Africa adopts protocol on rights of the disabled

The newly adopted Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights has great potential to strengthen the implementation of universal human rights for 84 million Africans with disabilities, a UN human rights expert has said. “I welcome the African Union’s historic adoption of a Protocol that deals specifically with the rights of people […]

Sweden’s Foreign Policy Statement for 2018

On 14 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström presented the 2018 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag (Parliament): Mr/Madam Speaker, Honourable Members, Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, Ladies and Gentlemen, This year marks 100 years since the Riksdag decided to make the right to vote universal and equal for both women and men. […]

US: Victims sue alleged Liberian war criminal

The Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) on Monday filed a civil suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Philadelphia resident Moses Thomas, a former colonel in the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) suspected of instigating the infamous Lutheran Church Massacre, which is widely considered one of the most […]

Protecting children today prevents conflicts tomorrow

In Yemen, one child dies every ten minutes because of extreme hunger and disease resulting from conflict. Close to 10 million children remain at risk; bearing the brunt of a crisis that they hold no responsibility for, or control over. In Syria, schools – where children should find safety – are regularly attacked; denying them […]

African first ladies, Merck sign agreement

Merck Foundation, a non-profit organization and a subsidiary of Merck KGaA Germany, has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African First Ladies Organization with the aim to achieve the objectives of raising awareness, building professional capacity and improving healthcare access in the field of Cancer and fertility care in Africa. The foundation has conducted […]

A special kind of birthday gift

Birthdays are a time of joy and merriment and are mostly celebrated with people we love. It is not common to hear that a person decides to mark his or her day of birth by doing something special for the less privileged; that is, thinking about, and spreading love to, others, instead of oneself. This […]

Election campaign underway in Sierra Leone

Campaigns have started across Sierra Leone as politicians seek to woo voters in the upcoming general elections. Voters will cast their ballots for a president and lawmakers on March 7. According to the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the campaign period spans between February 4, through to March 5 – two clear days to the day […]

Sweden contributes $370m to World Food Program

The Swedish Government and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Friday signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement, with Sweden making a historic commitment of approximately US$370 million in flexible funds to WFP over the next four years (2018 to 2021). The contribution is the largest ever made by a donor within a WFP Strategic Partnership […]

Rwanda provides eye care for all its citizens

Rwanda has become the first African country to provide universal eye care to all of its 12 million citizens, through a partnership between the government and the UK charity organization, Vision for a Nation (VFAN). Specialist nurses in Rwanda have visited about 15,000 villages as part of a life-changing project. More than 3,000 eye care […]

Sirleaf’s legacy: Lots of talk but little progress

The first elected woman head of state in Africa, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has just stepped down from her office in Liberia. Her successor George Weah assumed the position on 22 January 2018. In a recent interview with CNN entitled “Why Africa owes a debt of gratitude to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf”, President Sirleaf and journalist Chude […]