Americas

In the findings, the Committee found that, by being prevented from passing their indigenous status onto new generations, J.E.M. – a matrilineal indigenous descendant from a long line of leaders of the Capilano Community – and his children, were victims of violations rooted in the discriminatory nature of Canada’s Indian Act, the primary law used to administer indigenous peoples. Losing his ethnicity The committee cited the case of J.E.M., whose grandmother was a member of the indigenous Squamish Nation in British Colombia. She was forcibly taken from her community and placed in a residential school to assimilate her and other indigenous children into Euro-Western culture. His grandmother was made to learn English and practice Christianity, and later married a non-indigenous man, which, according to the Indian Act, meant that she was no longer indigenous. “The entire issue stems from the disrespect of indigenous people’s fundamental right to self-identification,” said Committee member Corinne Dettmeijer. Piecemeal exceptions Under the Act, the “status Indian” registered with the federal Government, is a condition for gaining access to rights and benefits, such as health-care services, financial support for education, the rights to reside on indigenous territories and hunt and fish on indigenous traditional lands. Prior to 1985, the Indian Act contained explicitly discriminatory provisions against women, including taking away their status if they marry non-indigenous men. Since then, despite numerous legal challenges, Canada has only amended the discriminatory provisions with piecemeal changes rather than ending the discrimination entirely. As J.E.M. is a disenfranchised matrilineal indigenous descendant, he was denied his indigenous identity until 2011, when he could only recover limited status. And it was not until 2019 that J.E.M.’s children were recognized as indigenous. However, under the Indian Act, they will not have the right to freely pass their indigenous status on to the next generation. CEDAW found that by being prevented from passing their indigenous status on to new generations, JEM and his children were victims of violations “It is further exacerbated by the unequal criteria by which men and women are permitted to transmit indigenous status and identity to their descendants,” Ms. Dettmeijer asserted. Legislation need amending After multiple failed attempts to challenge the Indian Act in Canada, J.E.M brought his petition to CEDAW, which declared provisions of the Indian Act discriminatory to the descendants of disenfranchised indigenous women. “Descendants of indigenous Indian grandfathers would never have lost their status and have always been able to pass on their status to their children,” Ms. Dettmeijer pointed out. The Committee recommended that Canada provide appropriate reparation to J.E.M. and his children, including recognizing them as indigenous people with full legal capacity, and allowing them to freely transmit their indigenous status and identity to their descendants. It also called on Canada to amend its legislation to enshrine the fundamental criterion of self-identification, and to provide registration to all matrilineal descendants on an equal basis to patrilineal descendants. Source: Continue reading...

Women living in Amazon River communities now have increased access to breast cancer screening along even its most remote banks, thanks to two new mammography units installed on Brazilian navy ships. Procured by the UN-backed International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the mammography units will triple the current capacity for such tests in the remote region. One of the ships, Soares de Meirelles, already started delivering services along the vital South American waterway, and will soon be joined by the second vessel, the Carlos Chagas. Importance of screening In Brazil, breast cancer represents almost 30 per cent of all types of cancer with approximately 40 per cent of patients only diagnosed in the advanced stages of the disease. Screening is used to detect cancers at an early stage when they can be treated most effectively. The first stage in the screening involves an X ray (mammogram). With the two new units, each ship is able to perform up to a thousand such screenings per year. In a statement, IAEA Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, stressed the importance of screening to step up the global fight against cancer. “Thanks to this unique partnership, timely and effective breast cancer services can now be delivered also to these remote areas in Brazil,” he said. Planned trips In 2022, the two ships will carry out eight journeys of up to 45 days each. They will travel from the Amazon River delta to the borders of Colombia, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, whose communities could also benefit from such services. Due to their design, navy ships can navigate along the narrow and shallow waters to bring much-needed healthcare directly to women living by the river’s banks.  Women in the Amazon River region could previously only access mammography services by travelling to the nearest health facility – sometimes gruelling trips lasting several days. As an example, women in the city of Tabatinga, near the border with Peru and Colombia, had to travel 1,600 km, over seven days, to receive such screening services at the healthcare centre in Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas.  Expansion up river A mammography machine on board the Brazilian navy ship Carlos Chagas., by Navy Nuclear Development Directo The two mammography units were procured and installed on the ships in 2021 through the IAEA Technical Cooperation programme. The Agency also provided funds for training of personnel operating the equipment. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Soares de Meirelles succeeded in performing around 300 mammograms in 10 cities in October 2021. Delivering cancer screening services to one of the most remote areas in the world is an example of the IAEA’s assistance in increasing access to cancer care globally. Rays of hope Last week, the agency announced a new initiative, called Rays of Hope, to support Member States with diagnosis and treatment using a range of radiation technologies, beginning with African countries most in need. The IAEA supports countries in establishing radiotherapy services and in integrating these into comprehensive national cancer control plans. It also offers training for nuclear and radiation medicine personnel, technical advisory services, and assists in the financing and procurement of equipment. Source: Continue reading...

A young Haitian man is rebuilding his life, with the support of the UN, after being held in detention for three years, from the age of 15, when he was wrongfully accused of stealing from a local shopkeeper. Many others, like him, spend a prolonged period of time behind bars, before their case comes to trial. Renel*, who spent his childhood in the coastal city of Les Cayes in southern Haiti grew up alongside friends playing hide-and-seek and marbles, swimming in the river flowing near his mother’s house, or racing his friends downhill from the yellow-walled grocery store in his street. But his life was upended when he was accused of theft and incarcerated in a prison in Les Cayes. “One day when I was 15, I decided to visit my city’s festival after school to have some fun with my friends. Once there, a local shopkeeper, whom I knew by sight, suddenly arrived, looking angry, and started yelling at me,” says Renel. “Someone had stolen two ducks from him and he thought I was the thief. I tried to explain it was a misunderstanding, but he slapped me in the face, leaving me completely stunned. The next thing I remember is that he dragged me to Les Cayes police station by the wrist.” After the police heard the man’s theft allegations against Renel, he severely beat the teenager and made him wait alone in the guardhouse for hours without further explanation. He was later transferred to a cell. UNDP/Ruvens Ely Boyer Renel, freed from detention, walks around his neighborhood in Les Cayes, Haiti. “The door slammed behind me filling me with terror. I was locked behind bars in a cramped cell full of people,” says Renel. It was the beginning of three years of being detained without a trial. Arbitrary pretrial detention Renel is a victim of what the United Nations calls excessive and arbitrary pretrial detention. It is considered an overlooked form of human rights abuse that affects millions of people around the world. It causes and deepens poverty, stunting economic development and undermines the rule of law. Pre-trial detention remains an enormous challenge for prison systems around the world and is one of the main causes of over-incarceration and overcrowding. In Haiti, prolonged pre-trial detention is common. According to a report from the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) in June 2021, 82 per cent of the approximately 11,000 people, including children, detained in the Caribbean country fell into this category. Vulnerable populations find it particularly difficult to access justice. UNDP Haiti/Ruvens Ely Boyer Les Cayes prison in Haiti. No legal defence After three years of detention without a trail, Renel’s case was taken up by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). “It was easy to see the seriousness of Renel’s case. He had been jailed as a child for a minor offence and was about to spend his youth behind bars without anyone taking charge of his legal defence,” says UNDP Evaluation officer Wegbert Chery. “I knew from experience that extended pretrial detention existed in Haiti, but he was so incredibly vulnerable to the imperfections in the system that I immediately decided to bring the matter to the attention of the Legal Aid Office.” BINUH An inmate at a prison in Les Cayes in Haiti. Strengthening the legal system The Legal Aid Office (known as BAL) is an initiative of UNDP, BINUH and the Haitian Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Launched in May 2021, it aims to improve access to justice for people in vulnerable situations and with limited resources. Implemented by UNDP, UN Women, and the UN’s Children Fund, UNICEF, BAL focuses on reducing the length of detention of suspects in police stations and detention centers as well as decongesting the courts and protecting and preserving the rights of victims and witnesses. Crucially, it seeks to limit the excessive use of custodial measures. In 2021, UNDP in partnership with BAL in Les, Cayes worked on the cases of 121 people (112 men and 9 women); sixty-seven regained their freedom. Renel was one of the fortunate ones; he was released from custody several months after UNDP’s intervention and now is readapting to his former life “After three years of prison, I realized I had forgotten the way to my mother’s house,” he says. “Kids should be in school, not in jail.” His life is better now, but he still may face social ostracism because of the stigma of being in jail, even if he was never found guilty of a crime. *Renel is a fictional name to protect the privacy of the individual Supporting justice UNDP in Latin America is supporting countries by providing technical support to justice systems. This includes conducting rapid institutional assessments, prison censuses and prison population profiles as well as advancing digitization and innovation processes in the penitentiary sector. Reintegration and re-socialization initiatives focus on youth and women, and training courses are provided for civil servants in conjunction with the prison academies. Source: Continue reading...

And in the crucial area of vaccination, although the Americas now have some of the highest COVID-19 vaccination coverage rates on the planet, it’s also “the most unequal region in the world” when it comes to shots, said Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Last week, there were seven million new COVID cases and more than 34,000 COVID-related deaths”, she told the regular weekly media briefing. “However, the rise in infections seems to be slowing down in places hit earliest by the Omicron variant”. North America recorded more than four million new infections, accounting for most of the latest cases, as surges continue across Central and South America, where Chile and Brazil have posted record numbers of daily cases. Moreover, deaths have risen for the fourth consecutive week in all subregions, showing a nearly 33 per cent growth over the previous week. In the Caribbean, deaths have more than doubled in Cuba, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda, while other islands, like Martinique and Guadeloupe, are seeing COVID spread rapidly among young and unvaccinated people. “These trends show that we must continue to sustain every part of our COVID response”, said Dr. Etienne. “Vaccinations, testing, and continuing public health measures like mask wearing and social distancing remain crucial”. Unequal vaccine coverage Crediting the hard-fought efforts of countries throughout the Americas and generous support of donors, she said that 63 per cent of people across Latin America and the Caribbean have now been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. However, while the region has some of the world’s highest COVID-19 vaccination coverage, Dr. Etienne pointed out that “despite our progress”, vaccination remains highly uneven across Latin America and the Caribbean. It is “a worrisome sign” that more than one in four people across the Americas “have yet to receive a single dose of protection”, she said. Data ‘blind spots’ While 14 States and territories have fully immunized 70 per cent of their populations, the same number have yet to protect even 40 per cent of theirs. And more than 54 per cent of people in low and middle-income countries have yet to receive a single COVID-19 vaccine. “We also have serious blind spots because we can’t see detailed vaccination data”, she continued, encouraging countries to collect and report data coverage by age, sex and by risk group, where possible. “Without these numbers, we won’t know what proportion of high-risk groups, like the elderly, pregnant women, or health workers, have been protected”. As data is crucial to designing targeted vaccination campaigns, maximizing the impact of vaccine doses, and saving live, without it, there are some worrisome gaps. Vaccines for all Fortunately, with donations totalling some 26 million doses, vaccine supplies are expected to pick up this year. PAHO’s Revolving Fund, which has delivered almost 100 million doses, is on track to obtain 200 million vaccines this year, thanks to the Fund’s agreements with manufacturers. Due to a rapid scale up in purchases, donations, and COVAX deliveries, countries will have enough stock to implement mass rollouts and offer vaccines to those as yet unprotected. As the doses arrive, countries are urged to collect and report stratified vaccine data; re-analyze the data to better understand gaps; prioritize high-risk groups; and refocus efforts to protect health workers, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly. “If they don’t, they will continue to experience outbreaks, their hospitals will remain overstretched, limiting care for other conditions, and too many people will continue to die from this virus”, warned the top PAHO official. Keep children in school “Healthy children and adolescents should be the last to receive COVID-19 vaccine doses since they’re at lowest risk for severe disease”, said Dr Etienne, encouraging schools to remain open to “protect the wellbeing of our children”. “Childhood vaccination is not a prerequisite for safe school reopening”, she added. PAHO also underscored the need for countries to invest in their vaccination programmes by bolstering their cold chain capacities; hiring and training health workers to deliver the vaccines; and developing plans to inoculate in hard-to-reach areas. “Now is the time to strengthen vaccination campaigns, organize vaccination drives and empower key groups like health workers and religious leaders to become vaccine advocates”, said the PAHO chief. Leading by example Reminding that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to protect everyone from the coronavirus, Dr. Etienne sent a special message to the millions of unvaccinated adults in the Caribbean: “I am a medical doctor, wife, mother, and grandmother. I couldn’t wait to get my vaccination; I was so anxious for myself and my 95-year-old mother. I can’t begin to tell you the relief I felt when I, my mother, my husband, and my children were vaccinated, because I trust in science and appreciate life”. Although we cannot get back the time we’ve lost to this pandemic, we can control how the future will go. “So, please don’t delay, get vaccinated today”, she stressed. WHO/PAHO/Nadege Mazars A vaccination team goes door-to-door in a working class neighbourhood of Puerto Inirida, Colombia, to offer COVID-19 vaccinations.

More than eight million new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Americas last week, the highest weekly caseload since the start of the pandemic, the head of the regional office of the World Health Organization (WHO) told journalists on Wednesday. Cases increased by 32 per cent over the previous week, while 18,000 new deaths occurred across the region, representing a 37 per cent relative increase during this period. “As COVID cases are spreading more actively – and more quickly – than ever before, it’s clear that Omicron has become the predominant SARS COV2 strain in our region at the moment,” said Dr. Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). USA tops new infections The United States continues to have the highest number of new infections, although cases declined by nearly one million last week. On the other hand, many states in southern Mexico have seen new infections triple. In Central America, weekly fatalities were up 107 per cent, with Belize reporting the highest rates of new infections, while cases are accelerating in Honduras and Costa Rica. In South America, COVID-19 cases are doubling nearly every two days in Paraguay and some of the Guianas region. Infections are especially high in Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. Nearly 800,000 cases were reported in Argentina, while neighbouring Brazil had 477,000 cases, a 193 per cent increase over the previous week. Localized data critical Caribbean countries Haiti and Martinique continue to report significant surges. Their vaccination coverages are among the lowest in the region. Dr. Etienne highlighted the critical need for countries to continue to collect data, and particularly localized data, to better understand how the virus is progressing. “Now more than ever, we need data about how this virus is affecting different ages, genders, groups, and geographies, so we can equip local municipalities and districts with the tools they need to manage risk and guide their populations during this time,” she said. Vaccines for children Addressing child vaccinations, Dr. Etienne stressed that governments should first ensure that groups at greatest risk of COVID-19, such as the elderly and health workers, remain a priority. However, she reported that 12 countries and territories in the region have already reached the WHO target of 70 per cent vaccination coverage. These countries should consider the benefits of vaccinating children to further reduce virus spread. “Many countries have already authorized and are safely administering COVID vaccines to adolescents,” said Dr. Etienne. “And last week, the WHO’s expert group on immunization authorized Pfizer’s COVID vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 12, offering a roadmap for countries that may be ready to roll out COVID vaccines for them.” Measles, other diseases, resurface However, COVID-19 is not the only health threat to youngsters in the region. Dr. Etienne said millions have missed out on routine inoculations due to the pandemic, which is putting two decades of progress on immunization at risk. As a result, some countries are now seeing outbreaks of diseases that had been under control for years. Brazil is currently battling a measles outbreak, while Haiti and the Dominican Republic face off against ongoing diphtheria transmission. Safe at school As the region continues to confront its worst educational crisis, with millions of students yet to return to school, Dr. Etienne underscored the importance of ensuring their safe return. Students in countries in the Southern Hemisphere are now back in the classroom just as their northern counterparts enter the flu season. “By promoting mask wearing and social distancing and ensuring adequate ventilation, countries can safely reopen schools. High vaccination rates among children are not a prerequisite for school reopening,” she said.

COVID-19 cases continue to accelerate in the Americas amid increased demand for testing, the head of the regional office of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday. Dr. Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), highlighted the critical need for countries to scale-up testing and, in particular, to leverage “smart” use of rapid antigen tests. Over the past week, COVID-19 cases in the region reached new peaks, with nearly 7.2 million new infections and more than 15,000 deaths. “Although Omicron infections appear to be milder, we continue to urge caution because the virus is spreading more actively than ever before,” she said. Regional overview COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to surge in North America, the United States and Canada. Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras saw their caseloads more than double over the past week, representing the highest numbers of new cases in Central America. Caribbean islands are also witnessing the steepest increase in infections in the nearly three years since the pandemic was declared. Cases in Martinique have risen by more than 600 per cent, while Saint Martin has reported a more than 135 per cent increase. Caseloads in more than 17 countries and territories have at least doubled, which she said is especially concerning as hospital capacity in many islands is limited. Infections also are accelerating in Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia, while hospitalizations are growing in Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. ‘Use tests smartly’ As the virus surges, countries are confronting what Dr. Etienne called the “familiar challenge” of testing. Despite a strong network of laboratories across the Americas, demand for testing is higher than ever, especially as many countries are also experiencing an active flu season, “so it’s critical that countries use tests smartly,” she said. PAHO has recommended that the best way to boost testing is to leverage rapid antigen tests, which provide a diagnosis in minutes. These tests do not require specialized training or expensive equipment, and can be deployed to primary health centres, meaning more people can be reached. Dr. Etienne urged countries to expand testing at the community level to relieve pressure on overburdened hospitals. “Because we are facing a testing shortage, PAHO recommends that countries prioritize rapid antigen tests for individuals who are experiencing COVID symptoms and are at risk of spreading the virus,” she said. Support to countries PAHO continues to support regional countries during the pandemic. Through its Strategic Fund, more than 42 million PCR diagnostic tests and rapid antigen tests for nearly 40 countries have been acquired since the start of the crisis, more than two years ago. More than 12 million tests have been deployed to countries in need, with stocks sent to Bolivia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as St. Kitts and Nevis, in recent weeks. The health agency has also established agreements with two of the WHO-approved manufacturers of COVID-19 diagnostic tests, to secure them at reduced cost. Dr. Etienne urged governments to take advantage of this arrangement by purchasing diagnostic tests through the PAHO Strategic Fund. Since January of 2021, the Fund has purchased more than 22 million COVID tests on behalf of regional countries, and orders are expected to increase this year.

For several years, the number of people transiting through Mexico, many hoping for a better life in the USA, has continued to grow. The UN team in the country, in close collaboration with the Mexican authorities, is working to ensure that they receive essential, and often life-saving, assistance. When life in her country became too dangerous, Natalia* took her children and fled. She managed to cross into Mexico via the southern border, but once she arrived in the country, she had no means of providing for herself and her family. Her story is similar to those of many other desperate people who head to Mexico, increasingly seen as a country of transit and asylum: In 2014, 2,100 people arrived in the country to request refugee status; five years later, in 2019, that had risen to more than 70,000. The figures dropped in 2020, as travel restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic slowed global migration but, between January and November 2021, the country received more than 123,000 asylum requests from people coming from Caribbean, Central American and South American countries (Haiti, Honduras, Cuba, El Salvador, Chile, Venezuela, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Brazil and Colombia). Natalia and her children are now being supported by the UN refugee agency, (UNHCR), which has found them a safe place to live, and psychological aid. Many others in a similar situation are being supported with life-saving information and other kinds of assistance at the shelters and institutions that work together with UN agencies in Mexico. UNIC Mexico/ Luis Arroyo UNHCR staff assist a migrant at the Olympic Stadium in Tapachula, Chiapas, in November 2021. A build up on the border As of July 2021, 70 per cent of asylum requests were concentrated in the border town of Chiapas, which receives daily flights of people expelled from the United States under Title 42 legislation (a public health order issued in March 2020 by the Trump administration, which justifies the expulsions on the grounds that there is a communicable disease, namely COVID-19, in the migrant’s country of origin). Here, the close coordination of the UN agencies with the Mexican authorities is an important element in ensuring that people on the move are able to integrate well with the local host communities, and that they are able to prevent discrimination, xenophobia, and other forms of rejection. *Not her real name The UN System in Mexico For UN Resident Coordinator Peter Grohmann (the senior UN official in Mexico), there is a focus on guaranteeing the rights of children and adolescents who travel unaccompanied through Mexico, The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is liaising with the Mexican State to allow people on the move to access services that otherwise would not be available to them, such as food, shelter, education and health, and protect their human and legal rights, The UN migration agency (IOM) is providing assistance and reliable information to the migrant population, The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is helping to ensure that asylum applications are received and processed fairly, efficiently and quickly. UNHCR is also implementing humanitarian assistance programs, and helping to relocate refugees to other places in the country.

The funding, announced on Thursday, will support the UN agency’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme, part of its broader One Health programme . The initiative helps safeguard human, animal, plant and environmental health throughout the food chain, from production to consumption and waste management. FAO joins with partners the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), forming a tripartite on the One Health approach, and expands its collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to mainstream and support implementation globally. Strenghthening national response The US contribution will specifically be used to strengthen national and international One Health systems through enhanced multi-sectoral early warning, risk assessment and risk reduction, and progressive management of emerging and endemic high impact animal and plant pests and diseases, including those with epidemic and pandemic potential. “We thank the Government of the United States of America for its generous support to FAO’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Program and One Health Tripartite risk assessments at national levels,” said FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu. “A science-based One Health approach across agrifood systems is critical for early warning and prevention of zoonotic diseases.” The US funding will benefit countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Near East. Americas: COVID-19 cases surpass 100 million The announcment comes as COVID-19 cases in the Americas surpassed 100 million, while the Omicron variant has been reported in nearly 20 countries and territories, according to the regional office for the World Health Organization (WHO). The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said cases continue to rise in North America, with the United States driving a 36 per cent increase in the past week, while parts of Central and South America showed declines. PAHO/Karen González Abril An indigenous woman and her child in Nariño in Colombia. In Latin America, indigenous peoples are among the poorest. ‘Downward trend’ in Central America South America experienced an overall case drop of 10.7 per cent, and a 6.3 per cent decrease in deaths, latest epidemiological data revealed. Bolivia reported a sharp increase, and Argentina and Ecuador also saw cases rise. PAHO said Central American countries continued to see a “downward trend”, with a 10.8 per cent drop in cases. Analysis showed that in the Caribbean, cases rose by 16 per cent. Trinidad and Tobago continued to report an increase. Although Barbados and the Cayman Islands have reported large numbers of cases, these are now decreasing. Keep up health measures The Omicron variant has now been reported in 19 countries and territories, accounting for an estimated 73 per cent of virus sequences over the past week. PAHO continues to recommend vaccination and other public health measures to reduce coronavirus spread, such as wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, frequent hand washing and avoiding crowded spaces, especially indoors. “These measures are effective against all variants, including Omicron”, Director Carissa F. Etienne said recently. “Countries should sustain their public health measures to limit transmission of the virus and adjust them according to local transmission risks”. Meeting vaccine target More than 868 million vaccine doses have been administered in Latin America and the Caribbean, where nearly 58 per cent of the population has completed inoculations. PAHO has projected that most countries across the region will have reached, or surpassed, the WHO target of vaccinating 40 per cent of their populations by the end of the year. However, current estimates show Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Guatemala, Saint Lucia, and Grenada, could miss the goal. Meanwhile, some 33 countries have received vaccines through the COVAX solidarity mechanism. So far, the total is 75 million, including 25 million donated doses. The logistics for these deliveries was handled through PAHO’s Revolving Fund for Access to Vaccines, which has served the region for more than 40 years. The Fund is also working with countries to purchase COVID-19 vaccines directly from manufacturers. Brought to you by: Carlo Schaaij (Sky) Chief Technology Officer View Carlo's LinkedIn

In response to the critical needs of a growing number of Venezuelans arriving by foot to Chile’s northern border, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said on Thursday that it is stepping up its presence and assistance in the South American country. “Children, adolescents, pregnant women and the elderly often need urgent medical support after several days traveling on foot”, said Rebeca Cenalmor-Rejas, Head of UNHCR’s National Office in Chile. An arduous journey Since November, local authorities have reported that between 400 and 500 refugees and migrants from Venezuela have been crossing the border every day from Bolivia into Chile. “All of them hope to find safety and stability in Chile”, said Ms. Cenalmor-Rejas. They are driven by the economic impact of COVID-19, which has left many destitute, and are hoping to reunite with family members. Most Venezuelans use irregular routes, braving the remote Atacama Desert, where dangers include sexual exploitation and abuse by criminal groups. They journey by foot, lacking the appropriate clothing for the extreme weather conditions of the desert’s long, very hot days and night temperatures that drop to -20 degrees C. Many arrive hungry and in ill health, suffering from malnutrition, dehydration, hypothermia and altitude sickness. Moreover, the new arrivals often lack proper shelter and are forced to sleep out in the open. Since the beginning of the year, some 21 people have lost their lives at Chile’s northern border. Providing assistance Without proper documentation, those on the move cannot find regular jobs and, without resources, face difficulties in continuing their journey from border areas to other cities. “UNHCR is strengthening its response at the northern border to support national, regional and local authorities in guaranteeing safe access and improving reception conditions”, said Ms. Cenalmor-Rejas. Coordinating with the authorities and shored up by partners, UNHCR is providing information and legal counselling to the newly arrived Venezuelans, along with food, cash assistance, fuel vouchers, medical care, emergency shelter, and basic relief items – such as blankets and winter clothes. International support ‘crucial’ Since the beginning of the year, UNHCR has assisted 20,000 refugees and migrants from Venezuela in the northern regions of Chile. And it is increasing its staffing and partners at the northern border, aiming to reach more of the vulnerable refugees. To assist in controlling COVID-19, the UN refugee agency is also working with local and national authorities to set up a centre in the town of Iquique, where new arrivals will undergo the required quarantine in safe and dignified conditions. In parallel, anticipating that Venezuelans will start looking for opportunities in other parts of the country, during 2021, UNHCR strengthened its collaboration with five partners to distribute assistance in cities in southern Chile. “UNHCR, as part of the inter-agency response, is committed to offering relief to those in need and the communities welcoming them”, said Ms. Cenalmor-Rejas. “However, timely support by the international community is crucial for us to continue expanding our programmes”. Venezuelan migrants Chile is currently home to an estimated 448,100 refugees and migrants from Venezuela, not counting the thousands who have entered the country through irregular border crossings. In 2022, UNHCR will need a total of $20.3 million to ensure adequate humanitarian assistance and support Venezuelan communities to become self-reliant across the country. Brought to you by: Carlo Schaaij (Sky) Chief Technology Officer View Carlo's LinkedIn

Five years after an historic Peace Agreement was reached in Colombia, the process continues to show the benefits of ending the conflict through negotiation and keeping victims at the heart of the discussion moving forward. That was the main message from the Special Representative and head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, delivered to ambassadors at the Security Council on Thursday. For him, the first former conflict zone fully cleared of landmines, and the extension of the Truth Commission, are examples of this success. Mr. Massieu was briefing the Council on the Secretary-General’s Quarterly Report about the situation in the Latin American nation. “As the Secretary-General has said, this is an opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved as well on what we are missing, and renew the commitments to persevere, day by day, to consolidate peace”, he said. Work in progress For the Special Representative, accomplishing those goals will depend, to a large extent, on the capacity of all parties to fulfil the commitments they made five years ago. Mr. Massieu highlighted the leadership capabilities of ex-combatant women and female social leaders, saying their “full participation and the application of a gender approach, is a necessary condition for the consolidation of peace.” Despite these advancements, the Special Representative expressed concern that some of the main priorities are the ones in greatest jeopardy. Noting that Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities are the most affected, he argued that “this requires urgent and simultaneous implementation of all the security guarantees provided in the peace agreement.” Addressing the need to develop alternatives to illicit economies, he said “the long-term success of initial investments is contingent upon the Agreement’s promise of reshaping rural Colombia.” For him, this only happens “by creating sustainable development opportunities, State services and institutions for communities whose expectations remain unfulfilled.” Mr. Massieu concluded saying that, during these five years, the world has “seen the tenacity of the Colombian society to complete its transition to peace.” “As we embark on a key stage in the consolidation of the process, I thank the Council for its confidence, an essential source of support for Colombia”, he added. Violence In the report, the Secretary-General underscores some “daunting challenges and risk factors” the country still faces, namely continuing violence in several regions. In the period covered by the report, 26 June to 24 September 2021, the UN registered the killings of 14 FARC-EP former combatants (all men), bringing the total to 292 (nine women) since the signing of the Agreement. In addition, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights received information on the killings of 43 human rights defenders, for a total of 158 killed in 2021. Furthermore, 11 massacres were documented, accounting for some 38 fatalities.

Paraguay’s failure to prevent the toxic contamination of indigenous people’s traditional lands by commercial farming violates their rights and their sense of “home”, the UN Human Rights Committee said in a landmark ruling on Wednesday. The Committee, which is made up of 18 independent experts from across the world, monitors countries’ adherence to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Lands represent ‘home’ The decision on Paraguay (in Spanish) marked the first time it has affirmed that for indigenous people, “home” should be understood in the context of their special relationship with their territories, including their livestock, crops and way of life. “For indigenous peoples, their lands represent their home, culture and community. Serious environmental damages have severe impacts on indigenous people’s family life, tradition, identity and even lead to the disappearance of their community. It dramatically harms the existence of the culture of the group as a whole,” said Committee member Hélène Tigroudja. The decision stems from a complaint filed more than a decade ago on behalf of some 201 Ava Guarani people of the Campo Agua’e indigenous community, located in Curuguaty district in eastern Paraguay. The area where they live is surrounded by large commercial farms which produce genetically modified soybeans through fumigation, a process which involves the use of banned pesticides. Traditional life affected Fumigation occurred continuously for more than 10 years and affected the indigenous community’s whole way of life, including killing livestock, contaminating waterways and harming people’s health. The damage also had severe intangible repercussions, according to the UN committee. The disappearance of natural resources needed for hunting, fishing and foraging resulted in the loss of traditional knowledge. For example, ceremonial baptisms no longer take place as necessary materials no longer exist. “By halting such ceremonies, children are denied a rite crucial to strengthening their cultural identity,” the Committee said. “Most alarmingly, the indigenous community structure is being eroded and disintegrated as families are forced to leave their land.” Toxic exposure The indigenous community brought the case to the Human Rights Committee after a lengthy and unsatisfactory administrative and judicial process in Paraguay’s courts. “More than 12 years after the victims filed their criminal complaint regarding the fumigation with toxic agrochemicals, to which they have continued to be exposed throughout this period, the investigations have not progressed in any meaningful way and the State party has not justified the delay,” the Committee said in its decision. Recommendations, reparations Members found Paraguay did not adequately monitor the fumigation and failed to prevent contamination, adding “this failure in its duty to provide protection made it possible for the large-scale, illegal fumigation to continue for many years, destroying all components of the indigenous people’s family life and home.” The Committee recommended that Paraguay complete the criminal and administrative proceedings against all parties responsible and make full reparation to the victims. The authorities are also urged to take all necessary measures, in close consultation with the indigenous community, to repair the environmental damage, and to work to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future.

Still reeling from the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, on 7 July, the country was crippled on 14 August by a deadly 7.2 magnitude earthquake that affected over 800,000 people in its southwestern peninsula. Helen La Lime, Special Representative and head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) said that “long awaited” national and local elections have now been further postponed while “insecurity has become rampant in Port-au-Prince, as kidnappings are once again on the rise and gangs have extended their control over large swaths of the city.” She also noted the recent forced return of thousands of Haitian migrants from the US-Mexico border, many of whom had simply “sought better living conditions in neighbouring countries”. Finding common ground While the country’s seemingly never-ending crises have pushed the resilience of the Haitian people to the brink, there is some good news, said Ms. La Lime. In a positive step towards reviving democratic institutions, politicians from across the spectrum, including former opposition and ruling coalition groups, reached an agreement on 11 September, to form a new Provisional Electoral Council, with a view to holding elections no later than the second half of 2022. And a large national consensus wishes to reform the 1987 Haitian constitution, a charter widely viewed as contributing to the recurrent political and institutional instability. “One can only hope that Haitian political and civil society leaders will continue to work together to find common ground around a common project that will contribute to fostering a more appeased climate in which decisive action can be taken and essential reforms enacted”, said the BINUH chief. Shroud of impunity Meanwhile, security must be re-established, especially in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, as a significant and sudden increase in gang violence has caused the displacement of some 19,000 people from the communes of Cité-Soleil, Croix-des-Bouquets, Delmas and the Port-au-Prince neighbourhood of Martissant. “The control that gangs exercise around strategic entry and exit points of the capital has had a detrimental impact on Haiti’s economy and the movement of people and goods”, said the UN official. However, an over-stretched, under-resourced police force cannot stem the rise in crime without being strengthened and accompanied by Government services to impoverished neighbourhoods. “The Government must implement a more holistic approach to addressing gang violence, within the framework of the national strategy for community violence reduction”, she stated. Although Haitian citizens have unanimously condemned President Moïse’s assassination and called for a thorough investigation, Ms. La Lime flagged that “judicial actors must be allowed to work independently…with reassurance that they will be protected while undertaking the delicate task of identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators”. Humanitarian complexities The August earthquake added another layer of complexity to an already dire humanitarian situation. Amidst ongoing relief operations, the Special Representative said that early recovery and restoring jobs, must be supported in the affected areas. “We must ensure that Haiti does not become a forgotten crisis”, continued the UN official, urging Member States to contribute to the $187.3 million Flash Appeal launched for those affected by the earthquake and the $235.6 million 2021-2022 Humanitarian Response Plan.“It is a race against time to ensure that children can return to school, that farmers do not miss the next planting season, and that people currently living in spontaneous displacement camps return to their homes as quickly as possible”, she said. Ms. La Lime underscored that, “through urgent, determined and concerted action”, Haiti can address its deep structural challenges and governance and development deficits that feed the country’s “instability, insecurity, and ever-growing humanitarian needs”. “Along with the United Nations, the entire international community must continue to steadfastly stand alongside the Haitian people and their Government as they endeavour to forge a path towards stability, security and sustainable development”, she concluded. © UNICEF/Jonathan Crickx Children sit in front of their school, Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours de Latibolière, destroyed during the 14th August earthquake in Haiti. Opening schools Currently, about 70 per cent of all schools in the Southwestern part of the country are still damaged or destroyed, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). “I am shocked to see how many schools are flattened or damaged due to the earthquake,” said Bruno Maes, UNICEF Representative in Haiti. Kicking off a back-to-school campaign, about 300,000 students are gradually starting to resume classes in the three earthquake-stricken departments, because “with or without schools, learning and teaching must continue now”, he added. If classrooms remain closed, UNICEF estimates that more than 230,000 children are at risk of dropping out of school in the Great Southern departments of Haiti. “The longer children wait, the more difficult it will be to get them back to school”, warned Mr. Maes.

The UN Secretary-General on Sunday said he was committed to ensuring that the Organisation is a place where “youth voices are heard, and their ideas lead”, as he spent the day in Barbados which tomorrow hosts a major UN conference on trade and development, focused on the need to build a global green economy and recover equitably from the COVID-19 pandemic. António Guterres arrived in the Caribbean island nation on Saturday and will be addressing the hybrid format UNCTAD15 conference which begins on Monday, under the theme, From inequality and vulnerability, to prosperity for all. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta will be giving the opening remarks virtually, followed in the Barbadian capital Bridgetown, by the event’s host, Prime Minister Mia Mottley, and Secretary-General of UNCTAD, the UN Conference on Trade and Development, Rebeca Grynspan. Recovery, debt focus In his remarks, Mr. Guterres is expected to underscore the challenges of tackling debt distress and the need to mount a sustainable and equitable recovery for all, according to his Deputy Spokesperson, who briefed journalists at UN Headquarters on Friday. “He is also expected to highlight the need to re-ignite the engines of trade and investment, and ensure they benefit the poorest countries, as well as the need to build a global green economy”, said Farhan Haq. Protect the most vulnerable In a tweet on Sunday, after meeting Prime Minister Mottley – who will serve as President of UNCTAD15 – the UN chief reminded that in a powerful speech to the UN General Assembly last week, she had highlighted the importance of investing in protecting the most vulnerable across the world; “a priority for this island nation, and one I’ll continue pushing for”, added Mr. Guterres. The Secretary-General, accompanied by Ms. Mottley, visited an area impaced by sea-level rise, coastal erosion and land slippage, learning about the efforts being made in Barbados to address climate change induced challenges. Mr. Guterres stressed the need to support developing countries with climate finance as “the goal of adaptation is to build resilience to prepare people for the devastating impact of climate change.” He noted that “small island states all around the world cannot do it without much more support”. He again appealed to developed countries and the international financial institutions to provide at least “50% of climate finance to support developing countries to adapt and build resilience to climate change”. He emphasized that this is a key priority for COP26 in Glasgow. Prime Minister Mottley stressed that unless developing countries have access to funds for adaptation, they “will not make it.” She emphasized “that it’s going to be challenging for the global community to reach the limit for climate change of 1.5 degrees”. She highlighted that small island developing states did not cause the climate crisis, yet, they are “asking us to be both the victim and to carry the cost”. This is “fundamentally immoral and unjust”, she added. UN News/Daniela Gross UN Secretary-General António Guterres looks across the Caribbean Sea from the island of Barbados. Along with M. Mottley, the Secretary-General also met what he described on Twitter as “a dynamic group” of young Barbadians, “working on innovative solutions to the world’s great challenges – from climate action, to COVID-19 recovery.” The Secretary-General met also with a group of outstanding young Barbadians working on innovative solutions to the world’s great challenges – from climate action to COVID-19 recovery. Generational failure In a frank exchange, the UN Chief told the youth that his generation has failed in meeting expectations to pass a world in good shape to the next generation. He stressed that this generation “cannot afford to fail”, and it is therefore incumbent upon leaders to support young people in their efforts. Maria Marshall, a 12-year-old climate activist and UNICEF Youth Advocate in Barbados, told the gathering that she sees her “future Barbados as a place where people are fully educated on the issues of climate change and environmentally conscious,” and actively pursues this passion through her social media networks. Environmental Researcher Amina Desai, underlined that “the threat of climate change is an existential threat”. She noted that “the days are becoming unbearably hot, and the ocean that we love and frolic in can easily turn on us to destroy homes and livelihoods.” She added that she hopes “to be able to help build a more resilient Barbados through her climate action.”

Saint Lucia: A near-impossible balancing act Philip Joseph Pierre, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Development and Youth Economy of Saint Lucia, said his nation suffers from serious challenges due to its small size and vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change. While struggling to find solutions for those existing problems, Saint Lucia was hit with COVID-19. “We are now being inundated by the new, while still being overwhelmed by the old,” he stated in his pre-recorded address to the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly. The pandemic forced last year’s debate to be held almost entirely virtually, but the 2021 session is being held in a hybrid format, combining in-person and virtual participation. Mr. Pierre said small island nations like Saint Lucia “continue to contend with the near-impossible balancing act of preserving lives and livelihoods” amid the insidious twists and turns of the coronavirus pandemic. This includes pushing back against misinformation about the virus and what he called “vaccine apartheid” that has seen some countries stockpile vaccines, “while other countries watch helplessly as COVID-related deaths continue to rise for want of a jab.” At the same time, Mr. Pierre said the pandemic “seems to have slowed down everything but the deterioration of our beloved planet earth.” COVID-19 grabs the headlines, “but it is a fact that the pandemic emerged at a time when the world was already on an unsustainable path to achieve the 2030 [Development] Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. With less than a decade left to achieve the 2030 Agenda, the Prime Minister noted that the UN Decade of Action requires urgent solutions towards “salvaging our global living quarters”. “It can be argued that the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate change challenge confront us with an intermeshed problem of symptom as cause and cause as symptom”, he said. “It provides us with a harsh and timely reminder that human health and planetary health are linked”. The cost of meeting these challenges and undertaking health or climate resilience activities, is “way beyond” the financial reach of small islands, he lamented. As such, he appealed for contributions towards recovery efforts and for all nations to pay their commitments to the Adaptation and Mitigation Funds. Full statement here. Bahamas: Raise ambitions at COP26 Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Phillip Edward Davis, also called for equitable distribution of vaccines, including to small island developing States, which are not manufacturers. “It is also important to make safe treatments and therapeutics accessible and to designate them as public goods,” he added. “The COVID-19 pandemic has made abundantly clear what many of us have always known to be true: we are all in this together,” he told the Assembly in his in-person address. “We must collaborate to end the COVID-19 pandemic and address public health issues. We must cooperate to mitigate the effects of climate change. Access to development financing must be adequate and fair. Lagging response on any of these issues will have dire consequences for the global economy,” the Prime Minister said. Even as his country was dealing with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Prime Minister reminded the Assembly that just two years ago this month, the Bahamas had been devastated by Hurricane Dorian, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic, “and the physical and emotional wreckage are still with us.” He lamented his country’s sense of foreboding in the wake of the storm, saying: “Every rainfall is a reminder of the horror. How can we continue to do nothing in the face of such tragedy?” To any leader who still believed there was enough time to address climate change, he said “I invite you to visit Abaco and Grand Bahama,” where the devastation wrought by Dorian is now part of the country’s landscape. “So, we are not here to call for measured steps. We are here to say that big, radical change is the only response that can save our country. We are out of time,” Mr. Davis declared, urging states to raise their ambitions and make real commitments to cut emissions at COP26 in Glasgow. “We don’t want that conference to be like the preceding 25,” he said, calling for states “not to agree to the same promises that won’t be kept.” There must be “real progress on bridging the gaps in investment and access to technology and skills,” especially in the areas of climate mitigation and adaptation, he said, emphasizing the need for more innovative financing and debt solutions, including for climate adaptation swaps. He went on to point out the increasing gap in global financing for meeting the SDGs by 2030, estimated at $2.5 trillion in 2019, and reiterated his country’s support for the inclusion of a multidimensional vulnerability index in the decision-making of international financial institutions and the international donor community. Antigua and Barbuda: Vaccine equity is a global good Like his Bahamian counterpart, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston A. Browne, also concentrated his address on the pandemic and climate change, which he called “the two overarching issues that confront mankind”. Beginning with COVID-19, he echoed others who spoke of the lack of a coherent response to ending the crisis, including vaccine inequity. He stressed that developing countries were not seeking handouts, and many had paid into a global system that promised early access to vaccines, however, “selfish nationalism” forced many to rely on “vaccine charity.” “No country wanted to beg for vaccines…we were ready to pay”, said Prime Minister Browne, yet most jabs manufactured by major pharmaceutical companies were bought or contracted and “hoarded by a few wealthy nations”. If, at the onset of the pandemic, developing countries had been given access to proper COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies, “globally, we would be in a better place”, he asserted. Calling inoculation discrimination, “wrong, unjust, and patently unfair”, Mr. Browne& advocated for equitable vaccine distribution at affordable prices and less expensive COVID testing. “Vaccines are a global good; they should not be a commodity for profit at the expense of human life”, he said. Noting that climate change has already had catastrophic consequences on some small island States, the Prime Minister called for “global solidarity and firm commitments” to reduce global temperatures below 1.5 degrees and provide quality financing and climate technologies “to save our planet”. Pointing out that industrialized countries have an obligation to assist the States most affected by climate change because “they created a problem in the first instance”, Mr. Browne signalled that the development funding assistance for small islands developing States should not be seen as a gift or charity but “as a form of climate reparations to compensate for past climate damage”. Full statement here.

The Prime Minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry, said on Saturday that “human beings, fathers and mothers who have children, are always going to flee poverty and conflict.” “Migration will continue as long as the planet has both wealthy areas, whilst most of the world’s population lives in poverty, even extreme poverty, without any prospects of a better life,” he said in a pre-recorded message. Referring to the situation of Haitian asylum-seekers, he stated that “Over recent days, the images of the treatment reserved for several of my compatriots at the border between Mexico and the United States has shocked many.” “We do not wish to challenge the right of a sovereign State to control the entry borders into its territory, or to send back to the country of origin those who enter a country illegally,” he added. Migration and its causes Mr. Henry was speaking on the 5th day of the high-level week of the General Assembly. After being held virtually last year due the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s gathering features “hybrid” activities that include leaders in person along with virtual participants. Ariel Henry also reminded wealthy nations that their prosperity is in some part due to the efforts of migrants. “We believe that many countries which are prosperous today have been built through successive waves of migrants and refugees,” he said. The Haitian leader also pointed to the 80 million displaced persons worldwide, including 30 million refugees and asylum seekers, and urged leaders to address the root causes of displacement, including the living conditions in places of origin. Natural disasters The Haitian Prime Minister also lauded international solidarity in response to the earthquake that struck the country in August, including the recent visit to the country by UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed. He also pointed to “a series of deadly devastating disasters”, including the 2010 earthquake, hurricane Matthew in 2016, as well as a more recent quake earlier this month. Mr. Henry said the August earthquake devastated the Southern peninsula and resulted in at least 2,207 deaths, 344 still missing, and more than 12,268 people injured, and thousands of homes, hospitals, schools, churches, bridges, and roads destroyed. “Allow me to invite the international community to remain engaged with Haiti to help with the response, not only with the most urgent humanitarian needs, but to accompany the reconstruction process that my government is working on,” he said. Elections as soon as possible He also spoke about internal affairs, saying he desires the “quickest possible path” to fresh elections, despite the wishes of some Haitians for delay. He also said that only a dialogue with political parties and organized civil society actors can lead to a “sufficient consensus to ensure socio-political stability.” For the Prime Minister, the new “political agreement for peaceful and effective governance of the interim period” constitutes an “important step” in the process of restoring the rule of law and democratic institutions. Mr. Henry noted that his “call to govern” came after the assassination of president Jovenel Moïse, back in July, at a time of “intolerable insecurity” that was also marked by declining public institutions. “I reaffirm here, on this tribune, my determination on all measures to find the co-authors, the accomplices and the sponsors of this hideous crime,” he assured. “No one, absolutely no one, no mediatic campaign, no distraction, can deflect me from that goal: [ensue there is justice for] President Moïse.” Read the full statement in French here.

In his address to the high-level debate at the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Marcelo Ebrard, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, reaffirmed his country’s commitment against discrimination and hate speech and called for more solidarity. Mr. Ebrard said that the economic recovery from the crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, has been marked by inequality. “The pandemic has highlighted the need for a strong and effective multilateral system”, he declared, calling for more solidarity between states. “This unprecedented crisis cannot be overcome with unilateral or isolated actions, but rather through renewed cooperation and genuine international solidarity”, Mr. Ebrard underscored. Universal healthcare Speaking on the need to guarantee universal and equitable access to medicines, vaccines against COVID-19 and other medical supplies, Mr. Ebrard said this was an “urgent priority”. Noting that while 33 per cent of the global population in high-income countries has already received at least one dose of the vaccine against COVID-19, only 1.4 per cent of people in low-income countries have had access to a vaccine, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs declared that “we need to promote vaccines being considered as global public goods”. “The discrimination in the recognition of vaccines jeopardizes socioeconomic recovery, and the efficacy of mechanisms such as the COVAX platform”, he told world leaders during his in-person address to the Assembly. The annual gathering is being held in a hybrid format, with in-person and online speeches, after being forced almost entirely online last year because of the pandemic. Migrants’ rights and solidarity In his speech, Mr. Ebrard referred to one of the subjects that deserve more attention in Mexico: migration and went on to highlight Mexican’s long tradition of solidarity with people who need assistance for humanitarian reasons. “This is why we have granted international protection to people from Afghanistan who find themselves in a situation of extreme vulnerability, particularly to women and girls”, he added, and urged all to recognize that migration had benefited all societies at some point in their historic development. Mr. Ebrard reaffirmed that it is a global responsibility to respect and defend the human rights of all persons, regardless of their migratory quality, and called for a safe, orderly and regular migration based on international cooperation. In this sense, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Mexico’s commitment to continue fighting hate speech, discrimination, xenophobia, racism, and other related forms of intolerance and violent extremism, including white supremacy. Debt relief Highlighting Mexico’s support for measures to ensure that least developed countries can benefit from multilateral support mechanisms for debt relief, Mr. Ebrard declared that middle-income countries also need support mechanisms to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. “These countries, where Mexico is included, represent 75 per cent of the global population and are home to 62 per cent of people in situations of poverty”, he stated. In this context, Mr. Ebrard called on international financial institutions, international banking, the private sector and all relevant actors in the field, to promote measures that prevent other countries from incurring in unsustainable levels of debt and managing to direct their scarce resources to the socioeconomic recovery from the crisis. Gender equality Mr. Ebrard went on to reiterate Mexico’s aim to promote a more equitable, fair and equalitarian society, highlighting the feminist foreign policy adopted by Mexico in 2020. He stressed that peace is only possible if women and girls participate actively in its consolidation. Full statement in Spanish here.

As Haiti continues to reel from the “triple tragedy” of natural disasters, gang violence and the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed concern on Thursday that two-thirds of Haitian migrants expelled from the United States border in recent days are women and children – including newborns with “specific and immediate needs”. “When children and families are sent back without adequate protection, they find themselves even more vulnerable to violence, poverty and displacement – factors that drove them to migrate in the first place”, said Executive Director Henrietta Fore. A rocky road Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has been long plagued with poverty, civil unrest, political and economic instability. Last month, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the country, upending lives, destroying markets, roads and irrigation systems. And just days after the seismic event, Tropical Storm Grace amped up the suffering with additional damages. Wanting to secure a better life, thousands of Haitians – many of whom have been living outside their homeland for years – have fled to Mexico with the hope of entering the US. They have been met with a show of force from border agents in Texas, with scenes broadcast around the world of horse-mounted officers violently corralling migrants, evoking tactics widely used in the slave-era South. On Thursday morning, the US special envoy for Haiti, resigned in protest over the deportation of Haitian migrants by plane from the border area, a process which began last weekend, after more than 13,000 migrants had gathered and set up camp, under a bridge. UNICEF urged authorities to “refrain from any use of force at borders, to keep families together, and to properly assess migrants’ protection needs before any decision on return is made”. “Children should never be returned to situations where their basic safety and wellbeing are at risk”, said the UN agency. IFRC Haiti is the one of poorest countries in the world, where many people are forced to live from handouts from humanitarian agencies. Early evaluations Initial assessments in Mexico and Haiti suggest that many of the children under age 10 were either born outside Haiti or lived most of their lives in another country. Zeroing-in on Haitian migrant families camped in the southwest Texas border town of Del Rio, UNICEF estimated that about 40 per cent were children who “live in overcrowded and inadequate conditions and need basic humanitarian support”. News reports said that more than 1,400 Haitians have been returned from the area, since the deportations began. Children must ‘trump all’ Meanwhile UNICEF continues to work for children and families to receive basic assistance, including in Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, where it will help with child protection services and deliver drinking water, hygiene kits, mobile toilets and handwashing stations. In Haiti, the agency is coordinating with national authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to provide the returning children with psychosocial support, protection services and education supplies. But more support is needed to provide these families with the life-saving assistance they need. “The best interests of children must trump all other considerations”, underscored the UNICEF chief.

The President of Colombia on Tuesday warned that many developing countries have increased their fiscal deficit to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, putting at risk their financial capacity to act on other priorities, such as climate change. “Many (countries) have not begun to process the necessary tax reforms to pay emergency expenses, and today they are being evaluated with pre-pandemic criteria by credit rating agencies”, said Ivan Duque, during his speech to the 76th UN General Assembly. The Colombian Head of State called for a consensus on a new financial risk classification led by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and multilateral development banks. “Otherwise, in the short term, given the demand for debt and an increase widespread cost of capital, a debt crisis may be precipitated bringing greater setbacks and global recessive effects”, he said. The challenge for climate action Colombia has made a commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 51 per cent by 2030, and to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, said Mr. Duque. According to the President, the country has already passed legislation to boost energy transition through non-conventional renewable sources. The plan would put Colombia on the path to zero deforestation by 2030, the creation of a circular economy, where consumption does not outstrip production, and protect those parts of the Amazon basin within the country’s borders. Mr. Duque said however, that the limited available public financing following the pandemic, will become an obstacle to meet those goals. “I propose to the world that, for a period of time and with the support of the IMF, we establish a rule in which all climate action spending and investments can be located outside the traditional line of measurement of the fiscal deficit”, he highlighted. He said that his proposed rule, along with other relief measures and forgiveness of multilateral debt, should be applied as soon as possible and without conditions. “Addressing urgent investments cannot get caught up in political debates derived from conflicts over the allocation of resources. The action is [needed] now, immediately, and we cannot postpone it”, Mr. Duque emphasized. IMF/Joaquin Sarmiento People wear face masks in Medellin, Colombia, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The peace agreement Addressing the Peace Agreement which ended decades of civil conflict, the President said that Colombia was making progress in building “Peace with Legality”, his landmark public policy since 2018. “Not even the effects of this cruel COVID-19 pandemic moved us away from the commitment to our country to see the end of narco-terrorist violence”. He added that there has been a significant advancement in the reincorporation process of FARC ex-combatants under his government, observed by the UN Verification Mission. However, he noted that the challenges are still large, due to FARC rebel dissidents, as well as other criminal groups such as ELN that continue to persistently attack “social and environmental human rights defenders”. Full statement in Spanish here.

“We anticipated, from 2060 to 2050, the goal of achieving climate neutrality. Human and financial resources, destined to the strengthening of environmental agencies, were doubled, with a view to eliminating illegal deforestation,” he said. Mr. Bolsonaro was speaking at UN Headquarters at the opening of the high-level week of the General Assembly. After being held virtually last year due the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s gathering will feature “hybrid” activities that will include leaders in person along with virtual participants. Brazil has opened the debate since 1955. An example on environment and climate action For the Brazilian President, the results of this action on climate “have already started to appear.” In the Amazon, he pointed to a 32 per cent reduction in deforestation in the month of August, when compared to the same month last year. He introduced the country as “an example in energy generation”, with 83 per cent coming from renewable sources, and said he would we will seek consensus on the rules of the global carbon credit market at the COP26, the UN Climate Conference that starts at the end of October in Glasgow. “We expect industrialized countries to effectively meet their climate finance commitments in relevant volumes,” Mr. Bolsonaro said. He recalled that his country’s agriculture sector feeds more than 1 billion people in the world, using only 8 per cent of the national territory, and assured that “no country in the world has such complete environmental legislation.” “Our Forest Code must set an example for other countries,” he said. He recognized the country faces “great environmental challenges”, being a nation of continental dimensions. The Amazon region alone is equivalent to the area of the whole of Western Europe For him, “the future of green jobs is in Brazil: renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, low-emission industry, basic sanitation, waste treatment and tourism.” He also remembered than 14 per cent of the national territory, an area equivalent to Germany and France together, is destined to indigenous reserves. “In these regions, 600,000 Indians live in freedom and increasingly want to use their land for agriculture and other activities,” he said. Pandemic and jobs As of 20 September, there have been more than 21 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil. With 590,508 deaths reported to WHO, the number is only second to the United States. Mr. Bolsonaro said that “the pandemic took everyone by surprise in 2020” and that his administration “regrets all the deaths that occurred in Brazil and in the world.” He said he “always defended fighting the virus and unemployment simultaneously and with the same responsibility” and pointed to “isolation and lockdown measures” that have “left a legacy of inflation, particularly in foodstuffs around the world.” As of 17 September, according to numbers reported to WHO, more than 207 million doses have been administered in Brazil, meaning more than 66% of the population has received at least one shot. Mr. Bolsonaro assured that, until November, everyone who chose to be vaccinated in Brazil will be assisted. Peacekeeping and refugees On international affairs, the Head of State remembered his country’s participation in UN peacekeeping missions, from Suez to Congo, passing through Haiti and Lebanon. He said Brazil “has always welcomed refugees” and mentioned the 400,000 Venezuelans the country has received in the last few years. Showing “deep concern” for the future of Afghanistan, he assured Brazil “will grant humanitarian visas to Afghan Christians, women, children and judges.” In 2022, the South American nation will again occupy a seat on the UN Security Council, having been elected by 181 countries earlier this year for a two-year term as a non-permanent member. Despite this presence, Mr. Bolsonaro concluded his speech saying his country supports a reform of the Council and seeks a permanent seat. Full statement in Portuguese here.

Venezuela violated a jurist’s right to be tried by an independent tribunal and his right to the presumption of innocence, the UN Human Rights Committee said on Wednesday. In the decision, the Committee requested that Venezuela declare the criminal proceedings against Allan Brewer Carías null and void, and that he be awarded adequate compensation. It also called for the State to take steps to prevent the recurrence of such violations. Mr. Carías has been living in the United States since 2005, unable to return to his country for fear of being arrested and detained. A 19 years case The jurist was prosecuted in 2005 for his alleged involvement in the drafting of what is known as the “Carmona Decree”. This decree ordered the establishment of a transitional government after a coup d’état in Venezuela in April 2002, which saw the late President Hugo Chávez ousted from office for 47 hours, before he was restored to power. According to Mr. Carías, he received a call in the early hours of 12 April 2002 from Pedro Carmona Estanga, the opposition leader installed by the military, who requested his urgent legal opinion. Mr. Carías said he was taken to the Fort Tiuna military complex in Caracas where he was shown the draft decree, with which he completely disagreed and played no part in drawing up. In January 2005, he was charged with “conspiracy to alter the Constitution through violent means” for his role in the “discussion, preparation, drafting and presentation” of the decree. During criminal proceedings in the following months, according to Mr. Carías, all the prosecutors and judges involved in his case were temporary Government appointees. The jurist left Venezuela for the United States in September 2005. In June 2006, the Provisional Supervisory Judge issued an indictment against him and ordered him to be placed in pre-trial detention. After repeated and unsuccessful attempts to challenge his indictment, he announced that he would not return to Venezuela until his right to due process could be ensured. International case Mr. Carías brought his complaint to the Human Rights Committee in December 2016. From the information provided by the jurist, the Committee found that Mr. Carías was not afforded the right to be tried by an independent tribunal, in violation of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In a statement, Committee member Carlos Gómez Martínez said that “judicial authorities need to be able to work independently and free from undue interference or influence from the executive agencies.” “It is of extreme importance to the Committee that the right to be tried by an independent tribunal encompasses the independence of prosecutors,” he added.