Archive for October 11th, 2014

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11/10/2014

"Alarming Number of Girls Assaulted, Beaten, Raped, Mutilated and Even Murdered"

Human Wrongs Watch

An estimated 70 million girls aged 15 to 19 report being victims of some form of physical violence while around 120 million girls under the age of 20 have experienced forced intercourse or other forced sexual acts, while 70 per cent of girls aged 15 to 19 who had been victims of physical or sexual violence never sought help as many said they did not think it was abuse or did not see a problem, according a new UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report released on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child.

Photo: UNICEF

The United Nations has paid tribute to the almost one billion young and adolescent girls living around the world as many of them continue to face daily challenges to their development and overall diminished potential due to the enduring scourge of gender discrimination and violence.

“All over the world, an alarming number of adolescent girls are assaulted, beaten, raped, mutilated and even murdered,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 10 October 2014 announced in his message marking the third annual International Day of the Girl Child.*

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Posted in Africa, Asia, Latin America & Caribbean, Middle East, Others-USA-Europe-etc., The Peoples | 1 Comment »

11/10/2014

On World Day against Death Penalty, Strong Calls to End ‘Cruel Practice’

Human Wrongs Watch

10 October 2014 – The continuing application of the death penalty is a “cruel practice” that undermines human dignity, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said as he urged Member States to “reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights” and impose moratoriums on executions.

UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

In a video message issued to an event that took place yesterday at the UN Office in Geneva to mark the annual observance of the World Day against the Death Penalty, the Secretary-General noted that an increasing number of States from all regions of the world had acknowledged the failure of capital punishment as a means to exact justice.*

The death penalty, Ban said, does not deter crimes more than any other punishment and its abolition or moratorium can contribute “to the enhancement and progressive development of human rights.”

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Posted in Africa, Asia, Latin America & Caribbean, Middle East, Others-USA-Europe-etc., The Peoples | Leave a Comment »

11/10/2014

Lack of Funds in What Could Be “Afghanistan’s Bloodiest Year”

Human Wrongs Watch

Dubai, 10 October 2014 (IRIN)* –The World Food Programme (WFP) is facing a US$40 million deficit for its Afghanistan programmes, as aid agencies fear that foreign troop withdrawal will lead to decreasing budgets for humanitarian action. 

**Photo: Mohammad Popal/IRIN | Displaced children from Helmand in southern Afghanistan (File photo)

WFP has already decreased the size of food packages for hundreds of thousands of people and the agency’s country head said that without more support they will have to take “dramatic” measures, which could including stopping assistance altogether for some groups.

US-led foreign troops are due to cease combat operations as part of their staggered withdrawal at the end of 2014, though thousands of troops will remain in the country in other capacities.

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Posted in Asia, Others-USA-Europe-etc., The Peoples, War Lords | Leave a Comment »

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