According to The Christian Institute, the new report by the U.N. panel shows concern about children being legally bound to attend church and worship services.
They recommended the government "repeal legal provisions for compulsory attendance at collective worship." The committee wants children to be able to act independently of their parents.
But David Burrowes, a conservative British Member of Parliament, says the report and those like it can be thrown in the bin where they belong.
"The collective act of worship is not an indoctrination exercise. It is recognizing and respecting the Christian heritage of the country and giving people an opportunity to reflect," Burrowes said.
"The U.N. should spend more time doing its main job of preventing war and genocide rather than poking its nose in other countries' classrooms," he added.
While the U.N. is concerned about children going to church, the number of people displaced from their homes due to conflict and persecution last year was over 60 million for the first time in United Nations' history, according to a U.N. News Centre report
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon believes that while there is no official timeline for the Cyprus negotiations, there is a real unique window of opportunity for the process to finally succeed this year 2016.
In his Good Offices Mission report, the Secretary General also says that he believes firmly that the months ahead remain crucial, if the sides are to achieve the key and tough compromises necessary to reach a comprehensive settlement, as soon as possible.
Ban underlines that there is no room for complacency, as substantial work remains ahead. However, he is convinced that the settlement is today closer than ever and he calls on the leaders “to maintain the momentum as the talks are well into the substantive phase in which core issues across chapters are being considered.”
The UN SG encourages the leaders to continue to negotiate these issues with good faith, political will, leadership and mutual trust.
“I believe that an agreement is within reach and I trust that the leaders and all Cypriots will do their utmost at this crucial time to grasp the current opportunity and to finally translate the vision of a united Cyprus into a reality.”
Secretary Ban is particularly heartened by the fact that the sides have engaged in the negotiations with a problem-solving approach. He notes that the leaders have shown that, while each negotiates in the interests of his own community, they have equally been able to take into consideration the concerns of the other community, in order to reach a settlement that meets the best interests of all citizens of a future, united Cyprus.
In particular, the Secretary General commends both leaders for their ongoing efforts to refrain from engaging in a blame game and he encourages them to continue to use key opportunities to communicate jointly to the public in a constructive and coordinated manner, as they have already done on several occasions.
He reiterates the full engagement of the United Nations in supporting the efforts of the two sides to find a comprehensive settlement and he underlines the cooperation between UNFICYP and the Office of the Good Offices Mission.
“Through such intensive and steady engagement, the sides have made considerable progress on many topics related to the chapter of governance and power-sharing, including the federal legislature, federal judiciary, federal competences, internal aspects of security, to name a few, as well as issues related to citizenship."
Just when you thought you had it all figured out, new Human Development Report throws up a few surprises.
The 2015 Human Development Report released Monday also confirmed that Zimbabwe - seen largely as a basket case in recent years - had the highest change on the Human Development Index (HDI) ranking on the continent, a 12-place jump, ahead of the Seychelles, Cameroon and Mauritius, data from the report showed.
In its similar index last year, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had showed that Zimbabwe, which has been beset by political divisions that have hurt its economy, had made some notable gains.
With regards to Zimbabwe, the UNDP among other factors highlighted a significant rise in life expectancy, at almost four times the sub-Saharan Africa average, and an increase in the expected years of schooling.
It also said the country’s gross national income per capital increased four percentage points faster than the sub-Saharan African average, from $1,442 to $1,662, or a 12% jump. While the body concedes the country’s HDI is below the continental average, it says it did grow at double the pace of the continent.
The Republic of the Congo, which has been in the headlines this year over a third term bid by its leader, also ranks in the top five, propped up by its oil resources, but the least improved country over the period was another oil-rich nation that has had a long-time leader, Equatorial Guinea, highlighting further that development conditions are country-specific.
Sierra Leone, despite its battle with Ebola, also ranks in the top five, as does Burkina Faso, which is only now looking to steady its ship following a year of political upheaval that included a short-lived coup. Another country that was ravaged by the fever, Liberia, also performs better than many African countries in changing the living conditions of its people.
Also surprising is the ranking of Eritrea higher than Botswana, Senegal, Algeria and Tunisia.
The UNDP says some two billion people have been lifted out of low human development in the last 25 years, and urges governments to focus on work to build on that progress.
Some 830 million people live on under $2 a day and are classified as working poor, while over 200 million, including some 74 million youth, are without work, it said.
Recently, John Kerry, the US secretary of state, said during a quick visit to Cyprus that, after decades of impasse, the reunification of the island was “within reach”.
The most obvious reasons for the “tangible progress” witnessed by Kerry on these issues are Nicos Anastasiades, the president of the Greek Cypriot south, and Mustafa Akinci, President of TRNC. These men, who both hail from the same southern city of Limassol, are new to their jobs, far more moderate than their predecessors and, crucially, willing to compromise.
According to some estimates, reunification could boost the island’s GDP by €5bn within five years (or €1,700 per capita) and €10bn within 20. This is a considerable fillip given that GDP in the south was only €21.1bn in 2014.
Cyprus may be small. But it's geographic location (the most easterly country in the EU) gives it huge strategic importance. The island's reunification could spark big geopolitical consequences.
The Cyprus negotiations are set to intensify as the two community leaders plan to meet six times next month, November 2015.
The President’s Political Adviser and General Coordinator for the Technical Committees Meltem Onurkan Samani (above), who spoke to BRT recently, also announced the establishment of a working party to prepare federal laws for a future partnership state.
She added that work was still in progress on the intensified schedules which would need to be compatible with the leaders’ other commitments. The various working groups and technical committees had also stepped up their work, she noted.
“A working group on federal laws has been established on both sides. The two sides of the working group will most likely come together on Monday next week and commence work. The main purpose of this working group as it can be understood from its name will be to prepare laws for the federal structure. The working group is made up of legal experts, mostly who are already working at the Presidential Palace but also laws from the Bar Association and several universities. Naturally the federal laws will have to be prepared in line with the EU Aquis Communitaire which is why a legal expert from the EU Coordination Office will also be taking part in the working group meetings” Samani added.
In addition to the various working groups there were currently 12 bi-communal technical committees who were focusing on confidence building measures, she said.
The Presidential Adviser also explained the current situation on work to connect mobile networks on both sides of the divide.
“Work carried out with the mobile GSM operators is actually completed. However there is a problem with the regulating authority. The authority has raised legal obstacles. We’re currently working on various formulas and proposals to overcome these legal obstacles. This is why we feel extremely disappointing about the issue. After all, the technical work has been completed” she said.
Samani also commented on reports that there was a divergence in views between President Mustafa Akıncı and his negotiator Özdil Nami.
“It’s only natural that there might be differences in opinion from time to time but let everyone be assured that everything is being conducted under a certain discipline. There is no conflict of views or divergences between Mr. Akıncı and Mr. Nami at this point in time” she said.
Meanwhile, the two negotiators met again yesterday as part of preparations for the leaders’ next meeting scheduled to take place on 30th October.
On September 25, 2015, 193 world leaders committed to 17 Global Goals to achieve 3 extraordinary things in the next 15 years: End extreme poverty. Fight inequality & injustice. Fix climate change. The #GlobalGoals could get these things done in all countries. For all people.
The Global Goals campaign invites artists, designers and photographers from around the world to create artwork inspired by one of the 17 Global Goals for sustainable development. Artists should read about each goal below, get inspired by the accompanying graphics and interpret them through an original and innovative piece of artwork.
The simple but mighty ambition of this project is to share the global goals with 7 billion people in 7 days, from September 25 - October 2, 2015. During this week, there will be a concert in Central Park in New York with headliners including Ed Sheeran, Beyonce, Pearl Jam and Chris Martin and a global media campaign that highlights the importance of this historic moment.
A minimum of 25 pieces of work will be selected to be showcased on GlobalGoals.org and their social channels. One Selected Artist will also receive $1,500 along with a mentoring session with world-renowned filmmaker Richard Curtis. 6 Highly Commended Artists will also receive $500 each and 2 Popular Choice Artists will receive $250 each.
Credit: United Nations Global Goals InitiativeLearn more »
UNFICYP`s Force Commander Kristin Lund has said supporting a comprehensive settlement remains the highest priority for the UN family in Cyprus.
Major General Lund addressed an event at Ledra Palace in the buffer zone on Monday to celebrate the International Day of Peace which is observed around the world on September 21st.
“We remain committed to assisting the two sides in achieving the aspiration of both leaders to reach their shared goal of united federal Cyprus for all”, Lund pointed out, calling on everyone to strengthen their commitment for the reunification of Cyprus.
She went on to say that 41 years ago, the buffer zone became a part of this island’s life, however it was never intended to become a lasting barrier between the two sides, nor was it meant to discourage Cypriots from the need for dialogue and for contact in the search for a lasting and comprehensive settlement.
Major General Lund also said that we should all take inspiration from the words of the young generation and the wisdom of the Second World War veterans. She pointed out that Greek and Turkish Cypriots fought side by side to win peace for us all and they exemplify how together Cypriots can unite for the greater good.
Referring to the World Peace Day Lund said that is an opportunity to reiterate our unwavering belief in non-violence, to call for a global ceasefire and remember those who continue to live in fear.
This year’s remembrance, she underlined, is especially poignant, truly heartbreaking, given the turmoil in this region, particularly in Syria from where we have seen a human tide of suffering washing ashore in Greece, Turkey and even Cyprus.
Fifteen years ago, the United Nations (UN) issued the Millennium Development Goals and since then much has changed for the better. For example, 43 million more kids go to school; new HIV infections are down by 40 percent; over 2 billion more people get clean drinking water; and extreme poverty has been reduced by half.
This year, the UN is ready with its next 15-year global to-do list, a “manifesto of today’s humans for today’s humans and for tomorrow’s humans too” — The Global Goals for sustainable development. On September 25th, 193 world leaders will commit “to 17 Global Goals to achieve three extraordinary things in the next 15 years. End extreme poverty. Fight inequality and injustice. Fix climate change. In all countries. For all people.”
Here are the 17 goals. You can read more about them here
1. No poverty — End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
2. No hunger — End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
3. Good health — Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
4. Quality education — Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
5. Gender equality — Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
6. Clean water and sanitation — Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
7. Renewable energy — Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
8. Good jobs and economic growth — Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth; full and productive employment; and decent work for all.
9. Innovation and infrastructure — Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
10. Reduced inequalities — Reduce inequality within and among countries.
11. Sustainable cities and communities — Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
12. Responsible consumption — Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
13. Climate action — Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
14. Life below water — Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
15. Life on land — Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems; sustainably manage forests; combat desertification; and halt and reverse land degradation; and halt biodiversity loss.
16. Peace and justice — Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development; provide access to justice for all; and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
17. Partnerships for the goals — Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited newly-elected Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci to New York for a meeting, Turkish Cypriot media reported on today.
President Akinci’s office issued a statement saying that the Secretary-General had telephoned him and invited him to meet face to face. The date of the meeting has not been set, however.
It’s reported that Ban said he was pleased that talks had resumed and that the leaders had discussed implementing a series of low-level confidence building measures (CBM).
On Sunday Akinci, addressing a bi-communal social event for young people in the TRNC, and greeting some of the participants in Greek, said a tough negotiations process lay ahead.
The leaders are due to meet twice a month with the second meeting scheduled for late next week. Their respective negotiators are set to meet more frequently
“The approach should not be seeing the person sitting before you as your enemy. Our view is to see the person sitting before you as a ‘future partner’ and this is extremely important,” Akinci said.
“Our generations and the generations before us shared pain, blood, tears and suffering on these lands.
Let the future generations share the peace, the blessings and the beauties of this island. I believe that with this mentality our future will be better.”
“This will not be easy, I have to say,” he said at a separate event on Monday. “There are great expectations and I will do it my utmost to respond to them. However, it is a process we must walk together. I won’t use the classical expression about taking two to tango because this gives the message that I am a good dancer. But if your partner steps on your foot, it will not make for a good rhythm.”
Akinci expressed the hope that “with determination and political will”, within a framework of a concrete road map, the necessary progress would be made in the coming months. He also spoke of the CBMs he and Anastasiades would be discussing, and said the leaders had also agreed to set up a joint committee on culture.
Greek Cypriot government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said on Sunday that Anastasiades and Akinci had asked their negotiators to prepare a joint list of ‘low politics’ CBMs.
Residents of North Cyprus are more content than those living in the South, according to this year’s UN-produced World Happiness Report.
Life on the Greek Cypriot side of the border has slipped in the happiness stakes to 67th this time, from 34th position last time.
North Cyprus came 66th in the rankings – infuriating the Greek Cypriots by beating them for the first time, claimed South Cyprus Fileleftheros.
This year’s Happiness Report – the third annual survey of well-being around the world – listed the happiest places on earth as Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, and Canada, and the unhappiest as Togo, Burundi, Syria, Benin and Rwanda.
The last report, in 2013, put North Cyprus in 69th position just after Russia, with South Cyprus in 34th spot and Turkey in 77th.
This year’s study put Turkey up one in 76th place.
The report’s authors said: ”Increasing happiness is considered a proper measure of social progress and goal of public policy.”
”A rapidly increasing number of national and local governments are using happiness data and research in their search for policies that could enable people to live better lives. Governments are using well-being research as a guide to the design of public spaces and delivery of public services.”
The United Nations Secretary General at the time, Kofi Annan, had put forward a solution plan aptly named the Annan plan, which included all of Cyprus’ discussions from June 1968 when the inter-communal talks first began.
Tens of thousands of Turkish Cypriots flocked to the streets to support the Annan plan process and their efforts had ousted President Denktaș who was the leader then.
However, Greek Cypriot president Papadopoulos led an effective No campaign in south Cyprus which had led to the GC’s voting 75% No in the referendum and where TC’s voted 65% Yes.
MALAWI has ordered police to shoot “dangerous criminals” who attack albinos in order to sell their body parts for witchcraft.
“Shoot every criminal who is violent when caught red-handed abducting people with albinism,” the country’s police chief Lexen Kachama told officers at the weekend, according to local media.
Six albinos have been killed in the poor southern African nation since December, according to the Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi.
Kachama told officers in Machinga district in the south of the country, where most of the attacks have happened, that we cannot just watch while our friends with albinism are being killed like animals every day.”
He said he does not want to “hear of a police officer chasing dangerous criminals especially those abducting albinos carrying teargas or any other soft weapon.
“That is why I am ordering the police to use weapons in proportion to the gravity of the offence. We need to be secure from criminals,” he added.
Kachama, appointed last month by President Peter Mutharika, ordered his ill-equipped force of 12,000 not to be afraid to use “live ammunition” after criminals shot a police officer in the commercial capital Blantyre last week.
“We will not put down or hold back our weapons until Malawians are living and doing their business freely,” he said.
He said police were empowered by law “to use any weapon when discharging our duties.”
Albinos have been the victim of a surge of attacks across Africa in recent months, with the UN warning the situation was particularly acute in Tanzania, Burundi and Malawi.
It said the spike in violence against them in Tanzania may be linked to general and presidential elections in October 2015, as political campaigners attempt to win over influential sorcerers.
The UN Human Rights Council last month decided to appoint an expert to investigate abuses suffered by albinos across east Africa.
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