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FIFA and UN High Commissioner for Refugees formalise relations

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Newsdesk
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FIFA and UN High Commissioner for Refugees formalise relations

ZURICH, Switzerland, July 12, 2023/APO Group/ — Agreement signed between FIFA (https://www.FIFA.com) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Geneva, Switzerland; FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees inked the agreement; captains at the FIFA Women’s World Cup offered armbands highlighting agreed UNHCR cause .

Football’s global governing body FIFA and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further develop their long-standing working relationship. The long-term agreement will lead to both organisations working closely with those forcibly displaced from their homes and help to strengthen communities through enhanced access to football, education and other opportunities. 

The signing ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, was conducted by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees – with both leaders committing to an ongoing relationship to use the power of football to positively impact global society, a key pillar of the FIFA President’s Vision. UNHCR’s mandate is to help those forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. Currently, more than 110 million people are forcibly displaced, a number that’s never been higher, with the vast majority hosted in low- and middle-income countries.   

The signing ceremony comes just eight days before the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ begins, with the newly-formalised partnership to be active throughout. 

For displaced people, football can be a game-changer to help overcome the many challenges they face

It builds on a collaboration over the last four years between FIFA and UNHCR. In March 2022, FIFA and UNHCR united in a global appeal to raise funds for people displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. Under the terms of the MoU, the two entities will continue to build this partnership through football activities and projects promoting social cohesion, education and youth development, with a focus on providing solutions and opportunities through sports. FIFA and UNHCR will also collaborate to ensure football players in need of international protection are appropriately supported. 

Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony, President Infantino said: “I thank UN High Commissioner Grandi for the role UNHCR has played in bringing our two organisations together. I look forward to a fruitful, meaningful and impactful partnership. We believe very much in this collaboration, and I would like to assure you my personal commitment to make our little contribution, to give a little bit of a smile to children, but also to adults like us, who remain children when they see a ball, all around the world. We often say that football has the power to unite the world, and the work FIFA and UNHCR will assume together because of this agreement is a clear commitment to that.” 

“We are ready to work together, to collaborate in the different refugee camps and the different areas where there is a need”, Mr Infantino continued. “The more people we reach at first – a few at least – and especially the more kids we reach around the world, the better. Additionally, via projects supported by the FIFA Foundation, there is a particular focus on improving the lives of displaced people worldwide, empowering them to restart their lives and to contribute to their new community.” 

Meanwhile, Grandi said: “Football is the world’s most popular sport, with players coming from every corner of the globe, including many refugees. For displaced people, football can be a game-changer to help overcome the many challenges they face. Crucially, it fosters inclusion in the communities where they have found safety.” 

Grandi continued: “With this partnership, football is showing real solidarity with the many millions who have been forced to flee – as well as their hosts. We look forward to seeing tangible results from this important collaboration.” 

The FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia & New Zealand is expected to reach a global audience of 2 billion people, and, in line with commitments outlined in the MoU, the two parties will use the tournament to call for the football community to Unite for Peace. During the Round of 16 matches, team captains will be invited to wear armbands promoting this cause alongside messages on pitchside LEDs, stadium big screens and social media, reaching a global audience and providing huge exposure for this crucial message. 

FIFA and UNHCR will also partner to spread awareness around key annual international dates, such as World Refugee Day, and will continue to deliver joint activations and campaigns – all of which aim at supporting UNHCR’s life-saving humanitarian assistance as well as its focus to create long-term solutions for refugees.

Panic Attacks: The Reasons You Can Unlock Them

By
Gaston de Persigny
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Unexpected, overwhelming and even terrifying. Maybe at some point you’ve wondered why you have panic attacks. That sudden feeling that you’re gasping for breath, that your heart is pounding, and that fear grips every part of your mind and body is something very unpleasant. Everything is out of your control. And if there is one aspect that generates even more fear, it is the repetition of these sensations.

The first panic attack is never forgotten. We can say that this is one of the most unpleasant sensations that someone can experience. However, let’s emphasize what the symptomatology consists of.

Physical symptoms

• dizziness

• tremors

• palpitations

• chest pain

• feeling of suffocation

• nausea, upset stomach

• numbness of the body

• chills and sweating at the same time

Emotional and cognitive symptoms

• excessive and irrational fear

• depersonalization (detachment from oneself)

• the feeling that one is “going crazy”

• derealization (feeling that everything around us is not real)

If you’ve ever wondered why you get a panic attack, you should know that it’s not because of factors like weakness or emotional incompetence. Don’t beat yourself up or blame yourself for it. We can all survive it. Let’s immediately look at the reasons why you may suffer from panic attacks:

1. Biological and genetic causes

While it’s possible for all of us to experience a panic attack at some point, some people experience it regularly. The reason for this would be genetic factors. Panic attacks are on average more common in females, and this genetic feature increases the risk of their occurrence.

2. Functional changes in the cerebral cilia

If you are wondering why you have these attacks, the cause would be in your brain’s amygdala. This nerve center for emotional processing may have certain characteristics that increase your risk of suffering more from panic attacks.

The amygdala, the center of fear-processing networks, would be linked to both panic attacks and their chronic version: panic disorder.

What causes the problem is putting ourselves in a constant state of “alarm”. This hyperarousal encapsulates the feeling of constant fear and that something very bad is going to happen.

3. Chronic stress or prolonged pressure

Although stress is a natural mechanism that allows us to face specific challenges and threats, sometimes it is beyond our control. When stressful situations and tensions drag on and the demands exceed our psychological resources, attacks occur.

The body and brain show in these situations a very high level of cortisol, norepinephrine and adrenaline. All this accumulated tension “explodes” at one point. Similarly, we know that there are people with lower resistance to stress, and this increases the occurrence of attacks.

4. When fear takes over

The attacks in question occur independently or are accompanied by other disorders such as anxiety or trauma. Life puts us in difficult circumstances that we don’t always know how to deal with and that are accompanied by a constant feeling of fear. Let’s see some examples:

• coping with loss

• a sick loved one

• coping with psychological trauma

• job loss and financial problems

• phobias

• intense life changes, such as a breakup

5. Other reasons why you have panic attacks

This fact may attract our attention, but science has been warning about such a factor for decades: tobacco increases the risk of suffering from panic attacks.

On the other hand, the fact that the consumption of certain psychoactive substances often leads to these experiences cannot be ignored.

Photo by  samer daboul: https://www.pexels.com/photo/extreme-close-up-photo-of-frightened-eyes-4178738/

Sudanese Human Rights activists call EU leaders to stop the airstrikes in support of  peace in Sudan

By
Robert Johnson
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Sudanese Human Rights activists call EU leaders to stop the airstrikes in support of  peace in Sudan

An international conference entitled “Fostering Peace and Security in Sudan” was organized by the EPP group, EU Human Rights organizations, and hosted by MEP Martusciello on July 18th, 2023, following the Geneva conference, Egypt Summit, and the ceasefire agreement reached by the US and KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) for humanitarian reasons.

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== Sudanese Human Rights activists call EU leaders to stop the airstrikes in support of  peace in Sudan
Sudanese Human Rights activists call EU leaders to stop the airstrikes in support of  peace in Sudan 2

The conference aims to shed light on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and how the EU could help the population to stop human rights violations and offer aid.

The event started with Annarita Patriarca ‘s speech, Member of the House of representatives in Italy, who highlighted the role of Italy and the EU in supporting the Sudanese population by stopping airstrikes and facilitating democratic transition to avoid human rights violations and a civil war in the region.

Members of the European Parliament who were present including Francesca Donato, Massimiliano Salini and Francesca Pepucci, shared a few words with the audience and showed their solidarity and support for Sudanese activists in stopping airstrikes and providing support to civilians suffering from this humanitarian crisis.

Sudanese Human Rights activists were invited to give their feedback regarding the situation in Sudan, along with European Human Rights experts and Members of the European Parliament.

The debate was moderated by Manel Msalmi, an international affairs advisor and expert on MENA, who introduced the debate by reminding the aspirations of the Sudanese population four years ago when the revolution started and how the EU helped economically and logistically to support Sudan’s civilian authorities.

Ms. Yosra Ali, Head of the Sudan International Human Rights Organization (SIHRO), said: “We demand an immediate halt to the airstrikes. It is high time for us to take decisive action to protect the rights of Sudanese citizens, to bring an end to the relentless airstrikes, and to dismantle the oppressive regime that continues to threaten our very existence.”

Ms. Iman Ali, Youth Rights Coordinator at SIHRO, added, “It is a grave violation of our rights, a trampling on the principles of humanity that the United Nations and all nations stand for. Every day, every minute, every second we stand watching, more lives are lost, more homes are destroyed, and more dreams are shattered.”

Ms. Hosain also asked the European Parliament to stop the Sudan Army from recruiting children into the armed forces. She warned that if the army controls Sudan, it will lead to the involvement of Al-Qaeda and ISIS in power, which will cause trouble for Africa and the EU and result in a significant increase in refugees.

Dr. Ibrahim Mukhayer, Political Advisor on Sudan’s health issues, highlighted the health crisis by describing the grim picture of healthcare in Sudan, further tarnished by continued attacks, and looting of health facilities and violence against health workers carried out by Sudan army forces. “The lives of women and girls hang in the balance as they are denied access to life-saving healthcare,” he emphasized.

Dr. Abdo Alnasir Solum, Director of the African Human Rights Centre-Sweden, stressed the fact that “The situation in Sudan today is not just a conflict; it is a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions, and it is our moral obligation as international actors to strive for its resolution. We need to stop the Islamists from controlling the Sudan Army Forces.” EU human rights organizations and experts also called for immediate measures to help the population.

Willy Fautré, Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers, highlighted the role of Russia and Wagner in the Sudanese conflict and their involvement with the Sudan Army Forces. He emphasized the EU’s response as well as its contribution to ending the suffering of civilians.

Thierry Valle, President of CAP Liberté de Conscience, mentioned that “The members of the Security Council strongly condemned all airstrikes and attacks targeting the civilian population, United Nations personnel, humanitarian actors, and civilian objects, including medical personnel and facilities.”

Christine Mirre from CAP Liberté de Conscience stressed the fact that “Sudanese women face immense challenges in overcoming the consequences of war. They have been betrayed by the Sudan Army Forces, the very forces that were supposed to bring them stability and security. Despite these difficulties, Sudanese women remain determined to make their voices heard in peace-building efforts.”

Mrs Alona Lebedieva, owner of Arum Group in Ukraine and Arum Charity Foundation in Brussels highlighted Russian involvement in Sudan conflict and the need to stop the war and help women and children who are the first victims of violence and sexual abuse in any conflict whether in Ukraine or in Sudan .

Giuliana Franciosa, an expert in Communication strategy emphasized the role the EU had in Sudan since the revolution “Throughout the crisis, the EU has demonstrated its commitment to meeting the urgent needs of the Sudanese population by providing essential equipment, financing, deploying experts, facilitating evacuation and protecting humanitarian access”.

The debate ended by a call from the Sudanese human rights activists for a ceasefire, a UN investigation regarding human rights violations and ending the war  by asking Sudan Army Forces(SAF) to stop the airstrikes on civilians, stop employing or involving radical islamists from leading any section of the army , stop targeting  refugees camp , stop importing any weapons from Russia or Iran and free  women prisoners immediately. The EU leaders promised to watch the situation closely and help to put an end to this humanitarian crisis.

Ukraine: Do not play with nuclear Armageddon, warns UN Assembly President

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United Nations News
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Ukraine: Do not play with nuclear Armageddon, warns UN Assembly President

Since the outbreak of the conflict, tens of thousands have lost their lives, many more have been wounded, and millions displaced within Ukraine and outside its borders.

“We must remember that behind every number lies a mother, a father, a child, a grandparent. To turn a blind eye would be an affront to the memory of those who have already perished,” Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly, told the meeting of Member States.

He added that while the Security Council has failed to adopt a resolution related to the conflict, the General Assembly, “resolute and active, has not let the international community become numb to this war.”

Nuclear rhetoric must be stopped

At the meeting, held under Agenda Item 59, on the situation in the temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, Mr. Kőrösi underlined that the nuclear rhetoric must stop.

Amidst the crisis, the threat of a nuclear catastrophe continues to loom large, with Europe’s largest nuclear power plant located in an active conflict zone, posing grave, imminent danger far beyond the region, he said.  

“I must repeat what I have said before: nuclear arms will not solve a conflict. We cannot play with a nuclear Armageddon,” the Assembly President stressed.

He appealed to Russia and Russian leaders’ sense of responsibility: “you have the power to end it. And, as one of the most influential decision-makers in the world, you can do it – if you want to.”

War and development

President Kőrösi also highlighted that the fighting is deeply connected to the Sustainable Development goals (SDGs), threatening the “very prospect” of a sustainable future.

“How can we expect to effectively address food and energy insecurity, climate change, water security, and biodiversity loss when conflicts have ripple effects across the globe?”

Simply put, he continued, the war is fundamentally unreconcilable with the pursuit of the 17 Goals, “the ones we hope to secure humanity’s survival.”

Vulnerable pay the price

Mr. Kőrösi also underlined the importance of the Black Sea Initiative, which ensured food for hundreds of millions worldwide, and which expired just a day ago, after Russia withdrew from the instrument.

“I implore all parties to come together in dialogue and diplomacy to restart negotiations, for it is always the most vulnerable who suffer the consequences. Let them not pay the price of political games”, he urged.

Attack on Ukrainian port condemned

Meanwhile, just hours after the termination of the Initiative, the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa, one of the country’s main ports for exporting grain, came under attack. The port’s infrastructure was reportedly damaged.

Denise Brown, Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, condemned the assault and said that civilian infrastructure, which is key for food security globally, appears to have been targeted.

Civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected under international humanitarian law, she stressed.

Earlier on Monday, a key bridge linking Russia to the annexed Crimea region, was also apparently targeted, reportedly killing a couple and injuring a child with them who were travelling on the Russian-built structure that’s a key supply route for the Russian war effort.

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Sudan: Conflict displaces nearly 200,000 alone in the past week

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United Nations News
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Sudan: Conflict displaces nearly 200,000 alone in the past week

Overall, more than 2.6 million people have been internally displaced since the start of the conflict on 15 April.

Meanwhile, more than 730,000 people have fled Sudan for neighbouring countries, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

Top UN officials visit refugee camp

On Tuesday, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and the head of the World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain, visited a camp in eastern Chad that has taken in Sudanese refugees.

Ms.  Mohammed said she was inspired by the courage of those who had fled there, many of whom were women and children, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists in New York.

“She said that she also heard stories of unimaginable suffering in Sudan and enormous needs in Chad,” he added. “More international support is needed for refugees and their host communities, she said.”

UN support continues

Back in Sudan, humanitarians continue to provide relief to civilians.  

In North Darfur, the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) and partners are supporting water trucking to gathering sites for internally displaced people, as well as healthcare facilities. They have also constructed more than two dozen latrines.  

Mr. Dujarric said UN health agency WHO is working closely with Sudan’s Ministry of Health and other partners in states sheltering internally displaced people to provide essential, reproductive, sexual, maternal and pediatric care.    

On Monday, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and partners managed to deliver life-saving supplies, including 3,000 reproductive health kits, to six hospitals in Khartoum state.

He said UNFPA is committed to reaching all women and girls in need in Sudan with urgent health and protection services.  

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3 Delicious Ways Europeans Cook Beef Steak

By
Charlie W. Grease
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a white plate topped with beef steak and potatoes

Steak is a beloved dish across Europe, but the methods of preparing it can vary greatly between countries. From quick high-heat grilling to low-and-slow braising, Europeans have perfected numerous techniques for cooking beef to juicy, flavorful perfection.

In this article, we’ll explore 3 of the most popular ways that Europeans prepare beef steak, each showcasing the unique flavours and cooking styles of different regions. Whether you prefer your steak charred on the outside and red on the inside or slow-cooked until butter-soft, you’re sure to find inspiration from the diverse beef steak recipes across Europe. Read on to learn how to make steak like a pro, European style.

Method 1 – Grilled Beef Steak with Herb Butter (France):

In France, steak is often cooked quickly over high heat and served with rich, flavoured butter. This method accentuates the natural flavour of quality beef with a nice char while keeping the interior pink and juicy.

For French-style grilled steak, choose a thick, well-marbled cut like ribeye, porterhouse or T-bone. Pat the steak dry and brush lightly with oil. Season generously with salt and pepper. Place the steak on a preheated grill or grill pan over high heat. Resist the urge to move it – you want a dark, caramelized crust to form. Grill for 4-6 minutes per side for medium-rare doneness.

While the steak grills mash together softened butter, minced parsley, lemon zest, garlic, and shallots. Spread the herb butter over the resting steak until melted. The butter bastes the steak while also providing an extra hit of brightness and flavour.

Serve the steak immediately with the pan juices poured over the top. Crispy roasted potatoes or a fresh salad make perfect accompaniments. This is steak at its simplest and most delicious.

Method 2 – Beef Wellington (England):

For special occasions, the British turn to a lavish, retro classic – Beef Wellington. Tender filet mignon is coated in pâté and duxelles, then wrapped in puff pastry and baked.

To make Beef Wellington:

Season a filet mignon steak aggressively with salt and pepper and sear it in a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes per side. Allow it to cool, then coat it with mustard. Spread pâté in an even layer over the steak, then top with a mushroom duxelles mixture (finely chopped mushrooms cooked down with shallots and herbs).

On a sheet of puff pastry, place the coated steak. Wrap the pastry tightly around the steak, sealing the edges with egg wash. Chill for at least 30 minutes before baking at 400°F for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Allow the Wellington to rest for 10 minutes before slicing to allow the juices to redistribute. The result is a spectacular presentation with flaky pastry encasing a perfect medium-rare steak. The earthy duxelles provides extra umami flavour. Serve whole or sliced with roasted vegetables for an elegant English classic.

Method 3 – Slow-Cooked Beef Stew (Belgium):

Belgian beef stew, also known as carbonade flamande, is the ultimate cold-weather comfort dish. Cubed beef chuck is gently braised for hours in a Belgian ale until meltingly tender and full of flavour.

To make the stew:

Dredge cubed beef chuck in flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Brown the beef in batches in hot oil. Remove the meat and cook down sliced onions and garlic until caramelized. Deglaze the pan with a bottle of Belgian ale like Chimay.

Return the beef to the pot along with the ale and bring to a simmer. Add in diced carrots, celery and cubed potatoes. Season with thyme, bay leaves, mustard powder, brown sugar, and red wine vinegar.

Allow the stew to simmer gently on low heat for 2-3 hours until the beef is fall-apart tender. If the stew becomes too thick, add more ale or beef stock.

Serve the rich stew ladled over buttery egg noodles or mashed potatoes to soak up the luscious gravy. Sprinkle fresh parsley over the top. Enjoy with a Belgian ale, which complements and deepens the stew’s complex flavours.

Ready to eat? I mean, to cook?:

From quick grilling to elaborate baking to slow braising, Europeans have perfected diverse techniques for cooking incredible beef steak. These methods – charring steak over fire like the French, wrapping in pastry like the British, or braising in ale like the Belgians – showcase both traditional and modern flavours that make steak an enduring classic across Europe.

Grilled steak with herbed butter highlights fresh herbs and the natural taste of beef. Beef Wellington takes lavish ingredients like pâté and puff pastry to create an elegant presentation. And slowly-simmered carbonade flamande transforms a tougher cut into a luscious, meltingly tender stew.

The next time you cook steak, try one of these European-inspired methods. Or explore even more global ways to prepare beef, from Italian bistecca Fiorentina to German Jägerschnitzel. With a world of options, you’re guaranteed to find new favourite ways to cook this meaty icon.

So gather ingredients, fire up your stove or grill, and enjoy an international steak tour without ever leaving your kitchen. Your tastebuds will thank you!

Tunisia: UN experts urge swift action to uphold migrants’ rights

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United Nations News
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Tunisia: UN experts urge swift action to uphold migrants’ rights

“Collective expulsions are prohibited under international law,” the UN experts warned in a statement.

They emphasized that it is prohibition under international human rights law to deport migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers without conducting an individual and objective risk assessment of the potential human rights violations they might face upon return.

Women and children deported

The experts wrote to the Tunisian Government in March to express their concerns.

“We call on the authorities to immediately halt any further deportations and to continue and expand humanitarian access to a dangerous area on the Tunisian-Libyan border where many, including pregnant women and children, have already been deported,” the UN experts said.

They stressed that international human rights law upholds the policy of non-refoulement, or not sending people back to countries where they are likely to suffer torture or other harm, which applies to all forms of expulsion, regardless of nationality or migration status.  

Stop hate speech

“We are also deeply concerned about reports of racist hate speech in the country, and reports of violence against migrants in Sfax, including perpetrated by law enforcement officials,” the experts said.  

“Racial hate speech that constitutes incitement to discrimination has real consequences, including violence,” they stressed.

The experts called on the Tunisian Government to take immediate steps to end racist hate speech and protect sub-Saharan migrants from violence. They also urged the Government to investigate reported acts of violence and ensure access to justice and remedies for victims.  

The experts who issued the statement were appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

They are not UN staff and are not paid for their work.

 

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UN celebrates Nelson Mandela, ‘a colossus of courage and conviction’

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United Nations News
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UN celebrates Nelson Mandela, ‘a colossus of courage and conviction’

The annual celebration pays tribute to Mr. Mandela’s 67 years of service to humanity as a human rights lawyer, prisoner of conscience, international peacemaker and the first democratically elected President of post-apartheid South Africa.

Honour the legacy

The UN chief described the former leader, who died in 2013, as “a colossus of courage and conviction”.

Mr. Guterres said the best way to honour his legacy is through action against racism, discrimination, hate and the legacies of colonialism.

“And action to promote equality, human rights and above all, justice,” he added.

Inspiration for action

The Secretary-General noted that poverty, hunger and inequality are on the rise today, with many countries drowning in debt.

Meanwhile, the climate crisis is destroying the lives of those who have done the least to cause it, and the unfair and outdated international financial system is not fulfilling its function as a global safety net.

“We have it in our power to solve each of these problems,” he said.

“So, as we commemorate Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy, let us be animated by his spirit of humanity, dignity and justice. Let us stand with women and girls, young people and changemakers everywhere.  And let us take action to build a better world.”

Climate action now

Nelson Mandela International Day is observed annually on his birthday, 18 July, and people everywhere are encouraged to volunteer for 67 minutes, either in their communities or virtually.

This year, the UN called for supporting its ActNow campaign on climate change and sustainability, recalling that Mr. Mandela said “we must never forget that it is our duty to protect this environment.”

The UN General Assembly will hold an informal meeting on Thursday to mark the International Day.

Speakers will include Andrew Young, politician, activist, and former United States Ambassador to the UN. 

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UK Bill ‘significantly erodes’ human rights and refugee protections, UN agencies warn

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United Nations News
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UK Bill ‘significantly erodes’ human rights and refugee protections, UN agencies warn

Concerns over legislation

The Illegal Immigration Bill eliminates access to asylum for anyone who arrives “irregularly” in the UK, meaning they passed through a country – however briefly – where they did not face persecution.  

The bill bars migrants from presenting refugee protection or other human rights claims, regardless of their circumstances. It has passed through the Commons, but has yet to clear the Upper House, the House of Lords.  

The law as it stands requires their removal to another country without a guarantee that they will necessarily be able to access protections there. The bill also creates sweeping new detention powers with limited judicial oversight.

“UNHCR shares the UK Government’s concern regarding the number of asylum-seekers resorting to dangerous journeys across the [English] Channel.

“We welcome current efforts to make the existing asylum system work more effectively through fast, fair, and efficient case processing, that allows the integration of those found to be in need of international protection and the swift return home of those who have no legal basis to stay,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.

“Regrettably, this progress will be significantly undermined by the new legislation. Cooperation with European and other partners along the routes through which refugees and migrants are moving, is also key,” he continued.

Contrary to human rights

The Bill denies access to refugee protections for anyone falling within its scope – including unaccompanied and separated children – regardless of whether they are at risk of persecution, have suffered human rights violations, or whether they are survivors of human trafficking or modern-day slavery.  

“Carrying out removals under these circumstances is contrary to prohibitions of refoulement and collective expulsions, rights to due process, to family and private life, and the principle of best interests of children concerned,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

The 1951 Refugee Convention, to which the UK was one of the original signatories, explicitly recognises that refugees may be compelled to enter a country of asylum irregularly.

Most people fleeing war and persecution do not have or are unable to access formal travel documents such as passports and visas. Safe and “legal” routes to immigration are therefore oftentimes not available to them.  

Without the adequate operational capacity to remove large numbers of asylum-seekers or create viable removal arrangements with third countries, thousands of migrants can be expected to remain in the UK indefinitely in precarious legal situations, the agencies said.

‘Grave risks’

“For decades, the UK has provided refuge to those in need, in line with its international obligations – a tradition of which it has been rightly proud. This new legislation significantly erodes the legal framework that has protected so many, exposing refugees to grave risks in breach of international law,” said Mr. Grandi.

UN refugee and human rights experts say the legislation will also exacerbate the already vulnerable situation of refugees in the UK, drastically limiting their enjoyment of human rights and putting many at risk of detention and destitution.  

Their rights to health, an adequate standard of living, and employment are all at risk, exposing them to potential exploitation and abuse.

History of compassion

“The UK has long had a commitment to upholding international human rights and refugee law. Such steadfast commitment is needed today more than ever,” said UN human rights chief Volker Türk.

“I urge the UK Government to renew this commitment to human rights by reversing this law and ensuring that the rights of all migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers are respected, protected, and fulfilled, without discrimination.

“This should include efforts to guarantee expeditious and fair processing of asylum and human rights claims, improve reception conditions, and increase the availability and accessibility of safe pathways for regular migration,” he added.

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Health risks on the rise as heatwave intensifies across Europe: WMO

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United Nations News
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Health risks on the rise as heatwave intensifies across Europe: WMO

In an alert, the agency emphasized that heatwaves are amongst the deadliest natural hazards and WMO Senior Heat Advisor, John Nairn, told reporters that extreme temperatures are poised to grow in frequency, duration and intensity.

“Repeated high night-time temperatures are particularly dangerous for human health because the body is unable to recover from sustained heat”, he said. “This leads to increased cases of heart attacks and death.”

Deadly impact

According to a recent report by the UN agency, 60,000 additional people died due to extreme heat in Europe last summer – despite the continent’s strong early warning and health action plans. 

WMO said that it was urgent to adapt infrastructure to withstand prolonged high temperatures and to raise vulnerable people’s awareness of the risks.

The agency warned of the increased risk of death through heatwaves in Asia, North Africa and the United States too.

“Heat is a rapidly growing health risk due to increased or rapid urbanization, the increasing extreme temperatures and an ageing population”, said Mr. Nairn.

According to WMO, this year’s extensive and intense heatwaves are alarming – but not unexpected – as they are in line with forecasts. 

Climate change extremes

Scorching conditions “are not your normal weather systems of the past” and are with us “as a consequence of climate change”, Mr. Nairn insisted. “You are losing the North Pole ice and that is reinforcing that mechanism and it will continue for some time.”

The WMO expert added that “the recently declared El Niño is only expected to amplify the occurrence and intensity of extreme heat events. “And they will have quite serious impacts on human health and livelihoods.”

Replying to a journalist’s question on how the current heatwave had developed, Mr. Nairn pointed to “parked weather systems that accumulate a lot of sunshine and heat in one location that moves extremely slowly…You have to reverse it. You have to do climate repair to change it. So, it is global warming and is going to continue for some time.” 

‘Invisible emergency’

Describing the heatwave as an “invisible emergency”, Panu Saaristo, Emergency Health Unit Team leader from the international Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said that it was crucial to look out for people who were vulnerable because of poor health, but also factor in socio-economic conditions and living arrangements, “which can also induce risks”.

Low-income neighbourhoods in European cities currently bear the brunt, he added, noting that heatwaves “also impact other areas of society through reduced economic output, strained health systems and even power outages”.

WMO stressed that worldwide, more intense and extreme heat is unavoidable and that it is imperative to prepare and adapt as many cities, homes and workplaces are not built to withstand prolonged high temperatures.

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