Category: English

Source: APO

A survey of 2,000 adults in South Africa, found  that 35 per cent are planning to start trading in stocks, shares or other investments in the future.

Three quarters (74 per cent) are confident in their ability to make smart decisions when it comes to investing, while six per cent are more ‘not confident at all’.

And 11 per cent of those who don’t currently hold investments won’t take the plunge and begin investing before they have saved at least R50k.

However, more than half (54 per cent) have invested in stocks, shares or other investments in the past.

A spokesperson for Exness [https://apo-opa.co/3UM6lkE], which commissioned the study, said: “We’re seeing more and more people setting money aside not just for a rainy day – but with a clear goal of investing it in the stock market.

“There’s been a real shift in how people approach their finances, with many now actively planning for long-term growth rather than just short-term spending.

“Whether it’s buying shares in companies they believe in or simply trying to make their money work harder in uncertain times, stock investing has become a much more mainstream aspiration.

“And with so many platforms making it easier than ever to get started, people are becoming increasingly confident about taking that first step.”

The study also found 25 per cent of respondents are curious, but feel under-informed when it comes to investing in stocks and shares.

And men are more than twice as likely as women to have savings put by for a future stock market investment (20 per cent of men, compared to nine per cent of women).

And while 48 per cent of those aged 18-24 haven’t yet taken the plunge, they do plan to – compared to only 34 per cent of older adults (35 to 44).

Younger would-be investors are also more confident they’d make good decisions when it came to investments, than many of their older peers.

More than eight in 10 (81 per cent) of adults under 24 would back their decision for wise investments, compared to only 64 per cent of people aged 45-54.

And while 39 per cent would trust a financial adviser the most for tips on how to play the stock market, 16 per cent would listen to a banking or trading app.

But very few would trust information found on YouTube (four per cent) or a social media feed (three per cent).

To help prepare, 71 per cent of those who’ve made investments have ‘practised’ investing with a simulation, or demo trading platform, before using real money.

With 87 per cent claiming they found this technique helpful.

Some of the top concerns people have around investing are the fear of scams or fraud (58 per cent) or making the wrong decision (44 per cent).

On the other hand, 56 per cent consider key benefits to be the potential for long term growth and 54 per cent would enjoy financial independence.

Of those who have made bought stocks and shares in the past, 34 per cent have regretted a sale, according to the OnePoll. com results.

The spokesperson for Exness [https://Insights.Exness.com/] added: “For many, investing in stocks represents a kind of financial independence.

“It’s no longer something ‘other people’ do—it’s something they can do too, provided they plan ahead.

“And that planning often starts with simple, consistent saving habits that grow over time into something far more empowering.”

TOP 10 BENEFITS OF INVESTING IN STOCKS AND SHARES:

1. Long-term growth
2. Financial independence
3. Turning savings into something bigger
4. Passive income
5. Learning a new skill
6. Diversifying income sources
7. Feeling financially savvy
8. Retiring earlier
9. Beating inflation
10. Getting ahead of peers

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Exness.

Source: APO

In a commendable move to advance gender equality, the Central African Republic (CAR) has officially ratified the Maputo Protocol (http://apo-opa.co/45AWRPn), becoming the 46th African Union Member State to join this groundbreaking African treaty to protect and promote the rights of women and girls.

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa – commonly known as the Maputo Protocol – is one of the world’s most comprehensive legal frameworks on women’s rights. Adopted in 2003 by the African Union (AU), this treaty outlines clear obligations for African governments to end violence against women and girls, ensure reproductive rights, eliminate harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation, and promote equal participation in economic, political, and public life.

The human rights situation in CAR has been dire, with women and girls disproportionately affected by conflict, insecurity, and weak governance. Communities continue to face cycles of violence, displacement, and widespread sexual and gender-based abuse, often leaving survivors without justice or support.

By formally depositing the Protocol’s instruments of ratification on 29 July 2025 (http://apo-opa.co/4lK01VO), CAR’s government has made a powerful public commitment to ending legal discrimination against women and girls. This milestone reflects a clear intent to enhance the country’s legal protections, enact and fully implement laws and policies to uphold human rights, and forge a future where women and girls can live safely, freely, and with equal opportunity.

The Maputo Protocol embodies the power of partnership

CAR’s ratification of the Maputo Protocol is a potent demonstration of progress in advancing gender equality by aligning with the AU’s collective vision of equality, justice, and dignity for all. Across the continent, the Protocol has enabled African countries to achieve meritorious legal and policy advances, with governments strengthening protections for women and girls in partnership with regional and grassroots organisations and activists driving bold, transformative change.

CAR’s laudable move forward marks the culmination of sustained and productive endeavors by civil society actors and regional partners. Central to this accomplishment has been the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition (SOAWR) (www.SOAWR.org), a network of over 70 women’s rights organizations based in 33 African countries dedicated to advocating for women’s and girls’ rights by advocating for the universal ratification of the Protocol (http://apo-opa.co/41hYlvm).

On June 25, 2025, a ratification mission to CAR was spearheaded by two SOAWR Coalition members, led by Jacques Bandji from Women’s Counselling and Information Centre (WCIC), based in Cameroon, and Dr. Tom Mulisa from the Great Lakes Initiative for Human Rights and Development (GLIHD) based in Rwanda.

The CAR government made a welcome commitment to ratify the Protocol at this high-level gathering. Attended by over 40 participants – incorporating civil society, development partners, and government officials, including Dr. Marthe Augustine Kirimat, CAR’s Minister for Gender Promotion, Women’s Protection, Family and Children – the convening played a pivotal role in laying the foundations for a successful follow-up trip in July with an AU Commission-led mission including SOAWR.

Barrister Yveline Ntanfai from WCIC reflected, “An effective collaborative advocacy, depending on who you surround yourself with, leads to successful goal achievement as with the CAR mission. Today, the Central African Republic stands tall as the 46th AU Member State to ratify the Maputo Protocol. This milestone is the result of considerable efforts by government leaders, women’s rights advocates, and regional partners. It is a powerful testament to what we can achieve through collaboration to advance the rights of women and girls.”

Dr. Mulisa expanded, “The CAR mission demonstrated the resilience and strength of women and girls to advocate for their rights. It proved that civil society can effectively engage government institutions to achieve a shared goal. Women’s rights organizations in the Central African Republic played a crucial role, speaking with one voice to push for state compliance and the submission of the instruments of ratification.”

Upholding women’s legal rights across Africa

The Maputo Protocol explicitly affirms the right of women and girls to live free from violence, and African governments are obligated to adopt strong legislative and policy measures that prevent and respond to all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, guarantee access to justice, and hold perpetrators accountable.

Beyond legal reform, the Protocol mandates survivor-centered support services, including access to legal aid, and promotes public education to eliminate harmful practices and challenge discrimination. Furthermore, it encourages international cooperation and collaboration on research, capacity building, and the exchange of best practices.

The power of the Protocol is evidenced by SOAWR founder member and secretariat Equality Now in Breathing Life into the Maputo Protocol: Jurisprudence on the Rights of Women and Girls in Africa – 2nd Edition (http://apo-opa.co/45wGymA), a case digest by Equality Now legal experts that illustrates how the Protocol has been increasingly referenced in national and regional court decisions to uphold women’s and girls’ rights. Between 2019 and 2024, courts across 11 African countries applied the treaty in 26 landmark judgments, showing its growing importance in strategic litigation that set legal precedents.

The Maputo Protocol is key to safeguarding the rights of women and girls

However, Africa’s progress on securing legal rights for women and girls must not be taken for granted. Amid a growing global pushback against gender equality involving attempts to repeal existing legal protections – such as in The Gambia, where anti-rights activists have filed a case with the Gambian Supreme Court seeking to repeal the country’s law prohibiting female genital mutilation (http://apo-opa.co/47ebCJc) – it is more important than ever to both build upon and defend the gains accrued.

The Protocol stands as a critical shield against regression. As a legally binding framework to “ensure that the rights of women are promoted, realised and protected (http://apo-opa.co/45NY8RL) in order to enable them to fully enjoy all their human rights,” the treaty provides a clear roadmap for governments to establish robust legal protections, address systemic discrimination, and turn the aspiration of gender equality into a lived reality.

Crucially, it also empowers civil society, legal practitioners, and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence to challenge harmful laws, resist the rollback of rights, and demand justice through national and regional mechanisms.

With just five years remaining to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the ratification and full implementation of the Protocol by every AU Member State is more urgent than ever for SDG 5 – achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

It is imperative that each African government takes concrete action to ratify the treaty and incorporate its provisions wholesale into national legislation. This must include doing so without reservations (http://apo-opa.co/4mxnavN) that allow states to opt out of specific commitments and, in doing so, dilute the treaty’s protections.

In practice, reservations can undermine fundamental human rights, such as by restricting access to reproductive healthcare and weakening protections against child marriage, marital rape, and sex discrimination in family laws (http://apo-opa.co/45Op3gf) governing divorce, inheritance, child custody, and nationality.

“This is a defining moment for Africa,” explains Esther Waweru, Senior Legal Advisor at Equality Now. “The Central African Republic’s ratification of the Maputo Protocol sends a powerful message that progress on women’s rights continues. But it must not stop here. Over the past two decades, the treaty has driven significant legal advances across the continent. Yet, challenges remain, and sustained effort is needed for its promises to be entirely realised in every African country.”

“While we celebrate the Central African Republic’s ratification of the Maputo Protocol, we keep in mind all the African Union Member States that have not yet prioritised full ratification, domestication, and implementation of the treaty, leaving millions without the comprehensive legal protection they are entitled to. We urge these governments to act without delay to uphold their obligations under the Protocol and ensure no woman or girl is left behind – not in law, not in practice, and not in progress.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equality Now.

For further media enquiries, please contact:
Michelle Tuva,
Regional Communications Officer, Africa,
mtuva@equalitynow.org,
T. +254715142246

About Equality Now:
Equality Now (www.EqualityNow.org/) is a worldwide human rights organisation dedicated to securing the legal and systemic change needed to end discrimination against all women and girls, everywhere in the world. Since its inception in 1992, it has played a role in reforming 120 discriminatory laws globally, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of women and girls, their communities and nations, both now and for generations to come.

About Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR):
Established in 2004, Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) (www.SOAWR.org/) is a coalition of over 70 organisations working on women’s rights based in 33 countries in Africa. SOAWR was formed with the principal objective of advocating for the ratification, domestication, and implementation of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), adopted 22 years ago.

For more details, go to www.SOAWR.org, Twitter/X: https://apo-opa.co/4mx5aS9, Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3HNDtFu, LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/46dtZfd, TikTok: https://apo-opa.co/3HSCx2C, Spotify: https://apo-opa.co/4mxm2Io

About The Women’s Counselling and Information Centre (WCIC):
The Women’s Counselling and Information Centre (WCIC) is a non-profit NGO in the process of becoming, declared as an association at the prefecture of Wouri on March 3, 2005. WCIC is part of the diverse landscape of associations and NGOs working for the protection and promotion of women’s rights in Cameroon.

WCIC is above all a group of professional volunteers who have accepted to share their knowledge and also to devote part of their time to the legal support of women. This structure gathers professional jurists, in particular lawyers who are passionate about the defense of women’s rights.

For more information, visit: https://WomenCIC.wordpress.com/

Source: APO – Report:

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This evening, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at Al Alamein International Airport. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed arrived as a cherished guest in his second homeland, Egypt, for a visit that will extend over several days.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said President El-Sisi welcomed Egypt’s esteemed guest His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, underscoring the deep respect and special status that Egypt and its people hold for His Highness the UAE President, in continuation of the legacy established by the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose memory remains deeply cherished by the Egyptian people. President El-Sisi also emphasized the strength, resilience, and depth of the historic relations between the two brotherly nations and their peoples.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed expressed his profound appreciation for President El-Sisi for the warm reception he received, lauding the brotherly and historic bonds the leaderships and peoples of both countries share.

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO – Report:

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African ministers of health gathering for the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa today adopted a pivotal framework to accelerate efforts to address oral health diseases that affect around 42% of the region’s population.

The regional oral health framework, endorsed at the Seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Lusaka, Zambia, aims for at least 50% of each country’s population to be entitled to essential oral health services. It also seeks to achieve a 10% reduction in the prevalence of major oral diseases, and that by 2028, 60% of countries have national oral health policies with dedicated budgets and staff. It also aims that 50% of noma-endemic countries integrate noma into national health strategies.

“Oral disease have been largely neglected, making them among the most prevalent in our region,” said Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our efforts to address this threat need to be robust, concerted and sustained. The framework agreed today highlights the urgent need for countries to prioritize oral health, ensuring adequate financing, workforce and leadership to protect and promote health through a more integrated people-centred approach.”

The framework emphasizes that oral health must be recognized as a fundamental component of universal health coverage. WHO, with support from partners, is working with governments to make progress through strong advocacy, technical assistance and training. For example, tax on toothpaste has been abolished to improve access to fluoride toothpaste to prevent dental caries in Mauritius. More than 14,000 health workers have enrolled in WHO oral health training courses to promote oral health and early detect and refer oral diseases at community and primary care levels. Fourteen countries are leading efforts to secure WHO recognition of noma as a neglected tropical disease. These milestones reflect growing national commitment.

“This framework is a welcome addition to our fight against oral health diseases in our country,” said Honourable Ibrahima Sy, Minister of Health, Senegal. “Senegal has long recognized noma as a critical public health issue and has been a part of WHO’s efforts to combat this devastating disease. We are committed to ensuring that we are at the forefront of protecting people against oral diseases through a multisectoral approach. With WHO’s ongoing support and collaboration, we will achieve this goal.”

The framework outlines five priority measures for countries to undertake: strengthening leadership and financing through partnerships; developing national oral health policies; and integrate oral health into essential health service packages. It also calls on governments to close the health workforce gaps through approaches such as task-sharing, increase access to essential medicines and enhance disease surveillance.

Despite the prevalence of oral disease, investment in prevention and care remains low: over 70% of countries spent less than US$1 per capita on oral health, compared to the global average of US$ 50 in 2019 – the latest available data. Service delivery is skewed toward costly curative care, with limited access to preventive measures such as fluoride toothpaste and silver diamine fluoride. Only four countries had national fluoride guidelines in 2023.  Additionally, the region faces a severe shortage of oral health workers—just 3.7 per 100,000 people, far below the estimated requirement of 13.3 per 100, 000 needed to meet service demand.

To implement the framework, the ministers of health agreed to boost political commitment, provide technical leadership, mobilize domestic and external resources, and allocate adequate human and logistical support. 

– on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

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Angola has taken a strategic step toward strengthening public health communication by holding a national training session dedicated to the role of the media in responding to health emergencies.

The training, promoted by the Ministry of Health (MINSA) and the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technology, and Social Communication (MINTTICS), with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), was funded by the European Union and brought together more than 100 journalists and communicators from 13 provinces of the country, reinforcing the central role of the media in protecting public health.

The training marked the beginning of the creation of the Health Communication Network in Angola, a collaborative platform designed to strengthen the link between media outlets, local authorities, and international partners, promoting a more effective and coordinated response in crisis situations. 

For the Secretary of State for Media, Nuno Albino, responsible journalism is essential in this process, because when “practiced responsibly, it contributes directly to health literacy, social cohesion, and the protection of life.” 

Through debates, practical exercises, and the sharing of tools, participants reflected on the importance of combating misinformation and building bridges between health and communication. In this regard, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Angola Louise Moreira Daniels stressed the importance of the press in guaranteeing the right to health, stating that it is necessary to ensure “everything from access to reliable sources of information to the creation of narratives adapted to the Angolan reality.”

In a context where Angola continues to face challenges such as maternal and infant mortality, epidemic outbreaks, and the impacts of climate change, clear, accessible, and fact-based communication is an essential pillar of public health. 

With this initiative, the country reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to accurate and timely messages that can strengthen the population’s confidence in the health system. 

“We firmly believe that investing in communication means ensuring that, in the face of an epidemic, a climate emergency, or a vaccination campaign, the population will have access to useful information to adopt healthy behaviors,” said Dr. Tomás Valdez, WHO Acting Representative in Angola.

– on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Angola.

Source: APO – Report:

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Government representatives from Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Tunisia — major countries on migratory routes in North Africa — convened in Cairo from 18–20 August for a 3-day table-top simulation exercise (SimEx) organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The 4 countries share porous borders. Displaced people often face overcrowding, inadequate shelter, poor sanitation and limited access to timely, quality health care services. These conditions create public health risks for migrants, refugees and host communities. When health care services are not accessible to all, it fuels inequity and undermines health security.

The SimEx brought together delegates from Ministries of Health, Interior and Transport to test preparedness for cross-border population movements in line with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). Focused on ensuring access to health services for refugees, migrants and other people on the move while reinforcing national health security, it involved interactive and practical exercises on stakeholder coordination for public health event prevention, detection and response, aiming to improve compliance with IHR 2005, enhance communication between sectors and identify gaps to strengthen cross-border public health management, including access to health care services.

At the conclusion of the exercise, the multisectoral government representatives recommended standardizing public health procedures across borders to promote consistency and coordination. They called for sustainable dialogue and follow-up exercises to refine and scale-up bilateral and regional cross-border collaboration mechanisms and for formal collaboration frameworks and legal agreements between neighbouring countries to be established, building on mechanisms already in place.

Participants underscored the importance of strengthening technical capacity at national and cross-border levels, including real-time cross-border collaboration and communication during active outbreaks, and managing population movement and joint public health risks in line with the IHR 2005.

On the first day, on the sidelines of the SimEx, WHO, the Italian Embassy in Egypt and IOM co-hosted a reception to brief on WHO and IOM projects supporting migrant health. At the event, Dr Mohamed Jama, Senior Adviser to the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, stressed: “We bring together the governments of Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Tunisia alongside our partners because the challenges we face are shared – and so too must be our response. Together, we can help alleviate the suffering of people on the move by providing essential, dignified health care to millions in transit who are escaping conflicts and instability across our Region.”

Justin MacDermott, IOM Deputy Regional Director for Operations, added: “Migrants are too often exposed to undignified conditions that erode well-being, resilience and human dignity. We must act now to expand lifesaving services, strengthen health systems and protect vulnerable migrants and host communities.”

The Eastern Mediterranean Region comprises 22 countries and territories, from which nearly 50% of the estimated 45 million refugees and asylum seekers in 2024 originated. An estimated 33% of them remain in the Region.

Speaking to participants and partners, the Italian Embassy in Cairo emphasised Italy’s strong support for inclusive health care, saying: “Health is not a privilege but a foundational right, a human right. Our approach combines political will with strong humanistic efforts to support stability, equity and resilience, particularly in the face of global challenges and the constant challenge to the multilateral rules-based order.”

The table-top simulation exercise is part of a broader joint regional initiative by WHO and IOM to strengthen cross-border health security in North Africa, supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in collaboration with Africa CDC. Two previous workshops in Tunisia brought together Algeria, Libya and Tunisia to design a regional workplan for improving border health preparedness and coordination. This SimEx scaled up the scope and expanded the geographic coverage.

The simulation exercise marks a crucial milestone in advancing regional health security in North Africa, where migration and mobility are defining features of public health dynamics. By strengthening preparedness and coordination, governments in the Region reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the health of migrants, refugees, host communities and all populations at risk.

– on behalf of World Health Organization – Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.