authors: Antonia Davila and Timothy Homsy Mauritania, situated on the Atlantic coast of Africa, connects sub-Saharan Africa with the North African Maghreb region. A large portion of its land is in the Sahara desert. The nation possesses significant mineral wealth, including iron ore, copper, gypsum, and oil. Formerly a French colony, Mauritania gained independence on November 28th 1960. This country has a population of approximately 4.3 million people. Three main ethnic groups make up Mauritania’s population: the Bidhan, the Haratin, and the West Africans.
Slavery and Race Slavery in Mauritania is described as deeply ingrained within its societal structure and closely linked to the country’s ethnic composition. The legacy of slavery persists through generations. The descendants of Black Africans taken prisoner during historical raids are known as Haratin (Black Moors). Many Haratin still serve as slaves to the Beydan (also known as the White Moors). While slavery also exists among Sub-Saharan Mauritanians, it’s reported to be more widespread in the southern part of the country. Today, between 10 and 20% of the Mauritanian population is enslaved and subjected to horrible life conditions. The most common type of slavery is chattel slavery, in which slaves and their offspring are regarded as the masters’ property and can be purchased, sold, rented, or given as gifts. Women are disproportionately impacted, frequently restricted to household duties, and often the targets of sexual assault. Matrilineal in nature, slaves live in substandard conditions while working for the same households as their mothers and grandmothers. Slavery, Politics and Law In 1981, Mauritania abolished slavery, becoming the last country in the world to do so. Sadly, this practice has persisted, making slavery more prevalent in Mauritania than any other country globally. For this reason, in 2007, the state passed its first law criminalizing slavery with a five to ten years’ imprisonment sentence and a fine. Again, in 2015, Mauritania classified slavery as a crime against humanity, and increased the prison sentence to ten to twenty years. The different laws are generally not enforced by state authorities. These responsible authorities have failed to protect their vulnerable populations. In fact, the police tend to be inactive when it comes to identifying victims, as they prefer not to get involved. In most cases, human rights groups will undertake that role and inform administrative authorities about the abuse, but police officers often do not investigate unless there is sustained pressure for them to do something. In a November 2007 case concerning a woman and her two children, police officers threatened the victims into withdrawing her allegations against her “owner”. From the few reported cases that exist, many are closed without any substantial investigation and an unwillingness by the state to prosecute the accused. Unfortunately, there is only one reported case from November 2011 where a slave owner, Ahmed Ould Hassine, was prosecuted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine. The two year sentence was well below the minimum sentence provided for by the law, and the accused got out on bail less than four months after his incarceration. Anti-Slavery Groups In Mauritania, a number of organizations are actively working to end slavery. The Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA) is a group that opposes slavery relentlessly with the goal of changing government policies and promoting justice and freedom for people who are impacted. Furthermore, groups like Anti-Slavery International (ASI), Minority Rights Group (MRG), and SOS-Esclaves have played a critical role in strategic litigation and legal activism against slavery. Recognising the difficulties encountered even after freedom, such as the absence of official documents, ASI works with its local partner SOS-Esclaves to provide essential financial help, shelter, and basic education training in order to facilitate persons' escape from slavery. These organizations work together to free Mauritanians from the bonds of slavery and bring forth a future of liberty and dignity Conclusion Mauritania does not put enough measures to stop the slave trade, and they also indirectly allow this very lucrative practice for the country by not enforcing the state laws. In theory, the laws against slavery are good, though there’s always place for progress. In practice though, the laws are not applied and are only there so that Mauritania can keep its international reputation. This has all resulted in a huge humanitarian crisis who’s been long forgotten by the international community. It is by raising awareness on such issues that we can tackle them together. Sources: https://minorityrights.org/app/uploads/2024/01/mrg-rep-maur2-nov15-eng-2.pdf https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/ending-hereditary-slavery-in-mauritania-bidan-whites-and-black-slaves-in-2021/ https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/03/world/mauritania.slaverys.last.stronghold/index.html https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jun/08/the-unspeakable-truth-about-slavery-in-mauritania https://www.academia.edu/86600229/IRA_Mauritanie_Legacy_and_Innovation_in_the_Anti_slavery_Fight_in_Mauritania https://www.antislavery.org/what-we-do/mauritania/ https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritania/Plant-and-animal-life https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/03/world/mauritania.slaverys.last.stronghold/index.html
3 Comments
The impending risk of democratic backsliding Authors: Nour El Houda Mahjoub Morgane Giraud A declining Indonesian democracy since 2019 Indonesia has been a democracy for over 25 years since the fall of President Suharto’s dictatorship in 1998. However, nearing the end of current president Joko Widodo’s (“Jokowi”) second term in office, anti-democratic policies and actions have been recurrent. Initially, Jokowi was seen as a hope for Indonesian democracy, having had no ties to the previous dictatorship and coming from a modest and honest background. Yet, starting in 2019, his policies shifted towards an increasing concentration of power in the hands of himself and elites. At the start of his second term, he dismantled the Corruption Eradication Commission, created the Job Creation Law putting workers and the environment at risk, and most recently was involved in the constitutional exemption of his son, Gibran, to run for vice presidency without meeting the minimum age requirement. The 2024 presidential elections With the Indonesian presidential elections this February, the possibility of democratic backsliding is even more imminent. There are three presidential candidates: Anies Rasyid Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar, Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD. All three have been subject to controversy and criticism. Anies has been involved in muslim-chinese controversies in his running for governor of Jakarta against Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (“Ahok”), who was later accused of blasphemy and imprisoned for two years. Ganjar was initially a crowd favourite, until he called for the ban of the Israel’s U-20 team in 2023 World Cup, a decision that led to Indonesia losing hosting rights and causing resentment among Indonesians. Prabowo is by far the most controversial figure in this election. Accused of human rights abuses, involved in the disappearance of pro-democracy activists, and involved in the East-Timor genocide, Prabowo was a high-ranking military general under Suharto’s bloody regime, as well as his son in law. He has still never been held accountable for his actions. Adding to the controversy, Prabowo is now running for president with Jokowi’s son, Gibran. This poses two issues. Firstly, constitutional law has been modified to allow him to run, as Jokowi’s brother-in-law is Chief Justice. Secondly, some scholars have accused Jokowi of attempting to build a political dynasty by placing his son in the election to ensure a continuation of his family’s rule over Indonesia. Prabowo now leads the poll predictions as of February 15th, the day after the election, with over 55% of the votes and has already declared his victory. Military leaders coming to power This poses major threats to democracy and human rights in Indonesia. Drawing on previous cases, we can point to recurring symptoms of democratic backsliding under the rule of military leaders. Usually, the decline of liberal rights such as freedom of speech, press and association, impair the ability of the political opposition to challenge and hold the government accountable, which is a key feature of a democracy. We have seen Prabowo take advantage of this previously, as his past human rights abuses and silencing of pro-democracy activists show. Even though he was elected democratically, anti-democratic processes such as the modification of the constitution to let Gibran be vice-president led to his duo even being able to run, which may suggest that his presidential term will not be fully faithful to democratic processes, increasing the risks of democratic regression. Impacts on women and children It is also crucial to consider the impacts of Prabowo’s return to a position on power on women and children. He was allegedly associated with leading the mass rape and murder of at least 160 Chinese-Indonesian women and girls. Many of them were reportedly burned to death after they had been sexually assaulted. He was also allegedly behind the rape and murder of female student activists in 1998, as part of a campaign to intimidate and silence the opposition. Although he denies such allegations, the families of the victims demand justice, and express shock and concern over Prabowo’s potential election victory. A democratic ascent to power due to voter’s lack of information What could come as a surprise to many is Prabowo’s democratic ascend to power, raising questions as to why and how leaders of this kind would be chosen by individuals living under a democratic regime. The answer lies in the younger generation’s lack of knowledge on Prabowo’s past. 52% of eligible voters are under 40 years old and most do not remember the atrocities committed under Suharto’s regime, and certainly not Prabowo’s involvement. Subianto has completely reinvented his image, from a bloody military general to a “cuddly grandpa”, appealing to younger generations through dancing and innocent, inclusive behaviour. Sources:
https://en.tempo.co/read/1795588/jokowi-has-damaged-many-democratic-instruments https://www.smh.com.au/world/jakarta-governor-contender-anies-baswedan-under-fire-for-meeting-islamic-hardliners-20170103-gtlasx.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/christian-governor-jakarta-blasphemy-muslims-indonesia-governor-basuki-ahok-tjahaja-purnama-a7725371.html https://eastasiaforum.org/2023/04/09/a-yellow-card-for-indonesias-presidential-frontrunner/ https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2045627/general-prabowo-suharto-indonesie-election https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/14/indonesia-election-results-live-quick-counts-start-for-jokowi-successor https://www.commondreams.org/news/prabowosubianto#:~:text=Kopassus%20troops%20under%20Prabowo's%20command,other%20Indonesians%20of%20Chinese%20origin. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/16/he-must-surrender-mothers-fight-for-justice-amid-indonesian-regime-change https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/02/17/families-of-tortured-activists-shocked-at-prabowos-win By Camille Perdriaud International Women’s Day is about gender equality.
Discrimination against women in the public and private sphere must be eliminated, and substantive equality, not just in laws but also on the ground, should be achieved. Despite efforts, inequalities persist between men and women in all areas. If we take education, reports show that girls are disadvantaged at all stages of education and are more likely to be out of school than their brothers or male family members. Millions of girls do not meet minimum proficiency in basic reading and math. It is the fight of the Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (2014), who advocates for the right to education for every girl and woman. This year, International Women’s Day is promoting gender equality through its campaign DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality. A persistent gender gap in digital access keeps women from unlocking technology’s full potential, yet essential for accessing opportunities in today's world. Moreover, the digital space has become a new arena where gender-based violence can flourish with no legal way to be stopped. This 8 March, the United Nations called to make the digital world safer, more inclusive and more equitable. It could be particularly relevant because, at the same time, digital technology is opening new doors for the global empowerment of women. Indeed, the digital age represents an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate all forms of disparity and inequality. International Women’s Day is about promoting women’s rights. Billions of women around the world are affected by discriminatory laws and lack of legal protections, often in multiple ways. The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to promoting women’s rights and documenting the reality of women’s lives worldwide. On December 16th, 2022, the CSW adopted a resolution to remove Iran from the Commission following the Iranian government's implementation of discriminatory measures against women’s rights. As a reminder, on September 13th, Mahsa Amini was accosted by the “morality police” in Iran’s capital, who accused her of wearing her headscarf improperly. The young woman was reportedly beaten on the way to custody and died after three days of being in a coma. International Women’s Day is about eliminating all forms of violence toward women. Women are victims of multiple forms of violence based on gender, which prevents their empowerment. Female genital mutilation is one of them. Affecting about 200 million women and girls worldwide, FGM refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia. Despite being internationally recognized as a human rights violation, it persists for various reasons. No matter where or how it is performed, it causes extreme physical and psychological harm and violates women’s fundamental human rights, including their rights to health, security, and dignity. International Women’s Day is about the recognition of women’s achievements. On this day, we celebrate women’s achievements worldwide as they pave the way for girls to follow in their footsteps. It is important because the lack of women's representation plays a significant role in the absence of parity in some areas. As Kamala Harris, the first woman Vice President of the U.S. said after being elected: “While I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.” International Women’s Day is also about men. Men and boys are allies in achieving gender equality. It is what the Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson advocates in her global solidarity campaign HeForShe. In her speech, she highlights the role that gender stereotypes play in the situation of women: “If men don’t have to be aggressive in order to be accepted, women won’t feel compelled to be submissive. If men don’t have to control, women won’t have to be controlled”. She showed that gender equality is also an issue for men. Sources: https://www.unicef.org/stories/what-you-need-know-about-female-genital-mutilation https://www.unicef.org/media/94201/file/Reimagining%20Girls%20Education%20Solutions%20to%20Keep%20Girls%20Learning%20in%20Emergencies%20.pdf https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2014/9/emma-watson-gender-equality-is-your-issue-too https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/2020/04/policy_brief_on_covid_impact_on_women_9_apr_2020_updated.pdf https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day/background https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/in-focus/2023/03/in-focus-international-womens-day Authors: Mahi Kandage & Angad SidhuMahi Kandage is a second-year student studying Environment and Development and a minor in Psychology. She is interested in well-being studies, nonprofit work, and urban planning for sustainable development. Angad Sidhu is a second-year student pursuing a major in Sociology and Minor in Philosophy. He is Vice President First-Year of MSFU and his academic interests include law and anti-racism in North American cities. What is World Health Day?
Celebrated annually every April 7th, World Health Day marks the date the World Health Organization (WHO) was founded back in 1948. Each year, World Health Day centers on a particular health subject matter. 2022 World Health Day pertains to the health of individuals and our relationship to planet Earth. WHO asks, “Are we able to reimagine a world where clean air, water and food are available to all?”. The health of our environments poses an increasing risk, disparately impacting communities. Lower-income communities often serve as trash dumping sites, and members in these areas often suffer much more from the impacts of pollution, climate change, and dangerous business practices as compared to wealthier neighborhoods. Therefore, our climate crisis targets those most vulnerable and at risk. In addition, “WHO estimates that more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes.” Léa Gombert is a first year student majoring in Strategic Management at Desautels. She aspires to remodel the business industry into a more sustainable and socially responsible field. Apart from that, she is very interested in human rights, literature of all sort and fashion. Vaanathi Rajasingham is a first year student pursuing a major in Sociology and a minor in International Development. She is interested in learning about sustainable development solutions, global poverty, and history. What is World Water Day? What is the importance of W.A.S.H.?
The World Water Day occurs every year on March 22nd and was created by the United Nations General Assembly during its Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. This decision was made in response to an alarming reality: water was, and still is, becoming more and more rare. In fact, nowadays, 2.2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water, and this number could rise to 5 billion people in 2050 according to a 2018 UN report. Therefore, humanitarian associations use the World Water Day as a way to celebrate water and raise awareness on the global lack of access to safe water. Author: Angad Sidhu Angad Sidhu is a second-year student pursuing a major in Sociology. His academic interests include Law and anti-racism within North American cities.
How does AIDS impact people around the world?
HIV infects the cells of the human immune system and destroys their functioning. This leads to the depletion of the immune system and an inability to fight off infection. AIDS is the collection of symptoms and infections with a deficiency of the immune system. In 2020 37,700,000 people globally were living with HIV. In the same year, 680,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses. However, there is also good news because of the global initiatives against HIV/AIDS. Since 1997, new HIV infections have been reduced by 52%. Since 2004, AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 64%. While these numbers are steps in the right direction, HIV/AIDS is still an epidemic yet to be solved. What is UNICEF doing to help with the situation? UNICEF uses a program that focuses on three areas: mother-to-child transmission, paediatric treatment and care, and new HIV infections in adolescents. For mother-to-child transmission, UNICEF emphasises the support and testing of mothers during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding. For the paediatric treatment and care, UNICEF is carrying out early testing in infants and immediate treatment for babies exposed to HIV. With new HIV infections in adolescents, UNICEF is promoting “biomedical, behavioural and structural interventions,” including “pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV self-testing, HIV sensitive protection services” to increase access to treatments. How can I help? Authors: Léa Gombert & Sabrina NelsonLéa Gombert is a first year student majoring in Strategic Management at Desautels. She aspires to remodel the business industry into a more sustainable and socially responsible field. Apart from that, she is very interested in human rights, literature of all sort and fashion. Sabrina Nelson is a first year student pursuing a major in political science and a double minor in international development and World Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies. Her interests include human rights and social justice issues, authoritarian regimes and politics in the Middle East. What is the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women?
The International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women occurs every year on November 25th and was created by the United Nations General Assembly to encourage people to take a stand against gender-based violence. In fact, nearly 1 in 3 women have been abused in their lifetime. But why is it particularly important to raise awareness on VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) this year? The United Nations explicates that in times of crisis abuse against women increases, which is clearly evident in countries like Afghanistan where the presence of multiple crises has greatly increased the risk of abuse. What is the situation/ status of women in Afghanistan right now? Since the Taliban took over Kabul, women’s lives have drastically changed. Their activities have been restricted, their rights are constantly violated and they face widespread discrimination. Women are not allowed to go to work and cannot leave their homes without a male relative. Despite this, Afghan women are still fighting for their rights and demanding equality, something they have been doing for centuries. Afghanistan ranks among the least favourable on the Gender Inequality Index and the literacy rate for women here is among the lowest in the world. Girls and women in Afghanistan are subject to violence and girls are being deprived from receiving an education. It is certain that depriving Afghan women of their rights is unacceptable and they deserve to live their lives peacefully and freely. What is UNICEF doing to help with their situation? UNICEF has had interventions in Afghanistan for the past 65 years, however, as the humanitarian crisis and conflicts increase in the country, it has expanded its help to protect women from violence over the last year. In order to improve women's life, they are trying to ensure that little girls have access to an education as qualitative as that of boys. Not only do they help reduce inequalities between genders but they also prevent child marriage which is highly prevalent in Afghanistan. According to a 2021 United Nations’ report, 28% of Afghan women between the ages 15 and 49 were married before they reached their 18th birthday. Moreover, UNICEF supports female teachers and doctors and tries more generally to develop as much as possible the implication of women in fields that remain male-dominated in the country. This diversification of genders in the workforce would be a great step forward in the fight against violence against women. Author: Sabrina NelsonSabrina Nelson is a first year student pursuing a major in political science and a double minor in international development and World Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies. Her interests include human rights and social justice issues, authoritarian regimes and politics in the Middle East. Image Source: https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/delivering-support-afghanistans-children The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is at a “make-or-break moment”, warns Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General. After two months of the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis. The wellbeing and safety of Afghans have been compromised and amongst other things, the country is facing an economic crisis in parallel to a rise in food security, poverty, and violence. In only two months, the situation has quickly deteriorated, and many are concerned with what will happen to the Afghans once the harsh winter months arrive. Why is the crisis in Afghanistan a humanitarian crisis? The Humanitarian coalition defines a humanitarian emergency as being a series of events that represent a critical threat to the wellbeing, safety, security, and health of a community in a region. What is happening in Afghanistan falls into that definition. The ICR estimates that out of a population of 38.9 million, 18.4 million require humanitarian aid. The safety and wellbeing of Afghans have been put at risk. They face starvation and malnutrition due to a rise in food insecurity and prices. Moreover, they lack access to essential services including health care, education, and legal sectors. Many are subjected to abuse, forced labor, and violence. Humans’ rights in Afghanistan are being violated and the populations’ security and survival are at risk. How are Afghan children affected by this? Children are increasingly bearing the burden of the conflict. Faced with a security crisis, severe droughts, Covid-19, and a lack of access to the health system, children are at great risk. Children are the future citizens/leaders of the world, yet 3.2 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition by the end of 2021. Among these, at least 1 million are at the risk of dying without immediate treatment. Thus, we are not giving them the chance to be part of the future. Afghan children are not given the privilege to have a childhood, they are born into adulthood. Deprived of innocence, they are left facing the harsh realities of the world. They witness scenes that no child should ever have to see, shaping them into individuals who suffer from anxiety and fears. Afghans should not have to bear the burden of a conflict. They have the right to have a childhood and be at peace without having to fear and fight for their survival. Women and girls are greatly affected by the crisis. Human rights and freedom under the Taliban government are being violated. Women and girls have particularly been affected by the return to power of the Taliban. Their rights and activities have been restricted, and they face widespread discrimination. Since the takeover, secondary school girls are banned from returning to school, even though boys have returned to class. An estimated 3.7 million children are out-of-school in Afghanistan, among which 60% are girls. Thus, girls are deprived of receiving an education. Women aid workers have been prevented from essential lifesaving aid reaching Afghans, especially women and girls, due to severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban. Not enabling women aid workers to do their job in a context of a humanitarian crisis, is unacceptable. What is UNICEF doing? To tackle the crisis in Afghanistan, UNICEF has taken multiple actions such as providing Humanitarian aid, ensuring access to education, and preserving women and girls’ rights. They are committed to ending violations against children and continue to work with partners to deliver life-saving assistance to children and their families across the country. For instance, in camps for internally displaced individuals, UNICEF has taken measures to support nutrition and mobile health teams, by setting up nutrition hubs and vaccination sites. How can I help? McGill Students for UNICEF (MSFU) works at raising funds and awareness for a different crisis emergency fund every year. This year, Afghanistan is our emergency fund. The fundraising efforts of MSFU go directly to the central UNICEF organisation. Your donation and support truly make a difference. Hey guys! We recently revamped our website: https://unicefmcgill.weebly.com/ and we’re really excited to get the blog kicked off!
Here's the sign-up sheet for the blog: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zdMJPH4dL3wl3foCQVo4SeHxtxM26U2wTbTtCfTZAKE/edit
|
AboutThis blog features insights from MSFU members on UN-sponsored days, club events, & the emergency fund. Archives
March 2024
|