Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#Africa, November 25, 2023 – As the country prepares for general elections in December women and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo are experiencing some of the worst human rights abuses in the world according to UN reports.

“The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is on track to have record levels of verified grave violations against children for a third consecutive year in 2023 – In both 2021 and 2022, DRC had the world’s highest levels of verified cases of sexual violence against children committed by armed forces and armed groups,” UNESCO explained. The 2023 levels of ‘grave abuses’ against children has risen 41 percent this year.

It’s years of armed conflict between over 100 different rebel groups both foreign and local that has precipitated the foreboding increase. The UN is describing the resulting humanitarian crises in DRC as an epidemic of gender based violence.

Armed groups have been struggling for control of the DRC ever since rebels ousted from Rwanda captured the capital of then Zaire and renamed it the DRC.

Increased tensions have followed the planned departure of UN peace keepers under the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

MONUSCO, established by the UN in 2010 had been authorized to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate to ‘protect of civilians, humanitarian personnel and human rights defenders under imminent threat of physical violence and to support the Government of the DRC in its stabilization and peace consolidation efforts.’

It’s another UN intervention which has been labeled a failure.

More than five million people have been displaced because of the ongoing clashes.  The situation is expected to worsen in 2024.

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#Congo, November 22, 2023 – As the country prepares for general elections in December, women and children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are experiencing some of the worst human rights abuses in the world, according to UN reports.

“The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is on track to have record levels of verified grave violations against children for a third consecutive year in 2023 – In both 2021 and 2022, DRC had the world’s highest levels of verified cases of sexual violence against children committed by armed forces and armed groups,” UNESCO explained. The 2023 levels of ‘grave abuses’ against children have risen 41 percent this year.

It’s years of armed conflict between over 100 different rebel groups, both foreign and local, that have facilitated the increase. The UN is describing the resulting humanitarian crisis as an epidemic of gender-based violence.

Armed groups have been struggling for control of the DRC ever since rebels ousted from Rwanda captured the capital of then-Zaire and renamed it the DRC.

Increased tensions have followed the planned departure of UN peacekeepers under the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). 

MONUSCO, established by the UN in 2010, had been authorized to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate to ‘protect civilians, humanitarian personnel and human rights defenders under imminent threat of physical violence and to support the Government of the DRC in its stabilization and peace consolidation efforts.’

More than five million people have been displaced from their homes because of the ongoing clashes   The situation is expected to worsen in 2024.

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#TheBahamas, October 9, 2023 – The Caribbean Week of Agriculture, the largest agricultural event in the Caribbean region is here and The Bahamas is hosting it from October 9th to the 13th, at SuperClub Breezes, under the theme “Accelerating Vision 20 by 2025.” 

Jomo Campbell, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources of The Bahamas made the announcement on October 5th and he expressed that it’s a big moment for the country, historically, especially since it is celebrating its 50th year of indepence and the 50th anniversary of CARICOM.

He revealed that over 300 people have registered to attend the event and that 21 CARICOM countries are also expected to attend the conference and expo.

More than 30 vendors, he says, will be at the trade show this week showcasing regional and local products.

There a number of closed sessions the minister said will be featured such as the 13th special meeting of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Ministerial Council where he says various fisheries ministers from across the region will have talks on various policies.

He continued to highlight some of the topics for this week’s seminar.

He said they include, “youth and dialogue, lining production, crop productivity initiatives, leveraging opportunities for enhanced plant breeding innovation by building a regional road map and also the cost of healthy eating in the Caribbean.”

During the event, Campbell said the intention is to create a connection between producers and buyers and to host a business to business seminar that will facilitate educating producers on the “ever changing standards of buyers.”

He was speaking at a weekly press briefing on October 5th.