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The European Union warned China on Friday (5 March) that it may take "additional steps" in response to Beijing's move to grant itself a veto over the selection of Hong Kong lawmakers.

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Twenty border officers from Tajikistan’s Border Troops completed a three-week operational planning course on 5 March 2021 in the Hamadoni district of the Khatlon region. The course was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe in co-operation with the Border Troops and funded by the European Union. 

Participants of the course, who were mainly Tajik border officers serving along the border with Afghanistan, enhanced their skills in operational planning, briefing techniques, information and risk management, gender awareness as well as command and control skills. The officers also learned how to react to threats emanating from outside the state borders, read topographic maps and interact and co-ordinate their joint operations to efficiently protect the border with border patrols.

Colonel Rajabzoda Nasim Holmurod, First Deputy Chairman-Commander of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan noted that the training course was aimed at developing skills required for patrolling Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan that presents a challenging environment given its mountainous terrain and difficult climatic conditions. “I am confident that the skills and knowledge gained during the training process will be effectively applied in the future daily service in the operational tasks of protecting the state borders of the Republic of Tajikistan.”

Valeriu Chiveri, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe thanked the leadership of the Border Troops of Tajikistan for the fruitful co-operation with the Programme Office in organizing this training course for Tajik border officers. “I am glad that this course took place in such a legendary border detachment. The programme on operational planning was designed for the heads of special units to learn how to collect necessary data in a timely manner and analyze the situation as well as make expedient decision and plan their activities.”

Petra Gašparova, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Tajikistan said: “The 18-month EU-funded project “Stabilization of Tajikistan’s southern border region with Afghanistan” is a very special project, since it combines support to both civilian and military actors. It is the first project of this kind implemented outside Africa and the Middle East. It is my great pleasure to congratulate the officers of the Tajik Border Troops on the successful conclusion of this first training cycle. More trainings are foreseen and we hope to include also members of the Afghan Border Services in the next rounds, since joint training is important to build confidence and enhance operational cross-border co-operation.”

This was the first in a series of training courses within the project funded through the European Union’s Foreign Policy Instrument. The project aims to increase the professional capacity of Tajik and Afghan Border Services to better tackle illicit activities in border areas. The project also aims to strengthen the capacity of the Committee on Emergency Situations and Civil Defense to respond to natural disasters in border regions.

Les populations du Grand Nokoué continuent de jeter les ordures n'importe où et même aux abords des voies publiques en dépit des nombreux appels pour la sauvegarde du cadre de vie.

L'insalubrité persiste dans les villes du Grand-Nokoué (Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, Sémé-Podji, Porto-Novo et Ouidah). Une situation due surtout à l'incivisme des populations. Les citoyens prennent du plaisir à déverser les ordures ménagères aux abords des voies publiques. A Porto-Novo, devant le marché de Gbègo sur le terre-plein central, il y a de grands tas d'ordures. Ce, malgré le message d'appel à la propreté des lieux de la Société de gestion des déchets et de la salubrité du Grand-Nokoué (SGDS-GN) inscrit sur un panneau : ‹‹ Ensemble pour des villes du Grand Nokoué propres ››. Les actions sont en cours pour l'installation de poubelles sur les axes principaux.

A Cotonou, la répression contre la pollution à Cotonou a permis ces derniers mois de condamner plusieurs citoyens. Mardi prochain, deux individus seront jugés pour avoir jeté de l'eau usée sur la voie publique. Faut-il être arrêté avant de prendre conscience ?.

Les populations sont appelées à accompagner les efforts de la SGDS-GN afin de garder les villes propres. Chaque citoyens peut contribuer à la protection et à la sauvegarde de l'environnement.

A.A.A

Le Parlement européen a adopté jeudi (4 mars) la feuille de route pour la Conférence sur l’avenir de l’Europe. L'évènement, qui vise à réformer l’UE et à rapprocher ses citoyens, devrait débuter le 9 mai : le jour de l’Europe.

Le ministre de l'agriculture, de l'élevage et de la pêche Gaston Dossouhoui a procédé, jeudi 4 mars 2021, à la remise de matériels et d'équipements aux agriculteurs qui interviennent dans la zone des Agences Territoriales de Développement Agricole (Atda) pôles 5 et 7 dans le cadre du projet ''Appui aux infrastructures agricoles dans la Vallée de l'Ouémé (Paia-Vo)''.

Barques motorisées, bottes, gilets de sauvetage, motoculteurs, appareils de reliure, mini copieur blanc-noir, mini copieur couleur, calculatrices programmables, vidéos projecteurs, appareils photo, caméras numériques, disques durs externes ont été remis dans la commune d'Abomey-Calavi pour soutenir le travail des acteurs des filières maraîchage, riz et maïs des zones d'intervention des Agences pôles 5 et 7.
L'appui d'environ 100 millions FCFA vise le renforcement des capacités des structures sous tutelle du Ministère de l'agriculture, de l'élevage et de la pêche, des organisations de producteurs et des producteurs, selon Sènou Kokoyè, coordonnateur du Paia-Vo. « Je souhaiterais qu'à la fin d'une ou deux saisons, nous soyons capables d'organiser une grande foire pour démontrer qu'en utilisant ces équipements, nous avons doublé l'amélioration de leurs revenus et de leurs conditions de vie », a indiqué Gaston Dossouhoui. Expliquant l'utilité disponibilité agricole et que des producteurs puissent témoigner de de certains équipements contenus dans le don, le ministre a précisé que nous tendons vers les saisons pluvieuses, période pendant laquelle il va falloir traverser les plans d'eau qui séparent les périmètres. « Je suis très ravi des équipements qui nous sont, ce jour, offerts par le biais du projet Paia-Vo », s'est réjoui Dohoué Siaka, président de l'Union communale des riziculteurs de Zogbodomey.
Le gouvernement a identifié les filières porteuses de chaque zone (regroupée en sept pôles) en vue de promouvoir la production agricole. Le pôle 5 prend en compte le Zou et le Couffo, une zone de production vivrière. Le pôle 7 est constitué de l'Ouémé, l'Atlantique et le Mono, une zone de pêcherie et de maraîchage.
M. M.

Erzieherin Sandra M. (25) quälte ihre Schützlinge immer wieder. Im April 2020 wurde es so schlimm, dass eine Dreijährige das Martyrium nicht überlebte. Dafür muss die 25-Jährige nun für immer hinter Gittern.

ERGNETI - On 5 March 2021, the 98th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held in Ergneti, co-facilitated by Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and Ambassador Annika Söder, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ergneti IPRM was accompanied by all necessary precautionary health measures.

The new co-facilitator of the IPRM, Ambassador Söder, opened the meeting by expressing her gratitude for the warm welcome she has received from the participants, and encouraged everyone to contribute to a productive meeting. The two co-facilitators then commended the commitment of the participants to the IPRM and praised the effective use of the EUMM-managed Hotline for raising and addressing issues of concern.  

Further, the co-facilitators reiterated their serious worries regarding the deepening socio-economic hardships of the conflict-affected population, which stem from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the crossing points along the administrative boundary line (ABL). The co-facilitators called upon all the participants to respond positively to the humanitarian and security needs of the vulnerable communities, in particular elderly, women and children.

The discussions in the IPRM were conducted in a constructive atmosphere, allowing the participants to discuss all issues pertaining to stabilisation and normalisation, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘borderisation’ processes along the ABL, and the security situation in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area. Pertinent detention cases and other humanitarian issues featured prominently throughout the discussion.

All participants agreed to continue their dialogue through regular IPRM meetings and the EUMM-managed Hotline.

The participants agreed to plan for a subsequent meeting on 23 April 2021.

Ivan Korčok külügyminiszter üdvözli a nyílt és transzparens együttműködést Szlovákia és Magyarország között. Állítása szerint mindent megtesz a két ország közötti jó kapcsolatokért.

The Western Balkans Cookbook maps the cuisines of the Western Balkans and beyond, where dishes are still prepared in the traditional way and according to the season. Sarma, ajvar, tufahije, gulaš, šopska salata, baklava, štrudla, and homemade filo pastry are just few among many dishes and desserts this cookbook attend to preserve…
It also keeps and promotes some of the specific flavors of the region, such as elder flower, quince, prunes, raspberries, peppers, lard, lamb meat, intestines, (...)

/ Art et cultures, Beaux Livres, Vins, cuisine et gastronomie

By Lesley Ann Foster
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Mar 5 2021 (IPS)

International Women’s day 2021 heralds a particularly challenging time for women and girls. The Covid pandemic has battered our world to such an extent that we know that our lives have been irrevocably changed and has rolled back some of the gains we made in the human rights and gender equality field.

Lesley Ann Foster

South Africa has the most infections and deaths on the African continent. Women suffered the brunt of the pandemic due mainly to the inequality in our country that existed prior to this health disaster.

Some 2,6 million jobs were lost with two out of every three jobs lost being lost to women. Women constitute the bulk of informal traders and are largely found in the travel and hospitality industry which was hard hit by the pandemic. The lock down saw children and students working from home and men who lost jobs returned home as well. The burden of care fell largely to women. Women took on the responsibility of caring for the sick, the infected and many who lost family members had the burden of funerals placed at their doorstep. Food insecurity was at its highest levels in spite of the social grants that the state made available to try to mitigate the hunger deepened by the pandemic.

Stepping up

85 women’s groups who are part of a network of rural women’s groups that Masimanyane Women’s Rights International supports, provided leadership at great cost with some lives lost to the pandemic. Yet, women activists and human rights defenders braved the storm of the pandemic to feed people by approaching suppliers to donate food, establishing family gardens and sourcing water. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) rose sharply during Covid due to existing inequality and harsh lock down regulations resulting in isolation from support systems.

Masimanyane Women’s Rights International (MWRI)developed responses that dealt with the structural impediments and providing care and support.

We were cognisant of the inequality in our society and initiated a policy to guide our responses to the pandemic grounded in a gender inequality perspective.

Secondly we addressed the needs of women on the ground by taking our face to face engagements with women and communities onto online platforms to avert the risk of infection. This revealed inequality through digital poverty and illiteracy, a lack of working space at home, limited access to connectivity and data and a lack of smart resources. We developed a structured plan to overcome these obstacles.

Mental health problems emerged early into the Covid pandemic based on fear, anxiety, stress, depression and suicide. We pre-empted this and included mental health protocols for self-care. We advocated for increased mental health support for women through national structures. The rise in deaths prompted us to conduct bereavement and grief counselling to ensure the necessary skills in responding to deaths. When the hunger levels grew, we secured a humanitarian grant to provide women with food vouchers to assist in food security.

MWRI applied its care and support internally by providing staff with a strengthened health support through the provision of immune boosting supplements, flu vaccinations and personal protective equipment. These safety measures reduced the risk to staff as we had only three infections out of 62 staff members.

Structural developments

In the first few weeks of the pandemic, our organisation was deeply involved in a presidential committee that was tasked to develop a national strategic plan on gender based violence and femicide (NSP GBVF). This NSP GBVF was completed in March 2020 and signed off in April 2020. This plan addresses gender inequality and recognises it as a key driver of GBVF. We worked with partners nationally to develop referral pathways so that women in situations of isolation could reach support services. We developed a data base of women’s organisations in each province that could provide a rapid response to calls for assistance. We gathered data in an attempt to provide a snapshot of how women were experiencing the lock down.

Monitoring

We monitored the impact of COVID-19 on the economy generally and on women specifically. We found that women were suffering the most from job loses, from the docking of their pay and from retrenchments. While the government put a social grant system in place to assist the poor communities, women were the least likely to access those grants due to social impediments impeding access. Food insecurity grew and women bore the brunt of that too.

MWRI was able to approach donors and request humanitarian support to provide food vouchers which helped in small measure to alleviate hunger for some families.

Leadership

When confronting a national disaster, we have to apply a strong gender analysis before we try to thread the response needle. It was important to provide a comprehensive and holistic response to the Covid pandemic by working on the structural inequalities through policy formulation, programme development and resource allocation. It is critical that the immediate needs of women at the rock face be addressed with urgency in a crisis.

We salute the women whose courage, strength and resilience was evident throughout the pandemic and applaud their on-going activism to dismantle structural inequality.

The author is Executive Director Masimanyane Women’s Rights International, South Africa

 

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The post International Women’s Day, 2021
Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World appeared first on Inter Press Service.

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The European Parliament’s and political groups’ spokespersons will hold a briefing on next week’s plenary session on Monday at 15.30.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The European Parliament’s and political groups’ spokespersons will hold a briefing on next week’s plenary session on Monday at 15.30.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The European Parliament’s and political groups’ spokespersons will hold a briefing on next week’s plenary session on Monday at 15.30.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The European Parliament’s and political groups’ spokespersons will hold a briefing on next week’s plenary session on Monday at 15.30.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

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