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A UN report published today details the dire and worsening human rights situation over the past year in the Central African Republic (CAR), where armed groups carried out a violent bid to disrupt elections. In response, the country’s defence and security forces launched military operations to retake territory from them.

The joint report by the UN Human Rights Office and MINUSCA, the UN Mission in CAR, covers the period from July 2020 to June 2021 in the context of the presidential poll, held in December 2020, and legislative elections, which took place in December 2020, and March and May 2021*.
The Human Rights Division of MINUSCA documented 526 incidents of abuses and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law across the country during this period. These violations affected at least 1,221 victims, including 144 civilians or those hors de combat who were killed by the parties to the conflict.     
Among the documented abuses and violations are extrajudicial and summary killings, torture and ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and detentions, unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, conflict-related sexual violence and serious violations against children, including their recruitment by parties to the conflict. In addition, the report notes that attacks and threats of attacks forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes.
A coalition of armed groups, known as the CPC (Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement), was responsible for over half of the documented incidents (54 per cent). 
The CPC killed and abducted civilians, attacked UN peacekeepers, looted the premises of humanitarian organisations, threatening their staff, and burned down polling stations. In one incident on 19 March, an armed group affiliated with the CPC killed three traders in Ouaka prefecture, after tying them up and torturing them. Their bodies were subsequently found with their voting cards tied around their necks.
The Central African Armed Forces (FACA), Internal Security Forces (FSI) and other security personnel &#8211;  including Russian military instructors deployed under an agreement between the Governments of CAR and the Russian Federation, and  private military contractors operating in the country &#8211;  were responsible for 46 per cent of the confirmed incidents.
Credible evidence gathered by the MINUSCA Human Rights Division indicated that these other security personnel  were involved in military training and actively participated in military operations, including arresting suspects, and inflicting inhumane treatment and torture on some of them. On a number of occasions and in different locations, they were also reportedly involved in extrajudicial killings.
The Human Rights Division also confirmed an increase in attacks on members of the Muslim community by the FACA, FSI and other security personnel between February and June 2021. Further reports indicate that the deliberate targeting of Muslims over their alleged affiliation with armed groups was continuing.
“All parties to the conflict are continuing to commit atrocities, amid a deteriorating security situation, particularly in the provinces. A political solution to this crisis and the full respect at all times of international humanitarian and human rights law by all parties to the conflict are the only viable path to a durable peace and sustainable development in CAR,” said Mankeur Ndiaye, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MINUSCA.
The CAR Government has recently taken steps to promote and protect human rights, including the establishment of a special commission of inquiry on 4 May to investigate violations of international humanitarian and international human rights law linked to the elections. This, the report says, “represents a positive step toward accountability and in the fight against impunity”. 
“Addressing past and current human rights violations in a manner meaningful to victims is essential to break the long and agonising cycle of violence in the Central African Republic,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. “To that end, there must be thorough, impartial and effective investigations into all alleged violations and abuses and those responsible must be held to account.”
In its recommendations, the report calls on armed groups to cease all attacks on the civilian population, including sexual violence and recruitment of children, and to re-engage in the peace process.
The report further urges the Government to take appropriate measures to hold those responsible for human rights violations and abuses accountable and to create a protective environment for civilians and humanitarian workers. It also calls on the Government to ensure the FACA, FSI and other security personnel leave all civilian buildings, including schools and hospitals, which they have illegally occupied. 
The report also urges the international community to support the Government’s efforts to tackle the long-standing culture of impunity in CAR and to provide the necessary support for the professionalization of the FACA and FSI to enable them to fulfil their primary role of protecting civilians and promoting and protecting their human rights at all times.
Read the full report (in French) here
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Central African Republic: UN report calls for urgent end to mounting human rights abuses and violations

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Explosive hazards continue to have a detrimental impact on peacebuilding and state building in Somalia. Over the past years, extremist groups have continued to use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as the preferred weapon targeting AMISOM and Somali Security Forces. In addition, indirect fire, explosive remnants of war (ERW), and legacy mines from the civil war continue to endanger the lives of the security forces and civilian population.

The People of Japan has renewed its commitment to promote peace building and stability in Somalia by contributing over four million USD to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action. This important contribution will enable the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to reduce the threat posed by explosive hazards and contribute to establishing a safe, secure and peaceful Somalia. Over the past decade, including this generous contribution, Japan has contributed USD 19 million to mine action in Somalia.
The generous contribution from the People of Japan will assist in enhancing the capability of the Somali Police Force (SPF), both in Mogadishu and five Federal Member States, to mitigate the threat of IEDs as well as strengthen the organizational capacity of the SPF by refurbishing their police headquarters in Mogadishu.  
According to the Embassy of Japan in Kenya, “the Japanese government supports UNMAS’ efforts which strengthens the Somali government’s capacity to cope with internal insecurity by providing technical support to the Police force, increasing the number of explosive management teams and equipping them. We hope this activity will contribute to national and social security in Somalia”.
“We are very grateful for the continued commitment of the Government of Japan aimed at eliminating the threat of explosive hazards from Somalia while promoting protection of civilians,” said Ms. Qurat-ul-Ain Sadozai, the UNMAS Programme Manager in the country. “The generous and multi-year support of the Government of Japan will allow UNMAS to press on with training and mentoring support to the Somali Police Force (SPF) in further enhancing security for the people of Somalia”.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

Japan Contributes to Explosive Hazard Management in Somalia

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Protecting Africa’s wildlife from unstainable and illegal harvest and trade and the contribution legal trade and use can provide towards livelihoods and development of Africa’s people is at the heart of a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding between TRAFFIC and the African Union Commission (AUC).

Under this agreement, the parties will collaborate to support the African Union Member States’ policies for environment, wildlife management and trade, and conservation and recognise that wild flora and fauna loss affect African people’s livelihoods, especially during post-pandemic recovery. It acts as a framework to combat the illegal exploitation and trade in Africa&#39;s rich wildlife with a joint goal of protecting flora, and fauna on land, wetlands, and marine ecosystems.
The Memorandum of Understanding is a significant step towards implementing the African Union&#39;s Wildlife Strategy and was signed by Her Excellency Ambassador Josefa Sacko, AUC Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) and Steven Broad, TRAFFIC Executive Director.
On the occasion of signing, the MoU, H.E. Amb. Josefa Sacko, AUC Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) states: “For the African Union, this is an important MoU for the safeguarding of Africa’s wild biodiversity. We are looking forward to deepening our already great collaboration with TRAFFIC and are welcoming TRAFFIC’s technical support and policy which stems from its evidence-based experience, on how to keep the use and trade of wild harvested flora and fauna at legal and sustainable and levels, and on how to best combat any illegal trade and overexploitation threatening our biodiversity.”
&#8220;We are committed to improving the sustainability of Africa&#39;s wildlife, environment and legal trade to support national economies and local development across the continent alongside the African Union Commission. It is a promising and welcome step towards sustainable wildlife trade in Africa&#8221; said Richard Scobey, Executive Director for TRAFFIC.
With 45 years of experience, a global network of expertise and ongoing projects in the field, TRAFFIC will provide the AUC and its Member States with the latest evidence-based technical guidance to implement sustainable natural resource strategies that support national economies and local community development. Existing TRAFFIC projects like Reducing Illegal Timber Exports already work with communities living adjacent to forests with the legal knowledge and tools to reap the rewards of legal, sustainable forest management.
Additionally, TRAFFIC’s growing portfolio of work with private sector companies along the supply chain including e-commerce, transportation and financial sector companies directly support common interests and sustainable development agendas. TRAFFIC will also collaborate with and support the African Union Commission in the effective implementation of the Green Recovery Action Plan, providing support especially to the ‘Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions’ component.
On the international front, TRAFFIC will also assist the AU and its Member States to prepare for and build relationships at multilateral summits such as The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These crucial meetings can be informed by holistic and pioneering methods like the Trade in Wildlife eXchange (TWIX) platforms in Central, Southern and Eastern Africa to support the elimination of the illegal trade of Africa’s fauna and flora. At the same time, other international TRAFFIC behaviour change projects work across the globe to reduce demand for illegally and unsustainably harvested wild fauna and flora at the end of the supply chain, whilst supporting choices for wildlife stemming from sustainable and legal sources.
H.E. Amb. Josefa Sacko continues to express: “The AU is further looking forward to co-operating with TRAFFIC in preparations for key multilateral and bilateral fora, such as for example for CBD and CITES, as well as for the environmental components of the Commission’s frameworks and partnerships. We hope that African negotiators participating at such fora can be better capacitated.” We also welcome TRAFFIC’s commitment to collaborate with and support the Commission in the effective implementation of the Green Recovery Action Plan, providing support especially to the ‘Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions’ component to which we can bring considerable technical expertise and international experience.”
Existing intergovernmental relationships between the AU and the Member States allow coordination with the relevant ministry departments and other government sectors. In a post-pandemic world, not only will this be vital for conservation and development but will enable sound and evidence-based responses to zoonoses-induced threats stemming from wildlife trade.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).

The African Union Commission and TRAFFIC Sign a Memorandum of Understanding to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade and Support Development

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The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has handed over learning materials to the local administration and management of Gherille Primary School in Gedo region, Jubaland State of Somalia, to boost education in the area.

The donated items include desks, plastic chairs, office tables, wooden blackboards, office filing cabinets and stationery, provided by AMISOM under its Quick Impacts Projects (QUIPs), with the support of the Italian Government.
The items were handed over by the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia (DSRCC), Simon Mulongo at a ceremony attended by the school leadership, parents and local leaders as well as senior AMISOM military officers.
Mulongo explained that AMISOM undertook the project in order to boost the education sector, which he noted is critical for the development and stability of the country.
“Education is an important element in achieving peace and stability in any part of the world. AMISOM therefore is making efforts to ensure that education facilities are put up and are well equipped in order to ensure Somali children have access to education,” said the DSRCC.
AMISOM Deputy Force Commander in-charge of Operations and Plans, Maj. Gen. William Kitsao Shume, reiterated AMISOM’s commitment to supporting the education system in Somalia, through Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in order to improve access to education.
“The pupils in this school had limited learning materials that are meant to make their learning easier and better,” he noted “but now they will be very happy to be inside a classroom with enough desks and blackboards. Provision of these materials ensure that the pupils have a good learning environment like any other pupils in other parts of the world.’’
Gherille District Commissioner (DC) Mohammed Warsame thanked AMISOM and its partners for the timely support, adding that they look forward to more support in other sectors.
“We are grateful,” he said “for the development projects implemented by AMISOM in our areas which are critical in promoting peace, security and development.”
The DC added, “We look forward to more cooperation in all sectors other than education so as to address the various challenges we are facing as a community.”
Ali Mohamed Noor, the Head teacher of Gherille Primary School, also thanked AMISOM for the support, stating that the improvements being made to the learning institutions in the area are critical in preventing the pupils from indulging in drug abuse, joining terror groups and early pregnancies among school girls.
Present at the function were AMISOM Sector II Deputy Commander, Col. Pascal Kitiro, AMISOM’s Chief of Civil Affairs Dr. Opiyo Ododa, AMISOM’s Chief CIMIC Officer Col. Herman Kabwita and AMISOM Sector II CIMIC Officer, Capt. Kenneth Lotuai among others.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union Mission in Somalia.

AMISOM supports a school in Gedo region to boost education in Somalia

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As the WNBA (www.WNBA.com) continues to commemorate its landmark 25th season, the league today announced plans for the selection of “The W25” and the first ever launch of the “Vote for the GOAT” program. Many WNBA players have been deemed the greatest of all time (GOAT) over the last 25 years, but fans will vote for their GOAT by calling out their pick with the hashtag #WNBAGoatVote on Twitter, on WNBA.com or on the WNBA App.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the greatest names in women’s professional basketball as part of our continuing celebration of the WNBA’s 25th season,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Throughout the 2021 season, we are celebrating a quarter of a century of the impact the WNBA has made on sports and society, and on generations of young and diverse athletes. As we prepare for the first ever Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game and the resumption of our regular season schedule in mid-August, we are pleased to announce “The W25” platform and the “Vote for the GOAT” program.”
As announced in March, the “The W25” platform will consist of the selection and honoring of the WNBA’s 25 greatest and most influential players since its inception in 1997.  These game-changing athletes will be selected based on their overall contribution to the league and community.
A new, additional element of “The W25” platform will provide fans the opportunity to vote for the greatest WNBA player of all time through the “Vote for the GOAT” program.
The W25 – The Details
The selection of the league’s 25 greatest and most influential players will begin with a list of nearly 75 nominees selected based on factors such as on-court performance and ability, leadership, sportsmanship and community service, and contributions to team success and the overall growth of women’s basketball.
A select panel composed of media members and women’s basketball pioneers and advocates will then cast the votes that will determine “The W25,” which will be unveiled on Sunday, Sept. 5, during the ABC broadcast of the Las Vegas Aces at Chicago Sky game (3 p.m. ET).
The nominees must have been a member of a WNBA team for at least two seasons and met four of the following seven criteria: been the winner of a major individual award; a selection to either the All-WNBA First Team or All-WNBA Second Team; a selection to either the WNBA All-Defensive First Team or WNBA All-Defensive Second Team; a selection to the WNBA All-Star Game; a member of a WNBA Championship team; a current ranking among the top 40 career leaders in at least one major statistical category; and/or a recipient of the WNBA’s season-long Community Assist Award.
The GOAT Details
Beginning on Sept. 5 immediately following the announcement of “The W25,” fans will have an opportunity to vote for the member of that esteemed group that they believe is the greatest WNBA player of all time through the “Vote for the GOAT.” program. Fan voting will conclude at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 19. The GOAT will then be unveiled on during the WNBA Finals 2021 presented by YouTube TV.
How fans can vote starting Sept 5 following the W25 announcement:
 	WNBA.com voting page at WNBA.com/goatvote Fans can fill out one ballot per day (per day is defined as once every 24 hours) on WNBA.com/goatvote from a desktop or mobile browser. 	WNBA App: Fans can access the ballot through both the “Latest” and “More” tabs on the WNBA App, which is available on Android and iOS. Fans can fill out one ballot per day. 	Twitter: Fans can tweet in their votes for their favorite player with the below criteria: 	 		An eligible vote consists of: 		 			The campaign hashtag (e.g.: ##WNBAGoatVote) with the player name with or without a space (e.g.: Jane Doe or JaneDoe) or 			The player Twitter handle (e.g. @WNBAplayerJaneDoe) 		 		 	 	 	Example of a Valid Vote: I just voted Jane Doe for the ##WNBAGoatVote or I just voted for @JaneDoeWNBAPlayer for the ##WNBAGoatVote 	Retweets will count as a valid vote. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).
Media Contacts: Ron Howard (212) 407-8641 rhoward@nba.com

Sam Tager (212) 407-8358 stager@nba.com

WNBA’s “W25” Platform Will Honor 25 Greatest Players of All Time and Give Fans an Opportunity to “Vote for the Goat”

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On August 3, 2021, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, Kathleen FitzGibbon, joined Nigerian Minister for Humanitarian Affairs Sadiya Umar Farouq representing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and Minister for Women’s Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, to ceremonially launch a four-year activity from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that will prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) in the states of Sokoto and Ebonyi.

GBV is a health and social concern with far-reaching consequences affecting mostly women and girls. USAID’s $5 million MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership in Nigeria (MCGL) will reduce maternal and child mortality by increasing host country commitment to provide quality health care. MCGL will address drivers of child, early and forced marriage, and prevent and mitigate the impacts of violence against women and girls.
“This new activity from USAID will strengthen GBV response mechanisms, help communities transform discriminatory gender and social norms that continue to subordinate women and make them vulnerable, and uphold and defend women’s health and human rights,” Chargé FitzGibbon said at the launch. “It will increase women’s voice and agency and reduce their vulnerability to gender-based violence.”
GBV is driven by structural inequalities and unequal power relations that render women subordinate due to limited access to education, employment, finances, healthcare, and opportunities to contribute to their family, community, and the country’s economic growth.
In Nigeria, one in three women and girls aged 15 to 24 years have experienced GBV. It is often at the hands of people they know, love, and trust.  The unfortunate normalization of GBV against women and girls has continued under the guise of culture, tradition, and religion.  GBV has reached epidemic proportions in Nigeria, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, in the form of intimate partner violence, rape, and early and forced marriage.
MCGL is already working in Sokoto and Ebonyi to engage communities, elected and traditional leaders, and a growing coalition of stakeholders to explore social norms that drive GBV. They will work with them to address gaps and develop interventions.  This co-creation process can enhance laws and policies to protect vulnerable populations and improve access to reproductive health care.
USAID partner, Jphiego, will lead a growing consortium of Nigerian organizations   to implement MCGL in Ebonyi and Sokoto due to their statistically high rates of GBV incidence and the presence of other USAID activities working to improve health outcomes.
“We are committed to working together for a safer society for women, girls and the vulnerable, Minister Farouq said “No time is more appropriate than now to adopt a policy of zero tolerance for gender-based violence in Nigeria.”
Ultimately, the project will increase women’s voices and agency throughout their life course in project locations and beyond.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria.

USAID Launches New Activity to Counter Growing Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria

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Although Kaspersky’s (https://africa.Kaspersky.com) research shows that the overall number of financial malware attacks in Kenya has decreased in the first half of 2021, when compared to the same period in 2020, 29.3% of the 7 962 attacks recorded in the country targeted corporate users, which is a cause for concern, warn Kaspersky experts.

“As local businesses have continued to adjust to remote work scenarios and the rest of the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we have continued to witness cybercriminals using this to their advantage, exploiting the situation however they can. When looking at such statistics, we believe it is evident that cybercriminals are more commonly targeting unsuspecting corporate users in Kenya as a way to compromise corporate systems,” says Bethwel Opil, Enterprise Sales Manager at Kaspersky in Africa.

Simply put, organisations in Kenya have become susceptible to financial malware as more employees work outside the relative safety of the corporate network. The normalisation of a distributed workforce makes ensuring the protection of the personal endpoint devices of people, who need to access back-end systems to continue performing their job functions, that much more critical. In addition to securing these devices, cybersecurity training of employees remains a key component to defend against the growing scourge of financial malware that uses phishing techniques to target individual users.

Continues Opil; “It is especially financial phishing that has become one of the most popular tools used by cybercriminals to make money. It does not require much investment or technical expertise from a hacker and can be propagated quickly. In most cases, successful scammers win access either to the victim’s money or data that can be sold or otherwise monetised. For any business this points to how important it is to address one of the weakest links in the cybersecurity chain – that of the individual user. It also signifies the importance of remaining vigilant from a cybersecurity perspective, especially during difficult operating conditions.”

Some of the best practice that must be employed include having employees only install applications from reliable sources, such as official app stores. Even so, they must always examine the permissions the application requests. If these permissions do not match the intended function of the programme, then it must be questioned and brought to the attention of the IT administrator. Companies and consumers alike must also install trusted security solutions such as Kaspersky Security Cloud (https://bit.ly/3rSXGNU) on all devices connecting to the Internet, to help safeguard against a range of financial cyber threats. And throughout this, it remains important to ensure all software have the latest security patches and updates installed.

Beyond the fundamental cybersecurity solutions and training, companies must also consider using the likes of anti-advanced persistent threat (APT) and endpoint detection and response (EDR) technologies to further shore up the defensive posture of their network environment.

“With the landscape unlikely to change for the foreseeable future, it is best to combine sophisticated cybersecurity solutions with continuously evolving training to keep employees appraised of the latest threats especially when it comes to financial malware,” concludes Opil.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kaspersky.
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About Kaspersky: Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help 250,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at https://africa.Kaspersky.com.

29% of corporate users in Kenya experienced financial malware attacks in the first half of 2021

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As the COVID-19 crisis continues to exacerbate restrictions on government spending throughout the world, the UN chief on Tuesday welcomed the decision by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to approve a $650 billion allocation of Special Drawing Rights to “boost liquidity”.

Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement on the policy change towards Special Drawing Rights or SDRs, a type of foreign reserve asset that are IMF defined and maintained, as additional funding that could help to pay down debts. 
He also underscored that economies not in need of access to cash should “consider channeling these resources to vulnerable low and middle-income countries that need a liquidity injection by replenishing the IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust Fund”.  
‘Historic decision’ 
Yesterday’s IMF’s allocation makes new borrowing available to the fund’s 190 member countries, roughly in proportion to their share of the global economy.  
“This is a historic decision – the largest SDR allocation in the history of the IMF and a shot in the arm for the global economy at a time of unprecedented crisis”, said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. 
“The SDR allocation will benefit all members, address the long-term global need for reserves, build confidence, and foster the resilience and stability of the global economy. It will particularly help our most vulnerable countries struggling to cope with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.”  
Halting debt default 
The Secretary-General stressed that it is also “critical to quickly establish the proposed Resilience and Sustainability Trust at the IMF…[for] a comprehensive response and recovery, including providing more support for vaccinations and debt management and to support the efforts of developing economies in restructuring for inclusive growth”. 
Last month, he urged the world’s largest economies to spearhead a global COVID-19 vaccination plan and expand debt relief to developing countries battered by the pandemic.   
Bulwark against default 
He also advised supporting a new $50 billion IMF investment roadmap aimed at ending the pandemic and driving a fast recovery.  
As many developing countries are “teetering on the verge of debt default”, the UN chief encouraged the G20 leading industrialized nations to channel unused SDRs to the Fund’s new resilience and sustainability plan, for these nations.  
“Special Drawing Rights also need to be considered as additional funding, not deducted from Official Development Assistance”, he reminded.  
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

UN Chief Welcomes Historic’ IMF Liquidity Boost for Governments in Need

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The world is currently in the midst of a technological revolution. Technology has taken over our lives and it&#39;s become difficult to imagine life without the internet, social media, or mobile phones. The digital age has also created some negative consequences such as cyberbullying and other online dangers. Weownomy aims to make things easier for users by offering them their own personal income social network (www.Weownomy.global) that they can use with eCash cryptocurrency which will be low-fee and globalized.

It&#39;s hard to believe that in this day and age of modern technology there are still billions of people who don&#39;t have access to banking services. This number is even more shocking when you consider how many of these individuals live in countries without internet access.
Weownomy has been looking into adopting new technology as they believe it will allow the company to better serve user owned global platform. They have found that cryptocurrency can help achieve this goal, and they are adopting eCash which is a cryptocurrency designed specifically for social media users globally. Users will not need an account with a bank or credit card company in order to make transactions; they only need their phones and access to the internet.
The founder and CEO of Weownomy Ssemakula Peter Luyima said “The adoption of bitcoin ABC rebranded as eCash is one of the most significant single developments in the history of social media so far. This adoption will mean more than anything else that’s happened before because it gives us a practical way forward, not just an idea or theory but something we can use and put into practice”.
This means that with eCash you can send money instantly without going through a financial institution, your account balance can be stored in almost any type of computer or mobile device.
The Company aims to provide an environment that empowers all people and promote sustainable personal income lives (https://bit.ly/3yus0RC) on this planet through the Internet. To achieve this goal, we have adopted a new cryptocurrency named eCash which will be used as social media currency for payments in Weownomy platform for both content creators and co-owners who will be paid for using Weownomy Personal Income Social Networking Platform (https://bit.ly/3rS96RQ). As part of our mission to empower everyone who participates.
eCash is Weownomy’s Option as a Social Media Currency for All
eCash (https://bit.ly/3jeh2Jq) is Weownomy’s option as a social media currency for all. The idea of using our own digital currency to pay for things has been around since the dawn of internet, but it wasn’t until Bitcoin came on the scene that this idea really took off. Now there are dozens of cryptocurrencies competing with Bitcoin and each other, including Ethereum and Litecoin. But there is one major difference between eCash and any other cryptocurrency: eCash was created by early Bitcoin developers who have been working to solve the problem of internet and financial privacy long before Satoshi&#39;s whitepaper.
The use of social media has been on the rise in recent years. People are now spending more time online than ever before, and a large percentage of that time is spent using social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. But what happens when you’re browsing through your newsfeeds or tweets? You come across posts about people living paycheck to paycheck, no money for food or bills; some posts even talk about homelessness or suicide rates among those who have lost hope.
Weownomy will use eCash; Bitcoin ABC is a full node implementation of the eCash protocol, as its form of payment for any transactions on the site. It can be purchased and held in a digital wallet application which will then generate etokens for purchases made on Weownomy. With these tokens, you can be paid for using the platform and or buy anything from videos to emojis without having to pay with cash or other forms of money.
Weownomy to Pay $3 Million in Bitcoin ABC (eCash XEC) for issuance to 30,000 Weownomy Co-owners
Weownomy is investing $3 Million in BITCOIN ABC as newly rebranded eCash XEC coins, to be issued, to 30,000 Weownomy co-owners and the tokens will be deposited in their eCash wallets for the scheduled pay-outs on or before 18th of August 2021. Class A shareholders are entitled to receive 100,000 Bitcoin ABC per eCash in the ratio of 1:1,000,000; Class B shareholders are entitled to receive minimum of 2000 Bitcoin ABC per eCash in the ratio of 1:1,000,000; and Class C Shareholders are entitled to receive minimum of 200 BITCOIN ABC per eCash in the ratio of 1:1,000,000. Co-owners can exchange their eCash for bitcoins by signing up at WISEBITCOIN Crypto Exchange and SECDEX Exchange in Seychelles.
Weownomy is committed to the 30,000 shareholders who invested in the company. The owners of Weownomy will be given eCash coins in BITCOIN ABC market price as an investment for their Weownomy auction shares.
This investment comes with a planned payout on or before 18th of August 2021. Weownomy has an eye on stability, which they believe will be reached by providing payouts to the co-owners at stable prices that are pegged to BITCOIN ABC Market price at the time of writing as $58.95.
The eCash coins will be deposited in their eCash wallets for the scheduled pay-outs on or before 18th of August 2021, for Class A, Class B and Class C Shareholders.
Social Media Users Can Now Buy Ads in eCash
Weownomy is a social media advertising platform that provides an automated way to buy ads in eCash crypto coins. The platform identifies the optimal way of promoting a given user owned Weownomy social media product and executes, evaluates, manages and optimizes display advertising campaigns all in real-time.
The rise of social media has opened up new avenues for advertising. However, it can be difficult to manage campaigns and reach the right audience with limited resources. Weownomy&#39;s Programmatic Buying Platform automates all aspects of a campaign, from identification to optimization, so that advertisers can focus on other areas of their business.
It is estimated that in 2021 the digital advertising market will reach $378.16 billion U.S. dollars, and Weownomy&#39;s goal is to take some of this pie. The current problem with social media ads has been how difficult it can be for businesses to create ads and pay attention to their metrics at the same time. Weownomy solves this by allowing companies and individuals alike, who are able to purchase eCash tokens on exchanges, put up an ad campaign or simply choose from a variety of existing.
There are two major problems that all advertisers face when it comes to advertising on social media. First, there is the pain of building a new campaign from scratch each time you want to advertise something and second, even if you have an established campaign running in one social media platform, your efforts are not extended to other platforms because they require different campaigns for them.
The Weownomy Ad Exchange is an innovative solution to the problem of advertisers not knowing where their ads are being seen. The system creates a marketplace for advertisers, publishers and affiliates, making it easier for any advertiser to use their product with one campaign and reach as many people as possible.
Social media advertising is one of the most important components in a successful marketing campaign. But it can be difficult to get right, and this task usually falls on someone who knows what they&#39;re doing.
Weownomy has created an innovative platform that makes social media advertising easy for everyone. The company&#39;s software identifies the optimal way to promote a given user owned Weownomy social media product and executes, evaluates, manages and optimizes display ads in eCash crypto coins.
Weownomy Ad Exchange Turns Ads Into Financial Power for Social Media Users
Weownomy Ad Exchange is new and innovative software that allows advertisers to build capital ownership for themselves by utilizing an intelligent use of ad revenue credit. This way, they can get unlimited low-cost financing for growth of user owned social media advertising while also raising the power of users to pay for advertisers’ goods and services. The company has made it possible for people who advertise on social media to earn back up to 50% of their investment in the form of Weownomy&#39;s own virtual currency (Weownomy etokens).
This results in increased power for users to pay for what advertisers offer while also raising the power of advertisers to produce goods and services. A new way has been created that can give back power from advertisers to users.
Weownomy Ad Exchange builds capital ownership for advertisers and publishers while providing unlimited low-cost financing for growth of user owned social media advertising. The Weownomy ad revenue credit model enables the user to pay for what they want from advertisers, with or without a budget. This new economic system rewards all participants in an economy by raising the power of users to purchase goods and services while also raising the power of advertisers to produce them.
The internet has enabled us to experience a global marketplace that can be accessed with the click of a button. It has also given rise to social media networks, where users are not only connecting and engaging with friends but are becoming advertisers themselves. The Weownomy Ad Exchange provides an innovative use of ad revenue credit, giving the power back to the people.
The process of marketing and advertising has changed over the years, as people&#39;s attention spans have decreased. It is hard to catch someone&#39;s eye in this era where there are more than 7 billion people on Earth.
It is often said that advertising is a powerful way to communicate and sway the masses. But with so many ad networks, channels, and platforms out there, it can be difficult for advertisers to get their message across in an effective manner. The Weownomy Ad Exchange allows social media users to become more than just consumers of advertisements; they are now empowered by their own creativity and intelligence. By providing its users with a revenue credit model, Weownomy has made it possible for advertisers to buy goods or services with little money down.
The average person spends about 2 hours a day on social media. With that much time invested, it&#39;s easy to see why Weownomy is the next big thing in advertising. By giving social media users their own credit for ad revenue, Weownomy has made it possible to take on debt from advertisers and finance the growth of user owned social media advertising. The idea behind this was not only to help raise power for advertisers but also for those who consume their products and services as well.
The internet has revolutionized the way we consume information. With a few keystrokes, one can be in touch with people across the world and find out anything they want to know about. This rapid change has also had a major impact on how advertising is done; rather than companies paying for airtime or print space, social media users are now making their own advertisements and taking control of the power to advertise their favorite products or services.
In the world of advertising, there are two types of people: advertisers and consumers. For years now, advertisers have been able to leverage their products and services in order to persuade consumers into buying them with little money down. In recent years, however, this dynamic has changed as more and more businesses go digital. As social media becomes a larger part of our lives each day- from staying connected with friends to finding out what&#39;s happening in the world- it&#39;s also become an important.
With Weownomy Ad Exchange that changes the way we look at advertising. By giving social media users their own credit for ad revenue, Weownomy has made it possible to take on debt from advertisers and finance the growth of user owned social media advertising. The idea behind this was not only to help raise power for advertisers but also for those who consume their products and services as well. This innovative solution allows you to buy goods or services with little money down and by earning your Weownomy Ad Exchange Social Media Self-Financing Ad Revenue Credit.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Weownomy Platform Corporation.
About Weownomy Platform Corporation: Weownomy Platform Corporation, Incorporated in the State of Delaware https://Weownomy.global is launching a subscription based, open and participatory platform. A new redefined social network that facilitates people&#39;s participation in the democratic process of defining their own rules for their future, generating an ownership structure where every person has rights to share in the proceeds generated by this new economy and hence true economic equality.

Weownomy adopts bitcoin cash ABC, newly rebranded as eCash Coin

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Access to telephone and internet in the Tigray region remains cut.  Availability of basic services, including electricity, is spotty.  Reports of interruptions to essential items, such as food, fuel, and money, persist.  The U.S. Embassy is unable to contact American citizens in the region.

The U.S. Embassy continues to closely track developments and to assess how these might affect relocation plans for U.S. citizens.  Please note, however, that we neither guarantee that a relocation will take place, nor when that may happen.  For U.S. citizens who wish to leave the region, the U.S. Embassy recommends contacting the nearest United Nations (UN) facility to inquire about the possibility of joining departing UN convoys, or to request information about safe routes out of Tigray.
The U.S. Embassy is also aware of reports of fighting in sections of the Afar and Amhara regions.  U.S. citizens in these regions should monitor local media for breaking news and should be prepared to shelter in place if they are in the vicinity of areas of conflict.
If you are a U.S. citizen in a conflict area, or if you have a U.S. citizen family member who you believe is in such an area, and you have not provided us your relative’s name and contact information before, please contact us immediately at AddisACS@state.gov with the following information:
 	U.S. citizen’s full name and date of birth; 	The U.S. citizen’s U.S. passport number, if known; 	The U.S. citizen’s last known location and contact information Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Security Alert: Update on Security Situation in Tigray and Sections of Afar and Amhara

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When women traditional leaders from different parts of the country, adorned in beautiful regalia gather, the most likely reason is to grace a very important occasion, but this time that was not the case. Queen mothers from all over Ghana   met under the canopy of the Family Health Division of the Ghana Health Service to share ideas on how to promote exclusive breastfeeding and good Maternal and Child nutrition in their traditional areas and beyond through the Nutrition Advocacy and Community Mobilization Initiative. This is an initiative launched by Her Excellency, Mrs Rebecca Akuffo Addo, the First Lady of the Republic of Ghana in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

In a country where there is a deep appreciation of cultural values and the important role community leaders play, queen mothers hold a special place in the lives of their constituents and are highly revered. They are the female counterparts of male traditional leaders known as Chiefs. Community members see a mother figure in their queen mothers, but especially for women and girls, they are the role model many of them aspire to be like. This makes them highly influential and a very useful channel for advocacy.
Ghana adopted the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in 1993 in response to increased disease burden especially incidence of diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory tract infections among infants and children, high rates of death among non-breastfed infants and poor infant growth. These were due to sub-optimal infant feeding practices in hospitals, communities and homes including Pre-lacteal feeding, discarding of colostrum, routine separation of babies from mothers, early introduction of home foods.
Activities implemented till date, as part of the response comprises of training of regional resource teams and code monitors, enactment, monitoring and revision of the Breastfeeding law (LI 1667), preparation / assessment and designation of facilities code monitoring, advocacy for support from corporate bodies for working women, training of skills and knowledge of health staff on Complementing Feeding Counselling of Caregivers. 
According to Madam Esi Foriwa Amoaful, Deputy Director for Nutrition at the Ghana Health Service, the progress made so far has among others, resulted in 634 facilities with maternity services being officially declared baby friendly. Breastfeeding activities are however, integrated into all health facilities across the country. 
There is need for more work, which is why officials of the Ghana Health Service have taken a cross section of queen mothers and would-be advocates of breastfeeding through steps to improving breastfeeding counselling as well as breastfeeding messages for caregivers at home. 
The queen mothers were also briefed on the regional indicators for breastfeeding where it came to light that the southern part of Ghana trailed behind in exclusive breastfeeding whereas the northern regions recorded high numbers of women who practice exclusive breastfeeding. This brought to light the need for increased awareness of the importance of breastfeeding. 
The Ghana Health Service estimates that a little more than half (52%) of all babies born in Ghana are put to breast within the first hour of birth, however, only 43% of all babies under 6 months are exclusively breastfed.
Nana Amponsah Dokua III, Queen Mother, Osudoku Traditional Area said she was hopeful that the knowledge acquired would be beneficial to their community members as they would augment the effort been made by the district health officers. 
The women traditional leaders have constituted themselves into the Queen Mothers Platform of Ghana as a formidable force to help champion developmental initiatives in the country.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO), Ghana.

Queen mothers to take the lead in championing exclusive breastfeeding and maternal and child nutrition

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Imperial (www.Imperiallogistics.com)is pleased to advise that in F2019 and F2020, it created value of R146 billion and R98 billion for its stakeholders and communities in Nigeria and South Africa respectively, as confirmed by a recent Socioeconomic Impact Assessment study undertaken by Accenture.

“Imperial plays a key role in connecting Africa and the world and improving people’s lives with access to quality products and services. As a purpose-driven organisation with Environmental, Social and Governance imperatives embedded in our business strategy all our businesses remain committed to not just creating but sustaining value for all our stakeholders across our 25 countries of operation”, says Mohammed Akoojee, Imperial’s Group CEO. “We take a holistic approach regarding value creation wherein value is created not only for Imperial but also for other stakeholders in the value chain, including the development of our communities and countries of operation.”
In assessing the direct and indirect value created for Imperial’s stakeholders, these reports commissioned by Imperial, for Nigeria and South Africa looked at its impact through five themes, namely Imperial’s Greatest Asset (people), serving as the ‘Gateway to Africa’ (operations), reaching Beyond Imperial (external stakeholders), transforming by adopting a ‘Go Digital Go Green’ approach (adoption of digital technologies and focus on reducing negative impacts on the environment) and Going the Extra Mile (Corporate Social Investment). Each of these themes was assessed through a framework that systematically considered value to society, value to the logistics industry and to market access, as well as value to partners.
In addition, the socioeconomic impact on society was reviewed in light of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Aspirations for 2063 defined by the African Union, as various countries, including South Africa, have acted to integrate the goals and targets into their national development plans to align policies and institutions behind them. Imperial’s contribution to the applicable goals and aspirations is highlighted throughout these reports.
“The outcome of the reports also supports Imperial’s objectives to continue to operate as a responsible corporate citizen that is committed to delivering sustainable value and extending its impact to all key stakeholders across the organisation’s value chain,” adds Akoojee.  
Click here to read the full Socioeconomic Impact Assessment reports: https://bit.ly/2VnRBNs
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Imperial.
Notes to the editor: Highlights of the Socioeconomic Impact Assessment reports for F2020:


Value: R3.5bn employee related expenditure on over 13 000 employees R483m taxes contributed R9bn procurement spend, 70% with B BBEE compliant suppliers 3.2% of operating profit spent on CSI R23m training spend; 900 000 training hours 10 teaching hospitals supplied with chemotherapy treatments in Nigeria 95% contract renewal rate in Nigeria

Savings: R11.5m in socio economic costs saved by avoiding accidents 12.8m litres of water and 1,266 tons of waste recycled; 541 940 kwh reduction in electricity Avoided 5,700 tons of greenhouse gas emissions Patients saved R49m on healthcare costs via Imperial’s flagship Unjani Clinics In Nigeria, access to safe pharmaceuticals saved ~35,800 lives Fairly priced medicines saved patients Nigerian Naira (NGN) 59.5bn

Interesting facts and figures: More than 13 000 employees 900,000 m2 total warehousing under coverage Travelled 360x South Africa&#39;s road length for customer deliveries. Media Queries: Esha Mansingh Executive Vice President: Corporate Affairs&#038;Investor Relations esha.mansingh@imperiallogistics.com Melissa Arjoonan Vice President: Marketing&#038;Communications melissa.arjoonan@imperiallogistics.com About Imperial: Imperial is an African focused provider of integrated market access and logistics solutions, with a focus on the following key industries — healthcare, consumer, automotive, chemicals, industrial and commodities. Imperial takes its clients and principals’ products to some of the fastest growing and most challenging markets in the world. Ranked among the top 30 global logistics providers and listed on the JSE in South Africa, Imperial seeks out and leverages new technology to deliver innovative, end-to-end solutions. Through its significant African footprint and international expertise, and with the support of its 25 000 people, Imperial’s purpose is connecting Africa and the world — and improving people’s lives with access to quality products and services. For more information, visit www.imperiallogistics.com

Imperial creates value of over R200 billion over two years in Nigeria and South Africa

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The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Mr Issa Hayatou, former CAF president, former FIFA (FIFA.com) President ad interim, FIFA Vice-President and member of the FIFA Council, as well as Honorary FIFA Vice‑President, responsible for having breached article 15 (Duty of Loyalty) of the FIFA Code of Ethics.

The investigation into Mr Hayatou’s conduct in his position as CAF president concerned his involvement in the negotiation, conclusion and signature of the memorandum of understanding and contractual agreement for the commercialisation of media and marketing rights of competitions organised by CAF with the company Lagardère Sports between 2014 and 2017.
In its decision, following an extensive hearing, the adjudicatory chamber ruled that, based on information gathered by the investigatory chamber, Mr Hayatou had breached his duty of loyalty in his position as CAF president, by entering, in the name and on behalf of the confederation, into an anti-competitive agreement with Lagardère Sport which was detrimental and caused significant damage to CAF (both financially, in the amount of EGP 200 million, as well as to its reputation).
Consequently, the adjudicatory chamber found that Mr Hayatou had breached article 15 of the current edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics and sanctioned him with a ban from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at both national and international level (administrative, sports or any other) for one year. In addition, a fine in the amount of CHF 30,000 has been imposed on Mr Hayatou.
The motivated decision was notified to Mr Hayatou today, the date on which the ban comes into force, and has been published on legal.FIFA.com.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA Ethics Committee.
Contact for African media: AfricanMedia@fifa.org

Adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee sanctions Issa Hayatou

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The International Organization for Migration (IOM), with the authorities in Sana’a, Yemen, and the Government of Ethiopia, successfully transported 79 Ethiopian migrants, including 19 women and 14 children to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia today (03/08) in its first Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) flight from Sana’a since 2019.

“IOM stands ready and willing to continue this collaborative return effort in line with international protocols and standards, and hopes this movement is the first of many from Sana’a,” said Carmela Godeau, IOM’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Today’s flight comes four days after World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which aims to combat all forms of exploitation around the world.  Migrants in Yemen face grave risks to their safety and dignity and are routinely impacted by smuggling and trafficking. They also face many barriers to accessing essential services and support.
IOM’s VHR programme is one way the Organization assists migrants in the country and prevents them from falling victim to further abuse and harm.
“Greater efforts are urgently needed to ensure that all migrants in Yemen who wish to come home have the opportunity to do so in a dignified and voluntary manner,” said Malambo Moonga, head of IOM Ethiopia’s Migration Management Unit. 
IOM carries out medical and protection screenings prior to departure to ensure that returnees are fit to travel and provides essential humanitarian items to those in need.
In coordination with the Ethiopian government and civil society organizations, IOM has set up a reception centre in Addis Ababa where the migrants will be provided with assistance and protection services including mental health and psychosocial support. The migrants will also receive cash and onward transportation assistance to help them reach their communities of origin.
The Organization also supports family tracing and the reunification of unaccompanied migrant children. IOM also provides life-saving support to migrants through health care, food and water across the Horn of Africa and Yemen.
Today’s voluntary return flight is funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), the humanitarian bureau of the U.S. State Department and the German government. Post-arrival assistance in Addis Ababa is supported by the European Commission&#39;s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), and by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian (OCHA) Affairs Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Humanitarian Flight Safely Returns Ethiopian Migrants From Yemen

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More than 700 healthcare workers and patients have died, and more than 2,000 have been injured in attacks on health facilities since December 2017, according to a three year analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) released on Tuesday.

The Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care from 2018 to 2020, recorded data on attacks on health workers, patients, supplies, ambulances and facilities in 17 emergency-affected countries and fragile settings.
Countries at risk
These included Ethiopia, Yemen, Syria, Mozambique, Nigeria, Occupied Palestinian territory, Myanmar, Central African Republic, and Somalia, among others. “We are deeply concerned that hundreds of health facilities have been destroyed or closed, health workers killed and injured, and millions of people denied the healthcare they deserve,” Altaf Musani, Director of the Health Emergencies Interventions, WHO, told journalists in Geneva.
The WHO initiative has three main pillars of work, which are the systematic collection of evidence of attacks, advocacy for the end of such attacks, and the promotion of good practices for protecting healthcare.
It presents a global overview of attacks on healthcare, the resources that they affected and their immediate impact on health workers and patients.
Deadly outcomes
Giving details of the findings, Mr. Musani, said that “one out of six incidents have led to a patient or health worker’s loss of life in 2020”.
Health workers are the most affected resource, he added, representing “two-thirds of all attacks in 2018, 2019 and fifty per cent of all recorded incidents in 2020,” rather than facilities or supplies.
The report warned that the impact of attacks on health care goes well beyond endangering health providers, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 response.
‘Ripple effect’
“Their impact reverberates on health workers’ mental health and willingness to report to work, on the communities’ willingness to seek healthcare and also drastically reduces resources for responding to health crises, among others.”
The “ripple effect of a single incident is huge”, he said, and has “long-term consequences for the health system as whole.”
Mr. Musani called on all parties in conflicts to ensure safe working spaces for the delivery of healthcare services and “safe access to health care, free from violence, threat or fear. “One attack is an attack too many”, he warned.
WHO’s Attacks on Health Care (AHC) initiative was rolled out in December 2017, following a World Health Assembly resolution adopted in 2012, in which Member States requested WHO to provide global leadership in collecting and disseminating information on attacks on health care in complex humanitarian emergencies.
The need for systematic collection of data on attacks on healthcare was further supported by Security Council resolution 2286 adopted in 2016.
The findings are the first body of verified and reliable evidence, which can be used to generate analyses and reports to better understand attacks on healthcare.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

700-plus Healthcare Workers and Patients Killed in Attacks on Facilities: WHO

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“Our objective in coming together today is to ensure women’s leaders are fully engaged to support this forum with actionable ideas to empower women and ensure they have every opportunity they need to develop themselves,” said Jennifer Nabongorika, Minister of Gender, Eastern Equatoria State.

Minister Nabongorika was speaking at the second forum discussing crucial aspects of women’s rights and representations in the state.
Following considered discussions by all participants, adult literacy received a unanimous thumbs up as a solution to the high rate of school dropouts among young girls and boys, who then go on to provide underage labour in the local markets.
 “In the first such meeting which took place a month ago, we came up with certain resolutions. Chief among them was that women leaders need to find out why so many minors are leaving their education midway,” explained Minister Nabongorika. “This is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately if we are to build a future of peace and prosperity.”
“If we are to be strong and powerful women, we must enroll in accelerated learning programmes; education is key,” said Flora Sebit, a women’s representative from the Civil Society Network in Torit.
Testimonies from successful women leaders holding positions of note at the state level highlighted the importance of education. “I was forced into an early marriage by my parents a few years ago, but I collected myself and refocused on education. Today, I have held more than one leadership post,” revealed Paska Hifita, Head, State commissioner for Revenue’s Office.
For her part, Mikelina Emilio, Gender Affairs Officer, UNMISS, said that facilitating such discussions are part of the mission’s mandate to convene and connect women across the country as they lobby for equal representation in all levels of decision-making. “This monthly meeting symbolizes our commitment to involving women leaders and women at the grassroots level, narrowing the gap between both, so that women in Eastern Equatoria start building a strong support structure for themselves,” averred Ms. Emilio.
The meeting saw participation from 42 women who hold political positions, are part of the civil service, members of civil society groups, organized forces, female chiefs and youth leaders who continued their understanding of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, the importance of gender equality and finding ways to work together with men on issues that impact women directly.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

UNMISS-Supported Forum for Women in Eastern Equatoria Prioritizes Adult Literacy at the Grassroots

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“Now more than ever, we need to have conversations and dialogue that will lead to a lasting peace,” said Terezina Utu, a resident of Tambura, Western Equatoria.

Terezina was speaking at a peace forum following a series of recent armed attacks in the greater Tambura region which has led to death, displacement and untold suffering.
“We have been living together in harmony for years and are wondering why conflict has destroyed the social fabric of our lives now,” she continued.
Terezina’s concerns and questions are echoed by many who have had their belongings looted, homes burnt to the ground and farms destroyed. She, herself, is one of some 30,000 displaced people who are sheltering near the UNMISS temporary base as well as church and school premises in Tambura town.
Mateyo Makiso, a community elder attending the workshop also raised concerns about the number of arms present in and around Tambura. “We aren’t a rich community and do not have the means or the will to buy guns or ammunition. I believe these arms have been smuggled in here and it is very worrying,” he said.
Sentina Gabriel, a youth representative, also pointed out that young people in the area are, at times, being instigated by certain elements of society. “We must stand up against people misleading our youth and encouraging them to resort to unnecessary violence,” she stated.
For his part, Edmund Yakani, Managing Director, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said he believed that peace dialogues were a sustainable way for affected communities to build their resilience and overcome recent upheavals.
“The source of conflict in Tambura is not from within the communities themselves, but from outside forces. As such, dialogue-based fora, bringing together people to discuss mitigating violence and building confidence is, perhaps, the best way forward,” said Mr. Yakani.
Similarly, for Emmanuel Ndukundani, a Civil Affairs Officer with the peacekeeping mission, discussions are the only way forward. “Our job is to enable communities to come together in peace and be able to find ways that will reduce tensions,” he stated. “This is only the first in a series of planned workshops and interventions that, we hope, will enable people to rebuild their lives and live together peacefully once again.”
The three-day workshop facilitated jointly by UNMISS, Interfaith Council for Peace and CEPO drew more than 80 participants, including women, youth, community elders and displaced persons.
Upon its conclusion, all attendees resolved to trickle down messages of coexistence and do everything within their power to re-establish peace in this troubled part of Western Equatoria.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

APO

Central African Republic: UN report calls for urgent end to mounting human rights abuses and violations

Japan Contributes to Explosive Hazard Management in Somalia

The African Union Commission and TRAFFIC Sign a Memorandum of Understanding to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade and Support Development

AMISOM supports a school in Gedo region to boost education in Somalia

WNBA’s “W25” Platform Will Honor 25 Greatest Players of All Time and Give Fans an Opportunity to “Vote for the Goat”

USAID Launches New Activity to Counter Growing Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria

29% of corporate users in Kenya experienced financial malware attacks in the first half of 2021

UN Chief Welcomes Historic’ IMF Liquidity Boost for Governments in Need

Weownomy adopts bitcoin cash ABC, newly rebranded as eCash Coin

Security Alert: Update on Security Situation in Tigray and Sections of Afar and Amhara

Queen mothers to take the lead in championing exclusive breastfeeding and maternal and child nutrition

Imperial creates value of over R200 billion over two years in Nigeria and South Africa

Adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee sanctions Issa Hayatou

Humanitarian Flight Safely Returns Ethiopian Migrants From Yemen

700-plus Healthcare Workers and Patients Killed in Attacks on Facilities: WHO

UNMISS-Supported Forum for Women in Eastern Equatoria Prioritizes Adult Literacy at the Grassroots

UNMISS Conducts Three-Day Peace Workshop in Tambura Following Recent Upsurge of Violence

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APO

Central African Republic: UN report calls for urgent end to mounting human rights abuses and violations

Japan Contributes to Explosive Hazard Management in Somalia

The African Union Commission and TRAFFIC Sign a Memorandum of Understanding to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade and Support Development

AMISOM supports a school in Gedo region to boost education in Somalia

WNBA’s “W25” Platform Will Honor 25 Greatest Players of All Time and Give Fans an Opportunity to “Vote for the Goat”

USAID Launches New Activity to Counter Growing Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria

29% of corporate users in Kenya experienced financial malware attacks in the first half of 2021

UN Chief Welcomes Historic’ IMF Liquidity Boost for Governments in Need

Weownomy adopts bitcoin cash ABC, newly rebranded as eCash Coin

Security Alert: Update on Security Situation in Tigray and Sections of Afar and Amhara

Queen mothers to take the lead in championing exclusive breastfeeding and maternal and child nutrition

Imperial creates value of over R200 billion over two years in Nigeria and South Africa

Adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee sanctions Issa Hayatou

Humanitarian Flight Safely Returns Ethiopian Migrants From Yemen

700-plus Healthcare Workers and Patients Killed in Attacks on Facilities: WHO

UNMISS-Supported Forum for Women in Eastern Equatoria Prioritizes Adult Literacy at the Grassroots

UNMISS Conducts Three-Day Peace Workshop in Tambura Following Recent Upsurge of Violence

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