receiving nearly $28 million a month in VA benefits that were earned by military service; including education, home loan guarantees, health care, survivor and disability benefits.

    “We are accredited by the VA, and we run a process so that only valid claims with proper evidence get to the system,” said Poindexter. “That makes the work easier for the VA, because when they see all the required material is there – it’s just a yes or no decision on the claim.”

    “I am so proud of all the work that Rich Evans, Bryan Stymacks, and many other IAM Veterans have put into building our Veterans Services to benefit our members,” said James “Stretch” Little, IAM Director of Retirees and Membership Assistance. “Any time we can help others, and get a chance to learn how to make our services better, we are going to do that.”

    Little volunteered to help on this event and was honored to work with U.S. Senate staffers to interview and record some veterans’ military service stories for the Library of Congress. 

    Back at Founder Dale K. Graham’s desk, he asks me if I need help with my own VA claim. I explain that I am already represented by Richard Evans of the IAM. “Nuff said,” said Graham.  “You have a good one in that young man”.

    Richard Evans, the IAM Veterans Services Coordinator since 2020, has helped more than 300 IAM members and their families receive more than $3 million in VA benefits.  He’s not in Dale K. Graham’s neighborhood yet – but he is working on it! 

    Photo Gallery

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski, Curtis, Tillis, and Moran Express Support for Energy Tax Credits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    04.10.25
    Washington, D.C. – In a letter last night to United States Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Curtis (R-UT), Thom Tillis (R-FL), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) expressed their support for maintaining a stable and predictable tax framework in the interest of promoting domestic energy development.
    “The United States produces some of the cleanest and most efficient energy in the world, and an all-of-the-above approach—including support for traditional and renewable energy sources—has long been a hallmark of our energy strategy,” the Senators wrote. “To that end, many American companies have made substantial investments in domestic energy production and infrastructure based on the current energy tax framework. A wholesale repeal, or the termination of certain individual credits, would create uncertainty, jeopardizing capital allocation, long-term project planning, and job creation in the energy sector and across our broader economy.”
    The full text of the letter be found here and below.
    The Honorable John Thune
    Majority Leader
    United States Capitol Washington, DC 20515
    Dear Majority Leader Thune:
    As Republicans committed to strengthening America’s energy security and economic growth, we write to emphasize the importance of maintaining a stable and predictable tax framework to promote domestic energy development. While we support fiscal responsibility and prudent efforts to streamline the tax code, we caution against the full-scale repeal of current credits, which could lead to significant disruptions for the American people and weaken our position as a global energy leader.
    Our country is blessed with abundant natural resources and an entrepreneurial spirit that uniquely positions us to power both our economy and the world—enabling U.S. leadership in innovation, energy production, and manufacturing alike. Many of the investments that make this possible are enabled by current tax provisions, including some from the Inflation Reduction Act.
    As our discussions on budget reconciliation continue, we urge you to consider each existing tax credit for its ability to: (1) spur new domestic manufacturing and investment; (2) reduce utility bills for consumers, especially in rural remote communities; and (3) ensure certainty for businesses that have already made meaningful U.S. investments based on the current credit structure.
    The United States produces some of the cleanest and most efficient energy in the world, and an all-of-the-above approach—including support for traditional and renewable energy sources—has long been a hallmark of our energy strategy. To that end, many American companies have made substantial investments in domestic energy production and infrastructure based on the current energy tax framework. A wholesale repeal, or the termination of certain individual credits, would create uncertainty, jeopardizing capital allocation, long-term project planning, and job creation in the energy sector and across our broader economy.
    Given rising energy demand, it is imperative that any modifications to the tax code avoid worsening the economic pressures that American households and businesses already face. For energy credits that provide a direct passthrough benefit to ratepayers, repeals would translate into immediate utility bill increases, placing additional strain on hardworking Americans.
    Furthermore, as the Trump Administration continues its efforts to restore manufacturing and secure supply chains, maintaining a reliable energy tax environment is essential to attracting long-term investment, particularly in states that offer business-friendly climates. Repealing incentives that support energy development would undermine these objectives, slowing economic progress and job creation in key industries.
    At the same time, we acknowledge there are necessary reforms to be made within our tax system to ensure efficiency, accountability, fiscal sustainability, and implementation that follows the rule of law. We urge a targeted, pragmatic approach that balances these priorities without undercutting current and future private-sector investments that are vital to domestic manufacturing, energy innovation, and affordability for American families.
    As discussions on tax policy continue, we stand ready to work with you to identify waste, fraud, abuse, and necessary reforms. We believe the final reconciliation bill can support smart policies that enable private sector investment in domestic energy to help meet future U.S. energy needs and strengthen the global competitiveness of American companies. We appreciate your leadership and look forward to collaborating on policies that support our shared goals of energy security, economic competitiveness, and responsible fiscal stewardship.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canadian retailers are seeing a surge in domestic sales amid the ‘Buy Canadian’ movement

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Melise Panetta, Lecturer of Marketing in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University

    In recent months, the “Buy Canadian” movement has gained significant momentum, driven by a collective push to support domestic products and services, strengthen local businesses and reduce reliance on foreign imports.

    Escalating trade tensions and tariff disputes with the United States and threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to annex Canada have played a pivotal role in fuelling this shift toward economic nationalism.

    Though still in its early stages, the movement has already gained strong support from Canadians, with both consumers and businesses prioritizing homegrown products to strengthen the local economy.

    Early results are promising

    The “Buy Canadian” movement is already delivering promising results across the retail sector. Major retailers such as Loblaws Companies have reported a 10 per cent increase in sales of Canadian-made products. Sobey’s parent company Empire also noted a decline in sales of U.S.-sourced goods.

    Importantly, the shift isn’t limited to big retailers or headline product categories. Smaller retailers and established brands are also seeing tangible benefits.

    Ice cream producer Chapman’s, long known for its strong Canadian brand identity, has seen a 10 per cent increase in sales. E-commerce platform giant Shopify has reported a spike in sales for Canadian merchants across a long list of categories including mattresses, row boats, ribbons, armchairs and more.

    Some provinces have pulled U.S. alcohol from store shelves to prioritize selling homegrown options, putting Canadian wineries, breweries and distillers in a position to grow substantially.

    Though more data will emerge in the months ahead, early indications show that Canadians are backing the “Buy Canadian” movement not just in spirit, but with their wallets.

    Helping Canadians choose Canadian

    One of the most noticeable effects of the “Buy Canadian” campaign has been a nationwide effort to make it easier for consumers to identify Canadian-made products.

    Demand for clear labelling has surged, prompting the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to issue a notice to industry urging producers to improve transparency.

    Consumers are becoming increasingly proactive in educating themselves, with searches for “Buy Canadian” related terms skyrocketing in the past few months. Websites such as Madeinca.ca have seen a large uptick in traffic, peaking at 100,000 visits in a single day.

    Retailers have been offering more in-store and online signage highlighting Canadian products. Loblaws has introduced a “Swap & Shop” tool in its Optimum app that helps users find Canadian-made alternatives for items on their shopping list. It has seen a 75 per cent week-over-week growth.

    Home improvement retailer RONA has launched the “Well Made Here” campaign that provides staff training and partners with non-profits to educate consumers about Canadian-made alternatives.

    Celebrity endorsements have also amplified the movement. Actor and comedian Mike Myers showcased the colloquial expression “elbows up” on Saturday Night Live, while Michael Bublé used his platform at the Juno Awards to deliver the message that “Canada is not for sale.”

    #TheMoment ‘Elbows Up’ became a rally cry against Trump (CBC News).

    Pushing the movement forward

    Consumers have been turning to social media to further propel the Buy Canadian movement. Hashtags like #ShopLocalCanada and #MadeInCanada have gained significant traction, with nearly three million posts across major social media channels Facebook and Instagram.

    A newly launched web browser plug-in called Support Canadian is also gaining attention. It works by bringing Canadian products to the top of search results on retailers such as Amazon. In its first week, it attracted 500 users. Although these numbers may appear small, early analytics suggest it could keep over a million dollars inside the Canadian economy.

    Mobile apps designed to help consumers determine the origin of their purchases are gaining popularity. The BuyBeaver app, which crowd-sources product origins, reached 100,000 downloads in just five weeks.

    Meanwhile, OScanAda, which uses AI and barcode scanning to provide detailed insights into Canadian ownership and sourcing, has been downloaded 160,000 times. MapleScan, which currently is ranked second in the shopping category on the Apple App Store, uses AI to scan products and suggest Canadian alternatives.

    Brands are leveraging their Canadian roots

    In response to growing national sentiment, a number of Canadian brands are using marketing strategies to underscore their national identity for consumers.

    Kicking Horse Coffee, for example, has humorously rebranded the Americano as the “Canadiano” in a nod to Canadian pride. Black Diamond recently launched a campaign with the cheeky tagline “Made with 0% American Cheese.”

    Meanwhile, Moosehead Brewery has launched a limited-edition “Presidential Pack” containing 1,961 beers — one for each day of the U.S. presidential term.

    Other companies have modified existing campaigns to better align with the movement. Sobeys recently debuted a new “So Canadian” campaign, a new iteration of its long-running “So.be.it.” campaign.

    Healthy Planet has expanded its #Healthyplanetswap campaign to include #HealthyCanadianSwap, which focuses on providing domestically sourced options.

    Whether through packaging that clearly marks country of origin or marketing campaigns that play on national pride, Canadian brands are leveraging their national identity to resonate with consumers.

    A smart choice in uncertain times

    The early momentum behind the Buy Canadian movement is promising. While Canada was largely spared from Trump’s most recent tariffs under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, the unpredictability of U.S. trade policy and broader global tensions make it more important than ever to build long-term economic resilience at home.

    The early days of the movement show a strong desire among Canadians to support local industries, protect jobs and reinforce national self-sufficiency. Even as higher costs and global disruptions remain real challenges, buying Canadian serves as both a practical and symbolic choice, one that reduces dependency on volatile foreign markets and strengthens the domestic economy.

    This is a pivotal moment. The foundations of the movement are in place, and its early success is encouraging. For the “Buy Canadian” effort to have lasting impact, it needs sustained commitment from consumers, businesses and policymakers alike.

    By continuing to prioritize homegrown goods and services, Canadians can help shield their economy from future shocks and chart a more independent, stable path forward.

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

    – ref. Canadian retailers are seeing a surge in domestic sales amid the ‘Buy Canadian’ movement – https://theconversation.com/canadian-retailers-are-seeing-a-surge-in-domestic-sales-amid-the-buy-canadian-movement-253502

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: After A Flood Ready PSA

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    As flood water recedes, the danger can still be left behind. Return home only when authorities say it is safe. Be aware of the risk of electrocution. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. Turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock if it is safe to do so.
    Avoid wading in floodwater, which can be contaminated and contain dangerous debris. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water.
    For more information on how to stay safe visit Ready.gov/floods

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPwdXz3983A

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Before A Flood Ready PSA

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Floods are the most common disaster in the United States. It is important to make a plan for your household, including your pets, so that you and your family know what to do, where to go, and what you will need to protect yourselves from flooding. Learn and practice evacuation routes, shelter plans, and flash flood response. Gather supplies, including non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, and water for several days, in case you must leave immediately or if services are cut off in your area.
    For more information on how to stay safe visit Ready.gov/floods

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBsyMcfDeQ0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Davis, Moore, Moore, Feenstra, Bacon, Kamlager-Dove, and Aderholt Champion Bipartisan Legislation to Help Children Find Permanent Families via Adoption

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

    The bill helps more children join permanent, loving families by removing income as a barrier to adoption.

     

    Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, April 10, 2025, Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Blake Moore (R-UT), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), and Robert Aderholt (R-AL) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2025. The legislation would help children find permanent, loving families by removing income as a barrier to adoption.  Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will introduce companion legislation in the Senate. 

    The Adoption Tax Credit helps families offset some of the costs of adoption, especially for children with special needs. Currently, the tax credit disadvantages low- and middle-income families, in particular families with annual incomes between $30,000 to $50,000.  This inequity is problematic given that approximately half of youth adopted from foster care live in families with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; thus, the credit inadvertently creates barriers to permanency for a substantial number of families.  During the Great Recession, Congress allowed families to receive the Adoption Tax Credit if the credit exceeded their tax liability recognizing that the economic hardship could prevent families from adopting or exact a heavy financial toll from families choosing adoption.  The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2025 would again make this credit refundable to remove income as a barrier to adoption to help more children join permanent, loving families.

    “The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act reflects common-sense federal policy,” said Rep. Davis. “It strengthens families, removes income as a barrier to adoption, and helps vulnerable children join permanent, loving families.  Former foster youth represent the majority of children adopted by families earning less than 200 percent of the poverty level.  This bill will make a critical difference in the ability of lower and middle-income families to adopt. I am proud to work across the aisle to improve the Adoption Tax Credit to better help more children and families benefit.”

    “Even before joining Congress, I have been committed to supporting and engaging with the adoption community in Utah,” said Rep. Moore (UT). “In learning more about their priorities and challenges, it is clear that many families cannot adopt due to financial barriers. I am proud to co-lead the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act as we seek to alleviate these hurdles. This bipartisan bill will make the adoption tax credit fully refundable so that low- and middle-income families can receive the full value of the credit, making it easier for them to open their homes to children in need of forever families.”

    “This bipartisan legislation can offer support that helps transform the lives of countless children and families,” said Rep. Gwen Moore. “By permanently reinstating the refundability of the Adoption Tax Credit, we help lower financial barriers to placing children in loving families permanently and we also ensure that more families, including low and middle-income families, can fully benefit from this credit. With this bill, we can pave the way for more children who have already suffered much to find permanent homes. I am honored to partner with my colleagues, including my fellow-cochairs on the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth.”

    “As a father of four, I believe that every child deserves a loving home and that we should encourage families to adopt. That means that Iowans who want to adopt but do not have the financial resources to do so should not be prevented from making additions to their families – they should be supported,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I’m glad to work with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to make the Adoption Tax Credit fully refundable so that families can adopt without facing costly financial barriers. To keep our communities strong, we need to invest in our families and help every child find a permanent, loving home.”

    “For years, income has become a roadblock for many families wishing to adopt,” said Rep. Bacon. “As co-chair of the Foster Youth Caucus and an adoptive parent myself, I understand the need to remove this barrier by offsetting these burdensome costs. By making the adoption tax credit fully refundable, this bill makes it easier for families to adopt and gives our nation’s youth a safe, loving, and permanent home. I thank my co-leads for their partnership on this common-sense, bipartisan legislation that is desperately needed today.”

    “As a Co-Chair of the Foster Youth Caucus, I am proud to co-lead the reintroduction of the bipartisan Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act with my colleagues,” said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove. “Each and every one of our foster youth deserves to have a loving home, and reducing the financial barriers to adoption for low and middle-income families will help ensure this reality. We need more commonsense efforts like this to reform our care system and improve outcomes for families and children.”

    “Every child deserves the chance to grow up in a loving, permanent home,” said Rep. Aderholt. “One of the biggest concerns I hear from adoptive parents is the high cost of adoption, which can be overwhelming and discouraging. The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act helps make adoption more accessible by easing the financial barriers that too often stand in the way. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort to ensure more families can say yes to adoption and more children can find the forever homes they deserve.”

    “Adoption is a true joy for families, but it is not without significant financial cost,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill will make the credit refundable to help all adoptive families access the full amount of the adoption tax credit, regardless of their tax burden. Support for adoptive families is essential to ensure more children find the stable, loving home they deserve.”

    “Minnesotans have a long and proud tradition of adoption to welcome children into safe and loving homes,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will allow more families to access the full adoption tax credit, helping ensure a smooth and successful transition for children and families. As co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I’ll keep working to improve the adoption process and help every child find the permanent home they deserve.”

    The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2025 is supported by 98 state, local and national organizations, including:  Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys; Child Welfare League of America; Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (Secretariat of the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group); Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption; Families Rising; Generations United; Jewish Children’s Adoption Network; Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois; National Council for Adoption; National Foster Parent Association; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; the Voice for Adoption; and Youth Villages. 

    Example Statements in Support of the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act

    Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys

    “Restoring refundability to the Adoption Tax Credit will help more families welcome children into loving homes and help secure their futures,” said Deb Guston, Adoption Policy Director of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA). “We applaud the leadership of our Adoption Tax Credit champions in Congress in reintroducing legislation on this important issue for children and families.”

    Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute

    “CCAI is proud to serve as the secretariat of the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group, a national coalition of nearly 100 organizations committed to making adoption more accessible,” said Kate McLean, Executive Director of CCAI. “As the nonprofit partner of the bipartisan, bicameral Adoption Caucus, we’re grateful for the leadership of Caucus Members, especially Co-Chairs Robert Aderholt, Kevin Cramer, Danny K. Davis, and Amy Klobuchar as well as Sen. Ben Ray Luján and Reps. Blake Moore and Don Bacon, in advancing adoption tax credit refundability and helping remove barriers to permanency.”

    Families Rising

    “This bipartisan legislation stands as a beacon of hope, leveling the playing field and extending a helping hand to lower-income families on par with their middle-income counterparts. It champions the cause of permanency for children transitioning out of the foster care system, enabling them to find loving homes through adoption,” said Ligia Cushman, Chief Executive Officer of Families Rising who emphasizes that “This transformative legislation addresses the stark reality faced by numerous children adopted from foster care. With the introduction of this legislation, a bright and promising future becomes possible for these vulnerable children, as their families are granted the opportunity to access what they need to thrive.”

    National Council For Adoption

    “We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership in making the adoption tax credit available to more families,” said Ryan Hanlon, president and CEO of National Council For Adoption. “The cost of adoption should never be a barrier for children to find permanent, loving families, and this legislation ensures we support all families, including lower-income families.”

    Voice for Adoption

    “Many children adopted from foster care are adopted by families at or near the poverty line and they receive little or no assistance under the current tax credit,” said Patrick Lester, Executive Director of Voice for Adoption. “This bipartisan legislation will make adoption possible for many more vulnerable children who need a permanent place to call home.”

    A copy of the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act is here; a summary of the bill is here. 

    ###

    Representatives Davis (IL), Moore (UT), Moore (WI), and Feenstra (IA) are Members of the House Ways and Means Committee with broad jurisdiction over Federal revenue measures.  Representatives Bacon (NE), Kamlager-Dove (CA), and Moore (WI)  are co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth.  Representatives Adherholt and Davis as well as Senators Cramer and Klobuchar co-chair the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Station Nation: Meet Nick Kopp, SpaceX Dragon Flight Lead 

    Source: NASA

    Nick Kopp is a Dragon flight lead in the Transportation Integration Office at Johnson Space Center in Houston. He is currently leading NASA’s efforts to prepare, launch, and return the agency’s 32nd SpaceX commercial resupply services mission. He works directly with SpaceX and collaborates with NASA’s many internal, external, and international partners to ensure the success of this and other cargo missions to the International Space Station. 
    Read on to learn about his career with NASA and more! 

    Nick Kopp
    Transportation Integration Office Flight Lead

    Where are you from? 
    I am from Cleveland, Ohio. 
    Tell us about your role at NASA.  
    I work directly with SpaceX to ensure the Dragon cargo spacecraft meets NASA’s requirements to visit the space station. I also collaborate with NASA’s various partners who are safely flying science investigations and other cargo to and from the space station. For the upcoming flight, I’ve worked extensively with SpaceX to prepare to return the Dragon cargo spacecraft off the coast of California. 
    How would you describe your job to family or friends who may not be familiar with NASA?  
    I’m responsible for getting stuff to and from the International Space Station safely. 
    How long have you been working for NASA?  
    I have been working for NASA for about 15 years at both Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama and Johnson Space Center in Texas. 
    What advice would you give to young individuals aspiring to work in the space industry or at NASA?  
    It takes so many different people with all kinds of different skills working together to make missions happen. I would suggest looking at NASA’s websites to find the skill or task that makes you want to learn more and then focusing your energy into that skill. Surround yourself with people with similar goals. Connect with people in the industry and ask them questions. You are in control of your destiny! 

    What was your path to NASA?  
    I’ve wanted to work at NASA since I was a kid and my grandfather showed me the Moon through his home-built telescope. I studied aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois, where I joined Students for the Exploration and Development of Space and attended a conference at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. I met some folks from the Payload Operations Integration Center and learned of the awesome space station science operations at Marshall. I was lucky enough to be chosen for a contractor job working directly with astronauts on the space station to conduct science experiments! 
    Is there someone in the space, aerospace, or science industry that has motivated or inspired you to work for the space program? Or someone you discovered while working for NASA who inspires you?   
    After working with him from the ground when he was aboard the space station, I was lucky enough to spend many overnight shifts getting to know NASA astronaut and Flight Director TJ Creamer. TJ’s path to NASA and his servant leadership have left an ongoing legacy for people at the agency. His general attitude, extreme competence, friendly demeanor, and genuine care for people around him continue to inspire me every day to become a great leader.   
    What is your favorite NASA memory?  
    My favorite NASA memory is being selected as a payload operations director on the International Space Station Payload Operations and Integration Center flight control team. I looked up to those in this position for 10 years and did everything I could to gather the skills and knowledge I needed to take on the role. I became responsible for the minute-to-minute operations of astronauts conducting science investigations on the space station. I vividly remember the joy I felt learning of the news of my assignment, taking my first shift, my first conversation with an astronaut in space, and the bittersweet decision to leave and continue my career goals at NASA in a different role. 

    What do you love sharing about station? What’s important to get across to general audiences to help them understand the benefits to life on Earth?  
    Although it takes place off the planet, research on the space station is conducted for people on Earth. The time and effort spent building, maintaining, and conducting science on the International Space Station is spent by people in our community and communities around the world to further humanity’s collective understanding of the universe around us. When we understand more about science, we can be more successful. So many people around the planet have had life-changing benefits from experiments that can only be done by people conducting research in microgravity, above the atmosphere, where you can view most of Earth. 
    If you could have dinner with any astronaut, past or present, who would it be?  
    I would have dinner with anyone from the Apollo 13 crew. I’d love to learn how they felt that NASA’s culture drove the outcome of that mission. 
    Do you have a favorite space-related memory or moment that stands out to you?  
    While working a night shift at the operations center in Huntsville, Alabama, we were monitoring payloads returning to Earth on a Dragon cargo spacecraft. We took a quick break outside the control center to watch as the spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere above us on its way to splash down off the coast of Florida. It was a clear night. As the spacecraft flew overhead, we saw the ablative heat shield create a shimmering trail of fire and sparkles that stretched across the whole night sky. It looked as though Tinker Bell just flew over us!   
    What are some of the key projects you’ve worked on during your time at NASA? What have been your favorite?   
    Some of my favorite projects I’ve worked on include: 

    Serving as the International Space Station Program’s representative as flight lead for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission 

    Troubleshooting unexpected results when conducting science on the space station 

    Writing instructions for astronauts filming a virtual reality documentary on the space station 

    Assessing design changes on the Space Launch System rocket’s core stage  

    Managing and training a team of flight controllers 

    Helping NASA move Dragon spacecraft returns from Florida to California 

    What are your hobbies/things you enjoy outside of work?  
    I love playing board games with my wife, sailing, flying, traveling around the world, and learning about leadership and project management theory. 
    Day launch or night launch?   
    The Crew-8 night launch, specifically, where the Falcon 9 booster landed just above me! 
     Favorite space movie?  
    Spaceballs 
    NASA “worm” or “meatball” logo?  
    Meatball 

    Every day, we’re conducting exciting research aboard our orbiting laboratory that will help us explore further into space and bring benefits back to people on Earth. You can keep up with the latest news, videos, and pictures about space station science on the Station Research & Technology news page. It’s a curated hub of space station research digital media from Johnson and other centers and space agencies.  
    Sign up for our weekly email newsletter to get the updates delivered directly to you.  
    Follow updates on social media at @ISS_Research on Twitter, and on the space station accounts on Facebook and Instagram.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover Studies Trove of Rocks on Crater Rim

    Source: NASA

    The diversity of rock types along the rim of Jezero Crater offers a wide glimpse of Martian history.
    Scientists with NASA’s Perseverance rover are exploring what they consider a veritable Martian cornucopia full of intriguing rocky outcrops on the rim of Jezero Crater. Studying rocks, boulders, and outcrops helps scientists understand the planet’s history, evolution, and potential for past or present habitability. Since January, the rover has cored five rocks on the rim, sealing samples from three of them in sample tubes. It’s also performed up-close analysis of seven rocks and analyzed another 83 from afar by zapping them with a laser. This is the mission’s fastest science-collection tempo since the rover landed on the Red Planet more than four years ago.
    Perseverance climbed the western wall of Jezero Crater for 3½ months, reaching the rim on Dec. 12, 2024, and is currently exploring a roughly 445-foot-tall (135-meter-tall) slope the science team calls “Witch Hazel Hill.” The diversity of rocks they have found there has gone beyond their expectations.
    “During previous science campaigns in Jezero, it could take several months to find a rock that was significantly different from the last rock we sampled and scientifically unique enough for sampling,” said Perseverance’s project scientist, Katie Stack Morgan of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “But up here on the crater rim, there are new and intriguing rocks everywhere the rover turns. It has been all we had hoped for and more.”

    That’s because Jezero Crater’s western rim contains tons of fragmented once-molten rocks that were knocked out of their subterranean home billions of years ago by one or more meteor impacts, including possibly the one that produced Jezero Crater. Perseverance is finding these formerly underground boulders juxtaposed with well-preserved layered rocks that were “born” billions of years ago on what would become the crater’s rim. And just a short drive away is a boulder showing signs that it was modified by water nestled beside one that saw little water in its past.
    Oldest Sample Yet?
    Perseverance collected its first crater-rim rock sample, named “Silver Mountain,” on Jan. 28. (NASA scientists informally nickname Martian features, including rocks and, separately, rock samples, to help keep track of them.) The rock it came from, called “Shallow Bay,” most likely formed at least 3.9 billion years ago during Mars’ earliest geologic period, the Noachian, and it may have been broken up and recrystallized during an ancient meteor impact.
    About 360 feet (110 meters) away from that sampling site is an outcrop that caught the science team’s eye because it contains igneous minerals crystallized from magma deep in the Martian crust. (Igneous rocks can form deep underground from magma or from volcanic activity at the surface, and they are excellent record-keepers — particularly because mineral crystals within them preserve details about the precise moment they formed.) But after two coring attempts (on Feb. 4 and Feb. 8) fizzled due to the rock being so crumbly, the rover drove about 520 feet (160 meters) northwest to another scientifically intriguing rock, dubbed “Tablelands.”
    Data from the rover’s instruments indicates that Tablelands is made almost entirely of serpentine minerals, which form when large amounts of water react with iron- and magnesium-bearing minerals in igneous rock. During this process, called serpentinization, the rock’s original structure and mineralogy change, often causing it to expand and fracture. Byproducts of the process sometimes include hydrogen gas, which can lead to the generation of methane in the presence of carbon dioxide. On Earth, such rocks can support microbial communities.
    Coring Tablelands went smoothly. But sealing it became an engineering challenge.

    Flick Maneuver
    “This happened once before, when there was enough powdered rock at the top of the tube that it interfered with getting a perfect seal,” said Kyle Kaplan, a robotics engineer at JPL. “For Tablelands, we pulled out all the stops. Over 13 sols,” or Martian days, “we used a tool to brush out the top of the tube 33 times and made eight sealing attempts. We even flicked it a second time.”
    During a flick maneuver, the sample handling arm — a little robotic arm in the rover’s belly — presses the tube against a wall inside the rover, then pulls the tube away, causing it to vibrate. On March 2, the combination of flicks and brushings cleaned the tube’s top opening enough for Perseverance to seal and store the serpentine-laden rock sample. 
    Eight days later, the rover had no issues sealing its third rim sample, from a rock called “Main River.” The alternating bright and dark bands on the rock were like nothing the science team had seen before.
    Up Next
    Following the collection of the Main River sample, the rover has continued exploring Witch Hazel Hill, analyzing three more rocky outcrops (“Sally’s Cove,” “Dennis Pond,” and “Mount Pearl”). And the team isn’t done yet.  
    “The last four months have been a whirlwind for the science team, and we still feel that Witch Hazel Hill has more to tell us,” said Stack. “We’ll use all the rover data gathered recently to decide if and where to collect the next sample from the crater rim. Crater rims — you gotta love ’em.”
    More About Perseverance
    A key objective for Perseverance’s mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover is characterizing the planet’s geology and past climate, to help pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet and is the first mission to collect and cache Martian rock and regolith.
    NASA’s Mars Sample Return Program, in cooperation with ESA (European Space Agency), is designed to send spacecraft to Mars to collect these sealed samples from the surface and return them to Earth for in-depth analysis.
    The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program portfolio and the agency’s Moon to Mars exploration approach, which includes Artemis missions to the Moon that will help prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet.
    NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed for the agency by Caltech in Pasadena, California, built and manages operations of the Perseverance rover.
    For more about Perseverance:

    Mars 2020: Perseverance Rover

    News Media Contacts
    DC AgleJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-393-9011agle@jpl.nasa.gov
    Karen Fox / Molly WasserNASA Headquarters, Washington202-358-1600karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov  
    2025-051

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Shapiro at the Port of Philadelphia: New Tariffs Causing Chaos, Uncertainty, and Higher Prices for Pennsylvania Consumers and Businesses

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    April 10, 2025 – Philadelphia, PA

    Governor Shapiro at the Port of Philadelphia: New Tariffs Causing Chaos, Uncertainty, and Higher Prices for Pennsylvania Consumers and Businesses

    Governor Josh Shapiro visited the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) to hear directly from port leaders, businesses, and workers about how new federal tariffs are injecting chaos and uncertainty into their work and raising costs for consumers across the Commonwealth. The Governor’s visit comes as new federal tariffs – the highest in 100 years – disrupt supply chains and raise prices on everything from fruit and produce to cars, electronics, and cocoa.

    PhilaPort is the largest port in the U.S. for imported fruit and a major gateway for goods entering the country, supporting 12,000 jobs locally and 66,000 maritime jobs statewide. Last year, the Port accounted for $3.2 billion in fruit imports – more than any other American port and 20 percent of all U.S. food imports – and is a global leader in the import of food products, cars, meat, cocoa, and steel. Pennsylvania is also home to two other ports – Pittsburgh and Erie – that support international trade.

    “Tariffs are taxes – and they’re going to make everything from fresh fruit to chocolate to auto parts more expensive for Pennsylvanians,” said Governor Shapiro. “While Washington drives up prices and makes it harder for our businesses to compete, my Administration is focused on cutting costs, growing our economy, and making smart, strategic investments to show Pennsylvania is open for business. The President may have announced changes to his tariffs yesterday – but despite the chaos and confusion, the reality is this: the tariffs

    List of Speakers:
    Michael Pearson, Chairman of PhilaPort
    Governor Josh Shapiro
    Daniel Duffy, a crane operator with 27 years of experience at PhilaPort and a member of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1291
    Leo Holt, President of Holt Logistics;
    Representative Ed Neilson

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sharing Session on Good People · Good Deeds of Care Teams successfully held today (with photos/video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Sharing Session on Good People · Good Deeds of Care Teams successfully held today (with photos/video) 
    In the 2022 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced the establishment of Care Teams in the 18 districts to consolidate community resources to support district work and strengthen community network. They form an integral part of the Government’s efforts to improve district governance. Since its full launch in the third quarter of 2023, Care Teams have been actively providing diverse services, including visiting elderly households and other households in need on a regular basis, as well as organising various district caring activities. In cases of incidents and emergencies, Care Teams also mobilise their members and volunteers quickly to attend to the needs of those affected and provide assistance as appropriate. In addition, Care Teams help the Government publicise policies, serving as an important bridge between the Government and the community.
     
    The Sharing Session was attended by Care Teams members, volunteers and representatives of partnering organisations from different districts, who shared on the caring services provided in the community in various ways. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam; the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung; and the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To, officiated at the Sharing Session today.
     
    Speaking at the Sharing Session, Mr Chan said that since its full launch, Care Teams had not only actively provided and organised caring services and activities and helped disseminate government information, but also assisted in providing relief during incidents and emergencies on many occasions, displaying their benevolence and righteousness. He emphasised that the selfless dedication of Care Teams had been witnessed by society and won wide acclaim from the public.
     
    Mr Chan pointed out that, as announced in the 2024 Policy Address, the Government will regularise the establishment of Care Teams and increase their funding by 50 per cent in the next term of service to strengthen support for Care Teams. The Government hopes that Care Teams will continue to consolidate community resources to provide more in-depth and extensive caring services and enhance the people’s sense of achievement and satisfaction.
     
    There are countless good deeds done by Caring Teams. During the Sharing Session, Care Teams members shared some of these stories. They include the fire incident at New Lucky House, where Care Teams quickly assisted in evacuating residents and continued to visit each household for several days to provide emotional support and emergency supplies. When the water supply in Tung Chung and the electricity supply in Wong Tai Sin were affected in extensive areas, Care Teams provided support to residents overnight. At the Sharing Session, we also had the youngest and oldest volunteers share their experiences. A Form Five student has begun the journey to serve the community because of his participation in Care Teams’ activities, displaying the new generation’s caring hearts for others. An 86-year-old volunteer at Wah Fu Estate has been visiting the elderly and participating in cultural activities for a long time, inspiring neighbours to join the ranks of volunteers. These examples fully reflect the people-oriented service spirit of Care Teams.
     
    Speaking at the ceremony, Miss Mak said that the stories of Care Teams serving the public show that true care is often hidden in the details, and these details are the cornerstone of building a harmonious community. With the next funding agreement, Care Teams will be able to further promote their services and continue to work closely with partnering organisations to pool more community resources, upholding the spirit of “We Care We Serve” to benefit more people in need.
     
    As of end-January 2025, Care Teams have visited a total of about 390 000 elderly households and other households in need and provided about 43 000 times of basic home or other support services, as well as organising about 23 000 district activities.
    Issued at HKT 19:50

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: GREEN$ x MoneyBack Point Conversion boosts recycling appeal

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    GREEN$ x MoneyBack Point Conversion boosts recycling appeal 
         The Acting Director of Environmental Protection, Mr Kenneth Cheng, today (April 10) visited the relocated GREEN@TUEN MUN to observe its operation and brief the Chairman and representatives of the Tuen Mun District Council about the new feature of GREEN$ ePIS, which allows conversion of GREEN$ Points to MoneyBack e-points.
     
         Mr Cheng said, “The gift redemption of GREEN$ ePIS is keeping pace with the times and is gradually transitioning into a digital form. In addition to rewards such as MTR tickets and local eco-tours, members of the public can now convert GREEN$ Points to MoneyBack e-points with the GREEN$ mobile app anytime and anywhere, allowing them to redeem gifts freely at more than 500 supermarkets and retail stores in the territory. This new electronic redemption option has been well received by members of the public since its trial launch last December, and is expected to encourage greater public participation in recycling, further strengthening the green culture of waste reduction and recycling in Hong Kong.”
     
         To support the full rollout of the new point redemption function of the GREEN$ ePIS, the operator of MoneyBack, AS Watson Group, has announced the launch of an extra 1 million MoneyBack time-limited e-points rewards and exclusive GREEN$ ePIS green offers at the end of April for redemption of food, personal care products and electrical appliances vouchers, encouraging the public to participate in recycling and use the GREEN$ Points conversion feature more frequently.
     
         As well, GREEN@TUEN MUN has been relocated to its new site at 5 Lung Chak Road. Mr Cheng visited the facilities at the new location today to observe its operation together with representatives of the Tuen Mun District Council. He also shared with the district councillors the latest developments of the GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling network.
     
         The EPD first launched the Recycling Stations project in 2015, and currently there are 12 Recycling Stations across Hong Kong. Besides providing community recycling services, the Recycling Stations also serve to instil a green lifestyle within the community through public education and environmental activities. To support the MTR Tuen Mun South Extension project, GREEN@TUEN MUN was relocated from the original site on Tuen Yee Street to the new location on Lung Chak Road, where it commenced operation on March 19.
     
         Mr Cheng said that, the EPD has expedited the expansion of the community recycling network since 2020. Alongside the Recycling Stations, Recycling Stores and Recycling Spots have been progressively set up in all 18 districts to support residents living in clusters of residential buildings (including single-block residential buildings and “three-nil” buildings) that are lacking space for on-site recycling setups, as well as those in public rental housing estates, to practice separation at source and clean recycling. Together with over 100 sets of smart recycling bins installed in various locations across Hong Kong, the number of public collection points has now reached more than 800, providing greater convenience for the public to participate in recycling.
     
         For details about the GREEN$ ePIS and electronic redemption, please visit the GREEN$ mobile app or the Hong Kong Waste Reduction Website: www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en-hk/waste-reduction-programme/green-electronic-participation-incentive-schemeIssued at HKT 19:05

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Opening remarks by SDEV on planning and lands policy areas at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following are the opening remarks (English translation) by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, on planning and lands policy areas at the special meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee today (April 10):
     
    Chairman,
        
    In 2025-26, the total estimated expenditure of the Development Bureau’s Planning and Lands Branch and the departments under its purview (mainly including the Buildings Department, the Lands Department, and the Planning Department) is approximately $8.037 billion, a decrease of approximately $23 million over the revised estimate for the previous year, and the number of civil service posts will decrease by 168. We will continue to put resources to more effective use through measures such as reprioritisation of work, internal redeployment and streamlining of procedures, and will take forward the following priority tasks under the principle of enhancing quantity, speed, efficiency and quality.
     
    Enhancing speed and efficiency in increasing land supply
     
    On land supply, we will continuously create land to support the development of new industries, and improve citizens’ quality of life. When land creation is completed, we will roll out such land for various types of development in an orderly manner in light of the latest situation.
     
    The Government will continue to accord high priority to devoting resources and spare no effort to take forward the Northern Metropolis (NM) development. It is estimated that 600 hectares of private land will be resumed in the next five years, and at least 570 hectares of land be formed. In the coming five years, it is estimated that a total of 60 000 public and private residential units will be completed and 1 million square metres of economic floor space be provided in the NM. Moreover, we will complete the rezoning procedures for a data park site in Sandy Ridge within this year to facilitate early disposal of the site in the market by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau. During the year, we will also finalise the land use proposals for Ngau Tam Mei, New Territories North New Town and Ma Tso Lung.
     
    We will adopt more diversified development approaches. We are analysing the expressions of interest (EOIs) received for the three pilot areas of large-scale land disposal in the NM, and will commence the tendering work progressively from the second half of this year. We will invite land owners to submit applications for in-situ land exchanges in respect of the San Tin Technopole later this year. Moreover, we have invited tenders under the “two-envelope” approach for two sites in Yuen Long and Hung Shui Kiu for developing multi-storey buildings for modern industries. The Government has recently fine-tuned the tender conditions in response to constructive market feedback and extended the tender closing date to end-July accordingly.
     
    To facilitate market participation and enhance investment incentives, we are exploring land administration work in several areas. Firstly, we will consider allowing land owners to voluntarily surrender land planned to be resumed by the Government in the NM to offset the premium payable for in-situ land exchange or large-scale land disposal in new development areas (NDAs). Secondly, wider application of the “pay for what you build” approach will be explored, including allowing developers to pay premium for lease modifications, which is not based on the maximum floor area but is determined according to the actual construction floor area. Thirdly, consideration will be given to tenancies with a long tenure, which will be longer than the current maximum fixed term of seven years for short-term tenancies.
     
    We will also continue to explore a wide array of other measures to further streamline the approval process, in particular various administrative approval processes at construction stage, to reduce construction costs.
     
    We announced the Government’s 2025-26 Land Sale List in end-February. Taking into account the eight residential sites available for sale and other sources, the potential private housing land supply in 2025-26 is estimated to have a capacity to produce about 13 700 flats, similar to the target for annual supply of the Long Term Housing Strategy. The Government has indicated that it will not roll out any commercial sites for sale in the current financial year, and will consider rezoning some of the commercial sites expected to be ready and available for sale in the next few years into residential use or allowing greater flexibility of land use.
     
    In line with the “industry-led” planning approach, we invited the market to submit EOIs for three island and coastal tourism projects last week. This is the first time in recent years that the Government takes forward the creation of new land parcels for tourism and recreation purposes, and intends to make the best use of participation of enterprises and the market force for developments to be realised. As regards the marina development at the expansion area of Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, we are inviting the market to submit EOIs. The exercise will conclude by the end of this month. In addition, we will announce in around mid-2025 the land use proposals for Lung Kwu Tan and Tuen Mun West, including the River Trade Terminal, which will provide sites for developing key industries including new energy, modern logistics, advanced construction and circular economy.
     
    Work on enhancing quality
     
    In respect of “enhancing quality”, urban renewal and building safety are among our key priorities. With the amended Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance in force since December last year, the Support Service Centre for Minority Owners under Compulsory Sale commenced operation in August last year. We are working with the Urban Renewal Authority to conduct district planning studies on Tsuen Wan and Sham Shui Po, with renewal master plans to be released within this year. We are also exploring the use of land in NDAs to create more favourable conditions for future urban redevelopment projects by the public and private sectors, with a view to driving redevelopment. Preliminary proposals will be put forward within this year.
     
    In respect of amending the Buildings Ordinance to strengthen building safety, tackle unauthorised building works and enhance safety of construction works, we are consolidating public views, and a bill is expected to be introduced in the first half of next year.
     
    On leveraging harbourfront resources, we will set up refreshment stalls at harbourfront locations with higher visitor flow in Central, Wan Chai, North Point and Tsim Sha Tsui this year to enrich visitors’ experiences. We will consult stakeholders, including the Legislative Council Panel on Development, on the proposals for residential and commercial developments and a marina in the waterfront site in the vicinity of Hung Hom Station this month. Separately, we have just completed the scrutiny of the Protection of the Harbour (Amendment) Bill, and the second reading will resume next month. We will make good use of the streamlined mechanism to take forward works conducive to public enjoyment of the Victoria Harbourfront.
     
    The above is a brief report. My colleagues and I will be happy to respond to any further questions that Members may wish to raise.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government charges new standard rates for land premium in redevelopment of industrial buildings constructed before 1987 into new development for modern industrial uses

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Lands Department (LandsD) announced today (April 10) that new standard rates will apply with retrospective effect from April 1, 2025, for charging land premiums for lease modifications (including land exchanges) with regard to the redevelopment of pre-1987 industrial buildings (IBs) on industrial lots into new developments for modern industrial uses.  
     
    The standard rates arrangement for charging land premium in the redevelopment of IBs was first launched in 2021 as an alternative to the conventional premium assessment mechanism. The arrangement aims to provide certainty regarding the premium chargeable for lease modifications and streamline development procedures to expedite the redevelopment of pre-1987 IBs, which were constructed under a set of lower fire service installation requirements before the Code of Practice for Minimum Fire Service Installations and Equipment was revised by the Fire Services Department in 1987.  
     
    Under the previous arrangement, differential standard rates were set for: (i) five broad regions in Hong Kong, and (ii) within each region, four uses, namely: “industrial/godown (except special industrial)” use and “special industrial” use before lease modification, as well as “commercial/modern industrial” use and “residential” use to be permitted under the modified lease, for the calculation of the premium chargeable.
     
    The level of the standard rates applicable to the redevelopment of IBs is reviewed annually by the LandsD to ensure that the rates are in line with prevailing market conditions. In its Practice Note No. 5/2025 issued today, the LandsD promulgates the updated standard rates applicable to the redevelopment of IBs as of April 1, 2025. At the same time, the LandsD promulgates, for the first time, separate standard rates for “commercial” and “modern industrial” uses after lease modification. The separation of the standard rates for “modern industrial” use from “commercial” use is to better reflect the land value of redeveloped IBs intended for modern industrial use. 
     
    A spokesperson for the LandsD said, “Hong Kong is now on its strategic path of planning innovative and technological developments. In view of the increasing number of IB-related transactions in the market and to cope with the growing demand for modern industries under the era of new quality productive forces, it is now an opportune time to set two independent categories of standard rates for ‘commercial’ and ‘modern industrial’ for the redevelopment of IBs. The promulgation of a separate standard rate for ‘modern industrial’ use will provide enhanced certainty to applicants who wish to redevelop their IBs for such use, and is supported by industry and professional organisations.” 
     
    With the coming into effect of Practice Note No. 5/2025, differential standard rates will apply for five uses, namely: “industrial/godown (except special industrial)” and “special industrial” uses before lease modification, and “commercial”, “modern industrial” and “residential” uses after lease modification.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Remigration of all Syrian refugees in the EU – P-002899/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU continues to work closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR) to ensure that returns to Syria are voluntary, safe and dignified, and with other United Nations partners to help create the conditions inside Syria for people to return.

    The UNHCR latest position on returns to Syria stressed that ‘in view of the many challenges facing Syria’s population, including a large-scale humanitarian crisis, continued high levels of internal displacement and widespread destruction and damage of homes and critical infrastructure, […] for the time being UNHCR is not promoting large-scale voluntary repatriation to Syria’[1].

    In accordance with EU law, beneficiaries of international protection have a right to stay and reside in the Member State that granted protection. For this reason, they are not subject to return in accordance with Directive 2008/115/EC[2].

    • [1] UNHCR position on returns to the Syrian Arab Republic, December 2024, https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/unhcr-position-returns-syrian-arab-republic-december-2024-enarrukobg
    • [2] Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals, OJ L 348, 24.12.2008, p. 98-107.
    Last updated: 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Importance of a pro-birth policy in Europe and lack of statistics on the number of children born to non-EU parents – E-000310/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission notes that the Treaties do not confer competencies in ‘pro-birth policies’ to the EU level.

    The Commission confirms that having children is a matter of individual choice and that it supports Member States in creating favourable social and economic conditions.

    The Commission also confirms that its response to demographic change includes policies integrating family support, labour market reforms, education and skills development, and healthy ageing, alongside measures on talent attraction.

    At all times, our efforts should also promote gender equality, non-discrimination, respect of fundamental rights and intergenerational fairness.

    As stated in the Demography Toolbox[1], better reconciling family aspirations with paid work is one of the four pillars for adjusting policies. A comprehensive approach is needed to adapt social and economic policies in order to manage demographic change.

    The quality of life, availability of care and housing, as well as work opportunities and adequate income may shape choices. This can also help to mitigate the impacts of demographic change by inter alia enabling a higher labour force participation of women and supporting child development.

    Based on Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013[2] on European demographic statistics and the Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014[3], Eurostat collects annually from EU countries the number of live births by country of citizenship of the mother (broken down by national citizenship, citizenship of other EU countries, and citizenship of non-EU countries).

    Data is available on Eurostat’s online database[4]. No information is available on the second parent, only referring to the mother.

    • [1] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/whats-new/newsroom/27-10-2023-harnessing-talent-in-europe-commission-launches-the-demography-toolbox_en
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1414166546868&uri=CELEX:32013R1260
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1414166596621&uri=CELEX:32014R0205
    • [4] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/demo_faczc__custom_15467911/bookmark/table?lang=en&bookmarkId=9283caa2-b30b-4895-8566-fdfe3067a199

    MIL OSI Europe News –