APO News from Africa:
UN rights chief ‘concerned’ about a ‘series of crucial issues’ in Ethiopia:
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, has expressed concern over certain human rights issues in Ethiopia, after meeting and discussing with government officials, opposition politicians and civil society representatives in the country.
“During the course of my discussions I was told of legislation and policies which seemingly severely restrict rights to freedom of expression, information, association and peaceful assembly, as well as independent human rights monitoring,” Said Mr. Hussein. “I am concerned about this series of crucial issues.”
The High Commissioner was speaking during a press conference on Thursday at the ECA, wrapping up his two-day visit to Ethiopia. He told journalists that the Charities and Societies Proclamation, Anti-Terrorism and Mass Media laws in Ethiopia “do not appear aligned with relevant international legal norms, and should be reformed.”
Mr. Hussein cited the November 2015 and August 2016 unrests in Ethiopia as indicative of the need for continuing and carefully planned adjustments in policy, adding that the government should consider releasing some individuals arrested during the unrests.
“I am requesting the Government to consider, where possible, the release of a number of individuals whose arrest or conviction appears to have been motivated by fear of criticism rather than evidence of intent to spark violent overthrow.”
The UN rights chief described Ethiopia as “a landscape of sudden, rapid and impressive economic growth,” where there appears to be a “clear need for a much wider and freer civic space, with broader latitude for the contributions of critical or dissenting views to decision-making.”
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein also stated that the Ethiopian government has made some laudable progress and seems to be headed the right direction.
“I have seen indications the Government is on the cusp of a new understanding of these issues, with clear signs that some positive changes may be underway. Last week the country's second National Human Rights Action Plan was launched, including plans to train police forces, prison officials, lawyers, judges and justice personnel in human rights and due process guarantees.”
He also made reference to the current drafting of new guidelines on the permissible use of force by security personnel, and noted that “major restrictions have been lifted in the context of the continuing state of emergency, and there are indications that all remaining restrictions could be brought to a close at the end of July, when the current extension of the decree of emergency will end.”
Over 26,000 arrests were allegedly made during the 2015 and 2016 unrests in Ethiopia. Two separate investigations into the uprisings and responses by security forces were conducted by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. The High Commissioner stated, however, that the findings of the investigations cannot be corroborated or confirmed by his office because “my staff has not received permission to travel to the affected regions in order to ascertain the facts of these events for ourselves.”
During his visit to Ethiopia, the UN official also met with the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), the AUC Commissioner for Peace and Security, AUC Commissioner for Political Affairs, and other key policy-makers. Mr. Hussein described his visit to the African Union as “a significant opportunity for me to discuss human rights priorities with the AU at the highest levels, as the new leadership develops its vision and frameworks for impact across the continent.”
Distributed by APO on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
South African Sculptor Maureen Quin to Exhibit in Germany and Sweden:
South African sculptor Maureen Quin, who was awarded the 2016 Medal of Honour for Visual Art from the South African Academy of Science and Culture, was the guest of honour at the Mission's Freedom Day celebration in Berlin. On the initiative of Ulrich Reimann's Rainbow Agency and supported by DB Schenker, she is now touring Germany and Sweden with her visually impressive sculptures series named “The Hunt”.
“The Hunt” is a series of 14 sculptures which Maureen developed between 1991 and 1999 and which made it as cover story into the highly distingished art magazine “Goya” in 2001. It is the first time “The Hunt” is exhibited in Germany.
“I have tried to express the horror I feel for man's inhumanity to his fellow man, compounded with the wanton destruction of our environment in the name of development, greed, power and self gratification” says the 83-year old artist who will be present at the different stations of the tour.
The exhibition opened at Glücks-Galerie in Neustadt/Holstein on Thursday 4 May and can be visited until 28 May before leaving for the Glemme Art Centre in Helsingborg (3 June to 10 July).
Distributed by APO on behalf of South African Embassy to the Federal Republic of Germany.
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
USAID Promotes Investment in Ghanaian Agriculture:
On May 4, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the U.S. government’s Feed the Future Initiative, hosted the 4th Annual Ghana Agribusiness Investment Summit to showcase investment opportunities in Ghana’s agribusinesses. The event brought together business service providers, financial institutions, agribusinesses, farmers, development partners and the Ghanaian government under the theme “Mobilizing strategic investment for agriculture.” At the summit, the Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Honorable George Oduro, and U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Melinda Tabler-Stone stressed the importance of leveraging financial opportunities for Ghanaian agribusinesses.
The aim of the event is to spotlight Ghanaian agribusinesses and link them with viable private investment opportunities. The event featured panel discussions on opportunities in the agriculture sector, the importance of forming strategic partnerships to enhance agricultural productivity, risk-sharing agricultural lending, and alternative sources of financing for agribusiness. The summit offered participants business-to-business sessions where they were given the opportunity to network and forge partnerships.
“Today’s summit is a call to action,” remarked Chargé d'Affaires Tabler-Stone. “It is a call for private, public, and development partners to re-strategize and increase investment in agriculture, so that we can achieve sustainable and broadly shared economic growth. Let me assure you that the U.S. government is committed to working with the Ghanaian government and our partners to boost economic growth and reduce poverty.”
This annual event was organized by Feed the Future with support from USAID. In Ghana, Feed the Future has mobilized more than $ 115 in private sector investment for Ghana’s agriculture sector and works to improve agricultural productivity, boost incomes, and link farmers to market and trade opportunities.
Distributed by APO on behalf of Embassy of the United States – Accra – Ghana.
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
