Category: APO-OPA

PARIS, France, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “This is an imperfect solution in a situation that is far from ideal”

It’s five o’clock in the morning. Two MSF vehicles drive along the streets of Monrovia, Liberia, the country most affected by the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Noley Smart and Emmanuel Tokpa, two Liberian MSF staff members, put on gloves in the darkness. This morning they will distribute around 1,000 family protection and home disinfection kits in West Point, one of the Monrovia’s slums.

“We do it in the early morning so we avoid big crowds where people will be sweating and touching each other,” says Noley. “We go out every morning, wash our hands and boots before starting and try to make sure that people have no physical contact.”

The two vehicles park next to a warehouse and the team jumps out. Inside are the stacks of the kits that they will distribute to hundreds of households. Since September, over 50,000 kits have been distributed, and MSF aims to deliver a total of 70,000, covering a target population of 245,000, in the coming weeks. The kits, which contain materials like chlorine, soap and protective gear, allow people to protect themselves in the event that their family members fall ill and they cannot get them to a healthcare facility.

The buckets are put on a table and people come to pick them up in groups of ten. Noley, Emmanuel and the rest of the team have set up a circuit: people enter from a football pitch, form a queue, pick up their kits and exit onto the street. “It is a very physical job,” says Emmanuel. “You need to do everything in one go: give the kits, communicate with people and ask them to move fast.”

MSF’s first contact with communities takes place two days before a planned distribution, when teams visit and screen a video that demonstrates how the distribution will take place and what the kits contain. They tell people that the protection kit is not designed to allow people to provide medical care – it is an emergency solution for families with someone at home with symptoms, and for those who need to disinfect their home after a family member dies.

“Ambulances should be able to pick up everyone calling the emergency number, but the service is not working well,” says Anna Halford, who coordinates the distributions. “No one should be disinfecting their home without help, but unfortunately it is happening. This is an imperfect solution in a situation that is far from ideal.”

The weak international response to the epidemic so far has left gaps in several key areas of this complex emergency. It’s not only about beds. In Monrovia, the ambulance and referral system can’t cope with the situation and taxi drivers often refuse to carry passengers with symptoms. Contact tracing needs to be systematically implemented and body management remains a problem.

The main sites of Ebola transmission are funerals, health facilities that aren’t prepared and the homes of people who are sick and symptomatic. The virus can wipe out entire families, and the distribution of these kits are an attempt to stop this happening by slowing transmission in the home.

“I used to get along with one of my neighbours. She contracted Ebola,” says Emmanuel, after the distribution. “Her boyfriend, father and mother got Ebola from her. When I was told she died I couldn’t believe it. Only her father survived. This is one of the reasons why I am here.”

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina-Faso, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Rael, spiritual leader of the International Raelian Movement (IRM) (http://www.rael.org), is delighted to see former President Blaise Compaore out of office in Burkina Faso, according to a statement released by the IRM.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/raellogo.png

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1520 (Rael, spiritual leader of the International Raelian Movement (IRM)

“It was time for this dictator, so submissive to the Vatican and ex-colonial powers, especially France, to go away, and for a real Kaman [the indigenous term for African] leader to kick Western powers out of Burkina Faso,” he said.

Brigitte Boisselier, PhD., spokesperson of the Raelian Movement, added:

“[Compaore’s] allegiance to France and the Vatican likely prompted the Burkinabe government’s refusal to allow our Clitoraid Kamkasso Hospital to open. Inspired by Rael, financed by Clitoraid and built in Bobo-Dioulasso to assist victims of female genital mutilation, it’s been ready to open for over a year. But the health minister ignored our file while the country desperately lacks such facilities. It’s one example of how the past president ignored his people’s needs in favor of his political agenda.”

Rael also made specific recommendations:

“The new Burkina Faso authority should ask Switzerland to block all bank accounts belonging to Blaise Compaoré,” he said. “For favoring French neo-colonial interests, he may have received a huge amount of money from France, the ex-colonial master.”

Referring to military commanders now ruling Burkina Faso, he declared, “An army must never lead a country anywhere on earth. Armies aren’t elected, and they’re supposed to defend countries from foreign aggression, not impose any form of order on civilians. When they do, it always leads to terrible dictatorships.”

During visits to Kama, Rael has recommended dissolving colonial borders to create a new entity, United Kingdoms of Kama.

“All traditional leaders of Kama should unite, bringing their people into a peaceful confederation based on respect for [the continent’s] initial tribes and customs, thereby removing all current, local conflicts resulting from the arbitrary borders set by colonizers,” he said.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the Raelian Movement.

Media contact:

Ditalamane Hebie

hq@raelpress.org

+226-76-62-31-57

LONDON, United-Kingdom, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond welcomes significant contribution by Australia to support UK efforts to end Ebola in Sierra Leone, saying:

“I warmly welcome Australia’s plans to operate a 100 bed Ebola treatment centre in Sierra Leone.’”

“Adequate provision of Ebola treatment facilities is a vital part of the international response to Ebola and this Australian contribution is significant, on top of AUS$18 million they pledged in September. I hope this will encourage other countries to scale-up their commitments on staff, money and infrastructure.”

“We look forward to working closely with Australia in the coming weeks and months as we collaborate to defeat Ebola in West Africa and stop its spread.”

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 465th meeting held on 3 November 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in Burkina Faso:

Council,

1. Takes note of the statement made by the Chairperson of the Commission and the briefing provided by the Commissioner for Peace and Security on the situation in Burkina Faso. Council also takes note of the statements made by the representative of Burkina Faso, as well as by those of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations;

2. Recalls the relevant provisions of the AU Constitutive Act, as well as those of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. Council also recalls its previous press statements and communiqués on the issue of unconstitutional changes of Government and popular uprisings, including Press Statement PSC/PR/BR.(CDXXXII) adopted at its 432nd meeting held on 29 April 2014, in which it reiterated its rejection of unconstitutional changes of Government, as well as the recognition of the right of peoples to rise up peacefully against oppressive political systems;

3. Expresses its solidarity with the people of Burkina Faso, and acknowledges their profound aspiration, to uphold their Constitution and to deepen democracy in the country;

4. Strongly condemns the acts of violence that took place in Burkina Faso, which led to the loss of human lives and destruction of property, and urges that the sponsors and authors of those acts of violence be brought to justice. Council presents its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes speedy recovery to the injured. Council deeply deplores the destruction of private and public property and calls for the return to calm and an end to all acts of violence and destruction of property;

5. Takes note of the resignation of Mr. Blaise Compaoré from his post of President of Faso, which constitutes an important step in the search for a consensual and lasting solution to the crisis in that country;

6. Deplores the declaration by the military through which it suspended the Constitution and assumed power, following the resignation of the President of Faso, as constituting a coup d’État, which Council strongly condemns;

7. Endorses the press releases issued by the Chairperson of the Commission on 30 October 2014 and on 1 November 2014. Council commends the Chairperson of the Commission for her commitment and efforts towards the early settlement of the crisis in Burkina Faso and the establishment of a civilian-led and consensual transition. Council also welcomes the dispatch of an AU/ECOWAS/United Nations Joint Mission to interact with the Burkinabe stakeholders and facilitate a consensual way out of the crisis;

8. Welcomes the statements made by the current Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, on the situation in Burkina Faso, on 30 October and 2 November 2014;

9. Underlines the need and the urgency for a rapid solution to the current crisis based on the respect of the Constitution and the aspiration of the people of Burkina Faso to the deepening of democracy in their country, as well as on consensus among all concerned Burkinabe stakeholders, within the framework of the relevant AU instruments. In this regard, Council:

(i) underlines the continued validity of the Constitution of Burkina Faso;

(ii) reaffirms the imperative of a civilian-led and consensual transition in Burkina Faso, it being understood that a military-led transition would be completely contrary to the aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso, as well as to the relevant AU instruments;

(iii) demands that the Burkinabe military steps aside and hands over power to a civilian authority, in accordance with the Constitution, within a maximum period of two weeks from the date of the adoption of the present communiqué, failure of which, measures including those indicated in paragraph 14 below shall be instituted. Council underlines that there shall be no exception to this decision;

(iv) underlines that the civilian authority who will take over the interim leadership of the country will enhance a consultative process involving all Burkinabe political actors and other stakeholders to agree on the modalities, duration, leadership and content of a civilian-led and consensual transition which will lead to the holding, as quickly as possible, of free, fair and transparent elections; and

(v) reaffirms the duty and the obligation of the defense and security forces to place themselves at the disposal of the civilian authorities, who should conduct the transition, and to act in a republican spirit, and urges them to refrain from any act or statement that would further complicate the situation in Burkina Faso and negatively affect regional security and stability;

10. Emphasizes, once again, the AU’s conviction that only a civilian-led and consensual transition would meet the legitimate aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso to uphold the Constitution and deepen democracy, and would allow the mobilization of the international support necessary for a successful end to the crisis. In this context, Council reiterates the AU’s readiness, working in close collaboration with ECOWAS and the United Nations, to accompany the Burkinabe people, as well as the political and social stakeholders, and to help mobilize all the international support they need;

11. Welcomes the appointment by the Chairperson of the Commission of Mr. Edem Kodjo, former Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and former Prime Minister of the Republic of Togo, member of the AU Panel of the Wise, as the AU Special Envoy for Burkina Faso;

12. Notes with satisfaction the return to Ouagadougou, on 3 November 2014, of the AU/ECOWAS/United Nations Joint Mission to continue the consultations initiated with the Burkinabe stakeholders in the search for an early solution on the basis of the principles set out in paragraph 9 above. In this regard, Council calls on all parties in Burkina Faso to extend full cooperation to the Joint Mission;

13. Urgently appeals to all the AU international partners to extend full support to the ongoing efforts for the search of a solution on the basis of the principles set out in paragraph 9 above. In this regard, Council welcomes the statements issued by AU bilateral and multilateral partners marking their support to the ongoing African-led efforts to find a solution to the crisis;

14. Requests the Commission to report to it, no later than 18 November 2014, on the evolution of the efforts to promote a civilian-led and consensual transition, as spelt out in paragraph 9 above, to allow Council, if the situation so demands, to take all appropriate measures, including the suspension of Burkina Faso from participating in AU’s activities and the imposition of targeted sanctions against all those who would be obstructing the efforts referred to above, in accordance with the relevant AU instruments;

15. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

LONDON, United-Kingdom, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A new British Ebola treatment facility opens to patients today in Kerry Town, near the Sierra Leone capital Freetown.

The Kerry Town complex includes an 80 bed treatment centre to be managed by Save the Children and a 12 bed centre staffed by British Army medics specifically for health care workers and international staff responding to the Ebola crisis. The 12 bed facility is expected to expand to 20 beds in the New Year.

The construction of the treatment facility was funded by the Department for International Development and designed and overseen by British Army Royal Engineers. It is the first of six centres to be built by Britain in a bid to contain, control and defeat Ebola in Sierra Leone.

The scale of the Ebola crisis has left Sierra Leone with a severe shortage of beds to treat Ebola patients. The WHO estimates that there are currently just 326 treatment beds in Sierra Leone.

The site also hosts an Ebola testing laboratory run by British scientists to accurately diagnose patients. The lab began operating last week and has doubled the country’s lab capacity.

Justine Greening, International Development Secretary, said:

“Sierra Leone does not have enough hospital beds to cope with the scale of the Ebola crisis. Patients are being turned away from hospitals, reducing their chance of survival and allowing the disease to spread.

“That is why British Army Engineers together with Sierra Leonean construction workers have been working round the clock for the last eight weeks to get Kerry Town built. This treatment facility, the first of six British-built centres, will give patients the care they need to fight Ebola, limiting the spread of this terrible disease.

“I pay tribute to Save the Children and to the heroic British medics, Sierra Leonean health workers and international volunteers whose work in this facility has the potential to save countless lives.”

Minister for the Armed Forces, Mark Francois said:

“The completion of the Kerry Town treatment facility is a testament to the hard work and ability of the Armed Forces. Without the effort of our troops, the steps taken so quickly to assist in tackling this unprecedented epidemic would not have been possible.

“We should all be immensely proud of what the Armed Forces have achieved in such a short space of time. The UK has been at the forefront of responding to the epidemic and our medics will now continue the great work already carried out.”

Save the Children is recruiting over 200 clinical staff as well as many more support staff to help run the Kerry Town Ebola treatment centre.

Justin Forsyth, CEO Save the Children, who has recently returned from Sierra Leone, said:

“The Kerry Town treatment centre is critical to the fight against Ebola.

“On my recent trip I was moved by the impact on children. I met one girl who lost her entire family and then all her possessions when her house was burnt down, leaving her with nothing. She said I am completely alone. We must stand with children like Emma in their hour of need.

“I was inspired by Save the Children staff, both Sierra Leonean and international, on the front line, fighting the spread of Ebola. They are heroes, putting their lives on the line every day.

“I’m proud of Save the Children’s partnership with UK Aid, working together with DFID and the Army to build and run Kerry Town. But we know we need to redouble our efforts if we are to get ahead of this crisis. We are in a life and death race against time.”

The 12 bed facility, which will be enlarged to 20 beds after 60 days, will be staffed by medics from the British Army’s 22 Field Hospital Army for the first four months of operation.

The total capacity of the 80 bed facility will be phased in over the coming weeks, giving staff time to ensure a safe environment for patients and staff and reduce the risk of infection.

Construction has begun on five other treatment facilities, at Port Loko, Makeni, Moyamba, and two more centres in Freetown. Once built these facilities will take the number of UK-supported beds to over 700, providing direct medical care to up to 8,800 patients over six months.

Britain’s wider £230 million Ebola response package includes funding for burial teams to increase capacity and work with communities on new burial practices, the roll out of up to 200 new community care centres and help to shore up the country’s stretched public health services to help contain the disease. This includes vital supplies such as chlorine and protective clothing for thousands of health workers.

GENEVA, Switzerland, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) will share with the media its concluding observations of its 59th session on Friday 7 November at 13:30 in Press Room 1, Palais des Nations, Geneva.

Among the issues discussed during the session:

Venezuela: Widespread and rising violence against women and girls; high rates of maternal mortality; high number of teenage pregnancies; restrictive abortion laws forcing women to resort to unsafe abortions; shortages of antiretroviral treatment for women living with HIV/Aids; persistence of deep-rooted stereotypes, especially media portrayal of women as sex objects; women’s representation in the National Assembly below the regional and world average.

Poland: Gender discrimination in education, health care, private and family life;

limited effect of anti-trafficking measures; persistent gender wage gap; impact of unsafe abortions on women’s health; restrictive legal and policy frameworks in place restricting women’s access to safe abortion services; frequent refusal by doctors to perform abortions based on the “conscience clause”.

China, China Hong Kong, China Macau: Threats of reprisals against human rights defenders attending the Committee’s session; reports of extra-legal places of deprivation of liberty (black jails); measures to combat infanticide, sex-selective abortion, forced abortions and sterilisations; participation in political life of ethnic minority women (Tibetan and Uighur women); women’s political participation in politics in Hong Kong; abuse of foreign women domestic workers in Hong Kong.

Ghana: Obstacles to women’s access to justice; barriers to women’s effective political participation; persistence of violence against women and harmful practices such as widowhood rites, female genital mutilation (FGM); ritual slavery, polygamy and child marriage; high rates of teenage pregnancies and maternal mortality; gender pay gap; harmonisation of marriage laws; women’s land and property rights.

Belgium: Lack of effective implementation of law banning FGM; lack of information on impact of ban on wearing of headscarves; risk of deportation faced by undocumented migrant women awaiting residence permits based on family reunification or domestic violence.

Brunei Darussalam: Adoption of Syariah Penal Code (2013), imposing the death penalty, stoning and corporal punishment for a significant number of offences; polygamy and FGM; absence of specific legislation on violence against women; criminalisation of abortion and prostitution; divergent and very low legal minimum ages of marriage for girls; discriminatory laws on nationality, marriage, inheritance and family relations.

Guinea: Discriminatory provisions in the Civil Code and the Criminal Code; follow-up on the conclusions of the Commission of Inquiry into events of 28 September 2009; harmful practices including FGM, succession rites, early marriages; high level of sexual violence; high maternal mortality rate; human trafficking; child labour; female illiteracy and school dropout rates; the impact of Ebola on women’s rights.

Solomon Islands: Extremely high level of violence against women; justice and reparations for women victims of human rights violations during the ethnic tensions from 1998 to 2003; women’s role in peacebuilding; prevailing harmful practices such as bride prices and early marriages; trafficking in women and girls for purposes of sexual and labour exploitation; lack of maternal health care facilities; near absence of women in public and political life – currently one woman in 50-member parliament.

GENEVA, Switzerland, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Special Rapporteur Urmila Bhoola, will visit Niger from 11 to 21 November 2014 to assess the situation in the country regarding contemporary forms of slavery and slavery-like practices.

“Niger criminalized slavery in 2003 and I look forward to discussing with the Government on the impact of the legislation in practice,” said Ms. Bhoola ahead of the first official visit to Niger of an independent expert monitoring contemporary forms of slavery, its causes and consequences.

“This visit will provide an opportunity for a fruitful exchange on the initiatives undertaken by the Government to combat slavery and slavery-like practices and on the challenges they face, as well as to explore solutions to address these,” the human rights expert noted.

The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery is mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on issues such as hereditary and caste-based forms of slavery, forced labour, debt bondage, serfdom, children working in slavery or slavery-like conditions, domestic servitude, sexual slavery and forced marriage around the world.

During this eleven-day mission, Ms. Bhoola will meet representatives of the State and local authorities, as well as civil society organizations, diplomatic community and the UN.

At the end of her visit, the Special Rapporteur will hold a press conference on Friday, 21 November, at 12:00 noon, in the meeting room of the UN House (428 Avenue du Fleuve, Niamey) to share her preliminary observations.

Following the visit, the expert will present a report containing her conclusions and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2015.

OTTAWA, Canada, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Modification: Adjusted translation

In response to recent developments in Burkina Faso, the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced that Canada will immediately suspend development assistance funding provided directly to the Government of Burkina Faso and its institutions.

“Given the current climate, it is not possible to provide development assistance dollars directly to the Government of Burkina Faso and ensure they are spent effectively and as intended,” said Minister Paradis. “We stand with the people of Burkina Faso and urge those responsible to put the needs of the Burkina Faso people first. To this end, we are conducting an immediate assessment and review of all Canada’s development assistance programs currently operating in the country.”

“Canada will suspend all direct funding to the Government of Burkina Faso until we are satisfied that the situation has been resolved, and that a legitimate and accountable civil authority has been put in place. We therefore encourage all parties to quickly set out a timetable for a rapid return to democratically-elected authorities, in line with the Constitution of Burkina Faso,” added Minister Paradis.

In 2014 Burkina Faso was confirmed as a country of focus for the Government of Canada’s international development efforts.

The strategic direction of Canada’s program in Burkina Faso is to help the country secure a future for children and youth, and stimulate sustainable economic growth.

Quick Facts

• There is a long tradition of strong partnerships between Canadian and Burkina Faso civil society organizations. With Canada’ support more than 20 Canadian organizations are delivering development projects in areas as diverse as agriculture, entrepreneurship, women’s rights, technical professional training and health.

• Canada’s support to the microfinance sector in Burkina Faso has contributed to a strengthened business environment, while also promoting the creation of financial centres for entrepreneurs, including those operating in the agriculture sector.

• Since 2006, Canada has been supporting Burkina Faso’s education sector. As a result of the Canada’s contribution, the number of classrooms at the primary level have increased by 36%, from 38,269 classrooms in 2009 to 52,008 in 2014.The enrolment rate increased by 9% overall, with a significant gain for girls (increasing from 71.2% in 2009 to 84.2% in 2014), and the primary school completion rate rose from 45.9% in 2009 to 59.5% in 2013. Management of the education system, access to education, especially among girls, and the quality of instruction are all improving.

BRUSSELS, Belgium, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On Wednesday, 26th November 2014, the EU- Africa Chamber of Commerce (EUACC) (http://www.eu-africa-cc.org) will host a gala ceremony to showcase the winning projects of the first edition of the “CSR in Africa Awards”. (http://www.csr-in-africa.eu). The EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the EU Commission and the sponsor of Afreximbank, will reward some best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The 8 shortlisted companies running for the final prizes, after more than forty manifestations of interests received, are: Cocopack (http://www.cocopack.ci), Deutsche DHL (https://www.dpdhl.com), Ecofund (http://www.ecofund.org), Frigoken (http://frigoken.com), Kakuzi (http://www.kakuzi.co.ke), Mars (http://www.mars.com), Newmont Ghana (http://www.newmont.com/africa), Woolworths (http://www.woolworths.co.za).

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/euacc.jpg

Photo 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1517 (Mr. Serguei Ouattara, President and Executive Manager of the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce)

Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1518

The EUACC “CSR in Africa Awards” aims to: (1) give a higher visibility to CSR best practices in Sub-Saharan Africa, (2) raise awareness and showcase CSR as a tool of performance and competitiveness, (3) encourage shared-value approaches and engage the private sector from Africa and Europe. Three main categories have been defined: The Sustainable Economy Award – The Environment Award and The Social Impact Award. Including two distinguished categories: The “EUACC – Promising Project” Award and The “EUACC – Be Inspired” Award.

Mr. Serguei Ouattara, President and Executive Manager of the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce states that: “This gala ceremony will also mark the official launch of the 2nd edition of the CSR in Africa Awards and help us to get ready for the upcoming European Year for Development 2015”.

The European Year for Development 2015 (EYD2015) is indeed planned to gather all existing development experiences, best practices and showcase them at European level. The coming year is crucial for the future of development: the deadline for the MDGs will be reached, and the final efforts to reach the goals and targets set out will be assessed. Hence, the European Year for Development 2015, motto is: “Our world, our dignity, our future”.

Moreover, a recent European Commission Communication advocated for: “A stronger role of the private sector in achieving inclusive and sustainable growth in developing countries” introducing private sector engagement as a new dimension into EU development cooperation. The Commission Communication “Action 10: Promote international Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) guidelines and principles through policy dialogue and development cooperation with promotion of sustainable consumption and production” encourages the responsible engagement of European companies in developing countries, including their adherence to social, environmental and fiscal standards, as well as their respect of human rights, in the framework of implementing the EU Strategy on CSR.

“The EYD2015 is therefore an excellent opportunity to spread the message on Corporate Social Responsibility and the EUACC “CSR in Africa Awards” is a key tool to engage the private sector both from Africa and from Europe,” adds Serguei Ouattara.

The EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce has opened its office in Brussels in 2012. The EUACC truly believes that CSR is a key way to help ensuring inclusiveness and sustainability in the development of SSA. The EUACC sees its CSR Awards as an added value, to its mission which is: to promote the development of the African private sector, and to encourage win-win partnerships between the European private sector and the African private sector.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce (EUACC).

Media contact

Sonia Toro

Director Communication and CSR

E-mail: sonia.toro@eu-africa-cc.org

Tel.: +32 471 10 84 83

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GENEVA, Switzerland, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The UN Committee against Torture is due to review Burundi on 11 and 12 November in sessions that will be webcast live.

Burundi is one of the 156 States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and is required to undergo regular examinations of its record before the Committee of 10 independent experts. The Committee will engage in a dialogue with the Burundian government delegation and also hear from NGOs.

Public sessions: 10:00-12:00 on 11 November, 15:00-17:00 on 12 November

Venue: Palais Wilson, Geneva

Live webcast: http://www.treatybodywebcast.org/.

Among the possible issues to be raised are: measures to address torture and extrajudicial killings by police and national intelligence service; fair trial guarantees, including access to a lawyer and medical care; arbitrary detention; the high number of cases of sexual abuse of women and minors, notably by police officers and soldiers; conditions of detention and prison overcrowding; and protection, justice and reparation for victims of torture.

Further information and Burundi’s report are available at: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=930&Lang=en. The Committee will publish its concluding observations here on Friday 28 November.

A news conference is scheduled for Friday 28 November at 14:00 at Palais des Nations in Geneva when the Committee will discuss its concluding observations on Burundi and the other countries being reviewed – Sweden, Ukraine, Venezuela, Australia, USA, Croatia, and Kazakhstan.