UN chief calls for ‘new era of cooperation with Africa’ at Tokyo summit
UN chief António Guterres called for a “new era of cooperation with Africa” on Wednesday, in which the continent’s people have a stronger voice in shaping decisions about their future.
In remarks to a development conference in Tokyo, the Secretary-General identified key drivers of progress in Africa: its youthful population, massive natural resources and entrepreneurial spirit.
Global investment can close Africa’s digital divide, Mr. Guterres insisted, as he stressed that supporting innovation across the continent “can help shape a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world inside and beyond [the] continent’s borders”.
But major challenges remain, not least that fact that 600 million Africans live without electricity, the UN chief noted.
And despite Africa’s “enormous” renewables potential, it receives just two per cent of global investment for the sustainable energy sector, Mr. Guterres told the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development.
During his comments, the Secretary-General reiterated calls for reform of the Security Council, where Africa still lacks permanent representation.
And Mr. Guterres also supported “bold action” on debt relief for African nations, as no less than 34 spend more on interest payments than on health and education.
Israeli plan to take full control of Gaza city will lead to further killings: UN human rights office
To the Middle East, and a warning from the UN human rights office that the Israeli plan to take full control of Gaza city will only lead to further “mass killings of civilians” and displacement.
Entire families have been “killed together” in eastern and southern Gaza city as the Israeli military escalates its attacks there, the UN rights office said, adding that the Az Zaytoun neighbourhood has faced “continuous and intense airstrikes”, artillery shelling and gunfire.
The result has been a high number of civilian casualties and large-scale destruction of residential buildings and public facilities, said Ajith Sunghay, Head of Office for UN human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory:
“Hundreds of families have been forced to flee, including many children, persons with disabilities and older people with nowhere safe to go, amid dire humanitarian conditions, while others reportedly remain trapped, completely cut off from food, water and medical supplies.”
Since 8 August, the UN rights office has recorded 54 attacks on residential buildings and entire blocks in Gaza city that have reportedly killed at least 87 Palestinians, including more than 25 children.
WHO says that violence against children at home still alarmingly widespread
And finally, corporal punishment – which includes violence in the home or school against children – remains alarmingly widespread and causes significant harm to their development.
That’s the firm belief of the World Health Organization, WHO, which estimates that 1.2 billion children are subjected to such punishment at home every year.
Data across 58 countries shows that 17 per cent of youngsters affected in the past month were hit on the head, face, or ears, or hit hard, repeatedly.
Regional variations indicate wide differences in the use of corporal punishment by parents and carers, with 32 per cent of two to 14-year-olds subjected to it in Ukraine, rising to 77 per cent in Togo.
The practice is also widespread in schools, impacting around 70 per cent of children across Africa and Central America, compared with about 25 per cent in the Western Pacific region.
The UN health agency’s report highlights that children with a disability are most at risk of experiencing corporal punishment; in addition to those whose parents experienced corporal punishment themselves, and those whose parents struggle with substance use, depression or other mental health conditions.
Daniel Johnson, UN News
