Category: APO-OPA

STRASBOURG, France, November 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Members of Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights will debate on 20 November with Mr El Yazami, President of the National Human Rights Council of Morocco and representativ…

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, November 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Ahead of the start of a High-Level Partnership Forum (HLPF) in Copenhagen on 19 November, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has urged the Federal Government of Somalia and its international partners to remain focused on delivering the tangible benefits of the New Deal to the Somali people.

“The New Deal is about the people, for the people and with the people of Somalia,” said SRSG Nicholas Kay. “It is the process of ensuring that after more than two decades of conflict and instability, the Somali people are able to reap the benefits of improved security and governance. The United Nation will do its utmost to support Somalia on the journey ahead.”

NEW YORK, November 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — At its second formal meeting on 14 November 2014, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya held a discussion with representatives to the United Nations of Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Malta, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia and Turkey on the implementation of the sanctions measures (including the arms embargo, the travel ban, the assets freeze and measures in relation to attempts to illicitly export crude oil) imposed by the Security Council in relation to Libya.

The Chair of the Committee encouraged the invited delegations to share the challenges faced in implementing the measures and encouraged the delegations to consider favourably requests for visits by the Panel of Experts, and to enable the Panel to access the border regions with Libya.

The members of the Committee welcomed the statements made by the invited delegations regarding information gaps and capacity challenges they faced in implementing the measures.

The members of the Committee emphasised the need to fully and effectively implement the existing sanctions regime and expressed in this regard their commitment to enhancing communication with Libya and interested Member States, in particular those in the region, as well as to considering the development of further guidance for States on implementation-related aspects.

The members of the Committee expressed their support for the mediation efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Bernardino León and recalled that resolution 2174 (2014), which expanded the criteria for designation of individuals and entities as subject to the targeted sanctions, aimed at supporting the political process in Libya.

NEW YORK, November 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Following is UN Secretary‑General Ban Ki‑moon’s message, delivered by Miguel Trovoada, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), to the Extraordinary Meeting of the International Contact Group on Guinea-Bissau, in New York today:

I am pleased to convey my greetings to this Extraordinary Meeting of the International Contact Group on Guinea-Bissau. I thank the Economic Community of West African States and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries for convening this important gathering and for their active collaboration in support of the people of Guinea-Bissau.

Following the historic elections in April and May, Guinea-Bissau has finalized its transition to constitutional order. Legitimate State institutions and representatives are now in place. An inclusive Government has been established. The Government has introduced its four-year plan to the National Assembly, clearly identifying its immediate and long-term priorities for 2014-2018.

Guinea-Bissau is at an important crossroads. It needs the support of its partners to ensure that the country stays on the right path. I am therefore particularly pleased that the International Contact Group has resumed its meetings and hope these will continue as Guinea-Bissau will need the international community’s enduring support.

Guinea-Bissau must focus on pursuing an inclusive political dialogue, advancing national reconciliation, promoting respect for human rights, and strengthening the reform of its national institutions. The people of Guinea-Bissau must also define together an approach to defence, security and justice sector reform that is technically and financially feasible as well as politically acceptable.

The United Nations remains committed to assist Guinea-Bissau working closely with regional and international partners. These efforts are being led by my Special Representative, Miguel Trovoada. I also recently deployed a multidisciplinary strategic assessment mission to the country to better align our work with the priorities identified by the Government and people of Guinea-Bissau, and to complement existing initiatives by Guinea-Bissau’s partners.

As you gather together at this vital time, I wish you every success in your deliberations. I am confident that this meeting will greatly contribute to enhance international coordination in support of the Government of Guinea-Bissau.

WASHINGTON, November 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press Statement
Jeff Rathke
Director, Bureau of Public Affairs, Office of Press Relations
Washington, DC
November 18, 2014

The United States congratulates the people of Burkina Faso a…

NEW YORK, November 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Regional Integration of the Gabonese Republic. The Secretary-General comm…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, November 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 468th meeting held on 18 November 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in Burkina Faso:

Council,

1. Takes note of the briefing by the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the Commission for Burkina Faso and the additional information provided by the Commission, as well as of the statement made by the representative of Burkina Faso. Council also takes note of the Memorandum on the situation in Burkina Faso submitted by the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and presented by Ghana, as Chair of ECOWAS, as well as of the statement made by the representative of the United Nations (UN);

2. Recalls communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CDLXV) adopted at its 465th meeting held on 3 November 2014, as well as the press release issued by the Chairperson of the Commission on 17 November 2014;

3. Expresses deep appreciation to the current Chairperson of the African Union, President Mohamed Ould Abel Aziz of Mauritania, as well as to Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Chair of the ECOWAS Contact Group on Burkina Faso, John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, current Chairman of ECOWAS, Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, and Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, for their sustained and timely efforts towards the establishment of a civilian-led transition in Burkina Faso, including the visits undertaken to Ouagadougou within the framework of communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CDLXV) and the principles underlying the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA);

4. Reiterates its appreciation to the AU and ECOWAS Commissions, as well as to the UN Secretariat, for the joint missions conducted to Ouagadougou, comprising the AU Special Envoy for Burkina Faso, Edem Kodjo, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, and the UN Special Representative for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, as part of the overall efforts to facilitate the establishment of a civilian-led transition in Burkina Faso;

5. Welcomes the significant progress made in Burkina Faso towards the establishment of a civilian-led transition, in conformity with the aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso for the consolidation of democracy in their country. In this respect, Council notes with satisfaction :

(i) the restoration of the 1991 Constitution, on 15 November 2014;

(ii) the signing, on 16 November 2014, in Ouagadougou, by all the Burkinabe stakeholders, of the Transitional Charter, leading to the holding, within a maximum of one year, of free, fair and transparent elections; and

(iii) the appointment of a civilian, Mr. Michel Kafando, as Transitional President, on 17 November 2014, and looks forward to his swearing-in, on 18 November 2014, and to the transfer of power by the military, on 21 November 2014 ;

6. Recognizes that these measures are in line with the relevant provisions of communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CDLXV) and agrees, in anticipation of the transfer of power to the newly-designated Transitional President, scheduled to take place on 21 November 2014, not to take the measures that were envisaged in paragraphs 9 (iii) and 14 of communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CDLXV), including the suspension of the participation of Burkina Faso in the activities of the AU;

7. Expresses appreciation to all the Burkinabe stakeholders and people for their political maturity and sense of responsibility, as well as for placing the interest of their country above all other considerations. Council congratulates them for the achievements made so far;

8. Encourages the Burkinabe people to persevere in their efforts to ensure a civilian-led transition, through the appointment of civilian personalities to head the other transitional institutions, in accordance with their aspirations and communiqué PSC/PR/COMM. (CDLXV), as well as to further reconciliation among all the components of the society;

9. Reiterates the AU’s commitment, in close cooperation with ECOWAS and within the APSA framework, as well as with the UN, to continue to support the efforts of the Burkinabe stakeholders for the completion of the Transition within the agreed timeframe. Council calls on the larger international community to support these efforts and to mobilize the necessary support in favor of Burkina Faso;

10. Requests the Commission, jointly with ECOWAS and the UN, and building on the achievements of the joint missions undertaken to Burkina Faso, to establish an International Forum bringing together the neighboring countries and other regional stakeholders, as well as relevant international partners, to support the transition in Burkina Faso and facilitate the mobilization of the required support;

11. Agrees, in view of the lessons learnt from the management of the situation in Burkina Faso, on the need for renewed efforts towards conflict prevention, based on the relevant AU instruments and Council’s communiqués. Council underlines the imperative of the effective implementation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and calls once again on all Member States that have not yet done so to take the necessary steps to sign and ratify this instrument;

12. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

VATICAN, Holy See, November 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Today, the Holy Father Francis received in audience Macky Sall, president of the Republic of Senegal, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accom…

VATICAN, Holy See, November 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Today, the Holy Father Francis received in audience Macky Sall, president of the Republic of Senegal, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accom…

GENEVA, Switzerland, November 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations and African independent human rights experts today hailed a key judgment by the High Court of Botswana asserting that the organisation ‘Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana’ (LEGABIBO) should be legally registered as a society by the authorities.

The Court rejected last Friday the arguments put forward by the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs of Botswana to refuse legal registration to LEGABIBO, by decreeing that ‘it is not a crime for one to be attracted to people of one’s own sex’ and that ‘advocacy for legislative reforms to decriminalize homosexuality is lawful.’

“This seminal judgment by the High Court of Botswana reaffirms that everyone is entitled to the fundamental right to peacefully assemble and associate,” the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, said.

“Other countries should follow and allow the registration of organisations advocating for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people,” the human rights expert stressed.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, reiterated that “both the United Nations and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights have called on States on numerous occasions to ensure that human rights defenders working to protect the rights of LGBT people can do their critical work without interference.”

“We salute this ground-breaking judgment and hope that it will lead to more recognition and protection for LGBT human rights defenders in Africa and beyond,” the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders of the African Commission, Reine Alapini-Gansou, further added.

“This welcome ruling emphasises that there can be no justification for restricting the freedom of expression on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,” the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, said. “I hope other States take note of this important judgment and do away such discriminatory restrictions.”

The UN and African human rights experts called on the authorities of Botswana to implement this judgment and urged all countries to remove discriminatory restrictions on the fundamental human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.