Category: English

Source: APO

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Nearly two-thirds of South Sudanese children surveyed aged between 5 and 17 years are engaged in the worst form of child labour, with rates soaring to as high as 90% in the worst hit regions, according to a new report by the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, and Save the Children.

The landmark National Child Labour Study involved more than 418 households from across seven states in South Sudan and found that 64% or nearly two in three children surveyed were engaged in the worst form of child labour, which include forced labour, sexual exploitation and involvement in illicit activities e.g. stealing, drug abuse and armed conflict [1]. 

In some parts of the country, the survey found nearly all children were involved in child labour. In Kapoeta South, 90% of children were engaged in child labour, with gold mining, pastoralism and farming combining to keep children out of school and working to support their families. The report also found that local conflict and child marriages are contributing to extremely high rates of child labour in Yambio region, with 90% of children surveyed found to be involved. 

According to the report, children usually move from ‘light’ to hazardous or coercive labour, progressively reaching the worst forms that leave them enslaved, separated from families, exposed to serious hazards, illnesses or left to fend for themselves, said Save the Children.

About 10% of children surveyed reported experiences linked to conflict-related engagement with armed groups, particularly in counties of Akobo, Bentiu, and Kapoeta South.

The children reported to have been involved in a wide variety of activities ranging from tasks such as cattle herding and farming to jobs such as gold mining, brickmaking, street vending, and fighting alongside armed groups.

According to the report, boys are more often exposed to hazardous and military-related labour, while girls face heightened risks of domestic work, child marriage, and exploitation.

The report also revealed that caregiver awareness does not guarantee protection for the children involved, with the survey finding over 70% of children involved in hazardous work come from households where caregivers were aware of child labour laws. 

On their part, children were found to be broadly unaware of existing protection services, with only 33% aware of any protection or support service available in their area, highlighting severe service gaps and fragmented referral systems.

The findings come at a time when a collision of crises has created food shortages across South Sudan with 7.7 million people – or 57% of the population – facing acute levels of hunger and putting 2.3 million children aged under 5 at risk of acute malnutrition. 

Anthony, 16, a Child Representative in South Sudan, said: “No child should have to work when they should be learning. When children are forced into labour, they are denied their basic right to education and the chance to build a better future. Let us stand together and say no to child labour, let us protect every child’s right to grow, learn, and succeed. Every child in South Sudan deserves the opportunity to dream and to become who they are meant to be.” 

Deng Tong, Undersecretary, Ministry of Labour, Republic of South Sudan said, during the launch event in Juba:

“This national study provides a critical foundation for action. We must build on this evidence to establish a national child labour database that enables continuous monitoring and informed decision-making. As the Ministry of Labour, we are at the forefront of protecting our children across the country—raising awareness that child labour is unacceptable and that education is every child’s right. Let us now move from commitment to implementation, from promises to protection, and from words to results. Together, we can make child labour a thing of the past and give every child in South Sudan the chance to dream and to thrive.”

Minister of Public Service, Hon. Dak Duop Bichiok, who was representing the Minister of Labour, said:

“This study has given us the evidence we need to reform policies, strengthen protection systems and ensure that every child in South Sudan enjoys their right to education, safety and a childhood free from exploitation.”  

Save the Children’s South Sudan Country Director Chris Nyamandi said: 

“When nearly two-thirds of a country’s children are working—and in some areas, almost every child—it signals a crisis that goes beyond poverty. 

“Education remains the strongest protective factor, with children who attend school far less likely to be engaged in exploitative labour. This shows the incredible value of education in South Sudan. Equally the report highlights that children from food-secure households and educated caregivers face significantly lower risk, underscoring the link between poverty reduction and child protection.

“If we strengthen education, rebuild livelihoods, and prioritise child protection, we can reverse this trend. Every child deserves the chance to learn and thrive—not to work to survive.”

Barbara Egger, European Union Representative, said: 

 “Every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and become a leader of tomorrow. The European Union stands proudly with the children of South Sudan, the Government, and our partners, including Save the Children, to close legal and policy gaps, strengthen education and social protection, and ensure no child is left behind. Together, we are turning commitments into action, so that every girl and boy in South Sudan can realize the future they rightfully deserve.”

Save the Children has worked in South Sudan since 1991, when it was part of Sudan. The child rights organization provides children with access to education, healthcare and nutritional support, and families with food security and livelihoods assistance.

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Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Save the Children.

Source: APO

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The East African Community (EAC) today officially launched and flagged off its Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the General Elections in the United Republic of Tanzania.

The deployment of the mission follows an invitation by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and is in line with a directive of the EAC Council of Ministers requiring the Secretariat to observe elections in all Partner States. This underscores the EAC’s unwavering commitment to democratic governance, peace, and stability in the region.

The Head of Mission, H.E. Dr. Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, is the former Vice President of the Republic of Uganda (1994–2003). She is celebrated as the first woman in Africa to hold the position of Vice President in a sovereign nation. A trained surgeon and champion of public health and gender equality, Dr. Kazibwe also served as the United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa.

“As a Community founded on the principles of good governance, rule of law, and respect for human rights, the EAC considers credible elections a cornerstone of democracy and regional integration,” Dr. Kazibwe noted during the flag-off ceremony.

The EAC Election Observation Mission comprises a multidisciplinary team of 67 observers drawn from all EAC Partner States, including Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), representatives of National Electoral Commissions, National Human Rights Commissions, civil society, and the EAC Secretariat. The observers have been carefully selected for their expertise, impartiality, and commitment to the values of the Community.

The observers were officially dispatched to various regions across Tanzania to assess the conduct of the electoral process.

“Their mandate is to evaluate the elections in line with national laws, the EAC Principles for Election Observation and Evaluation, and relevant international standards,” Dr. Kazibwe explained.

On her part, the EAC Secretary General, Hon. Veronica Nduva, noted that the Mission will issue a preliminary statement shortly after the elections, followed by a comprehensive final report.

“These reports will present our findings and offer recommendations aimed at strengthening future electoral processes within the region,” she said.

The Secretary General further explained that the Observers will engage with electoral stakeholders, monitor the final campaign activities, and observe the polling, voting, counting, and transmission of results processes.

The Deputy Head of the Election Observation Mission, Hon. Maina Karobia, who is also a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), reiterated the Mission’s mandate.

“We are here in a spirit of partnership and solidarity with the people of the United Republic of Tanzania. Our role is not to interfere but to observe and report objectively,” he emphasized.

He affirmed that all stakeholders have a shared responsibility to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process.

The deployment of the Mission is anchored in Article 6(d) of the EAC Treaty, which obliges Partner States to uphold the principles of good governance, including democracy, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, social justice, equal opportunities, gender equality, and the promotion and protection of human and people’s rights in line with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East African Community (EAC).

Source: APO

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, and Joint-Stock Commercial Bank with Foreign Capital Hamkorbank, have reinforced their partnership through the signing of an increase in the Line of Trade Financing Agreement, with an additional US$30 million.

The signing ceremony took place at ITFC Headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during the official visit of a high-level delegation from Hamkorbank. The agreement was signed by Eng. Adeeb Y. Al Aama, CEO of ITFC, and Mr. Bakhtiyorjon Juraev, Chairman of the Management Board of Hamkorbank, in the presence of senior officials from both institutions.

This facility brings the total financing between ITFC and Hamkorbank to US$90 million, marking the highest stand-alone ITFC private sector facility in Uzbekistan. The expanded collaboration aims to support SME and private sector growth, promote women’s entrepreneurship, foster green finance, and enhance food security, in alignment with Uzbekistan’s national development priorities.

The financing is part of the US$600 million Framework Agreement signed between the Republic of Uzbekistan and ITFC in March 2024. The Framework Agreement prioritizes support for the private sector and SMEs through trade finance facilities, reaffirming ITFC’s commitment to enhancing economic resilience and promoting sustainable growth in Uzbekistan.

On this occasion, Eng. Adeeb Y. Al Aama, CEO of ITFC, commented: “This expanded partnership with Hamkorbank reflects ITFC’s strong commitment to deepening private sector support and advancing Islamic finance in Uzbekistan. By extending this new facility, we are enabling greater access to trade finance for SMEs and contributing to the country’s efforts to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.”

Mr. Bakhtiyorjon Juraev, Chairman of the Management Board, JSCB Hamkorbank, stated: “We are delighted to have reached this significant agreement with ITFC, with a total exposure of US$90 million. This collaboration will play a crucial role in supporting and expanding Hamkorbank’s Islamic Financing portfolio, which aligns with our commitment to providing ethical and innovative financial solutions. We believe that this partnership will not only enhance our service offerings but also contribute to the growth of key sectors within the region. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with ITFC as we continue to support sustainable economic development.”

Uzbekistan became a member of ITFC in 2019, and since then, ITFC has played a pivotal role in supporting the country’s trade finance needs, advancing the private sector, and promoting access to Shariah-compliant financial solutions by approving a cumulative US$950 million in favour of the banks in the country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).

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Source: APO

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By Tom Alweendo, Founder of Alvenco Advisory. 

Namibia is in a narrow window between discovery and decision. TotalEnergies has asked to extend its exploration licence and has already signalled a smaller Venus development, with final investment decision now discussed for 2026. That moves us from big headlines to unglamorous execution: ports, people, permits. If we get those right over the next year, the investment case strengthens. If not, capital that is already mobile will drift somewhere else – Guyana, Brazil or Nigeria.

Start with logistics. Namibia needs a serviceable, phased plan for Lüderitz and a sensible overflow role for Walvis Bay. Instead, the market saw Namport pause southern-harbour upgrades to “clarify scope” and cancel a Lüderitz supply-base tender days after launch. That injects uncertainty into drilling schedules where rig days and marine spreads cost real money. The fix is not a megaproject. It is modular delivery tied to actual rig activity, such as quay length, lay-down, bunkering, and waste handling, that is commissioned in tranches with clear go/no-go gates. Publish a simple 12-month build schedule co-signed by Namport and all the relevant Ministries (Works, Finance and Industries, Mines & Energy), and ring-fence port user charges from Orange Basin activity to repay works. These moves are reversible and protect downside if activity slows.

Investors should meet government halfway. Minimum-throughput and take-or-pay commitments can underwrite the first phase. Operators can synchronise rig sequences to smooth peaks and co-fund common-user assets that reduce everybody’s costs. Baker Hughes’ move to establish a Walvis Bay drilling-fluids base shows how targeted, shared infrastructure can de-risk timelines. It also reminds us that practical bottlenecks—mud, storage, maintenance—matter more than glossy port drawings. Publish quarterly schedule-certainty metrics to make performance visible.

Second, local content. The draft National Upstream Petroleum Local Content Policy sets the right direction, but intent needs teeth. Three design choices will determine whether we get real capability transfer or box-ticking. First, set transparent, phased targets by service category such as logistics, catering, HSE, fabrication. These targets are to be reviewed annually against supplier capacity. Second, require a modest training levy (for example, 1% of contract value) channelled to accredited centres, audited independently. Third, enforce prompt-payment standards for SMEs—say, 15 days—with penalties for late settlement. Pair this with a live supplier register and public spend dashboards by category. For operators, the ask is simple: pre-announce procurement six to twelve months ahead, split packages to fit SME balance sheets, and second engineers into Namibian firms with dual KPIs, namely safety and skills transfer. These steps cost little now and prevent friction later when the basin scales.

Third, permitting. South Africa’s courts have shown how fragile projects become when environmental processes are thin. In August 2025, the Western Cape High Court set aside an environmental authorisation for offshore Block 5/6/7; this month Shell and the government sought leave to appeal. Whatever the outcome, the lesson for Namibia is to build legitimacy into the timetable: cumulative impact assessments along the southern coast, rigorous oil-spill modelling including transboundary scenarios, and funded independent review capacity so regulators can keep pace with submissions. Establish a single-window desk for Orange Basin approvals with statutory service-level agreements, and publish monthly dashboards of decisions taken. Speed and scrutiny are not opposites; done right, they reinforce each other and lower litigation risk.

Capital is watching our signal. Galp is marketing a 40% stake in Mopane and aims to finalise a partnership by year-end. That is both validation and a reminder that portfolios rotate fast. Clear, credible delivery on ports, local content and permitting reduces the country risk premium investors price into Orange Basin projects. Drift raises it.

Mind the base rates. The International Energy Agency estimates that, in recent years, new conventional upstream projects have taken close to 20 years on average from licence award to first production, with five years to discovery, around eight for appraisal and approval, and six for construction. There are quicker tie-back exceptions, but new hubs rarely sprint. Our ambition should be disciplined: build only what is needed for appraisal and early development now; leave option value for scale-up post-FID. That respects our constraints—people, cash, clock, and complexity—and avoids the “risk of ruin” that comes with over-build.

Macroeconomics reinforce the case for restraint with focus. Government has just trimmed the 2025 growth forecast to 3.3%, down from 4.5% in March. In that context, the Orange Basin is not a silver bullet; it is a credibility test. Deliver a few visible, bankable steps in the next six to nine months and we convert promise into jobs and tax. Miss them and scepticism about execution grows, raising costs for everyone.

What does success look like by mid-2026? Lüderitz Phase 1 operating with extended berth, lay-down and night operations; a one-stop permitting desk hitting published timelines; supplier-development cohorts running against a live procurement schedule; and operators reporting local-spend and payment discipline alongside safety performance. None of this is flashy. All of it is doable within existing budgets and institutions if we prioritise and coordinate.

The choice is between narrative and navigation. We can celebrate “frontier basin” status while confusing the market with paused tenders and fuzzy scopes. Or we can move in tight, reversible steps that keep late-2026 FID credible: build the minimum we truly need; codify local content that actually transfers capability; and run permitting at speed with legitimacy. Investors will respond to proof, not promises. Policymakers can set the cadence. If both do their part, the Orange Basin will move from exciting news to investable reality; on our terms, and on time.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

About African Energy Chamber:
The African Energy Chamber is the voice of the African Energy Sector.  

Source: APO

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Philip Mshelbila, Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited, has been elected Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). Mshelbila assumes the position from outgoing Secretary General Mohamed Hamel, who led the organization through a period of significant growth and development. As a leading voice in global gas dialogue, the GECF unites major producers under a common goal of promoting dialogue and advancing energy security worldwide. With leadership moving from one African to another, the GECF’s selection cements Africa’s prominence in global gas discussions and is expected to support the continent’s efforts to position gas as the energy solution of the future.

As the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) welcomes Mshelbila’s appointment as a momentous step for African representation within global energy governance. The AEC has long-advocated for the role natural gas plays, both in Africa’s and the world’s future energy mix. Under Mshelbila’s leadership, African gas producers will gain a stronger platform to influence global energy decisions, while aligning international policies with the continent’s development objectives. The AEC also commends Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo, who has been selected as President for the 2026 GECF Ministerial Meeting.

“With African leadership at the helm of the GECF, we have the opportunity to shape global gas dialogue, advocate for fair investment and position our gas as a cornerstone of global energy security. We thank outgoing Secretary General Hamel, who has been a great friend and partner of the AEC and of Africa. He brought Mauritania, Mozambique, Angola and Senegal into the global gas family and championed the fight against energy poverty. With leadership moving from one African to another, the GECF will continue making gas the priority of our continent’s development,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

The appointments come as African nations emerge as drivers of global gas production. From established gas markets such as Nigeria, Angola, Libya and Algeria, to emerging producers such as Senegal, Mauritania, Mozambique and the Republic of Congo, Africa is rapidly positioning gas as a central component of the continent’s development future. For Nigeria, the appointment of Mshelbila comes as the country continues to advance its LNG ambitions. With the Nigeria LNG facility producing since 1999, the country has put in place measures to strengthen capacity and exports. The development of a seventh train – which will increase production from 22 million tons per annum (mtpa) to 30 mtpa – is a cornerstone of this strategy. Train 7 is expected to come online in 2025.

Beyond Nigeria, Angola is developing its first non-associated gas project – led by the New Gas Consortium – which will provide feedstock to the Angola LNG plant. The project is expected to come online in late-2025 and following the country’s first gas discovery at Block 1/14 earlier this year. Algeria and Libya are also ramping up production with a view to increase exports to Europe. Algeria plans to increase production to 200 billion cubic meters by 2030 while Libya is developing a series of projects – including Structures A&E.

Africa’s gas production is expected to get a major boost through the emergence of new LNG players. In 2025, the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim development – situated on the maritime border of Senegal and Mauritania – began production. The first phase has a capacity of 2.3 mtpa, while a planned second phase will double production to 5 mtpa. Mozambique is also making forays into LNG production with a series of major projects in the Rovuma Basin. The country started LNG production at the Coral Sul FLNG vessel in 2022 and is now advancing the development of the TotalEnergies-led Mozambique LNG project, the ExxonMobil-led Rovuma LNG project and the Eni-led Coral North project. In 2025, Coral North reached a final investment decision (FID), while FID for the Rovuma project is expected in 2026. In Central Africa, the Republic of Congo recently joined the ranks of African LNG producers with the start of Congo LNG in 2024. The first phase of the project has a capacity of 600,000 tons per annum while a planned second phase increases output to 3 mtpa. The second phase will come online in 2025.

Meanwhile, new frontiers are fast emerging. Zimbabwe is pursuing its first natural gas development in the Cabora Bassa Basin, where exploration by Invictus Energy has already confirmed the presence of substantial hydrocarbons. Tanzania is advancing plans for a $42-billion LNG terminal in Lindi, expected to unlock more than 57 trillion cubic feet of reserves. Together, these projects illustrate a continental shift toward harnessing gas as a catalyst for industrialization, power generation, and sustainable growth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO – Report:

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In a society where emotional vulnerability among men is often masked by silence or coded expressions—and where resilience is expected above all—WHO Uganda is shifting the narrative, one conversation at a time.

Responding to the growing global dialogue on workplace mental health, especially during the current transition within WHO and across the broader UN community, WHO Uganda launched the ‘Men Talk’ series—a bold and timely initiative aimed at supporting the mental health and wellbeing of male colleagues. The series creates a safe, confidential space for open discussions on topics that deeply affect men but are rarely discussed.

The sessions have sparked enthusiastic participation, with many male colleagues sharing that the conversations have helped them reflect, connect, and heal in ways they hadn’t experienced before. Designed to be interactive and grounded in real-life experiences, the sessions resonate deeply with participants.

So far, two sessions have been held:

• A man and his identity: What determines your worth? explored how societal expectations shape self-worth and emotional resilience.
• A man and his finances, tackled the pressures of financial responsibility and the emotional toll it can take.

These sessions have ignited honest conversations and deep personal reflection.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive:

“For the first time, I felt seen—not just as a team lead or a professional, but as a man navigating real challenges,” shares Christopher Chikombero, Team Lead, Country Support Unit.
“The sessions have addressed relevant and practical topics, especially during these times. They’ve also offered men a safe space to talk,” adds Nasan Natseri, Country Office Data Manager.

Benjamin Agaba, Finance Assistant, expresses his appreciation:
“The first session reminded us of the roles and responsibilities of men in society, both from a biblical and societal perspective. The second session was especially engaging. I believe fathers should share financial wisdom with their sons early on, rather than waiting until adulthood. Men need to learn how to manage their finances wisely—especially by living within their means.”

To keep the momentum, a WhatsApp group exclusively for male staff has been created. It has quickly become a virtual safe space where men share thoughts, offer support, and continue the conversation around healthy masculinity and vulnerability.

The excitement is palpable. Male colleagues are already asking about the next topic, eager to keep the dialogue alive. This is more than a series—it’s a movement helping men become better colleagues, husbands, and fathers.

Ultimately, this initiative is not just about mental health—it’s about transforming workplace culture. By creating space for men to speak openly, WHO Uganda is helping dismantle harmful norms and build a healthier, more empathetic work environment.

– on behalf of World Health Organization – Uganda.

Source: APO – Report:

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“As a midwife, I’ve held a torch in one hand while I prayed on one side that a mother didn’t die in childbirth,” said Angela Nguku, founder of the White Ribbon Alliance Kenya.

A midwife by vocation, Nguku said her 16-year journey as a talent advocate for pregnant women and newborns began in the delivery room, where she stood beside women giving life in dark birthing facilities with no electricity or medical supplies and without dignity.

Preventable maternal mortality and morbidity is no longer considered solely as a public health concern; it is also increasingly recognized as a human rights issue. With one woman dying every two minutes from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth today, according to 2023 estimates by WHO, this phenomenon continues to be the deadliest manifestation of gender-based discrimination.

In 2012, UN Human Rights presented a technical guidance to the Human Rights Council that offered a human rights-based approach to tackling the issue which primarily affects women and girls in low- and middle-income countries, as well as the most marginalized populations in high-income nations. An update to this technical guidance was presented recently at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

In the update, UN Human Rights reminded States that maternal deaths are not inevitable but only reflect their failure to uphold women’s human rights, especially the sexual and reproductive health and rights of those most marginalized. Women are not dying from untreatable diseases, they are dying because there is no political will to genuinely address the roots causes of maternal deaths, Nguku said.

“The reason I centre the voices of mothers is because I have walked with them. I have held their hands in labour wards. I have listened to their truths. Maternal mortality is not just a health statistic. It is a justice issue. It is women who are dying, yet most of the decisions about them are still made without them,” she added. “The world is still negotiating the worth of women’s lives. And when a woman dies giving life, justice is denied.”

Kenya’s maternal mortality ratio stands at 379 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2023.While this represents a decline from earlier figures, it remains far above global targets.

Nguku also described the “poly-crisis” she said contributes to preventable maternal deaths, including economic, dignity, community, generational, cultural, social, and justice crises. “These overlapping crises primarily affect the underserved, including adolescents, Indigenous and pastoralist women, the rural and urban poor, migrants and refugees, and those living with disabilities. Yet most programmes still treat women as a single, homogeneous group, forgetting that their needs are shaped by specific contexts and lived realities,” she said.

Crucially, pregnancy and childbirth complications are among the leading causes of deaths of adolescent girls globally. According to WHO estimates, each year, adolescent girls have 21 million pregnancies in low- and middle-income countries, half of which are forced or unintended.

“Our mothers have to decide whether to use the money they have for the bus fare to get to the facility or use it to buy the supplies the hospital cannot provide for their stay or send their children to school or feed their families,” Nguku said. “Some women are disrespected at our healthcare facilities, they are not given any information or even called by their names. So, they prefer delivering their babies at home and risk death. But the minute a mother dies, the whole family collapses. This is what women told us through our unprecedented What Women Want campaigns. It shows the power of asking and listening.”

Nguku stressed that such a complex, multi-faceted issue as preventable maternal mortality and morbidity requires a holistic, integrated approach to resolve, which would include various stakeholders such as the women and girls themselves, the health practitioners, those in charge of the programmes and the policymakers in various sectors.

She also pointed out the need to take a multi-sectoral and intersectional tactic that would go beyond the health sector and focus on better education, including sexual and reproductive health education, water and sanitation, improved civil infrastructure and public financing, and the participation of the private manufacturers of the products that women and girls need.

“Until we stop looking at maternal deaths from the lens of development only and look at it from a comprehensive human rights perspective, we won’t be able to realise that we are talking about justice and we will keep failing women,” Nguku said.

At the 60^th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, a resolution was adopted that reaffirms the importance of adopting a human rights-based approach, including the fulfilment of sexual and reproductive health and rights, in eliminating preventable maternal mortality.

Compounded injustices and systemic failures as a cause

In Colombia, Dr. Jezid Miranda, an obstetrician and maternal foetal medicine specialist, and professor at the University of Cartagena has, for the past 15 years, focused his research on improving pregnancy outcomes, particularly for conditions such as preeclampsia, and understanding how social inequalities influence these outcomes. He also serves as Chair of the Health System Strengthening Committee at the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), where he contributes to global discussions on the importance of robust health systems for improving maternal health worldwide.

“Although this happens around the world, what was shocking to me was seeing many women in my country face discrimination or neglect during pregnancy and childbirth, especially those from marginalized communities,” Miranda said. “Protecting women’s health is inseparable from protecting all their human rights, and research and advocacy are ways to make those rights visible and, in some way, actionable.”

Facts about maternal mortality and morbidity

• A woman dies approximately every two minutes from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
• Women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa are up to 400 times more likely to die from these causes than women in high-income countries.
• Women and adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries and from marginalized communities in high-income countries are most affected.
• Sixty-one percent of maternal deaths occur in crisis settings.
• Unsafe abortion remains a leading cause of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity in certain countries.
• Under international human rights law, governments have legal obligations to maintain the highest possible standard of health, including sexual and reproductive healthcare.

For Miranda, these preventable deaths and injuries occur against a backdrop of growing misinformation, distrust in science and global pushbacks against gender equality. Women continue to face abuses, disrespect and systemic barriers linked to poverty, ethnicity, language and legal status. Healthcare systems are also under pressure, he said, because of underfunding, the privatization of healthcare, and fragile health systems — especially in contexts compounded by crises such as migration, violence and armed conflict.

“Women’s health should not be covered by private interests, it should be a human right, but this is not the reality of our world today,” he said. “Women must pay to give birth in dignity. Some economies argue that this is how they keep their health systems on track, but it is a question of priority. With a better health system, comes healthier populations and healthy populations drive stronger economies.”

As stated in the UN Human Rights update to the technical guidance, the root causes of maternal mortality and morbidity lie in engrained gender inequalities, compounded by socio-economic injustices and systemic failures. These intersecting factors perpetuate disadvantages and risk, restricting women’s access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.

These injustices and failures, the report states, can manifest in lack of access to contraception to ensure adequate birth spacing, or denial of autonomy over pregnancy decisions or essential antenatal care; delays in reaching an appropriate health facility; underfunded and ill-equipped health systems, lacking the necessary interventions, medications or capacity to prevent and treat life-threatening complications; and discriminatory laws and lack of access to essential sexual and reproductive health services and information, or even their criminalization in some countries.

“When I look at maternal health, I see more than biology; I see rights, dignity and justice.“ – Dr. Jezid Miranda, obstetrician and professor at the University of Cartagena, Colombia

Miranda provided examples of how countries like Colombia have been able to reduce maternal mortality rates from 95 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 42 in 100,000 today. This comprised focusing on community-based solutions and training, including in Indigenous territories, and political commitment, rather than solely relying on expensive medical equipment.

He also highlighted the critical role of global organizations like UN Human Rights in supporting the implementation of relevant standards and pushing countries to respect women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The importance of disaggregated data

In India too, the health system has improved pregnancy outcomes with increasing institutional births, although the quality of care in these institutions still needs much improvement, according to Dr. Subhasri Balakrishnan. An obstetrician by training, she has been working for more than 20 years in civil society organizations, including now at Common Health India that has adopted a human rights-based approach to maternal and reproductive health.

Balakrishnan’s organization has used ‘social autopsies’ to acquire data on maternal deaths in different states in India that analyse the social determinants of maternal mortality and morbidity through a human rights lens. Women in India are increasingly choosing to give birth in health facilities and maternal mortality has improved tremendously over the past two decades, she said. However, this improvement does not translate in the quality of care provided to women by medical institutions.

“There is a huge gap in terms of availability of human resources and supplies, in a diverse country like India, especially in states where health systems have historically been under-resourced and under-funded,” she said. “There has also been a lot of disinvestment in health systems over the years, in terms of privatisation, both overtly and covertly, which has resulted in increased contractualization of the workforce.”

Balakrishnan further pointed out that the women still dying from preventable maternal causes belong to historically marginalized and disadvantaged communities, such as Indigenous women and those living in remote areas, who still face discrimination in accessing healthcare. She stressed that maternal deaths are deeply tied to social determinants such as poverty, nutrition, caste, and gender and that these broader factors need to be adequately addressed.

For UN Human Rights, eliminating preventable maternal mortality and morbidity requires bold, systemic changes and solidarity. This would include establishing comprehensive data-collection systems. Balakrishnan confirmed that India has a sample registration system that counts maternal deaths from representative samples across the country, which, she said, is probably the most credible data that can be retrieved from the country’s large data sets. However, although that system provides some geographical disaggregation, it hasn’t proven useful in specifically identifying which communities are mainly affected.

“Caste is a huge determinant of access to health or discrimination in health in India and smaller studies or data sets would show that the most marginalised castes are disproportionately more represented in maternal deaths than the rest of the population,” Balakrishnan said. “Nor do we have cause of death data. The Sample Registration System doesn’t provide any cause of death data or disaggregated data by community. And unless we know those kinds of details, how are we actually going to address these issues?”

Balakrishnan stressed that it was essential to invest in strengthening the whole healthcare system to adequately start preventing maternal mortality and morbidity. This includes providing better working and contractual conditions for healthcare workers, supporting continuous training, and promoting their human rights.

In India, maternal mortality and morbidity have significantly decreased from 200 per 100,000 live births to half that amount in two decades. Balakrishnan credited political will, international frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals, and civil society accountability initiatives for these results. She also included the country’s maternal death surveillance and response system and emergency transport systems as examples of good practices.

“Civil society organizations have been able to document maternal deaths and brought attention to them, to a smaller scale. But there are no real accountability spaces,” Balakrishnan said. “The update [to the technical guidance] is useful in the sense that it gives us a document to support our accountability efforts and keep the attention on the issue.”

According to the update to the technical guidance, eliminating preventable maternal mortality and morbidity is a moral and human rights imperative involving clear State obligations. Because it is a matter of justice, only a human rights-based overhaul will ensure that no more women and girls die from preventable causes.

Tackling gender inequalities and the underlying social determinants of health, including sexual and reproductive health; addressing intersecting forms of discrimination; and addressing harmful dominant economic systems that prioritize profit over human rights were among recommendations made to States in the report.

– on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Source: APO – Report:

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President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Damongo, the Savannah regional capital, will host two major projects: a Catholic Science and Technology University and a regional hospital that will serve as a teaching facility.

The President made the announcement during a courtesy call by Most Reverend Philip Naameh, Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, at the Presidency in Accra.

According to President Mahama, initial funding for the proposed university will come from the grant promised by the Chinese President.

The regional hospital, he explained, “shall also serve as a teaching facility for the proposed Catholic Science and Technology University, which will have a Faculty of Medical Sciences to train medical doctors and other allied health professionals.”

The President reiterated the government’s commitment to revamp the nation’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions during the discussions.

The name and location of the proposed university in Damongo were proposed by Archbishop Naameh and his delegation, who raised various educational and social issues affecting the northern sector of the country and made a passionate plea for redress.

Present at the meeting were Haruna Iddrisu (MP), Minister for Education; Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Presidential Advisor and Special Aide to the President; Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Office of the President; and Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs.

– on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

Source: APO – Report:

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President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday reinforced his administration’s commitment to an independent yet accountable judiciary at the induction of 37 new High Court judges.

“Judicial independence is the lifeblood of our democracy, and it must never be compromised,” President Mahama declared during the swearing-in ceremony. “But independence does not mean isolation. Courts must remain open to accountability, must be guided by transparency and fidelity to the Constitution of the Republic.”

The President said the judiciary plays a critical role in Ghana’s development aspirations, particularly as the government pursues its Resetting Ghana Agenda, including the 24-Hour Economy initiative and the Big Push infrastructure programme.

“Your judgments will shape not only our jurisprudence, but also affect investor confidence, human rights, and our national stability,” he told the new judges, stressing that Ghana needs “a judiciary that is both firm and facilitative, one that enforces contracts fairly, protects innovation, and delivers justice without undue delay.”

President Mahama reminded the judges that their work extends beyond legal documents to the lives of real people.

“Behind every written affidavit was a human story of loss of hope, of survival, a dismissed teacher, a family displaced, a young person wrongfully accused,” he noted.

He urged the newly sworn-in judges to reject unnecessary delays and embrace modernisation.
“For as the saying goes, when lawyers play with time, justice becomes a casualty. Let the High Court be both the temple of the law and the house of humanity.”

Reaffirming executive support for the judiciary, the President stated: “As President, I wish to reaffirm my government’s unwavering commitment to defending judicial independence. Yet with that freedom comes the sacred duty to uphold ethical discipline and professional excellence.”

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Justice Francis Asong Obuojo expressed gratitude for the appointment and pledged impartial service.

“We are here to assure you, the President, that for the confidence imposed in us and for this appointment, we will deliver justice to the people and the citizenry,” he said, committing to uphold justice “with integrity and without partiality.”

– on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.