APO News from Africa:
A group of United Nations human rights experts today welcomed the release of 82 Chibok girls from Boko Haram captivity, and called on the Government of Nigeria and the international community to take all necessary steps to ensure the timely release of those under Boko Haram captivity and to provide support to the girls to ensure their rehabilitation and reintegration in full respect of their human rights.
“This is a significant step forward and we commend the Nigerian Government and all those involved in the release of the girls. We hope these girls will be soon reunited with their loved ones,” said the United Nations Special Rapporteurs on the sale of children, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, on slavery, Urmila Bhoola, and on the right to health, Dainius Pûras, who visited* Nigeria in 2016.
“However we must not forget about all the other children and other victims, who continue to live in captivity under Boko Haram control,” the experts said.
Recalling that over three years after the violent raid in the village of Chibok, 115 of the 276 students abducted are still missing, the experts remain deeply concerned about the plight of the girls still in captivity and their families.
“Ensuring the release all those captured is urgent and we cannot allow for anyone to be forgotten,” stressed the experts. In that regard, the Special Rapporteurs urged the Nigerian Government to swiftly take all necessary measures to locate them and ensure their safe return.
Following the release of the latest 82 girls, the human rights experts also re-iterated calls made after 21 girls were freed in October 2016 for all Nigerians to stand strong to support those released. “Release is just a first step in the long journey of recovery and rehabilitation,” the experts underscored.
“The Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders must ensure that the services these girls need, including psycho-social and other health services and information on livelihood opportunities, as well as access to remedies, are available” they noted.
“Moreover,” the United Nations Special Rapporteurs stressed, “Nigeria must hold the perpetrators accountable, while respecting international human rights norms and standards.”
Distributed by APO on behalf of United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
JHB Chamber Signs MoU with Chinese Trade Council:
The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance liaison and cooperation in the fields of export, import, investment, business information and other commerce-orientated activities for the benefit of members of both organisations. The MoU was signed at the SA-China Zhejiang Trade and Investment Symposium that took place in Sandton, yesterday.
The main objective of the symposium was to bring together South African businesspeople and their counterparts from China, with the aim of establishing long-lasting and mutually beneficial trade and investment relations. The symposium was also another platform to strengthen bilateral trade relations China.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Director of Investment Promotions at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), Ambassador Sadick Jaffer said the MoU would ensure that concrete relations were cemented and business opportunities would be explored in different sectors identified in the MoU.
“Our engagements through platforms of this nature also reflect our common determination to take our economic relations to greater heights. There are also great opportunities for South African and Chinese businesspeople to explore cooperation in infrastructure construction projects such as roads, railways, ports, power generation, airports and housing,” said Ambassador Jaffer.
He further said the cooperation and collaborations between businesspeople from both China and South Africa were encouraged in order to deepen trade relations.
Speaking at the same event, the Vice Chairman of Standing Committee of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress, Mr Wang Huizhong, said the MoU would provide good opportunities to businesspeople in both China and South Africa.
He urged businesspeople to take advantage of the opportunities provided in the MoU and collaborate or form joint-ventures to explore them.
Distributed by APO on behalf of The Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa.
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
