Foreign News
Central African Children in Crosshairs, UN Calls for Their Protection
Children in the Central African Republic (CAR) have suffered a spike in grave violations since the end of 2020, according to a new UN report on the situation in the country, issued on Monday.
The report on children and armed conflict in CAR highlighted that between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2021, 1,280 children suffered one or more grave violations, with girls accounting for more than 40 per cent of all victims.
While most were committed by armed groups, five per cent were attributed to the national armed forces, FACA.
“The security situation in the Central African Republic has rapidly worsened in recent months and children are paying a high price for these renewed hostilities,” said Virginia Gamba, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.
“I call on the signatories of the Political Agreement to uphold their commitments, including those pertaining to children and urgently put in place concrete measures to protect children from harm and prevent further violations”.
With some 845 children affected, their recruitment and use were the most prominent of violations.
Following was rape and other forms of sexual violence, where at least 249 girls fell victim, although the actual scope is likely much worse as the crime is vastly underreported, usually for fear of reprisal, stigma, lack of accountability and support for victims and survivors.
The denial of humanitarian access was the third most verified violation, with 226 incidents.
“The situation is becoming increasingly difficult for humanitarian actors, who are struggling and facing growing dangers to reach the most vulnerable ones, including children, in dire need of life-saving assistance,” Gamba said.
As of June 30, 2021, 2.8 million people needed humanitarian assistance and more than 717,000 had been internally displaced in the country, based on figures from the UN humanitarian aid office, OCHA.
Violence in the country continues to take a heavy toll on children.
The report reveals that 155 boys and girls were verified killed or maimed, most by crossfire between parties to the conflicts; and 116 were abducted, more than half of them girls.
Attacks on schools and hospitals are also concerning, as is the impact of conflict and COVID on education and health systems, as well as the growing use of military control of schools.
“These incidents deprived children of attending classes or forced them to enrol in different schools,” explained the Special Representative.
“I urge all parties to vacate all schools and hospitals that continue to be used, to respect the civilian character of these facilities and to put in place swift and effective measures to prevent this practice in line with the commitment made to the Safe School Declaration that the country has endorsed,” she added.
Some progress has been made, including strengthened national legal framework through the promulgation of the 2020 Child Protection Code.
The Child Protection Code has the provisions that criminalise the six grave violations of killing and maiming of children; recruiting or using them in armed groups; denial of humanitarian access for children; their abduction; attacks on schools or hospitals; and rape or other grave sexual violence.
Also, UN advocacy with armed groups on the ground has led to the release of 653 children and an additional 130 who have been separated since June.
She said in spite of this impunity remained high.
The Special Representative urged the authorities to bring perpetrators to justice and to make full use of the recently promulgated Child Protection Code.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also weakened protection mechanisms in CAR while school closures have heightened children’s vulnerability, particularly surrounding recruitment and sexual violence.
“As countries around the world continue to focus on their response to the pandemic and rollout vaccination programmes, we need to stand ready to respond to the urgent needs of children, particularly in the regions where the situation is the most critical,” she said.
Gamba called on the government and parties to the conflict to develop a national strategy to prevent grave violations against children. (NAN)
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is to travel to France for talks with his French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu on Wednesday evening, following Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.
The talks are expected to focus on the consequences of Trump’s victory.
In particular for the future support for Ukraine, which has been fighting for more than two and a half years against Russia, as well as for European defence policy?
Washington has been a central provider of military support to Ukraine, which Trump has long criticized.
During his election campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine in a very short time and has held Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky jointly responsible for the war.
(dpa/NAN)
Congratulations for Donald Trump poured in early on Wednesday following his victory over challenger, Democrat’s Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential polls.
“Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine, with respect and ambition.
“For more peace and prosperity, French President“, Emmanuel Macron, wrote on social media platform X.
“Congratulations to Donald Trump on his election victory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on the platform X.
“I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs,” he added.
“This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer.
I am hopeful that we will put it into action together,” Zelensky wrote.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also added his congratulations.
“For a long time, Germany and the U.S. have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic.
“We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens,” the chancellor wrote on X.
Earlier, Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone about the election outcome.
A German government spokesman said the two European leaders had agreed to coordinate closely with each other.
“We will work in this new context for a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe.
“In cooperation with the U.S. and defending our interests and values,’’ Macron wrote on X after the conversation.
The mood was ebullient out of Moscow, which has led a full-scale war against Ukraine for more than two and a half years, with no end in sight.
“Hallelujah, wrote Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, on her Telegram channel, noting that the election winner was the one who loved his own country.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who now sits on the Russian Security Council, said Trump has an important quality for Russia.
“As a businessman to the core, he cannot stand spending money on various minions and lackeys on idiotic allies, on stupid charity projects and on gluttonous international organisations.’’
He said it was a sad day for the scum in Kiev, in a post on Telegram.
Newly appointed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, whose alliance has a key role in the war on Ukraine, congratulated Trump on X.
“His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong,’’ Rutte added.
The conservative broadcaster Fox News had already declared Republican candidate Trump the overall winner against Democrat Kamala Harris, but other media networks and U.S. news agency AP had not done so.
Trump declared himself the winner in a speech to supporters in Florida.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz added his congratulations.
“For a long time, Germany and the U.S. have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic.
“We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens,” the chancellor wrote on X.
Earlier, Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone about the election outcome.
A German government spokesman said the two European leaders had agreed to coordinate closely with each other.
“We will work in this new context for a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe.
In cooperation with the U.S. and defending our interests and values,’’ Macron wrote on X after the conversation.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she looked forward to working with the presumptive 47th president of the U.S. on a strong trans-Atlantic agenda that delivers for their people.
Von der Leyen said the European Union and the United States “are more than just allies,” bound by a “shared history, commitment to freedom and democracy, and common goals of security and opportunity for all.”
“Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on each side of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship,” she added.
Outgoing European Council President Charles Michel, meanwhile, said the EU looked forward to cooperating constructively with the US, while “defending the rules-based multilateral system.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK-US special relationship would “continue to prosper” following Donald Trump’s “historic election victory,” the PA news agency reported.
Congratulations also came from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said the strategic connections between their two countries would now become even stronger.
“Good luck with your work, president!” the far-right prime minister added.
“Congratulations, Mr President … You made it happen!” Poland’s conservative nationalist president, Andrzej Duda, posted on X.
Dutch right-wing populist politician Geert Wilders, a declared Trump supporter who won the election in the Netherlands almost a year ago, joined in the chorus.
“Congratulations America! Never stop, always keep fighting and win elections!” Wilders wrote on X before the official result was announced.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was “history’s greatest comeback.”
“Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his “friend” Donald Trump had won the presidential election after a “great struggle.”
China, meanwhile, was more cautious in its response. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the election was a domestic affair that Beijing would handle as usual once the results are officially announced. (dpa/NAN)
Leaders and monarchs across the Arab world praised Donald Trump on his election victory, amid uncertainty on how his presidency will impact the conflict in the Middle East.
“I wish him every success in achieving the interests of the American people,” said Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi.
He said that in view of “critical circumstances in the world,” cooperation between the U.
S. and Egypt, which along with Israel is among the largest recipients of U.S. military aid, was particularly important.Egypt is an important mediator in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, along with Qatar and the United States.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman described the U.
S. as a “key partner” for the Gulf emirate and the region.The largest U.S. military base in the Middle East is located in Qatar.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II sent Trump his “warmest congratulations” for the election victory.
He said he looked forward to renewed cooperation “in the service of regional and global peace.” Jordan is an important U.S. ally.
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid wrote on X: “I am hopeful that the new American administration will foster much-needed stability and constructive dialogue in the region.”
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdelaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also conveyed their congratulations. (dpa/NAN)
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