Bruges: a romantic getaway in the heart of Belgium
Located in the northwest of Belgium, Bruges is a picturesque and romantic city that attracts thousands of visitors every year in search of charm and history. With its winding canals, old houses and medieval atmosphere, Bruges is often considered the Venice of the North.
When we think of Bruges, we immediately think of its canals. Boat trips are an ideal way to discover the city and enjoy its enchanting landscapes. While sailing along the canals, you can admire the gabled houses, the romantic bridges and the small cobbled streets that make up the charm of Bruges. Couples looking for romance will be delighted to stroll hand in hand along the canals and stop at one of the many restaurants on the terrace to enjoy a Belgian beer or a hot chocolate.
Speaking of chocolate, Bruges is also famous for its delicious chocolate production. The city’s chocolatiers are renowned for their craftsmanship and gourmet creations. A visit to one of Bruges’ many chocolate factories is a must for chocolate lovers. You can enjoy high quality pralines, truffles and chocolate bars here. Some chocolatiers even offer workshops where you can learn how to make your own chocolates, a fun and delicious experience to share as a couple.
Besides its canals and chocolate, Bruges is also known for its well-preserved medieval architecture. The historic center of the city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of magnificent buildings. Highlights include the Belfry of Bruges, a medieval tower that offers stunning views of the city, and the Basilica of the Holy Blood, a church famous for its relic of the Holy Blood. Architecture lovers will also appreciate the Place du Bourg, with its Gothic town hall, and the provincial palace, a magnificent neo-Gothic building.
For art lovers, Bruges is also home to several interesting museums. The Groeningemuseum is famous for its collection of Flemish paintings, especially those of Flemish primitives such as Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling. The Memling Museum, meanwhile, is dedicated to the work of this famous 15th century painter, originally from the region of Bruges. Finally, the Diamond Museum is a place not to be missed for jewelry lovers, with an exhibition on the history and manufacture of diamonds.
Besides its architectural and artistic treasures, Bruges also offers many shopping opportunities. The city is full of souvenir shops, antique shops and fashion stores. Lace lovers will be delighted to discover the shops specializing in this Belgian tradition. One can also find many local products, such as Belgian beer, cheese and waffles, in the city’s markets and grocery stores.
Finally, for nature lovers, Bruges offers magnificent parks and gardens where you can walk and relax. Minnewater Park, for example, is a great place for a romantic stroll along the lake and canals. The citadel park is another place to relax, with its vast lawns and century-old trees. In summer, the beguinage gardens are also very popular for their tranquility and beauty.
In conclusion, Bruges is an ideal destination for a romantic getaway in the heart of Belgium. With its canals, its chocolate, its medieval architecture and its many museums, the city offers a unique and captivating atmosphere. Whether you are a lover of history, art or gastronomy, Bruges will seduce all visitors in search of charm and romance.
The UN migration agency (IOM) called on Friday for the setting up of a humanitarian corridor in Niger to enable voluntary returns of stranded migrants, after July’s military takeover triggered border & airspace closures
IOM Regional Director Christopher Gascon told reporters in Geneva that 4,800 migrants were hosted by IOM at seven transit centres in the country, awaiting voluntary return. They were primarily from western Africa: Mali, Guinea, Senegal and Nigeria, he said.
Mr. Gascon said airport access was crucial to “organise charter flights in order to return people home”.
He stressed that IOM’s transit centres were currently 40 per cent over capacity and an additional 1,400 migrants outside the centres needed help.
Mr. Gascon added that setting up a corridor would also facilitate the delivery of aid to conflict-affected areas of Niger.
Hundreds of thousands displaced
According to the UN, Niger hosts more than 710,000 forcibly displaced people including refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons.
When neighbouring countries closed their borders following the 26 July military takeover and flights were suspended, it became very difficult for migrants to leave the country, and IOM noted “heightened internal movements, driven by the urgent need for individual security”.
$1 million per month required
The UN agency said that its operations in Niger were constrained by limited funding and called for financial support “to prevent the situation from escalating into a full-blown humahttps://europeantimes.news/human-rights/nitarian crisis”.
The humanitarian appeal for the country is only about 30 per cent funded, Mr. Gascon said, and providing assistance to people in the transit centres requires at least a million dollars a month.
Apart from operating the migrant centres and organising voluntary returns, IOM underscored that it runs a “community stabilization programme” in Niger to promote resilience among vulnerable communities, create jobs and improve livelihoods.
More than 710,000 people are displaced in Niger.
Migrants, internally displaced persons, and host communities require increased protection and assistance due to turmoil in Niger.
Mr. Gascon told reporters that he was also expecting the sanctions imposed on the country by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the start of the political crisis, blocking the ability to bring in goods, to impact IOM’s operations.
Further obstacles to aid are looming in Niger, as late on Wednesday the country’s military leaders reportedly announced that they were barring UN agencies as well as non-governmental organisations from working in military operation zones.
The UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said that it was reaching out to the de facto authorities to better understand the implications and scope of the announcement.
Overall, some 4.3 million people in Niger are dependent on aid.
Antwerp, cradle of Flemish art: explore its cultural heritage
Antwerp, this magnificent Belgian city located in the Flemish region, is known as the cradle of Flemish art. With its rich cultural heritage, it attracts thousands of visitors each year. Let’s explore together the artistic treasures for which Antwerp is famous.
One of Antwerp’s most iconic cultural sites is the Cathedral of Our Lady. This majestic Gothic church is an architectural masterpiece that houses many works of art. Among them, the famous triptych by the Master of Flémalle, entitled “The Adoration of the Mystical Lamb”. This work, dating from the 15th century, is considered one of the masterpieces of Flemish painting. Notre-Dame Cathedral is also famous for its magnificent stained glass windows, testifying to the know-how of the craftsmen of the time.
Speaking of Flemish painting, how not to mention the name of Peter Paul Rubens? This Baroque artist, originally from Antwerp, is one of the greatest painters of all time. His house, transformed into a museum, offers visitors the opportunity to discover his exceptional works. Among the masterpieces exhibited, one can admire “The Descent from the Cross” or “The Massacre of the Innocents”. Rubens’ house is a real journey through time, where you can immerse yourself in the artistic universe of this Flemish genius.
Besides painting, Antwerp is also known for its fashion industry. The city is home to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, which has trained many big names in haute couture. Every year, the Antwerp Fashion Show attracts designers from all over the world. Fashion lovers can also visit the MoMu, Antwerp’s fashion museum, which presents temporary exhibitions showcasing the talent of Belgian designers.
Antwerp is also a dynamic city, where you can enjoy a rich and varied cultural life. The Zuid district, for example, is renowned for its contemporary art galleries. Modern art lovers can discover works by local and international artists here. The Antwerp Museum of Contemporary Art, located in this district, also offers temporary exhibitions that will delight lovers of contemporary art.
Walking through the streets of Antwerp, one cannot miss the Vlaeykensgang, a picturesque little alley, hidden behind an inconspicuous door. This narrow passage, dating from the 16th century, is a real architectural gem. With its half-timbered houses and cobblestones, it offers visitors a unique experience. You can also find restaurants and cafes here, perfect for relaxing after a day of sightseeing.
But Antwerp is not limited to its cultural heritage, it is also a lively city where you can go shopping and enjoy Flemish gastronomy. The shopping streets, such as the Meir or the Nationalestraat, are full of luxury boutiques and trendy stores. Fashion lovers will find what they are looking for in the many brands of Belgian designers.
As far as gastronomy is concerned, Antwerp offers a wide choice of restaurants and brasseries where you can taste Flemish specialties. Beer lovers will also be able to enjoy discovering the famous Belgian beers, such as Duvel or Westmalle.
In conclusion, Antwerp is a city where art and culture are omnipresent. Its artistic heritage, whether in Flemish painting or fashion, attracts visitors from all over the world. But Antwerp is also a lively city, where you can enjoy a dynamic cultural life and tasty gastronomy. So don’t hesitate any longer, come and explore the cultural heritage of Antwerp and let yourself be seduced by this charming Flemish city.
Bitter Winter (09.01.2023) – 23 July 2023 was a Black Sunday for the city of Odesa and for Ukraine. When Ukrainians and the rest of the world woke up, they discovered with horror and anger that the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Orthodox Transfiguration Cathedral had been severely damaged by a Russian missile strike. Voices were quickly raised to condemn and protest against this new war crime and UNESCO quickly sent a fact-finding mission to Odesa.
The world condemned the criminal Russian missile strike. It should now help Ukraine to rebuild the historical church, UNESCO said.
See Part I HERE and see pictures of the damages HERE.
Dr. Ievgeniia Gidulianova holds a Ph.D. in Law and was Associate Professor at the Department of Criminal Procedure of Odesa Law Academy between 2006 and 2021.
She is now a lawyer in private practice and a consultant for the Brussels-based NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers.
“It’s just a beautiful Ukrainian city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, through whose ports vital food is exported around the world,” Simmons said.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink said: “Russia continues to attack civilians and infrastructure in Odesa. It is a World Heritage Site and a port vital to global food security.” said U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink.
She stressed that Russia’s unjustified war against Ukraine and its people entails terrible consequences. In particular, the ambassador mentioned the destroyed Transfiguration Cathedral, which was recreated at the beginning of this century after it was blown up by order of Stalin in the 30s of the last century.
EU High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrellcalled the night strike on Odesa another Russian war crime and tweeted: “Russia’s relentless missile terror against UNESCO-protected Odesa is yet another war crime by the Kremlin, which has also destroyed the main Orthodox cathedral, a World Heritage Site. Russia has already damaged hundreds of cultural sites in an attempt to destroy Ukraine.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the Russian missile attack on Odesa, which killed two people and damaged the Transfiguration Cathedral, as well as several other historical buildings in the historic center of the city. A statement about this event, attributable to Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, was published on the official website of the organization on Sunday 23 July.
The statement called the shelling of the cathedral and other historical monuments “an attack on the territory protected by the World Heritage Convention, in violation of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict,” which occurred “in addition to the horrific civilian casualties that war brings.”
The UN spokesman noted that since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, UNESCO has confirmed damage to at least 270 cultural sites in Ukraine, including 116 religious sites. The UN Secretary-General calls on the Russian Federation to immediately stop attacks on objects protected by “widely ratified international normative documents”, Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and its civilians, Dujarric said.
“This outrageous destruction marks an escalation of violence against Ukraine’s cultural heritage. I strongly condemn this attack on culture and call on the Russian Federation to take constructive action to fulfil its obligations under international law, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 World Heritage Convention,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
These attacks contradict recent statements by the Russian authorities about the precautions taken to preserve World Heritage sites in Ukraine, including their buffer zones.
The deliberate destruction of cultural objects can be equated with a war crime, which is also recognized by the United Nations Security Council, of which the Russian Federation is a permanent member, in Resolution 2347 (2017).
The Russian Defense Ministryconfirmed the attack on the city but denied that the target of the strike was the Transfiguration Cathedral, the most damaged religious site. The agency claims that it fired only at “places of preparation of terrorist attacks against the Russian Federation”, and “planning strikes with high-precision weapons” deliberately excluded the defeat of civilian targets. The temple, according to the Russian military, was damaged due to “illiterate actions of Ukrainian air defense operators.” At the same time, Russia during the war repeatedly struck civilian targets with high-precision weapons – and each time categorically denied it, even when its responsibility was absolutely obvious.
“We ask for international assistance for the restoration of the Transfiguration Cathedral”
The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine calls on the international community to assist in the restoration of cultural heritage monuments and is preparing appropriate appeals to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention.
On 9 August 2023, UNESCO presentedthe preliminary results of its expert mission, the purpose of which was to assess the damage caused to the cultural heritage of Odessa. Of the 52 cultural monuments reported by the Ukrainian authorities to have been damaged in Russian attacks, UNESCO experts were able to inspect the 10 most affected sites.
Most of them, including the Transfiguration Cathedral, the House of Scientists and the Literary Museum, were assessed by experts as “severely damaged”. Experts also noted that some other historic buildings have become more vulnerable as a result of the fighting and, therefore, are at risk of significant damage in the event of new attacks, which may be accompanied by blast waves and vibrations.
Representatives of the International Council for the Preservation of Historical and Cultural Monuments (ICOMOS) and the International Centre for the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property participated in the mission. Among their tasks was the identification of threats to the integrity of cultural objects as well as the implementation of urgent measures aimed at preserving them and protecting them from further damage.
The detailed results of the mission will be collected in a report to be published in December at a meeting of the parties to the 1954 Hague Convention. It will provide more detailed information on the extent of damage, as well as on measures for the protection and restoration of cultural heritage sites in Odesa, proposed by UNESCO experts. But UNESCO has already mobilized urgent funding for the first restoration work. UNESCO reports that additional funds were allocated from the Fund for the Preservation of Heritage in Emergency Situations – USD 169,000 – in order to immediately carry out work on the protection of cultural monuments and assess the damage.
Psychiatry – A recent article entitled “The shady business of mental illness: how the consumption of psychotropic drugs in the US has skyrocketed (El turbio negocio de las enfermedades mentales: así se disparó el consumo de psicofármacos en EEUU)” published in EL MUNDO by Daniel Arjona on 1 September 2023, presents a critique of the evolution of the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses in the United States over the last few decades, something that not only the Scientologists have been doing, but in fact, this is being investigated and exposed more and more by journalists, medical doctors, human rights activists and even psychiatrists; some would blame it on the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, for having dared to speak their mouth very aggressively (some say), but even a court said that their words and exposées are protected by the law.
Anyway, back to the article, the author highlights the growing prescription of psychotropic drugs and questions the relationship between psychiatry and pharmaceutical companies (some others speak of a mixture of psychiatry and pharmacocrazy). The following is an analysis of the article, citing relevant parts and providing reasoning.
Psychiatry and Changes in the Definition of Depression
The article starts by bringing attention to a shift in how depression was defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) back in 1980. This change allowed for the diagnosis of depression based on symptoms observed over a two-week period. As a result, there was an increase in the identification of depression and a rise in the prescription of medications like Xanax. The author considers this change as a point to analyze further.
The Role of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
The article emphasizes the significance of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in categorizing illnesses and its influence on the growing use of psychotropic drugs. It mentions a book titled “Psychiatry under the influence” authored by Robert Whitaker and Lisa Cosgrove, which critically examines the relationship between psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry. According to the author, this book sparked a debate, within the medical community.
Diagnostic Inflation and Medicalisation
The article argues that diagnostic criteria for psychiatric illnesses have been expanded in ways that increased the number of people diagnosed, leading to increased medicalisation of psychological and emotional problems. It also points out that modern psychiatry tends to focus more on biological treatments than on psychosocial and economic factors.
The Case of ADHD
The article discusses how the market for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was built in the United States, noting that it was not a creation of the pharmaceutical industry, but of organised psychiatry. DSM-III and DSM-IV provided the diagnostic framework, and academic psychiatrists contributed to more ADHD diagnoses and medication prescriptions.
Critique of Global Medicalisation
The article presents expert opinion questioning the scientific basis of many categories of mental illness and the relationship between these and pharmacological treatments. It is mentioned that the categorisation of emotional struggles as psychiatric disorders is an epistemologically problematic process and that the causes of these conditions are more complex than simple chemical imbalances.
Perspectives for Change
The article ends with a cautiously optimistic perspective on the possibility of challenging and reforming the system of diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. It mentions that, even with the obstacles, younger psychiatrists are showing a greater openness to listening to data that challenges the dominant narrative.
In essence, the article by Daniel Arjona brings attention to the issues and objections regarding the connection between psychiatry, pharmaceutical companies and the medicalization of illness in the United States (something that is already happening in Europe at a worrisome speed). By presenting evidence and expert viewpoints the writer offers a thought-provoking standpoint that raises significant inquiries about current psychiatric methods and their impact, on society.
Bitter Winter (31.08.2023) – On the night of 23 July 2023, the Russian Federation launched a massive missile attack on the center of Odesa which created quite dramatic damages to the Orthodox Transfiguration Cathedral. International support for the reconstruction has quickly been pledged. Italy and Greece are first on the line but much more assistance is needed.
Ievgeniia Gidulianova holds a Ph.D. in Law and was Associate Professor at the Department of Criminal Procedure of Odesa Law Academy between 2006 and 2021.
She is now a lawyer in private practice and a consultant for the Brussels-based NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers.
Italy and Greece are first in the line to provide assistance. See pictures of the damage HEREand CNN video
Article originally published by Bitter Winter on 31.08.1013 under the title “Odesa Transfiguration Cathedral. 1. After the Russian Bombing, Help Is Needed for Reconstruction”
The legal status of the Transfiguration Cathedral is rather complex and unclear. Until May 2022, it was considered a church with a special status and rights of broad autonomy, affiliated to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church/ Moscow Patriarchate (UOC/MP).
On 27 May 2022, the Council of the UOC/ MP removed all references to such dependence from its statutes, stressing its financial autonomy and the absence of any external interference in the appointment of its clergy. It hereby dissociated itself from the Russian Orthodox Church and stopped commemorating Kirill at the divine services because of his support for Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine. This distancing did however not lead to a schism from Moscow so that the UOC can keep its canonical status. In the meantime, the process of transfer of UOC parishes to the national Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), founded in December 2018 under President Poroshenko and recognized by Constantinople Patriarchate on 5 January 2019, has accelerated.
In this context, the comment of Archdeacon Andriy Palchuk, a cleric of the Odessa Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) about the damage caused to the cathedral is worth mentioning: “The destruction is colossal. Half of the cathedral is left without a roof. The central pillars and the foundation are broken. All the windows and stucco were blown out. There was a fire, the part where icons and candles are sold in the church caught fire. After the end of the air raid, the emergency services arrived and extinguished everything.”
On 23 July 2023, Archbishop Victor of Artsyz (UOC) appealed to Patriarch Kirill in a virulent way about the shelling of the cathedral. He accused him of supporting the war against Ukraine, a sovereign country, and personally blessing the Russian Armed Forces who are committing atrocities:
“Your bishops and priests consecrate and bless the tanks and missiles that bomb our peaceful cities. Today, when I arrived at the Odesa Transfiguration Cathedral after the end of the curfew and saw that the Russian missile ‘blessed’ by you flew directly into the altar of the church, to the saints, I realized that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has had nothing in common with your understandings for a long time. Today, you and all your novices are doing everything to ensure that the UOC is destroyed on the territory of Ukraine. Today we (speaking on behalf of many bishops of the UOC) condemn this insane aggression of the Russian Federation against our Independent Country. We demand to leave behind our Church, our bishops and our Primate.”
Many people in Odesa and in Ukraine want to make donations for urgent works meant to protect the essential elements of the cathedral (the roof, the pillars…) to avoid further deterioration of the building and to guarantee the security inside and around. On the official Facebook page of the Transfiguration Cathedral, a video has been posted by the diocese to collect funds for the restoration of the cathedral.
About the tumultuous history of the Transfiguration Cathedral
The Transfiguration Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Odesa, the main cathedral of the Odesa diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It is located in the historical center of the city.
The history of the cathedral began simultaneously with the founding of Odesa in 1794 by Catherine II, then Empress of Russia. In the process of the consecration of the city itself by Metropolitan Gabriel, a place for the construction of the future church building was also consecrated on Cathedral Square. He laid the first stone on 14 November 1795. Construction work dragged on for several years until it was completed, according to the plans of the engineer-captain Vanrezant and the architect Frapolli, by the famous French Duke of Richelieu, appointed governor of Odesa in 1803. The cathedral was consecrated in 1808. Since then, the cathedral has become known as the Transfiguration.
During the 19th century, the Transfiguration Cathedral underwent a number of significant transformation and extension works. It received its current historical appearance in 1903 and within its huge space of 90 by 45 meters, it can accommodate 9000 people at a time. Some sources even mention the figure of 12,000.
With the establishment of the Bolshevik government in Odesa in 1922, the cathedral was first looted, closed in 1932 and demolished by the Soviets in 1936. Several explosions first destroyed the belfry, and then the whole building. The local newspaper “Black Sea Commune” noted on 6 March 1936 that 150 people participated in the demolition. As an eyewitness to the destruction, Odesa writer and local historian Vladimir Gridin wrote that the most valuable icons and marbles were previously taken out of the temple but their fate remains unknown.
The current Transfiguration Cathedral was rebuilt in 1999-2011 on the site of its ruins and blessed by Patriarch Kirill himself in July 2010 when the UOC was in subordination to the Moscow Patriarchate.
At the initiative of local authorities, the cathedral was included in the Program for the Reproduction of Outstanding Monuments of History and Culture of Ukraine, approved by the Government in 1999, but no budget for the reconstruction of the cathedral was then allocated. It was rebuilt with private funding and charitable foundations. Odesa mayor’s office partly financed the interior of the cathedral.
The restored cathedral was put into operation on 22 May 2005. Now, according to the official data of the Unified State Register, the full name of the cathedral is the Odesa Transfiguration Cathedral of the Odesa Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). In 2007, the cathedral was included in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine as a historical monument.
In 2010, a team of architects, builders and artists was awarded the State Prize of Ukraine in the field of architecture for the reconstruction of the cathedral. It is now the main architectural building dominating the historical center of Odesa and its main Orthodox church.
The cathedral is of great historical and memorial importance as a burial place for prominent personalities of Odesa and the South of Ukraine. This is one of the important architectural elements constituting the traditional environment of the “Historical Center of the Port City of Odessa”, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as proposed by Ukraine in 2023.
Italy’s top officials have offered to help Ukraine restore the Transfiguration Cathedral
On the day of the missile attack hitting the cathedral, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said: “The Russian bombing of Odesa destroyed part of the Transfiguration Cathedral, an undignified act. Italy, after supporting Odesa to become a UNESCO cultural heritage, will be at the forefront of the city’s reconstruction.”
“The attacks in Odesa, the death of innocents, the destruction of the Transfiguration Cathedral deeply touched us. Russian aggressors are demolishing granaries, depriving millions of starving people of food. They devastate our European civilization and its sacred symbols. Free people will not be intimidated, barbarism will not triumph,” the Italian government said in a statement.
“Italy, which has unique restoration skills in the world, is ready to commit itself to the reconstruction of the Odesa Cathedral and other treasures of Ukraine’s artistic heritage,” said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Greece also intends to assist in the restoration of architectural monuments that were damaged during the Russian missile attack
According to the Odesa City Council, Greece also intends to assist in the restoration of architectural monuments that were damagedduring the Russian missile attack. This was announced by theConsul General of the Hellenic Republic in Odesa, Dimitrios Dohtsis, during a conversation with the mayor.
He stated that “Greece will take part in the restoration of damaged Odesa’s architectural monuments. Greece condemns the attacks on the historic center of Odessa, which is protected by UNESCO. Greece will participate in the restoration of damaged architectural monuments. This especially applies to houses with Greek history, namely: Papudov’s house and Rodokanaki’s house.“
“We are very pleased that Odesa has friends all over the world. Greece has been helping Ukraine and Odesa since the beginning of the full-scale war. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Mr. Nikos Dendias, was in Odesa twice during this time and strongly supported our accession to UNESCO. We are very grateful to you,” said mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov.
A call for funding the restoration of the Transfiguration Cathedral
Kyiv and the local authorities in Odesa very much hope that other countries, organizations and philanthropists will assist in the restoration of monuments of the cultural heritage of Odesa.
Human Rights Without Frontiers calls upon the European Union and its member states, the United States and Canada as well as their respective Ukrainian diaspora to participate in the restoration of the Odesa Cathedral.
A group of UN independent human rights experts on Wednesday urged the Government of Mexico to investigate and prosecute those who attack and kill women activists searching for their missing relatives.
“We are outraged that those searching for forcibly disappeared family members and loved ones continue to be targeted and face violence in Mexico,” they said in a statement, issued in the wake of two recent incidents.
Brutal murder of women activists
Human rights defender Teresa Magueyal was shot dead while riding her bicycle in Celaya, Guanajuato state, on 2 May. Her son, José Luis Apaseo Magueyal, 34, disappeared three years ago.
Ms. Magueyal was part of a group formed by families of people who have disappeared and was the sixth volunteer to be killed since 2021, according to media reports.
Two months earlier, Araceli Rodríguez Nava, who is in a tireless search for her disappeared son, was attacked in Chilpancingo, capital of Guerrero state. The incident took place on 4 March.
Both women were beneficiaries of the federal protection mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists, the UN experts said. Although their cases remain under investigation, information about its effectiveness has been scarce.
Ensure freedom and safety
The UN experts urged the Mexican authorities to ensure human rights defenders working on enforced disappearances can operate freely and safely.
They said enforced disappearances and attacks targeting these activists are linked to the presence of organised crime groups, extortion, human trafficking, kidnapping networks, corruption and collusion with authorities.
Furthermore, operating in a constant environment of fear, threat and insecurity has an intimidating effect on relatives of the victims, civil society, human rights defenders, and organisations.
Investigate and prosecute
They added that many of the rights defenders are women and older persons, increasing their risk of being targeted.
“It is extremely worrying that impunity for crimes against human rights defenders and activists continues despite complaints being filed. Prevention measures and protection for victims and targets of the attacks are either not provided, or not effective,” they said.
“The Government of Mexico needs to promptly investigate, prosecute, and impose appropriate sanctions on any person responsible for the alleged violations”.
Adopt all measures
As their statement was issued on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the UN expert surged the Mexican Government “to adopt all necessary measures to prevent irreparable damage to the life and personal integrity of those searching for the forcibly disappeared, their family members, civil society movements, organisations and public servants.”
They noted that a presidential campaign called De Frente a la Libertadis underway in Mexico that is giving greater visibility to the risks faced by journalists and human rights activists in the country.
They said it was time for authorities to take effective measures to protect human rights defenders searching for truth and justice.
On the eve of the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Brussels-based NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers filed a report taking stock about the deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia from the territories occupied since the beginning of the war.
According to the Adviser-Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Children’s Rehabilitation Daria Gerasymchuk, the Ukrainian authorities have collected personal data of about 20,000 cases although there might be ten times more according to incontrollable figures circulating both in Russia and in Ukraine.
The report “Ukrainian Children in Search of a Way Home from Russia” reveals that only 386 children have found a way back home. They could not be returned through negotiations with the Russian side but every time it could only be achieved through a specific rescue operation.
On 17 March 2023, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova for unlawful deportation of children. In the meantime, a number of them have been illegally adopted by Russian families.
“Today there is no international structure that could offer an effective mechanism for the return of our deported children,” Gerasymchuk said in an exclusive interview withInterfax-Ukraine.
A controversy broke out in July between Kyiv and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) when Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba claimed that Ukrainian children were in Belarus and the Belarusian representative of the Red Cross, Dmitry Shevtsov, was seen in camouflage with a chevron of the occupiers with the letter Z.
Ukraine responsibly cooperates with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) in order to stop and prevent violations against children during the conflict, and calls on the UN to fundamentally and persistently demand from the Russian Federation cooperation with the CAAC mechanism, access to all temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, as well as to its territory, since the CAAC mandate includes child abduction crimes.
In Ukraine, several cooperation structures between relevant ministries, the UN and UNICEF have been put in place.
In its recommendations, Human Rights Without Frontiers urges
Russia to ensure that no changes are made to the personal status of Ukrainian children, including their citizenship;
all parties to continue to ensure that the best interests of all children are respected, including by facilitating family tracing and reunification of unaccompanied and/or separated children who find themselves outside borders or control lines without their families or guardians;
parties to the conflict to grant child protection authorities access to these children to facilitate family reunification;
the UN Special Representative on “Children and Armed Conflicts’, together with other UN agencies and partners, to consider ways to facilitate such processes.
The full report in three languages (English, Ukrainian and Russian) is available on the website of Human Rights Without Frontiers: https://hrwf.eu/российские-новости/
For more information or interviews in English, Ukrainian or Russian, please contact [email protected]
COPENHAGEN, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, August 30, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — A contingent of deeply concerned Scientology volunteers with the Copenhagen chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World recently brought their urgent “Say No to Drugs” initiative to a major community Health Fair in the city.
While there is one International Overdose Awareness Day which is celebrated every year, Scientologists don’t take it mild, execute preventive actions all year round. But how did the International Overdose Awareness Day come about? International Overdose Awareness Day takes place annually on August 31st with the aim of raising awareness about overdoses and combating the stigma surrounding drug-related deaths. This meaningful event was initiated in 2001 by Sally J. Finn in Melbourne, Australia. following the loss of her son, James to a heroin overdose. The inaugural International Overdose Awareness Day event in Melbourne attracted 150 participants and marked the beginning of a global movement. By 2002 events were being held in the UK and Europe while the US joined in by 2004. Over time, International Overdose Awareness Day expanded to more than 40 countries and gained official government recognition and support.
The primary objective of this awareness day is to combat the stigmatization associated with overdose deaths and educate individuals, about the risks involved not just in overdosing but in taking drugs per se, and discussions centred around evidence-based overdose prevention strategies and drug policies. Activities organized as part of this initiative include candlelight vigils, policy debates naloxone training sessions (a medication used to reverse overdoses) memorial services and various community gatherings.
However, Scientologists have been engaged in this ongoing struggle since before 1966, when they founded the initial drug rehabilitation facility called Narconon. This programme has since grown to numerous centres across the globe, accompanied by a comprehensive global prevention campaign.
The outreach covered in this story aims to actively spread awareness and provide solutions to the country’s youth as substance abuse has emerged as an escalating epidemic and one of Denmark’s most dire threats.
The volunteers invited families and youth attendees at the packed fair to spin a “roulette wheel” game in order to raise charitable donations benefiting the non-profit sponsoring the event. However, they also creatively utilized the gripping activity to vividly demonstrate how taking drugs equates to recklessly gambling with your life given the myriad harmful and even deadly effects of various illicit substances.
The interactive demonstration specifically targets young students before they ever begin to experiment with recreational drug use that could permanently destroy their futures.
According to concerning reports widely covered in Danish local media recently, dependency and outright addiction to opioid-based pills has become highly prevalent among the country’s teenagers and children as young as 14 years old. Numerous young students have confessed that they feel completely unable to even function, get out of bed, or attend school without the aid of opioids just to start their day.
The rampant addiction crisis has spread like wildfire among expansive social networks where youth openly acknowledge that virtually everyone has easy, unrestricted access to the dangerous pills that fuel crippling addiction. Experts state that the proliferation of teenage opioid abuse may represent one of the most critical threats facing Denmark’s future stability, prosperity, and health.
Alarmed by the unprecedented scope and growth of the drug crisis, Scientology volunteers are working actively to reach young people nationwide with factual data and knowledge about the immense risks posed by the most commonly abused narcotics before permanent and irreparable addictive behaviours take hold.
The Foundation for a Drug-Free World provides comprehensive drug education and prevention materials in 20 languages completely free of charge, including extensive online courses and booklets. The global non-profit boasts a network of over 200 chapters across dozens of countries worldwide, thanks to the staunch support of the Church of Scientology and its legions of committed volunteers.
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard identified recreational drug abuse as one of the single most corrosive elements present in modern culture that actively works to unravel the social fabric of families, communities and entire nations. “Drug addiction and substance abuse fuel criminality while destroying lives and squandering human potential on a staggering scale globally,” said Ivan Arjona-Pelado, the President of the European Office of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs.
“This is why the actions of the Foundation for a Drug-Free Europe and its hundreds of Say No To Drugs associations and groups of volunteers across Europe, aware that every year drugs destroy thousands of lives and hopes, are actively contributing through The Truth About Drugs campaign, to preventively educate the youth and the public at large with factual data on the harming effects of drug use” wrote Christian Mirre, Spokesperson of the Foundation for a Drug-Free Europe, in a recent article.
The Church of Scientology for Denmark, which opened its sprawling new ideal facilities in 2017, is deeply committed to sponsoring and vigorously promoting the volunteer outreach effort to combat drug addiction locally.
Countless Danish families have been torn apart by substance abuse and so Scientology volunteers aim to foster a drug-free generation by tackling the issue at its roots.
Scientology Network programming showcases the extensive work of Foundation volunteers using these drug prevention materials (known as The Truth about Drugs”) in schools and communities across various nations globally. The broadcast platform aims to satisfy curiosity about the true nature and beliefs of the Scientology religion, as well as share its staunchly humanitarian teachings focused on protecting human life, upholding human rights, and human dignity, and uplifting families and communities.
The mobilization of Scientologist volunteers at the Copenhagen health fair represents the latest action of the worldwide movement. For decades, the Church has made eradicating drug addiction and illiteracy the twin pillars of its social betterment campaigns.
In communities beset by substance abuse worldwide, Scientologist volunteers are working to provide facts, education and practical solutions together with members of different religions such as Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Sijs, Muslims and others.
The Danish government believes that such acts are causing harm to the nation’s interests and putting citizens at risk abroad. Under the proposed legislation desecrating the Quran or Bible would become an offense with penalties of up to two years in prison and fines.
The aim of this ban according to the centre right administration is to send a message to the international community. Recent weeks have seen over 170 protests with some individuals burning Qurans right in front of foreign embassies located on Danish soil.
Danish intelligence services have warned lawmakers about the escalating terrorism threats faced by their country due to these incidents. Neighboring Sweden has also experienced backlash and security concerns following public Quran burnings, including an attack on their embassy in Iraq by angry protesters. However, both Denmark and Sweden have had challenges responding firmly due, to their liberal free speech laws.
The Danish proposal, which has a focus aims to criminalize public burnings while still upholding free expression and democratic principles. While acknowledging the importance of freedom of speech authorities have expressed the need to address national security concerns that have arisen due to Quran burnings. The goal is to outlaw actions that fuel hatred and create divisions between communities.
The government plans to introduce a binding amendment on September 1st with the aim of passing it through Parliament by the end of this year. This ban would make it a punishable criminal offence to desecrate both the Quran and Bible to the existing prohibition on insulting foreign countries’ flags and other national symbols.
This punitive measure comes in response to incidents of Quran burning in Denmark and Sweden in late July. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation representing more than 50 Muslim-majority member states has strongly urged governments to take action against European countries where such acts occur.
Considering the increasing terrorism threats and national security interests at stake Denmark aims to prevent actions that have resulted in diplomatic crises and put Danish citizens and assets at risk worldwide. Lawmakers recognize the importance of speech but believe it is time to enforce legal consequences for deliberate provocations, through targeted legislation.
