The World Well being Group’s consultant to the DRC, Dr Boureima Hama Sambo, warned that in six jap provinces, well being services have been set alight, well being employees killed and others face fixed bodily and psychological threats, whereas provides have been looted. Heavy rain, flooding and landslides have additionally compromised support entry.
Dr Sambo mentioned that the DRC is going through its worst cholera outbreak since 2017, with the jap provinces accounting for 80 per cent of the circumstances. The nation can also be battling a serious measles epidemic and the mixture of measles and malnutrition was notably lethal for youngsters beneath 5.
The UN well being company official mentioned that WHO has deployed consultants to the affected areas to help the authorities in investigating and responding to those outbreaks, delivered medical provides for cholera remedy, supported transportation of samples to labs for testing, and constructed cholera remedy centres.
Vaccine marketing campaign
The World Well being Group not too long ago accomplished a vaccination marketing campaign in Ituri province reaching over a million of youngsters beneath 5, with extra campaigns to observe in Kasaï and Mai-Ndombe.
WHO was additionally offering well being providers, together with entry to psychological well being and psychosocial help, to victims of gender-based violence. Some 23,000 circumstances have been reported within the six provinces from January to August 2023 and Dr Sambo mentioned that the true figures have been “in all probability a lot larger”.
For a “extra sustainable and resilient well being response” in jap DRC, Dr Sambo known as for stronger donor help, because the UN well being company’s response within the area was solely 14 per cent funded thus far.
Girls and women in Iran are required by regulation to observe a costume code exterior their houses.
Iran: new hijab invoice have to be shelved: Türk
Excessive Commissioner for human rights Volker Türk, mentioned on Friday that Iran’s “draconian” Chastity and Hijab Invoice “flagrantly flies within the face of worldwide regulation” and have to be shelved.
The invoice vastly will increase jail phrases for offenders and gives for crushing fines on ladies and women who don’t obey the obligatory costume code.
In accordance with the UN rights workplace (OHCHR), beneath the brand new, “even stricter” invoice, now in its closing stage of consideration earlier than Iran’s constitutional courtroom, those that don’t adjust to nation’s strict Islamic costume code on head coverings and modest clothes threat as much as 10 years in jail.
These present in breach may be flogged, in addition to fined as much as an equal of $8,500, subjected to journey restrictions and disadvantaged of on-line entry.
OHCHR known as the decree “repressive and demeaning”, insisting that “ladies and women should not be handled as second class residents”.
Russia knowledgeable says mandate gives ‘bridge to the Russian individuals’
The unbiased UN Particular Rapporteur on human rights in Russia, Mariana Katzarova, underscored on Friday the significance of her mandate to offer a voice to victims of alleged violations within the nation.
“Why is my mandate vital? As a result of it’s additionally the bridge to the Russian individuals, to the victims, to the civil society, to those that dare converse in opposition to the conflict on Ukraine”, she advised reporters in Geneva.
“It’s a voice for the individuals of the Russian Federation, this mandate.”
The unbiased Human Rights Council-appointed knowledgeable offered her first report back to the Council on Thursday, sounding the alarm about what she says is a sample of suppression of civil and political rights in Russia.
‘Persistent use of torture’
She voiced grave considerations over mass arbitrary arrests and the “persistent use of torture and ill-treatment.”
Citing virtually 200 sources from inside and outdoors the nation, the unbiased knowledgeable expressed concern a couple of lack of judicial independence and proper to a good trial.
The mandate of the Particular Rapporteur on Russia was created by the Human Rights Council in October final 12 months, for a interval of 1 12 months.
Ms. Katzarova advised reporters that she thought a continuation of the mandate can be vital, particularly amid what she known as “darkish occasions for human rights” in Russia.
That is the primary time in its historical past that the Council has authorised a rights knowledgeable to research rights violations inside the borders of one of many everlasting members of the UN Safety Council, the so-called “P5”.
Ms. Katzarova burdened that the P5 had a particular duty to set an instance for the remainder of the world.
India: UN rights chief welcomes new invoice to spice up ladies in parliament
Rights chief Volker Türk welcomed on Friday the passage of a landmark invoice in India which is able to reserve one third of seats in nationwide and state parliaments for ladies.
The UN rights workplace (OHCHR) mentioned that the Girls’s Reservation Invoice will constitutionally entrench ladies’s illustration in parliament and be a “transformative transfer” for gender equality in India.
Citing India’s instance, Mr. Türk known as on parliamentarians world wide to undertake legislative measures – together with, the place essential, gender quotas – to make sure ladies’s equal participation within the political discourse.
The brand new Invoice requires ratification by at the least 50 per cent of India’s states to enter into pressure and the UN rights workplace known as for his or her “swift help” and speedy implementation of the brand new system.
