The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, said in a statement that the executions on Friday of Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashemi and Saeed Yaghoubi, were “profoundly concerning in view of the reported involvement of these individuals in the protests that commenced in Iran on 16 September 2022, and allegations of their having been convicted and sentenced through confessions obtained under torture.”
The three-person body, which is mandated to investigate all alleged violations relating to the protests, had previously asked Iranian authorities for information in relation to imposition of the death penalty on some of those exercising their right to protest.
“The Fact-Finding Mission reminds all State authorities and individuals involved in this process, that any execution following a fair trial violation would amount to arbitrary deprivation of life and a violation of international law”, the statement concluded.
In a separate statement, three concerned UN independent rights experts, or Special Rapporteurs, condemned the executions of the three men, urging the Government to “halt the appalling wave of executions in Iran.”
“We are alarmed by reports of unfair proceedings in the case and deeply disturbed that these men have reportedly been subjected to torture or other forms of ill-treatment to extract forced confessions,” the experts said.
The three men were reportedly arrested on 21 November 2022 during protests in Esfahan city following the uprising sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini on 16 September, in police custody.
The men were accused of participating in the killing of three Iranian officials, and sentenced to death after being charged with were sentenced to death and charged with moharebeh (which translates as “enmity against God”).
‘Scant regard’ for international law
“The executions of the three men this morning underlines our concerns that the Iranian authorities continue to have scant regard for international law,” the experts said. “The death penalty has been applied following judicial proceedings that failed to meet acceptable international standards of fair trial or due process.”
The officers were allegedly killed by gunshots during protests in Isfahan Province, yet the charges against the defendants do not explicitly accuse them of “murder”.
The three men appealed the verdict on 6 May, but Iran’s Supreme Court upheld their death sentences, despite a pending request for judicial review. On 17 May, their families were called in to visit and were told by the prison authorities that this would be the final meeting.
Violation of the right to life
“The death penalty is a violation of the right to life and the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment,” the independent experts said.
At least 259 executions have reportedly been carried out since 1 January – mostly for drug-related offences and including a disproportionate number of minorities, the experts said.
“We are shocked that the authorities went ahead with the executions despite the pending judicial review,” the experts said. “We urge the Iranian Government to stop this horrific wave of executions.”
Special Rapporteurs and other rights experts are all appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, are mandated to monitor and report on specific thematic issues or country situations, are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work.
The finding is the result of a survey conducted by the UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland, which also revealed that 53 per cent had considered getting, or had already accessed, mental health support since arriving in the country.
“The psychosocial toll of the war in Ukraine is immense so the results of this survey are not a surprise,” said Dr. Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, who heads the Office, which was established just weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Since then, more than four million Ukrainians have registered for temporary protection across Europe, UNICEF said. More than 1.6 million are in Poland, 90 per cent of whom are women and children, though overall refugee numbers could be much higher.
The survey used a World Health Organization (WHO) self-reporting questionnaire that measures psychological well-being through five simple, non-invasive questions.
Uncertainty and sadness
The results indicated that over 30 per cent of the mothers were exhibiting high levels of distress, and over 30 per cent were experiencing severe levels. Most said they felt helpless and had considered seeking help from a psychologist.
Among the issues contributing to their stress were uncertainty about the future, worries about family or friends in Ukraine or elsewhere, and sadness because of the war. High levels of distress were also related to practical concerns, including money, housing, jobs, language issues, access to healthcare and childcare.
Helping to heal
UNICEF has used the survey results to inform a nationwide online campaign in Poland targeting Ukrainian mothers with information on available psychological support, as well as coping strategies.
“Mental health and psychological support is vital to help families and children heal from the invisible wounds of war and that’s why it’s a huge part of our response and cuts across all of the work we do here in Poland,” said Dr. Sarwar.
Aid delivery in Ukraine
Meanwhile, humanitarians in Ukraine continue to assist frontline communities in the Kharkiv region in the east and the Kherson region in the south, where frequent bombardments are ongoing.
On Wednesday, an inter-agency convoy led by UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, Denise Brown, delivered aid to a community in the very east of the Kharkiv region, where more than 80 per cent of homes are damaged. Shelling also continues to interrupt water, gas, and electricity supply.
The convoy delivered shelter materials, hygiene supplies and solar lamps to some 1,000 remaining residents in a community that had 5,000 inhabitants in February 2022, said Stephanie Tremblay, a UN Spokesperson in New York, speaking on Friday.
“Today, another inter-agency convoy delivered critical aid – including shelter materials, food and water, solar lamps, hygiene kits and clothing – to support nearly 3,000 residents of another front-line community in the Kherson region,” she said. “Almost half of the remaining residents there are older people with limited access to most basic services.”
Landmine challenges
Humanitarians also warned that Ukraine is now one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, with Kharkiv and Kherson the most impacted regions.
Ms. Tremblay said nearly 300,000 hectares of agricultural land in Kharkiv alone needs demining, according to local authorities.
“Our humanitarian colleagues note that mine risks create additional challenges for repairing damaged houses and critical infrastructure and resuming farming, and both regions had large agriculture industries before the full-scale war,” she added.
Grain export update
Ms. Tremblay also provided an update on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, where operations are partially restarting.
Earlier this week, Russia confirmed that it will continue to take part in the UN-brokered agreement for a further 60 days.
The July 2022 deal allows for grain and other related foodstuffs to be shipped to global markets via three Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea. It is facilitated by the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC), which is based in Istanbul and staffed by representatives from Russia, Ukraine, Türkiye and the UN.
On Friday, the JCC registered six new vessels to participate, out of 15 applications. Three loaded vessels are currently preparing for inspection in Istanbul.
“No ships are currently though loading at any of the three Ukrainian ports under the terms of the Initiative. Teams from the Joint Coordination Centre checked and cleared today three new vessels to proceed to the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk,” Ms. Tremblay told journalists.
She said the UN “continues to call for the prompt return to a tempo of operations that makes full use of the capacities of the three ports and the Joint Coordination Centre teams.”
A wave of deadly attacks reportedly targeted West Darfur’s capital, El-Geneina, in recent days, while the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said that more than 700 people had been killed and nearly 5,300 injured nationwide, after five weeks of intense clashes and bombardment.
“Over one million people have now been recorded as displaced, within Sudan or to neighboring countries,” said UNHCR Spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh, as he issued an urgent appeal to respect the safety of civilians and to allow humanitarian aid to move freely, in line with an agreement reached by the warring parties in Jeddah, on 11 May.
Under that accord between the national army and rival RSF militia, both sides agreed to allow trapped civilians to leave combat zones and allow humanitarian aid to enter.
Civilians will continue to suffer unless this deal is implemented, the UNHCR spokesperson insisted, echoing UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths’s condemnation of “flagrant violations” of the humanitarian agreement:
“Unfortunately, what we’ve seen in the last couple of days is continued horrendous fighting on the ground, shelling, bombing and it’s extremely important that what was committed to in Jeddah is enacted on the ground so that much needed aid can come in”.
Attacks on healthcare continue
Confirming that health facilities and health professionals have continued to be targeted since fighting broke out on 15 April, WHO spokesperson Carla Drysdale told journalists in Geneva that there have been 34 verified attacks, eight deaths and 18 injuries.
Sudan’s neighboring countries continue to be affected by the conflict, especially South Sudan, Chad, and particularly Egypt, which currently hosts the largest number of Sudanese, with 5,000 arriving every day. “That makes a total of almost 110,000 Sudanese who have entered the country, according to the Government,” said Mr. Saltmarsh.
Crowding at the borders
In South Sudan, the numbers of refugees remains high, with around 1,500 arriving per day. Those fleeing the violence use via the Renk crossing in Upper Nile State, although “the transit facility near the border is becoming perilously crowded and resources are extremely stretched”, the UNHCR official noted.
In Chad, essential relief items such as safe drinking water and blankets have been delivered to almost 10,000 families, but UN humanitarians have warned that new arrivals are stuck in remote transit sites near the border, with very limited supplies.
Although the southern African country has made recent progress in reducing chronic malnutrition, the agency said these gains have been threatened by acute food insecurity, compounded by other challenges such as recurrent climate shocks, preventable disease outbreaks and economic instability.
Malawi was also slammed by Tropical Cyclone Freddy in March and is still grappling with the aftermath, with some 659,000 people displaced, including many children.
Meanwhile, an ongoing cholera outbreak has already resulted in 1,750 deaths.
“Children in Malawi are at the sharp end of the global polycrisis. Food insecurity, exasperated by a growing climate crisis, disease outbreaks, and the global economic downturn, is threatening to wreak havoc and disrupt the lives of millions of children,” said UNICEF Country Representative Gianfranco Rotigliano.
“The prospect of having over half a million children suffering from malnutrition is unacceptable. Without an immediate response, the impact on these vulnerable children will be deadly.”
Stepping up support
UNICEF has launched a new appeal for Malawi, which reveals that malnutrition cases among children have increased over the past five years and accelerated significantly in recent months.
It is estimated that this year, over 62,000 children under five are at risk of severe acute malnutrition, also known as wasting.
The UN agency had initially appealed for $52.4 million, which has been increased to $87.7 million to support 6.5 million people in Malawi, nearly half of them children.
The funding will be used to meet priority needs, such as ready-to-use therapeutic food for treating severe acute malnutrition, access to safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene items, health, nutrition, education, child protection services, and cash transfer schemes.
Long-term solutions needed
During the first quarter of 2023, UNICEF assisted the Malawian authorities in screening more than 140,300 under-fives for acute malnutrition. Of this number, 522 children were identified as severe acute, and were referred to health facilities for further care.
“Without increased support, poor and vulnerable households with children will be left without access to basic services, essential supplies, and social assistance,” Mr. Rotigliano warned.
He also underscored the need to look beyond the immediate response, saying “it is crucial that we invest in long-term solutions by strengthening systems and building resilience within communities to handle recurring outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies better.”
The Key Issues in the European Parliament Elections 2024
Elections 2024 – The European Parliament Elections 2024 are just around the corner, and it’s important to be informed about the issues that will be at the forefront of the election. From climate change to immigration policies, this article provides an overview of the key topics that will shape the election and impact the future of Europe, plus, an important entry on why looking at the managing of fundamental rights could probably be one of the most important issues to look at when looking at the programs of the different parties, even if inclusion in the program does not guarantee that once in power they will not change their views…
But anyway, before we start, here is what current President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said:
“The European Union is evolving continuously. The world is changing and we must change with it. We need reform. We cannot be afraid of change. The EU is not perfect. We must embrace it as we keep listening, keep explaining and keep delivering.
I encourage everyone to recapture the sense of hope and possibility that the European Union offers. To vote. Do not let someone else choose for you. Be part of the largest democratic exercise in Europe.”
The Future of the European Union.
One of the key issues at stake in the European Parliament Elections 2024 is the future of the European Union itself. With the ongoing challenges and the rise of movements across Europe who want less EU interference in national affairs, the election will be a crucial moment for determining the direction of the EU. Issues such as EU integration, the role of the European Commission, and the balance of power between member states will all be hotly debated. The outcome of the election will have significant implications for the future of Europe and its place in the world.
Immigration and Border Control.
Immigration and border control will be another key issue in the European Parliament Elections 2024. The ongoing refugee crisis and the influx of migrants into Europe have led to a heated debate about how to manage borders and control immigration. Some parties advocate for stricter border controls and limits on immigration, while others argue for more open borders and greater support for refugees and migrants. The outcome of the election will have a significant impact on the future of immigration policy in Europe.
Climate Change and Environmental Policies.
Climate change and environmental policies will be a major topic in the European Parliament Elections 2024. The European Union has set ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a more sustainable economy. However, there are still debates about the best way to achieve these goals and how to balance environmental concerns with economic growth. The election will determine the direction of EU environmental policies and its role in global efforts to combat climate change.
Economic Growth and Job Creation.
Another key issue in the European Parliament Elections 2024 is economic growth and job creation. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the European economy, with many businesses struggling to stay afloat and unemployment rates rising. The election will determine the policies and strategies that will be put in place to support economic recovery and job creation in the EU. This includes debates about taxation, trade agreements, and investment in key industries such as technology and renewable energy.
Digital Transformation and Data Privacy.
Digital transformation and data privacy are also key issues in the European Parliament Elections 2024. With the increasing use of technology in all aspects of life, including government and business, there is a growing concern about data privacy and security. The election will determine the policies and regulations that will be put in place to protect citizens’ personal data and ensure that companies are held accountable for any breaches. Additionally, the election will address the need for digital transformation in various sectors, including healthcare, education, and public services, to improve efficiency and accessibility while also addressing concerns about data privacy and security.
Why Fundamental Rights Should Be a Priority in the European Parliament Elections
Fundamental rights are the basic human rights that every person is entitled to, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or any other characteristic. As citizens of the European Union, we have the opportunity to vote in the European Parliament elections and ensure that our leaders prioritize and protect these rights for all. Let’s make our voices heard and advocate for a just and equitable society.
What are fundamental rights?
Fundamental rights are the basic human rights that every person is entitled to, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or any other characteristic. These rights include the right to life, liberty, and security of person, freedom of expression and religion, the right to a fair trial, and the right to education and healthcare. They are the foundation of a just and equitable society and must be protected for all.
The importance of fundamental rights in a democratic society.
In a democratic society, fundamental rights are essential for ensuring that every individual is treated fairly and with dignity. These rights provide a framework for protecting individuals from discrimination, oppression, and abuse of power. Without fundamental rights, there can be no true democracy, as the basic freedoms and protections that allow citizens to participate in the democratic process would be absent. It is therefore crucial that fundamental rights are prioritized and protected in the European Parliament elections, to ensure that all citizens can live in a just and equitable society.
The impact of the European Parliament on fundamental rights.
The European Parliament plays a crucial role in protecting and promoting fundamental rights across the European Union. Through legislation, oversight, and advocacy, the Parliament has the power to ensure that these rights are respected and upheld by member states and institutions. In the upcoming elections, it is important to elect leaders who prioritize fundamental rights and are committed to defending them for all citizens, regardless of their background or status. By doing so, we can build a stronger, more inclusive Europe that values the dignity and worth of every individual.
Examples of fundamental rights that need protection.
Fundamental rights are the basic rights and freedoms that every person is entitled to, simply by virtue of being human. These include the right to life, liberty, and security of person, freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief, the right to a fair trial, and the right to education and healthcare. In recent years, there have been growing concerns about the erosion of these rights in Europe, particularly in areas such as freedom of the press, privacy, and non-discrimination. It is essential that we elect leaders who are committed to protecting these fundamental rights and ensuring that they are upheld for all citizens.
How to vote for candidates who prioritize fundamental rights.
When voting in the European Parliament elections, it’s important to research the candidates and their stances on fundamental rights. Look for candidates who have a track record of advocating for these rights and who have concrete plans for protecting them. You can also check the party platforms to see if they prioritize fundamental rights. Don’t be afraid to reach out to candidates directly and ask them about their positions on these issues. By prioritizing fundamental rights in our voting decisions, we can help ensure that our leaders are committed to creating a just and equitable society for all.
New York is sinking, or rather, the city is being drowned by its skyscrapers. That’s the conclusion of a new study that modeled the geology beneath the city by comparing it with satellite data.
Manhattan Bridge, New York. Image credit: Patrick Tomasso via Unsplash, free license
There are many reasons for the gradual sinking of the Earth’s surface, but the weight of the cities themselves is rarely studied.
The study found that New York is sinking 1-2 millimeters per year due to the weight of tall buildings. A few millimeters may not seem like much, but some parts of the city are sinking much faster.
The deformation could spell trouble for the low-lying city of more than 8 million people. These results should encourage further efforts to develop climate change mitigation strategies to combat increased flood risk and sea level rise.
New York. Image credit: Thomas Habr via Unsplash, free license
In this new study, researchers calculated the combined mass of about 1 million buildings in New York City to be 764,000,000,000,000,000 kilograms. They then divided the city into a 100 x 100 meter square grid and, taking into account the force of gravity, converted the mass of the buildings into downward pressure.
Their calculations only include the mass of buildings and the things inside them, not New York’s roads, sidewalks, bridges, railroads, and other paved areas. Even with these limitations, these new calculations refine previous observations of the city’s collapse by taking into account the complex surface geology beneath New York City, which includes deposits of sand, silt, and clay, as well as rock outcrops.
By comparing these models with satellite data that describes the land surface elevation, the team determined the city’s subsidence. The researchers warned that increasing urbanization, including the draining of groundwater, could only add to New York’s problem of “sinking” into the ocean.
New York at night. Image credit: Andre Benz via Unsplash, free license
New York is certainly not the only such city in the world. A quarter of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, by 2050 could end up underwater as parts of the city sink almost 11 cm a year due to groundwater extraction. More than 30 million Jakarta residents are now considering relocating.
By comparison, New York City ranks third in terms of future flood risk. Much of lower Manhattan is only 1 to 2 meters above the current sea level. The hurricanes in 2012 and 2021 also showed how quickly the city can be flooded.
In 2022, a study of 99 coastal cities around the world found that subsidence may actually be bigger than estimated. In most of the cities surveyed, the land is sinking faster than the sea level is rising, meaning residents will face flooding sooner than climate models predict.
The legendary train was designed in 1959 by order not for anyone, but for Josip Broz Tito.
Portraits of the marshal in his no less legendary white uniform hang even now in some trendy bars in Belgrade. But the train, although a tourist attraction, sinks into oblivion and nostalgia at the same time…
Tito often used it for both diplomatic and personal travel, specifically transporting his family and entourage to his summer retreat, the Brijuni Islands in Croatia. The train is said to have traveled over 600,000 kilometers.
The Art Deco interior features the President’s suite lounge, ceremonial conference lounge, restaurant car, Zodiac-themed bar, central kitchen, guest suite lounge, sleeping cars and all manner of nostalgic mid-century technology. Even a 4 car garage. In the wagon-garage there was enough space and facilities for the maintenance of the cars. The overall effect of the train is one of understated power, which is no surprise given some of the passengers.
Famous people who have traveled on the legendary train include Queen Elizabeth II, Yasser Arafat, French presidents Francois Mitterrand and Charles de Gaulle, and even film stars Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor, who vacationed with Tito in Croatia. The train also carried the marshal during his last journey, when in 1980 it transported his coffin to Belgrade. Tito’s funeral was the largest state funeral in history at the time, attended by 128 delegations from all Cold War countries, several kings, 31 presidents, six princes, 22 prime ministers. Also present are “fellow dictators” Saddam Hussein and Kim Il Sung, as well as the late Prince Philip and Margaret Thatcher.
In history textbooks, Tito is portrayed as both a hero and a dictator. Among his merits, all point to the termination of relations with Stalin in 1948, his commitment to the Non-Aligned Movement and the Third World, and the relative liberality of his regime. On the other side of the scale are the mass murders after the end of the Second World War and the concentration camp on the island of Goli Otok, where at first Tito’s loyal opponents of the USSR were sent, and then all kinds of political dissidents, writes DW in its commentary.
Tito is known for his, let’s call it peculiar, approach to diplomacy within the Soviet Union. When he got tired of Stalin sending him assassins, Tito openly wrote: “Stop sending people to kill me. We have already captured five of them, one of them with a bomb and one with a rifle. If you don’t stop sending assassins, I will send one to Moscow, and I won’t have to send a second.”
During the Cold War, Yugoslavia was the only communist country in Eastern Europe independent of the Soviet Union and enjoyed a standard of living close to what some analysts described as Western. A normal, average Yugoslav family has a good job, a decent salary, can afford a car, and a summer vacation on the Adriatic Sea. Tito maintained very good relations with Western countries and managed to keep Yugoslavia neutral throughout the Cold War period. Ruling a country that some historians have called a “communist Switzerland”, the dictator ensured peace reigned in the Balkans during his rule and ruled perhaps the only communist country where citizens could freely leave. But on the other hand, he was also a dictator who imprisoned dissidents in brutal prisons and labor camps.
But back to the dictator’s train… The well-preserved carriages are actually open to the public as a kind of unofficial private museum, except that they can be hired for special trips on the Belgrade-Bar railway – although due to the high costs this rarely happens.
But if the price is right, you can rent the whole train or one carriage (for travel or for filming) and as a bonus, even organize a dinner in the restaurant car using original recipes from Tito’s cookbook.
During the twelve-hour journey, a tour guide tells anecdotes from the president’s life, shows pictures of Tito, and the stories of the charismatic dictator are illustrated on the walls. The blue train takes tourists several times a year. The route passes through the picturesque Lake Skadar, the Morača and Tara canyons, the Mala Rijeka railway viaduct and the Zlatibor plateau.
Nearly 15 months after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, civilians are forced to live through an “unbearable routine”, amidst alarming levels of destruction and damage to their communities, said the deputy UN disarmament chief on Thursday.
Adedeji Ebo was briefing the Security Council on the issue of Western weapons supplies to Ukraine, called by permanent member Russia – the fourth time it has been presented for discussion in light of the ongoing conflict.
The Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs said the transfers of weapons systems and ammunition from Western governments backing Kyiv, was no secret, including battle tanks, combat aircraft, missile systems and helicopters.
“There have also been reports of States transferring, or planning to transfer weapons, such as uncrewed combat aerial vehicles and ammunition, to the Russian armed forces for use in Ukraine”, he added.
He said any “large-scale influx of weapons and ammunition” onto any battlefield, “raises concerns for peace, security and stability, including as a result of diversion.”
He said that measures to address the issue of weapons ending up in the hands of third parties, or any “unauthorized users”, was essential to prevent further instability in Ukraine.
The UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) is “an essential tool in this regard”, he added, for those countries with nothing to hide. In 30 years of operation, some 178 Member States have submitted a report to UNROCA at least once, he said, calling on all countries to take part, for the sake of trust and transparency.
He called on States to consider joining all other related treaties and live up to their legal obligations and political commitments.
Civilian protection outweighs arms issues
“Beyond addressing arms transfers, all parties to the conflict have a duty to protect civilians in armed conflict, and to ensure compliance with applicable international law”, especially humanitarian law”, he told ambassadors.
In this respect, the UN human rights office’s latest figures show nearly 24,000 recorded casualties since Russia’s invasion began, with the actual figure likely to be much higher.
Suffering, loss displacement, destruction
“After almost 15 months of the Russian Federation’s military offensive into Ukraine, suffering, loss, displacement and destruction continue to form part of an unbearable routine”, said Mr. Ebo.
“In addition to the thousands of civilians killed and injured, the destruction of essential critical infrastructure and services is particularly alarming. Homes, schools, roads, and bridges have been destroyed and damaged”, he continued.
“Attacks on energy infrastructure have interrupted power, heating, drinking water supply and sewage facilities, as well as mobile and internet communications. Hospitals and health facilities have been attacked, killing and injuring healthcare workers and disrupting essential services. Explosive remnants of war have resulted in widespread land contamination rendering land unusable for agriculture, while impeding the movement of people.”
Standing up for civilians in war
He said plainly that attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, “must stop”, taking the opportunity to call on all countries to support and “effectively implement” the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, adopted in November 2022.
The deputy disarmament chief concluded by reiterating that Russia’s invasion was a violation of international law, including the UN Charter, “causing massive suffering and devastation to Ukraine and its people.
“The world cannot afford for this war to continue. I appeal to all Member States to make every effort for peace. The United Nations stands ready to support all genuine efforts to that end.”
“Because, in what is a deeply troubled country – grappling with humanitarian catastrophe, climate related disasters, and egregious human rights abuses – too many people have forgotten that Afghanistan is a children’s rights crisis,” he said, warning that the situation is getting worse.
This year, some 2.3 million Afghan boys and girls are expected to face acute malnutrition. Of this number, 875,000 will need treatment for severe acute malnutrition, a life-threatening condition.
Furthermore, around 840,000 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are likely to experience acute malnutrition, jeopardising their ability to give their babies the best start in life.
Mr. Equiza added that although fighting has mostly stopped, decades of conflict mean that every day, children’s rights are violated “in the most appalling ways”.
Escalating danger
He said Afghanistan is among the most “weapons-contaminated countries” in the world, and most of the casualties are children.
He cited preliminary data which suggests that 134 children were killed or maimed by explosive devices between January and March of this year.
“This is the reality of the escalating danger faced by Afghan children as they explore areas that were previously inaccessible due to fighting,” he said.
“Many of those killed and maimed are children collecting scrap metal to sell. Because that’s what poverty does. It compels you to send your children to work – not because you want to, but because you have to.”
Trapped in child labour
Meanwhile, roughly 1.6 million Afghan children – some as young as six – are trapped in child labour, working in dangerous conditions just to help their parents put food on the table.
“And where education used to be a symbol of hope, children’s right to learn is under attack,” Mr. Equiza added.
“Girls across Afghanistan have been denied their right to learn for over three years now – first, due to COVID-19 and then, since September 2021, because of the ban on attending secondary school. I don’t need to tell you of the impact of these absences on their mental health.”
Staying and adapting
He underlined UNICEF’s commitment to stay and deliver for the women and children in Afghanistan, where it has had a presence for nearly 75 years.
“We’re adapting to the fast-changing realities on the ground, finding solutions to reach the children that need us the most, while ensuring that Afghan women employed by UNICEF can continue their invaluable contribution to our work for children,” he said.
With needs growing every day, he called for greater support from the international community, noting that UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children Appeal is only 22 percent funded.
Reports of gender-based violence (GBV) against girls and women there have increased by 37 per cent during the first three months of the year, compared to the same period a year ago, according to the GBV coordination group for North Kivu.
More than 38,000 cases of GBV were reported for all of 2022 in North Kivu alone. In most cases, survivors reported being attacked by armed men and displaced men in and around the camps.
“Deeply vulnerable children and women, seeking refuge at camps are instead finding themselves facing more abuse and pain,” said UNICEF’s Representative in DRC, Grant Leaity.
“The surge in sexual violence against children is horrifying, with reports of some as young as three years old having been sexually exploited. This wake-up call should shock, sicken, and jolt us all into action.”
Since the beginning of March 2022, over 1.16 million people have been displaced by clashes between parties to the conflict in North Kivu.
Almost 60 per cent of those displaced are living in overcrowded sites and collective shelters just outside of Goma, the provincial capital, where risks of sexual violence are extremely high.
Exploitation at hundreds of sites
UNICEF is also aware of the very high levels of sexual exploitation of children at more than 1,000 sites in and around displacement camps.
The impact on the physical and mental health of girls and women is immeasurable and long-lasting, said the agency. Approximately one in four survivors of sexual violence need specialized medical and psychological support, according to the GBV coordination group.
Injured UN peacekeepers in DRC from Morocco being transported for treatment after they were attacked in Kiwanja, Rutshuru North Kivu by the armed group M23.
UNICEF and partners boost support
UNICEF has stepped up its activities to prevent and respond, the agency said, providing essential medical and psychosocial services to affected girls and women at the four largest displacement camps near Goma.
In collaboration with the Provincial Division of Social Affairs and in partnership with Heal Africa, the agency has also established safe spaces for girls and women within displacement camps, where psychologists, professional social workers and trained community-based para-social workers identify and care for children and women in need, referring them for additional services as required.
To protect girls and women, UNICEF is urgently calling for a significant scale-up of services to prevent and respond to sexual violence in and around displacement camps; a halt to the large-scale sexual exploitation of girls and women; and the dismantling of the identified sites in and around camps where sexual exploitation occurs.
UNICEF is also appealing to donors so that more direct aid can be given to those stranded in displacement camps.
“We call on the government, local authorities, partners and donors to take all necessary actions to end this situation immediately, to shut down known sites of sexual exploitation, and to protect women and girls who have already been victims of displacement,” added Mr. Leaity.
