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IHRC Calls For Action On Human Rights Challenges In Sub-region

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By Gloria Ikibah 
 
The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has called for urgent attention to the rising human rights situation in the West Africansub-region.
 
Addressing parliamentarians at the ongoing ECOWAS Parliament 2024 First Ordinary Session in Abuja, IHRC highlighted the key challenges to include political repression, gender-based violence, lack of access to essential services, terrorism, and discrimination are among the primary challenges facing the region.
 
“Authoritarian regimes dominate and suppress dissent, violating basic rights and perpetuating instability,” said IHRC representative, Jane Doe. “Gender-based violence, including domestic violence and sexual harassment, remains prevalent, and access to quality education and healthcare is limited.”
 
The IHRC also emphasised the impact of terrorism and insecurity on human rights, citing over 1,800 terrorist attacks in West Africa in the first half of 2023, resulting in nearly 4,600 deaths.
 
Proposing solutions to address these challenges, the IHRC said promoting gender equality, enhancing access to justice, building partnerships, and regional and intergovernmental cooperation.
 
“The International Human Rights Commission advocates for regional and intergovernmental cooperation to address human rights issues effectively,” said IHRC representative, John Smith. “Collaboration is paramount in ensuring the protection and promotion of human rights within the region.”
 
Naijablitznews.com reports that the IHRC has been actively engaged in promoting human rights in West Africa, including initiatives in Nigeria, Ghana, Cabo Verde, and Cote d’Ivoire. The organization has established partnerships with various stakeholders, including electoral commissions, to strengthen democracy and good governance.
 
“We must champion the defense and advancement of human rights within our borders and throughout the wider region,” said ECOWAS Parliament representative, James Brown. 
 
“Through joint efforts and a steadfast commitment to integrating human rights considerations into our policies and initiatives, we can pave the way for a future that is characterized by peace, justice, and equality for every individual in West Africa.”
 
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Trump Announces Pam Bondi For Attorney General after Rep Gaetz Withdrawal

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After Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida abandoned his quest for U.S. attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump wasted no time in choosing another candidate for the position.

On Thursday evening, Trump announced his decision on social media.

“I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States,” he posted on Twitter. “Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families,” according to him.

“Then, as Florida’s first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl overdose deaths.”

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SAD! 38 Casualties As Gunmen Ambush Shiite Convoys

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No fewer than 38 people, most of them Shiite Muslims, were killed in northwestern Pakistan on Thursday as gunmen ambushed convoys of vehicles that had been under the protection of security forces.

The attack was one of the deadliest in months of sectarian violence in the Kurram region, a scenic mountainous district bordering Afghanistan. Pakistan is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, but Kurram’s population of 800,000 is nearly half Shiite Muslim, contributing to a cauldron of tribal tensions.

Conflicts, often rooted in disputes over land, frequently escalate into deadly sectarian clashes. The violence highlights the government’s persistent struggle to maintain control in the region.

The vehicles had been traveling in opposite directions on the main road connecting Parachinar, a Shiite-majority town in Kurram, to Peshawar, the provincial capital 135 miles away.

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The road, a vital lifeline for the district, had only recently reopened after being closed for three weeks because of an ambush on Oct. 12 that left at least 16 people dead.

During the closure, residents of Parachinar were cut off from essential supplies, including food and fuel, leading to a growing humanitarian crisis.

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One Woman, Girl Killed Every 10 Minutes Globally – UN Women

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On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, November 25, the report Femicides in

UN Women

2023: Global Estimates of Intimate Partner/Family Member Femicides by UN Women and UNODC reveals that femicide—the most extreme form of violence against women and girls—remains pervasive in the world.

Globally, 85,000 women and girls were killed intentionally in 2023. 60 per cent of these homicides -51,000- were committed by an intimate partner or other family member. 140 women and girls die every day at the hands of their partner or a close relative, which means one woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes.

In 2023, Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicide, followed by the Americas and then by Oceania. In Europe and the Americas, most women killed in the domestic sphere (64 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively) were victims of intimate partners, while elsewhere, family members were the primary perpetrators.

“Violence against women and girls is not inevitable—it is preventable. We need robust legislation, improved data collection, greater government accountability, a zero-tolerance culture, and increased funding for women’s rights organizations and institutional bodies. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, it is time for world leaders to UNiTE and act with urgency, recommit, and channel the resources needed to end this crisis once and for all”, highlighted UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous.

“The new femicide report highlights the urgent need for strong criminal justice systems that hold perpetrators accountable, while ensuring adequate support for survivors, including access to safe and transparent reporting mechanisms,” said Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC. “At the same time, we must confront and dismantle the gender biases, power imbalances, and harmful norms that perpetuate violence against women. As this year’s 16 Days of Activism Campaign begins, we must act now to protect women’s lives.”

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The 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action in 2025, coupled with the fast-approaching five-year deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, presents a critical opportunity to rally all stakeholders to take decisive and urgent action for women’s rights and gender equality. This includes ending impunity and preventing all forms of violence against women and girls.

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