NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag United Nations

  • Mar, Wed, 2020
Foreign

UNGA President urges global action against modern slavery

Slavery

United Nations, March 25, 2020 (NAN) President of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA), Amb. Tijani Muhammad-Bande has called for concerted global action against modern slavery. 

Muhammad-Bande made the call in a message to mark the 2020 International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Commemorated every year since 2008, the event remembers and honours victims of the transatlantic slave trade, considered “the worst violation of human rights in history”.

It also seeks to raise global awareness about the dangers of racism, prejudice and other forms of discrimination.

The PGA noted more than two centuries after the abolition of the slave trade, no fewer than 40 million people were still caught up in modern slavery.

According to him, children constitute one quarter, and women 71 per cent, of the victims.

Muhammad-Bande, who is Nigeria’s ambassador to the UN, regretted the postponement the commemorative meeting on the event over the coronavirus pandemic.

He noted that the pandemic, itself, “reinforces the fact that we have a duty to open our minds to the lived experiences of others”.

“Today, we remember the 15 million Africans that were forcibly removed from their homelands.

“These people were subjected to heinous cruelty and robbed of their dignity, freedom, and identities.

“The transatlantic slave trade seeded deep inequalities within societies.

“Economies prospered at a great human cost: entire industries were built upon the suffering of fellow human beings. 

“A minority amassed tremendous wealth and power whilst those who toiled were denied their most basic human rights”, he said.

Muhammad-Bande added that many lives were lost and the future of generations stolen by slavery.

According to him, descendants of the victims “continue to face enduring social and economic inequality, intolerance, prejudice, racism, and discrimination”. 

“Today, I call on all Member States to recognise the contributions made by people of African descent and pay tribute to their resilience. 

“Throughout this Decade for People of African Descent, I urge Member States to adopt, implement and strengthen policies and programmes which combat hate speech, xenophobia, racism and racial discrimination. 

“As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN, we must take collective action to reduce inequalities, eliminate racial discrimination, and end modern slavery,” he said.

The Nigerian envoy emphasised that the world must go beyond tolerance, and create an environment of “intercultural understanding”.

“The onus is upon every Member State to eradicate trafficking, forced labour, servitude and slavery. 

“None of us will be truly free whilst these people suffer.

“We simply cannot be indifferent to injustice. It is incumbent upon each of us to uphold the human rights of everyone, everywhere,” he added. (NAN)

ARU/EAL

=====

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

  • Mar, Mon, 2020
Foreign

Militants kill UN peacekeeper in CAR

Killing

By Harrison Arubu

United Nations, March 16, 2020 (NAN) The United Nations says one of its peacekeepers has been killed in the Central African Republic (CAR).

In a statement on Monday, the U.N. Mission in the country said the victim, from Burundi, was killed while trying to stop an attack by armed militants.

It stated that rebel fighters known as the anti-Balaka launched the attack on the town of Grimari located in the city of Bambarim in Ouaka prefecture.

Mankeur Ndiaye, who heads the UN peacekeeping mission, flayed the attack carried out on U.N. peacekeepers and the city.

He emphasised that any attack on a U.N. peacekeeper could be considered a war crime.

Panic reportedly ensued in the town after they opened fire on the homes of the mayor and sub-prefect, according to the UN.

It stated that peacekeepers from the UN Mission immediately intervened in a bid to stop the assault, in line with its mandate to protect civilians.

“One of them was fatally injured by the Anti-Balaka, who deliberately opened fire on the peacekeepers”, the mission said.

The statement quoted Ndiaye as calling for the leader of the armed group, Dimitri Ayoloma, and his accomplices to be made to account for their actions.

“This attack on the city of Grimari and the peacekeepers is unacceptable and constitutes a serious crime under the jurisdiction of national and international courts.

“The leader of these armed elements, Dimitri Ayoloma, as well as all the perpetrators and accomplices of the attack will have to answer for their actions before the courts,” he said.

Ndiaye added that any attack targeting the life of a peacekeeper was liable to both national and international prosecution.(NAN)

ARU/AFA 

========

Edited by Felix Ajide