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The Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone called on the international community to increase support for this important convention

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Category: World Hot News

Published: Monday, 26 August 2024 21:20

Written by Gentry

Seventy-five years since the ratification of the Geneva Conventions, a former child soldier-turned foreign minister of Sierra Leone urged greater international support for the key accords, highlighting their importance in rehabilitating him and tens of thousands of his fellow compatriots following the country’s bitter civil war.

“I stand here today as a former child soldier, forcefully recruited during the civil conflict that decimated over 50,000 of my compatriots… I wouldn't be the person I am today without the critical support of the ICRC and the international community,” Musa Timothy Kabba told Members of the Security Council, referring to UN-partner the International Committee of the Red Cross, founded in the Swiss city in 1863 to protect and provide humanitarian assistance, in line with earlier accords designed to protect people in conflict.

Addressing Members of the Security Council gathered at UN Geneva to mark the moment in 1949 when the international community revised three earlier Conventions - concerning the protection of soldiers wounded in battle, victims of conflict at sea and prisoners of war – and added a fourth to protect civilians impacted by war, Mr. Kabba said that he “need not dwell upon the trauma of those years” as a young soldier, “but I do need to acknowledge here today, in this birthplace of modern global humanitarianism, that it was the ICRC which profoundly helped me to overcome…the trauma of my war experience and to be reabsorbed in normal society.”

From Mozambique, Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Pedro Comissario Afonso, insisted that the Geneva Conventions were both “a moral beacon and legal compass during and after the armed conflict in our country”, fought from 1977 to 1992. “The international humanitarian law espoused in the texts “guided the actions not only of the parties involved in conflict, but also of the humanitarian organizations that work to tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of the Mozambican people”, he continued.

From hosts Switzerland, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis juxtaposed the historic milestone with the “alarming” international context. “More than 120 armed conflicts are under way around the world,” he said. “There is Sudan, whose ceasefire talks have been held near here in recent days. There is also Ukraine, Yemen and the Middle East, to name just a few of the current conflicts that neither multilateralism nor international law have been able to avoid, let alone resolve.”

In a call for greater support for belligerents to respect international humanitarian law (IHL), Mr. Cassis insisted that IHL “cannot simply be a right written on the paper of our good conscience, nor even a right on the map; there must be the right to action. Our voices must be powerful and convincing enough so that their echo resonates all the way to the battlefields.”

While the forum heard about the concerning trend among some nations of arguing for exemptions with regard to the clearly defined limits on what is legally allowed in war, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger insisted that there was “no reason to celebrate” the blatant disregard many States showed for the Conventions. Ms. Egger insisted that States should use “their influence and power” to enable independent and neutral humanitarian actors her organization to fulfil their role.

The ICRC President also underscored the changing nature of modern warfare which presents another challenge to international humanitarian law and efforts by the global community to limit its impact: “States must affirm that the use of new technologies of warfare, artificial intelligence, cyber operations, information operations strictly adhere to IHL and more specifically, it is urgent that States develop a normative framework that imposes certain limits on autonomous weapons systems.”

From UN Geneva, Director-General Tatiana Valovaya noted that “even if the Conventions are violated” in conflicts around the world, they remain fundamentally important, “because they allow us to remind everybody that the wars have rules, even the wars have limits”. Member States, the UN and International Geneva continue to work to develop IHL, among other “critical global issues” that are discussed and acted upon in Geneva, Ms. Valovaya insisted, from digital governance to disarmament and from health to humanitarian affairs, sustainable development and more.

Expressing the widely shared call for far greater engagement by all governments on IHL, Andrew Clapham, Professor of International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute, told delegates that violations of the Geneva Conventions “are not just technicalities to be dealt with by somebody else”.

It should not be just the responsibility of the International Criminal Court or the International Court of Justice, humanitarian workers or the Red Cross to ensure the protection of civilians or access for aid workers, he insisted. “Violations of the Geneva Convention should be part of the daily diet of State representatives working for peace and security; taking seriously reports about violations of the Geneva Conventions puts you on the path to peace and preventing conflicts.”

Striking a more positive note, ICRC Chief Legal Officer and Head of the Legal Division, Cordula Droege, maintained that “every day, even in the world's harshest conflicts, IHL is actually being respected in countless instances”.

Often unreported acts of compliance with the Geneva Conventions “do save lives, preserve dignity and ensure humanitarian access”, she insisted. “And over the decades there can be no doubt that the Geneva Conventions have saved millions of lives.”

Israeli ambassador Danny Danon told reporters “Apparently, someone forgot what happened on October 7.”

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Category: World Hot News

Published: Thursday, 22 August 2024 17:29

Written by Gentry

In a press encounter today (22 Aug) ahead of a Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza, the Israeli ambassador asked, “How morally bankrupt can this organization be to ignore Israeli victims just 10 months after one of the largest and most horrific terror attacks in history to pretend they never existed. It has been 320 days since the slaughter, and what have we heard from the UN so far? Silence, silence. No condemnation of Hamas, no recognition of the atrocities committed.”

Israeli ambassador Danny Danon told reporters, “Yesterday, the UN marked International Day of Remembrance for victims of terror. However, if you walked around the UN's exhibit, you would not have found a single tribute to an Israeli victim. Apparently, someone forgot what happened on October 7.”

He added, “I'm familiar with the house and the corridor of this building. It's my second term. I served in for five long years, and I think the UN must change. You know, I believe in working with the UN. I was elected to be vice president of the General Assembly. I chaired the sixth committee for a year. But I cannot accept the fact that after the atrocities of October 7, we have not heard a condemnation from the Security Council, from the General Assembly. This institution was built after the Holocaust in order to prevent what we saw on October 7 and after what happened in Israel to this reason to be silent. It's unacceptable.”

Asked about a ceasefire and allowing polio vaccines into Gaza, he said, “we had a ceasefire until October 7. Hamas broke that ceasefire and raided our communities. We can have a ceasefire immediately, once the hostages are coming back. Now, regarding to the polio vaccines, let's speak about the facts. 95 to 98 percent of the population in Gaza are vaccinated already. We are working with WHO and UNICEF, by the way, not with UNRWA in Gaza, but with WHO and UNICEF in order to start another campaign of vaccinations. And we will cooperate with everybody in order to ease the situation for the Palestinian people who are suffering from the Hamas occupation. The future for Gaza will begin when Hamas will be eradicated. It's on the way. It's happening. Once Hamas will be eradicated, we can start speak about reconstruction and building a future for the people of Gaza.”

At World Women's Forum, UN deputy chief urges action on gender equality

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Category: World Hot News

Published: Monday, 26 August 2024 15:42

Written by Gentry

UN Mongolia/Enkhbold Orosoo 

The Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed delivers remarks at the 2024 World Women’s Forum in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General called for stronger efforts in women’s empowerment, gender equality, and climate action in remarks to the World Women's Forum in Mongolia this week. 

Held on 22-23 August under the theme Towards a Green Future, the Forum focused on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those emphasizing gender equality.

Speaking on Thursday, Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed emphasized the urgency of accelerating progress on the SDGs, as the deadline is less than six years away.

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She highlighted that women’s leadership is essential for better community services and effective climate action but acknowledged that “time is not on our side.”

“Despite our awareness of the urgency and the progress we’ve made, we find ourselves far from the finishing line,” Ms. Mohammed said. “At this pace, that mission will be passed down to generations yet to come,” she continued. 

Supporting women’s leadership 

In her opening remarks, Ms. Mohammed outlined action plans to advance equality, starting with supporting women's leadership in environmental and climate action.  

She noted that women’s lives are “intricately connected” to natural resources, playing a vital role in food security. She stressed the need to support women environmental rights defenders, those working in agriculture, and others in similar roles, while addressing the triple planetary crisis, referring to climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

“Increasing global commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment across all areas of environmental action must also be a common thread throughout our multilateral cooperation,” she said.  

Additionally, Ms. Mohammed called for stronger support in increasing educational opportunities for girls and the need to eradicate gender-based violence.  

“The rights of women and girls must be protected,” she said. “We must shape a world where they can achieve their agency and live free from fear.”

Prioritising women’s rights  

As world leaders prepare for the upcoming Summit of the Future in September, and the 2025 review of the Beijing+30 review  – a global assessment of gender and women’s equality – Ms. Mohammed stressed the need to embed gender equality and women’s empowerment in every aspect of the SDGs.

“We need policies that prioritise women's rights, especially young, indigenous and rural women, and fully include their knowledge and expertise,” she said.

As Ms. Mohammed continuously encouraged women’s rights empowerment and support, she called for the remembrance of women and girls in conflict zones like Afghanistan, Gaza and Sudan, who have been left behind.

“Let’s keep the momentum to also shine a light on their burdens, on their challenges and the atrocities they face,” she said. 

Ms. Mohammed called for the world to be shaped in a way where girls and women can freely pursue their dreams, contribute to society and live peacefully.  

“Together, in solidarity, I believe we can make this vision a reality,” Ms. Mohammed said. 

UN Mongolia The UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed interacts with a child in Mongolia.

Meetings and visits

On her final day in Mongolia, the Deputy Secretary-General met with the country’s Prime Minister, Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai.

After the closing ceremony of the World Women’s Forum, she visited a service centre for survivors of gender-based violence run by the UN agency for sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA.

Ms. Mohammed expressed her appreciation for the dedication, commitment, and tireless efforts of the service providers, and for their advocacy against such violence.

She also visited a herder family in their traditional home to learn about their livelihood and the impact of climate change and modernization on their nomadic way of life. 

ATN Appoints Princess Karen Cantrell as New VP of Content and Acquisition

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Category: World Hot News

Published: Thursday, 22 August 2024 09:38

Written by Gentry

  UN News Center Media ATN-American Television News Appoints Karen Cantrell as Vice President of Content Procurement

Celebrity media has learned from Ahmed Fathi, the founder and president of ATN-American Television News, based at the UN News Center, that ATN-American Television News recently announced the appointment of internationally renowned female leader Princess Karen Cantrell as the Vice President of Content and Procurement. With her exceptional experience in international advocacy and profound strategic leadership skills, Cantrell will bring a fresh force to ATN, infusing a rich global perspective, and elevating the network's content strategy, partnership development, and audience engagement to new heights. This is exciting news for both the media industry and its audience.

As the new Vice President of Content and Procurement, Karen Cantrell will lead a new chapter in ATN's content development. Leveraging her extensive experience and keen market insight, she will curate engaging and diverse programming for the audience. Her leadership will not only enhance the quality of ATN's original and collaborative content but also ensure that the programming appeals to a wide range of viewers, fostering strong audience loyalty. Cantrell will make data-driven, informed decisions in assessing the relevance, quality, and appeal of content, helping to optimize ATN's program lineup.

Cantrell's unparalleled international influence and her extensive connections with international organizations, diplomatic missions, and NGOs worldwide will significantly enhance the diversity and depth of ATN's content. Her work will also involve negotiating with top studios, distributors, and content creators globally, ensuring that ATN's programming is of the highest quality and global appeal, perfectly aligning with ATN's mission and goals.

Ahmed Fathi, the founder and editor-in-chief of ATN-American Television News, expressed his great anticipation: "We are thrilled to welcome Karen Cantrell to our leadership team. Her extensive experience in content procurement, partnership development, and audience engagement, combined with her unwavering commitment to global development and social justice, makes her the ideal candidate to lead our content strategy. We believe that under her leadership, ATN will expand into more markets worldwide and create a broader impact."

Karen Cantrell will work between Los Angeles and New York to ensure that ATN continues to lead industry trends. She will fully leverage new technologies and platforms to enhance audience interaction and, through close collaboration with the marketing and programming teams, drive audience retention and satisfaction to new heights.

Karen Cantrell’s global humanitarian contributions are remarkable; she has been honored with numerous awards, including the White House Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, the King Charles Leadership Award, and the Peace Icon Award. Additionally, she received the 2023 United Nations Peacekeeping Federation Global Leadership Award and the Peace Icon Award at the 2024 Global Leadership Summit. These honors not only reflect her significant influence on global peace and development but also signal that she will bring new perspectives and innovative momentum to ATN’s content strategy.

Karen Cantrell’s appointment undoubtedly ushers in a new era of opportunity and innovation for ATN-American Television News. Her arrival is eagerly anticipated by the entire team and the global audience, as her strategic vision and unwavering commitment to high-quality content will steer ATN towards greater success in the coming years, enhancing ATN-American Television News’s influence as a senior media outlet at the UN News Center within the international community.

Princess Karen Cantrell is an entrepreneur, political activist, business visionary, philanthropist, and humanitarian with noble and royal lineage. She is well-versed in communications and public affairs, with a background in community relations, corporate ownership, governance, and international affairs. For over 30 years, she has been dedicated to helping other families live better lives both domestically and internationally.

As the President and CEO of Rancho Mirage Golf Inc. (DBA Lady Golf), Karen is committed to sharing her success and vision with other entrepreneurs and professionals, with the shared goal of empowering women and giving back to society. She possesses extensive knowledge in fashion design, manufacturing, and how trends impact the fashion industry, which has allowed her to collaborate with top industry leaders like Oscar De La Renta, Bob Mackie, Victor Costa, and Richard Blackwell. She owns a successful international website, www.ladygolf.com, and operates a 6,000-square-foot store in Palm Desert, California.