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DWYPD condemns Rustenburg student murder amid Women’s Month

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has urged communities to act as custodians of change through prevention and reporting any form of violence, and supporting survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBVF).

The call comes after the brutal murder of a 21-year-old, Onalenna Selebogo, a third-year Education student at North-West University’s Mahikeng Campus.

Selebogo’s body was found on Saturday, 3 August 2025, in a Rustenburg flat, wrapped in bedsheets with multiple stab wounds to the neck.

According to the police report, the suspect, Walter Tshehlo, fled the scene but later handed himself over to the police. He has been charged with murder and awaits his bail hearing on 18 August 2025.

The department has condemned the brutal killing of Selebogo, describing it as a “appalling reminder that the fight for women’s safety and dignity remains far from being won.”

“The fact that these hideous acts of violence occurred during Women’s Month when the nation honouring and celebrating women’s courage, resilience and contribution to our democracy, makes it even more unacceptable,” the department said.

The department called on law enforcement agencies to act with urgency and transparency to ensure that those responsible for Selebogo’s death are brought to justice without delay.

It also called on communities to break the silence that allows GBVF to thrive, but act as custodians of change through prevention and reporting any form of violence and supporting survivors of GBVF.

The department further called on men across the nation to take responsibility by challenging harmful norms and become active partners creating a society that is free from violence.

“These words are not just ceremonial, they are a call to action, justice, and change to every sector in public; private business, faith-based organisations, traditional leaders, and the media must mobilise resources and platforms to strengthen prevention efforts and promote awareness on GBVF,” the department said.

Teach young boys to protect and respect women

Speaking at the National Women’s Day commemoration in Tzaneen, Limpopo, on Saturday, 9 August 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the many high cases of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide recorded in the country.

The President called on all South Africans to be a society where “we teach young boys that women are to be protected, and respected, and not abused.”

The President also urged South Africans to build a society where young boys are taught to protect and respect women, understand the meaning of consent in sexual relationships and do not use their money and influence to engage in predatory behaviour towards women, and “society that does not condone the ill-treatment of women and children under the guise of culture or tradition.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Merck Foundation and Maldives First Lady Strengthen their Partnership to Build Healthcare Capacity, Break Infertility Stigma and Stop Gender-based Violence (GBV) in Maldives

Source: APO

Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany underscored their long-term commitment to build healthcare capacity and break infertility stigma in Maldives during their high-level meeting with H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives, held at the Official Residence of the President. The discussion led by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation BOT and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej expressed, “It was an honor to meet my dear sister H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives, and officially appointing her to be the Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”. During our meeting we discussed our joint programs and underscored our commitment towards building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care landscape by providing scholarships for local doctors. We also discussed about addressing critical social and health issues in the country including breaking the infertility stigma, stopping gender-based violence, women empowerment, and diabetes and hypertension awareness.”

H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives and Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” expressed, “It is a pleasure to welcome and meet Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO to our country. We discussed our joint programs. I am happy to share that we have already started providing scholarships for our local doctors in Fertility and Embryology training. These are two very critical specialties for our country. We also plan to enroll our doctors in other specialties, further underscoring our partnership with the Merck Foundation to enhance healthcare capacity in the Maldives.”

Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation BOT shared, “Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program. Till today, we have provided more than 2270 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties.”

During their visit to the Maldives, the Chairman and CEO of Merck Foundation also met with Hon. Mr. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Minister of Health, where they discussed scaling up the scholarship programs in alignment with the country’s healthcare needs.

Through their Community Awareness Programs, Merck Foundation is also closely working with The First Lady of Maldives to address a wide range of critical social issues like breaking infertility stigma, stopping gender-based violence and women empowerment, and important health issues including promoting the importance of healthy lifestyle, and diabetes and hypertension awareness.

Merck Foundation will be soon conducting their Health Media Training together with The First Lady of Maldives for the Maldivian journalists, to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence society to create a cultural shift and be the voice of the voiceless. The training program will be addressed by prominent Medical and Media experts.

Moreover, Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives has also launched their 8 important Merck Foundation Awards for Maldivian Media, Musicians & Singers, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, and students & new potential talents in these fields.

“I invite the young talents from the Maldives to share their entries with us,” added Senator Dr. Kelej.

Details of the Awards:

  1. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: Media representatives and media students are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.
  1. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.
  1. Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.
  1. Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to address one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.
  1. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: Media representatives are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.

  1. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.

  1. Merck Foundation Film Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.

  1. Merck Foundation Song Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.

Entries for the above awards can be submitted to us at:

submit@merck-foundation.com

For information on the awards, please visit our website:

www.Merck-Foundation.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

Contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager 
Phone: +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

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About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4m7ND2N), X (https://apo-opa.co/4ma6g65), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4132y5W), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mGcRVT), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4moCWJ6) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/3HmgIZe).

The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.

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La Fondation Merck et la Première Dame des Maldives renforcent leur partenariat afin de renforcer les capacités de soins de santé, briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité et mettre fin aux violences sexistes aux Maldives

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La Fondation Merck (www.Merck-Foundation.com), branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, a souligné son engagement à long terme en faveur du renforcement des capacités en matière de soins de santé et de la lutte contre la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité aux Maldives lors de sa réunion de haut niveau avec S.E. Mme SAJIDHA MOHAMED, Première Dame de la République des Maldives, qui s’est tenue à la Résidence Officielle du Président. La discussion a été animée par le Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Président du Conseil d’Administration de la Fondation Merck, et la Sénatrice Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck.

Sénatrice Dr. Rasha Kelej a déclaré : « Ce fut un honneur de rencontrer ma chère sœur S.E. Mme SAJIDHA MOHAMED, Première Dame de la République des Maldives, et de la nommer officiellement Ambassadrice de la « Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère ». Au cours de notre réunion, nous avons discuté de nos programmes communs et souligné notre engagement à renforcer les capacités de santé et à transformer le paysage des soins aux patients en offrant des bourses aux médecins locaux. Nous avons également discuté de la résolution des problèmes sociaux et sanitaires critiques dans le pays, notamment la lutte contre la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, la lutte contre les violences sexistes, l’autonomisation des femmes et la sensibilisation sur le diabète et l’hypertension. »

S.E. Mme SAJIDHA MOHAMED, Première Dame de la République des Maldives et Ambassadrice de la « Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère », a déclaré : « C’est un plaisir d’accueillir et de rencontrer le Chairman et la CEO de la Fondation Merck dans notre pays. Nous avons discuté de nos programmes communs. Je suis heureuse d’annoncer que nous avons déjà commencé à offrir des bourses à nos médecins locaux sur la formation en Fertilité et en Embryologie. Ce sont deux spécialités essentielles pour notre pays. Nous prévoyons également d’inscrire nos médecins dans d’autres spécialités, soulignant ainsi notre

partenariat avec la Fondation Merck pour renforcer les capacités de soins de santé aux Maldives. »

Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman de la Fondation Merck, a déclaré : « Notre objectif est d’améliorer la santé et le bien-être général des populations en renforçant les capacités de soins de santé en Afrique, en Asie et dans d’autres pays en voie de développement. Nous sommes fermement engagés à transformer le paysage des soins aux patients grâce à notre programme de bourses. À ce jour, nous avons accordé plus de 2 270 bourses à de jeunes médecins de 52 pays dans 44 spécialités essentielles et mal desservies. »

Lors de sa visite aux Maldives, Le Chairman et La CEO de la Fondation Merck a également rencontré l’Honorable M. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Ministre de la Santé, avec qui ils ont discuté de l’intensification des programmes de bourses d’études afin de répondre aux besoins de santé du pays.

Par le biais de ses Programmes de Sensibilisation Communautaire, la Fondation Merck travaille également en étroite collaboration avec la Première Dame des Maldives pour aborder un large éventail de questions sociales cruciales, telles que la lutte contre la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, la lutte contre les violences sexistes et l’autonomisation des femmes, ainsi que d’importantes questions de santé, notamment la promotion d’un mode de vie sain et la sensibilisation sur le diabète et l’hypertension.

La Fondation Merck organisera prochainement une Formation des Médias sur la Santé en collaboration avec la Première Dame des Maldives à l’intention des journalistes maldiviens, afin de souligner le rôle important des médias pour influencer la société, créer un changement culturel et être la voix des sans-voix. Le programme de formation sera animé par d’éminents experts médicaux et médiatiques.

De plus, la Fondation Merck, en partenariat avec la Première Dame des Maldives, a également lancé ses 8 importants Prix de la Fondation Merck destinés aux médias, musiciens et chanteurs, créateurs de mode, cinéastes, étudiants et nouveaux talents potentiels maldiviens dans ces domaines.

« J’invite les jeunes talents des Maldives à partager leurs candidatures avec nous », a ajouté la Sénatrice Dr. Kelej.

Détails des Prix :

1. Prix de Reconnaissance des Médias Africains de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu’une Mère » 2025, en partenariat avec la Première Dame des Maldives : Les représentants des médias et les étudiants en journalisme sont invités à présenter leur travail pour sensibiliser à un ou plusieurs des problèmes sociaux suivants tels que : Briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, Autonomisation des femmes. Date limite de soumission : 30 septembre 2025.

2. Prix de la Mode de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu’une Mère » 2025, en partenariat avec la Première Dame des Maldives : Tous les étudiants et créateurs de mode africains sont invités à créer et à partager des créations pour délivrer des messages forts et influents afin de sensibiliser à un ou plusieurs des problèmes sociaux suivants tels que : Briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, Autonomisation des femmes. Date limite de soumission : 30 septembre 2025.

3. Prix du Film de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu’une Mère » 2025, en partenariat avec la Première Dame des Maldives : Tous les cinéastes africains, les étudiants des institutions de formation cinématographique ou les jeunes talents d’Afrique sont invités à créer et à partager un film long ou court, qu’il s’agisse d’un drame, d’un documentaire ou d’un docudrame pour délivrer des messages forts et influents pour aborder un ou plusieurs des problèmes sociaux suivants, tels que : Briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, Autonomisation des femmes. Date limite de soumission : 30 septembre 2025.

4. Prix de la Chanson de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu’une Mère » 2025, en partenariat avec la Première Dame des Maldives : Tous les chanteurs et artistes musicaux africains sont invités à créer et à partager une CHANSON dans le but d’aborder un ou plusieurs des problèmes sociaux suivants tels que : Briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, Autonomisation des femmes. Date limite de soumission : 30 septembre 2025.

5. Prix Reconnaissance des Médias de la Fondation Merck « Diabètes & Hypertension » 2025, en partenariat avec la Première Dame des Maldives : Les représentants des médias sont invités à présenter leur travail à travers des messages forts et influents pour promouvoir un mode de vie sain et sensibiliser sur la prévention et le dépistage précoce du Diabète et de l’Hypertension. Date limite de soumission : 30 octobre 2025.

6. Prix de Mode de la Fondation Merck « Diabètes & Hypertension » 2025, en partenariat avec la Première Dame des Maldives : Tous les étudiants et créateurs de mode africains sont invités à créer et à partager des créations pour délivrer des messages forts et influents afin de promouvoir un mode de vie sain et de sensibiliser sur la prévention et le dépistage précoce du Diabète et de l’Hypertension. Date limite de soumission : 30 octobre 2025.

7. Prix du Film de la Fondation Merck « Diabètes & Hypertension » 2025, en partenariat avec la Première Dame des Maldives : Tous les cinéastes africains, les étudiants des institutions de formation cinématographique ou les jeunes talents d’Afrique sont invités à créer et à partager un FILM long ou court, qu’il s’agisse d’une fiction, d’un documentaire ou d’un docudrame délivrant des messages influents pour promouvoir un mode de vie sain, sensibiliser sur la prévention et le dépistage précoce du Diabète et de l’Hypertension. Date limite de soumission : 30 octobre 2025.

8. Prix de la Chanson de la Fondation Merck « Diabètes & Hypertension » 2025, en partenariat avec la Première Dame des Maldives : Tous les chanteurs et artistes de musique africains sont invités à créer et à partager une CHANSON dans le but de promouvoir un mode de vie sain et de sensibiliser sur la prévention et le dépistage précoce du Diabète et de l’Hypertension. Date limite de soumission : 30 octobre 2025.

Les candidatures pour les prix ci-dessus peuvent nous être envoyées à l’adresse : submit@merck-foundation.com

Pour plus d’informations sur les prix, veuillez consulter notre site web : www.Merck-Foundation.com

Distribué par APO Group pour Merck Foundation.

Contact :
Mehak Handa
Responsable du programme de sensibilisation communautaire
Téléphone : +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
Courriel : mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

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À propos de la Fondation Merck :
La Fondation Merck, créée en 2017, est la branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, vise à améliorer la santé et le bien-être des populations et à faire progresser leur vie grâce à la science et à la technologie. Nos efforts sont principalement axés sur l’amélioration de l’accès à des solutions de soins de santé de qualité et équitables dans les communautés mal desservies, à renforcer les capacités de recherche sur les soins de santé et la recherche scientifique, l’autonomisation des filles à travers l’éducation et l’autonomisation des personnes en STEM (Science, Technologie, Ingénierie et Mathématiques) avec un accent particulier sur les femmes et les jeunes. Tous les communiqués de presse de la Fondation Merck sont distribués par e-mail en même temps qu’ils deviennent disponibles sur le site Web de la Fondation Merck. Veuillez visiter www.merck-foundation.com pour en savoir plus. Pour en savoir plus, contactez nos réseaux sociaux de la Fondation Merck : Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4m7ND2N), X (https://apo-opa.co/4ma6g65), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4132y5W), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mGcRVT), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4moCWJ6) et Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/3HmgIZe).

La Fondation Merck se consacre à l’amélioration des résultats sociaux et sanitaires pour les communautés dans le besoin. Bien qu’elle collabore avec divers partenaires, y compris des gouvernements, pour atteindre ses objectifs humanitaires, la fondation reste strictement neutre sur le plan politique. Elle ne s’engage pas et ne soutient pas d’activités, d’élections ou de régimes politiques, se focalise uniquement sur sa mission d’élever l’humanité et d’améliorer le bien-être tout en maintenant une position strictement apolitique dans toutes ses activités.

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Fundação Merck e Primeira-Dama das Maldivas fortalecem parceria para desenvolver capacidade de atendimento à saúde, acabar com o estigma da infertilidade e acabar com a violência do género nas Maldivas

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

Fundação Merck (www.Merck-Foundation.com), O braço filantrópico da Merck KGaA Alemanha destacou o seu compromisso de longo prazo com o desenvolvimento da capacidade de assistência médica e a eliminação do estigma da infertilidade nas Maldivas durante a sua reunião de alto nível com Sua Excelência, Sra. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, Primeira-Dama da República das Maldivas, realizada na Residência Oficial do Presidente. O debate foi liderado pelo Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Presidente do Conselho de Curadores da Fundação Merck, e pela Senadora, Dra. Rasha Kelej, CEO da Fundação Merck.

A Senadora Drª Rasha Kelej declarou: “Foi uma honra manter encontro com a minha querida irmã, S. Exa. Sra. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, Primeira-Dama da República das Maldivas, e nomeá-la oficialmente Embaixadora da “Fundação Merck Mais Que uma Mãe”. Durante a nossa reunião, discutimos os nossos programas conjuntos e destacamos o nosso compromisso com o desenvolvimento de capacidade de atendimento à saúde e a transformação do cenário de atendimento aos pacientes, por meio da concessão de bolsas de estudo para médicos locais. Também discutimos a abordagem de questões sociais e de saúde críticas no país, incluindo a quebra do estigma da infertilidade, o combate à violência do género, o empoderamento feminino e a conscientização sobre diabetes e hipertensão. ”

S.E. Sra. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, Primeira Dama da República das Maldivas e Embaixadora da “Fundação Merck Mais do que uma Mãe” expressou: “É um prazer receber e conhecer o Presidente e CEO da Fundação Merck em nosso país. Discutimos nossos programas conjuntos. Tenho o prazer de informar que já começamos a oferecer bolsas de estudo para nossos médicos locais em treinamento em Fertilidade e Embriologia. Essas são duas especialidades muito importantes para o nosso país. Também planejamos matricular nossos médicos em outras especialidades, reforçando ainda mais nossa parceria com a Fundação Merck para aprimorar a capacidade de assistência médica nas Maldivas. ”

O Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Presidente do Conselho de Administração da Fundação Merck, declarou: “O nosso objectivo é melhorar a saúde e o bem-estar geral das pessoas, desenvolvendo a capacidade de assistência médica em África, Ásia e outros países em desenvolvimento. Estamos fortemente comprometidos em transformar o cenário de atendimento ao paciente através do nosso programa de bolsas de estudo. Até hoje, concedemos mais de 2.270 bolsas de estudo a jovens médicos de 52 países em 44 especialidades críticas e carentes. ”

Durante a sua visita às Maldivas, o Presidente e a CEO da Fundação Merck também mantiveram encontro com o Honorável Dr. Sr. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Ministro da Saúde, onde discutiram a ampliação dos programas de bolsas de estudo, em consonância com as necessidades de saúde do país.

Através dos seus Programas de Conscientização Comunitária, a Fundação Merck também está a trabalhar em estreita colaboração com a Primeira-Dama das Maldivas para abordar uma ampla gama de questões sociais críticas, como a eliminação do estigma da infertilidade, o combate à violência do género e o empoderamento feminino, além de importantes questões de saúde, como a promoção da importância de um estilo de vida saudável e a conscientização sobre a diabetes e a hipertensão.

Em breve, a Fundação Merck realizará o seu Treinamento em Mídia da Saúde, juntamente com a Primeira-Dama das Maldivas, para jornalistas maldivos, a fim de enfatizar o importante papel que a mídia desempenha na influência da sociedade, criando uma mudança cultural e sendo a voz dos que não têm voz. O programa de treinamento será ministrado por renomados especialistas médicos e de mídia.

Além disso, a Fundação Merck, em parceria com a Primeira-Dama das Maldivas, também lançou os seus 8 importantes Prémios da Fundação Merck de Jornalismo, Canção, Moda, Cinema, para estudantes e novos talentos em potencial das Maldivas nessas áreas.

“Convido os jovens talentos das Maldivas a partilharem as suas candidaturas conosco”, acrescentou a Senadora Drª Kelej.

Informações sobre os Prémios:

1. Prémio de Jornalismo Fundação Merck “Mais do Que uma Mãe” 2025, em parceria com a Primeira-Dama das Maldivas: Representantes e estudantes da mídia são convidados a apresentar os seus trabalhos para aumentar a conscientização sobre uma ou mais das seguintes questões sociais: Quebrar o estigma da infertilidade e o empoderamento das mulheres. Prazo final para submissão: 30 de setembro de 2025.

2. Prémio de Moda Fundação Merck “Mais do Que uma Mãe” 2025, “Mais do Que uma Mãe” 2025, em parceria com a Primeira-Dama das Maldivas: Todos os estudantes e estilistas de moda são convidados a criar e partilhar designs para transmitir mensagens fortes e influentes para aumentar a conscientização sobre uma ou mais das seguintes questões sociais: Quebrar o estigma da infertilidade e o empoderamento feminino. Prazo final para submissão: 30 de setembro de 2025.

3. Prémio do Cinema Fundação Merck “Mais do Que uma Mãe” 2025, “Mais do Que uma Mãe” 2025, em parceria com a Primeira-Dama das Maldivas: Todos os cineastas, estudantes de instituições de treinamento em produção cinematográfica ou jovens talentos da África são convidados a criar e partilhar um FILME longo ou curto, seja drama, documentário ou docudrama para transmitir mensagens fortes e influentes para abordar uma ou mais das seguintes questões sociais: Quebrar o estigma da infertilidade e o empoderamento feminino. Prazo final para submissão: 30 de setembro de 2025.

4. Prémio da Canção Fundação Merck “Mais do Que uma Mãe” 2025, “Mais do Que uma Mãe” 2025, em parceria com a Primeira-Dama das Maldivas: Todos os cantores e artistas musicais são convidados a criar e partilhar uma MÚSICA com o objectivo de abordar uma ou mais das seguintes questões sociais: Quebrar o estigma da infertilidade e o empoderamento feminino. Prazo final para submissão: 30 de setembro de 2025.

5. Prémio de Jornalismo Fundação Merck “Diabetes & Hipertensão” 2025, em parceria com a Primeira-Dama das Maldivas: Representantes da mídia são

convidados a mostrar os seus trabalhos através de mensagens fortes e influentes para promover um estilo de vida saudável e aumentar a conscientização sobre a prevenção e a detecção precoce de diabetes e hipertensão.

Prazo final para submissão: 30 de outubro de 2025.

6. Prémio de Moda Fundação Merck “Diabetes & Hipertensão” 2025, em parceria com a Primeira-Dama das Maldivas: Todos os estudantes e estilistas de moda são convidados a criar e partilhar designs para transmitir mensagens fortes e influentes para promover um estilo de vida saudável e aumentar a conscientização sobre a prevenção e a detecção precoce de diabetes e hipertensão.

Prazo final para submissão: 30 de outubro de 2025.

7. Prémio do Cinema Fundação Merck “Diabetes & Hipertensão” 2025, em parceria com a Primeira-Dama das Maldivas: Todos os cineastas, estudantes de instituições de formação cinematográfica ou jovens talentos da África são convidados a criar e partilhar um FILME longo ou curto, seja drama, documentário ou docudrama para transmitir mensagens fortes e influentes para promover um estilo de vida saudável e conscientizar sobre a prevenção e detecção precoce da diabetes e da hipertensão.

Prazo final para submissão: 30 de outubro de 2025.

8. Prémio da Canção Fundação Merck “Diabetes & Hipertensão” 2025, em parceria com a Primeira-Dama das Maldivas: Todos os cantores e artistas musicais estão convidados a criar e partilhar uma MÚSICA com o objectivo de promover um estilo de vida saudável e conscientizar sobre a prevenção e detecção precoce de diabetes e hipertensão.

Prazo final para submissão: 30 de outubro de 2025.

As candidaturas para os prémios acima podem ser enviadas para nós em: submit@merck-foundation.com

Para informações sobre os prémios, visite o nosso site: www.Merck-Foundation.com

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Merck Foundation.

Contato:
Mehak Handa
Gerente do Programa de Extensão Comunitária
Telefone: +91 9310087613 / +91 9319606669
E-mail: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

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Sobre a Fundação Merck:
A Fundação Merck, criada em 2017, é o braço filantrópico da Merck KGaA Alemanha, tem como objectivo melhorar a saúde e o bem-estar das pessoas e aprimorar as suas vidas atravez da ciência e da tecnologia. Os nossos esforços estão focados principalmente na melhoria do acesso a soluções de saúde de qualidade e equitativas em comunidades carenciadas, no desenvolvimento da capacidade de saúde e na investigação científica, no empoderamento das raparigas na educação e no empoderamento de pessoas em STEM (Ciência, Tecnologia, Engenharia e Matemática) com foco especial em mulheres e jovens. Todos os comunicados de imprensa da Fundação Merck são distribuídos por e-mail ao mesmo tempo em que são disponibilizados no site da Fundação Merck. Visite www.merck-foundation.com para ler mais. Siga a mídia social da Fundação Merck: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4m7ND2N), X (https://apo-opa.co/4ma6g65), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4132y5W), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mGcRVT), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4moCWJ6) e Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/3HmgIZe).

A Fundação Merck está dedicada a melhorar os resultados sociais e de saúde para comunidades necessitadas. Embora colabore com vários parceiros, incluindo governos, para atingir os seus objectivos humanitários, a Fundação permanece estritamente neutra em questões políticas. Ela não se envolve ou apoia nenhuma actividade política, eleições ou regimes, concentrando-se exclusivamente na sua missão de elevar a humanidade e melhorar o bem-estar, mantendo uma postura estritamente apolítica em todos os seus esforços.

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Succès Masra: how Chad’s opposition firebrand came to be sentenced to 20 years in prison

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Bourdjolbo Tchoudiba, Doctorant en Sciences Politiques-Université Paris-Est Créteil, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire d’Études du Politique Hannah Arendt (LIPHA), Université Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne (UPEC)

Chad’s opposition firebrand and a former prime minister, Succès Masra, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on 9 August. He was accused of inciting violence and hate speech on social media, leading to the death of 42 people in a clash between herders and farmers in the village of Mandakao in 2023.

The opposition leader had been arrested at his home on 16 May by men in military uniform. He was initially charged with “inciting hatred, inciting armed groups to revolt, complicity in murder, arson, and desecration of graves”.

Masra rose to prominence as one of the main opponents of the Chadian regime, particularly after the death of President Idriss Déby in 2021. For many, Masra embodies an alternative to the country’s political-military dynasties, especially the Déby family, who has ruled the country since Idriss Déby came to power in 1990.

When he died, his son, military officer Mahamat Idriss Déby, became president after assuming power and forming a three-year transitional government overseen by the military. Masra served as prime minister of this government from 1 January 2024 to 16 May 2025.

Read more: Chad’s parliamentary election hands Mahamat Déby absolute control. Here’s why it’s dangerous

As a researcher who has studied the country’s political trajectory, I have observed how Masra, leader of Les Transformateurs (The Transformers) party, quickly gained influence after entering the Chadian political scene in 2018. His reformist message resonated with many young Chadians, especially unemployed graduates seeking change.

Political strategist

Masra’s strengths lie in his clear programme of political change and strategic approach to building a political base as well as his maturity, despite being only 41. He holds a doctorate in economics, which adds to his credibility. His resignation from the African Development Bank to fully commit to the fight for political change struck a chord with many.

In a remarkably short time, Masra managed to shift the political landscape by challenging Idriss Déby directly. Fearing electoral defeat, Déby pushed through a constitutional amendment in 2018 that changed the age limit for presidential candidates, blocking Masra from running in the 2021 election. His party was also banned for a time for the same reason.

It was under the transitional government of Mahamat Idriss Déby that Masra’s party was officially recognised on 8 June 2021. It soon became Chad’s main opposition. Masra, along with several civil society groups, rejected the transition model in Chad. They boycotted the national dialogue. In their view, it was not a genuine dialogue but a “monologue”. They believed its real purpose was to legitimise the Déby family’s dynastic succession and ensure the continued rule of their Mouvement patriotique du salut (Patriotic Movement for Salvation).

The boycott’s most dramatic moment was the peaceful protest of 20 October 2022, called by Masra to oppose extending the transition. It was violently suppressed, leaving many dead.

Exile and return

To save their lives, Masra and his close associates were forced into exile to the US at the end of 2022. He returned to Chad on 3 November 2023, under a reconciliation deal. Mahamat Idriss Déby appointed him prime minister on 1 January 2024.

With his return and appointment, Les Transformateurs’ political stance shifted dramatically towards supporting the government. Despite this, Masra retained the loyalty of his supporters. However, his short tenure as prime minister was marked by growing tensions with the government, often aired through public statements.

Detention

On 21 May, Masra was formally charged after five days in police custody. During his interrogation, a pro-government outlet claimed he was part of a plot against the state. The claim was based on information allegedly found on his phone, including exchanges with French officials and President Emmanuel Macron. It is extremely rare in Chad for a former prime minister to face such action, suggesting underlying political motives.

Read more: Coups in west Africa have five things in common: knowing what they are is key to defending democracy

Shortly after his arrest, Chad’s public prosecutor publicly accused Masra of inciting hatred, complicity in murder, and forming armed groups. He cited social media messages allegedly urging people in southern Chad to arm themselves against herder communities. These charges relate to a deadly farmer-herder conflict that left 42 dead and caused major damage, mostly among the Fulani community.

Meanwhile, at a press conference three government ministers said an audio message in Ngambaye, Masra’s native language, was linked to him. According to them, the recording directly urged the killing of Fulani herders in their camp.

Audio recording

This accusation was made without independent investigation. The government’s message was amplified by ruling party heavyweights on social media and in politically and ethnically charged WhatsApp groups. The rapid developments gave the impression of a judicial system being weaponised. Many Chadians already see the judiciary as a tool of the military regime.

According to Masra’s lawyers, the audio presented as evidence dates back to 2023. The authenticated 2023 recording captures Masra, in exile, urging the Ngambaye people to arm themselves and defend their community against herder attacks on farmers.

Masra is not the first politician to call for self-defence in Chad. Rising intercommunal violence is widespread, fuelled by social injustice, impunity and insecurity.

Read more: Idriss Déby Itno offered Chadians great hope, but ended up leaving a terrible legacy

Chadian criminal law guarantees the presumption of innocence and the right to legal counsel from the preliminary investigation stage. Yet no such process was followed for Masra. At the same time, government communications targeting him multiplied.

Officials took the unusual step of leaking unverified “evidence” (the audio) while the investigation was still underway, a clear breach of procedure.

The Toumaï Agreement

During the seventh anniversary of Les Transformateurs, Masra publicly urged Mahamat Idriss Déby to “change course and deliver the change the people demand”.

A striking revelation from that anniversary event was the existence of another deal, known as the Toumaï Agreement between the government and Masra’s political party, meant to end the political crisis in Chad. This was in addition to the Kinshasa Accord.

Masra’s lawyers argued that the Toumaï Agreement should protect Masra from prosecution as it lifted an international arrest warrant against him. The ruling party’s strong reaction to the agreement being disclosed suggests a deeper political rift.

Many of Masra’s supporters, opposition parties and civil society organisations believe the trial was aimed at neutralising him both politically and physically.

– Succès Masra: how Chad’s opposition firebrand came to be sentenced to 20 years in prison
– https://theconversation.com/succes-masra-how-chads-opposition-firebrand-came-to-be-sentenced-to-20-years-in-prison-262985

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La Banque africaine de développement soutient la formation à l’Intelligence Artificielle (IA) pour stimuler la mise en œuvre de l’Agenda 2063

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


La Banque africaine de développement (www.AfDB.org) soutient une nouvelle initiative de formation à l’intelligence artificielle (IA) pour faire progresser la mise en œuvre du plan directeur du développement continental de l’Afrique, l’Agenda 2063 : l’Afrique que nous voulons (http://apo-opa.co/4mlz1gw).

Par l’intermédiaire de son Bureau d’appui au secrétariat conjoint (JSSO), la Banque a apporté un soutien technique et financier au cinquième séminaire annuel destiné aux États membres de l’Union africaine consacré à l’exploitation de l’IA pour un suivi, une évaluation et des rapports efficaces sur le deuxième plan décennal (2024-2033) de l’Agenda 2063.

Ce séminaire de cinq jours, qui s’est tenu à Lusaka, en Zambie, a été organisé conjointement par la Commission de l’Union africaine et la Fondation africaine pour le renforcement des capacités (ACBF). L’événement a réuni des représentants des États membres de l’Union africaine afin de renforcer leur capacité technique à utiliser des outils d’IA et des innovations numériques pour surveiller, suivre et rendre compte de la mise en œuvre de l’Agenda 2063. Cette formation s’inscrit dans le cadre d’efforts plus vastes visant à renforcer les capacités institutionnelles et humaines sur l’ensemble du continent.

Des sessions pratiques ont porté sur les plateformes d’IA émergentes, notamment Ailyse, ChatGPT, Google AI Studio, Google Gemini et Perplexity. Les participants ont cherché à comprendre la manière dont ces outils pouvaient améliorer l’analyse des données, renforcer la prise de décision et promouvoir l’élaboration de politiques fondées sur des données probantes, conformément aux priorités de l’Agenda 2063 (http://apo-opa.co/4mlz1gw).

Le soutien de la Banque à ce séminaire reflète son engagement plus large à renforcer la planification, le suivi et la responsabilisation axés sur les résultats dans le cadre de l’Union africaine tout en promouvant l’innovation et la transformation numérique en tant que catalyseurs clés du programme de développement de l’Afrique.

Abibu Tamu, coordinateur principal des programmes au sein du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement, a réaffirmé l’engagement de l’institution à travailler en étroite collaboration avec la Commission de l’Union africaine et les partenaires stratégiques afin d’accélérer la mise en œuvre de l’Agenda 2063, en particulier, son deuxième plan décennal de mise en œuvre.

« Ces outils ne révolutionnent pas seulement la manière dont les données sont recueillies, analysées et communiquées, mais ils permettent également des interventions politiques plus ciblées et une allocation efficace des ressources », a déclaré M. Tamu.

Le séminaire a également servi de plateforme d’apprentissage entre pairs et d’échange de connaissances, les pays participants ayant partagé des approches innovantes et des bonnes pratiques en matière de planification du développement national et d’élaboration de rapports axés sur les résultats.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

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Nigeria’s Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province Bishops in synodal interaction with women religious (By Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo)

Source: APO

By Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo of Oyo Catholic Diocese (https://CatholicDioceseOyo.org).

The Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province of Nigeria, in the spirit of the ongoing synodal process in the Church, have held an interactive session with the Superiors of the Women Religious Congregations working in Ibadan Province. The session, which was held at the close of the second plenary of the bishops of Ibadan Province took place at the MM Pastoral Centre, Ilorin on August 12, 2025.  It was intended as an expression of the ongoing Jubilee Year of Hope, was conducted in the synodal spirit of listening to one another in order to create together a more hopeful pastoral life for the Church and the future of Ibadan Province.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Ibadan Province, Most Reverend Gabriel Leke Abegunrin, in his opening remarks, reasoned that the synodal interaction of listening to one another, derived from the periodic interactive session which the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) was already holding with the Religious Superiors at the national level. He revealed that the Bishops of Ibadan Province were eager to bring the exercise closer home by organizing this session on the level of the Province in order to address more effectively some issues that are peculiar to the ecclesiastical Province. He reminded all present of our calling as missionaries to our own people who must work together to actualize the mission of Jesus Christ in the contemporary times in which we live.

The Women Religious Superiors who attended the session largely personally and by representation, expressed gratitude to have been invited to discuss the life of the Church especially the issue of mission. They unveiled some areas of concern for them in their apostolate which include challenges with youth catechesis and the general religious environment which has become more liberal than ever before. They expressed concern about how to be effective pilgrims of hope when they do not have the material means of actually giving hope to people, about the excessive attempts at inculturation and innovation by some priests in certain parts of worship, and the balance of relationship in collaborative ministry especially where it involves priests and Religious.

The Religious Superiors appealed to the Bishops to check some excesses within the liturgy being manifesting by certain individuals and in various forms and which need to be checked because they damage the faith of the people and even of the Religious. Such matters have been addressed at the level of the national conference of Bishops but need to be made more effective at the provincial level as well.  They also called for the Bishops to pay attention to the proliferation of Religious Congregations, some of which have little or no structured formation or community life. 

These carry on with their speculative religious life with little or no ecclesiastical control while soiling the name of other Religious in the eyes of the faithful who innocently consider them all of the same stock. Such tendencies, if allowed to fester, actually endanger the very mission of the Church.

During the sustained listening period, the Bishops, speaking individually, admitted that the Church today, even as she is growing pastorally and admirably, has many challenges to confront. They admitted that the ongoing meeting is intended to reinforce their determination with the Religious to collectively address old and emerging challenges in the Church. It is a reinforcement of the important role that Women Religious play in the life of the Church, in the life of families and in the society especially within Ibadan Province. “We must find every way to help sustain the dignity and integrity of the church of Jesus Christ bequeathed to us over time”.

Some Bishops emphasized that an adequate understanding of ecclesiology must be factored into the formation of priests and Religious in order to secure authentic spirituality because the latter actually derives from the former. A corollary of this must be an appreciation and sustenance of community life, lived as brothers and sisters to safeguard the sanity of the priest or Religious.  All this, coupled with visionary and courageous leadership for priests and religious will discourage the flourishing of spirituality and pastoral practices that are extraneous and damaging to the catholic faith. The Religious were then urged to exploit more the educational and healthcare spaces which they govern in the Church like hospitals and schools to propose multimedia catechesis and catholic spirituality for evangelizing those they encounter every day.

Post marital accompaniment of our young people also emerged as an area needing more attention from pastors and Religious in order to help the young married people to confront the challenges of their life as Catholics. A viewpoint emerged that it is critical to remember that youth apostolate is about “planning with and working with”, rather than planning for and working for the young people. A give-and-take attitude is indispensable for the youth apostolate in order to exploit to the maximum, the ability of the young people themselves to self-mobilize for positive purposes. These strategies must of course be nuanced according to the rural or urban environment in which the youths are situated as the case may be.

Other internal challenges of priestly and religious life were discussed with a determination to pastorally confront them henceforth at every level with the view of finding pastoral solutions for all. The interactive session was held under a truly cordial and synodal atmosphere whereby everyone who had something to say was listened to. The Religious expressed the desire to have further meetings between the Major Superiors and the Bishops of the Province where even more sensitive issues can be ironed out for enhanced pastoral life in the Church. Religious Superiors and representatives from twelve congregations attended the interactive session.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Nigeria.

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African Development Bank backs Artificial Intelligence (AI) training to boost Agenda 2063 implementation across Africa

Source: APO


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The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) is supporting a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) training initiative to advance the implementation of Africa’s continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want (http://apo-opa.co/4miWmzo).

Through its Joint Secretariat Support Office (JSSO), the Bank provided technical and financial backing for the 5th Annual Training Workshop for African Union Member States on harnessing AI for effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on the Second Ten-Year Plan (2024–2033) of Agenda 2063.

The five-day workshop, held in Lusaka, Zambia, was jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). The event brought together representatives from African Union Member States to strengthen their technical capacity in using AI tools and digital innovations to monitor, track, and report on the implementation of Agenda 2063. The training is part of broader efforts to enhance institutional and human capacity across the continent.

Participants engaged in practical sessions on emerging AI platforms, including Ailyse, ChatGPT, Google AI Studio, Google Gemini, and Perplexity, exploring how these tools can improve data analysis, enhance decision-making, and promote evidence-based policy development in line with Agenda 2063 (http://apo-opa.co/4miWmzo) priorities.

The Bank’s support to the workshop reflects its broader commitment to strengthening results-based planning, monitoring, and accountability within the African Union framework, while promoting innovation and digital transformation as key enablers of Africa’s development agenda.

Speaking at the workshop, Abibu Tamu, Lead Programme Co-ordinator at African Development Bank Group, reaffirmed the Bank’s dedication to working closely with the African Union Commission and strategic partners to accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063, particularly its Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan.

“These tools are not only revolutionizing how data is collected, analysed, and reported, they are also enabling more targeted policy interventions and efficient resource allocation,” said Tamu.

The workshop also served as a platform for peer learning and knowledge exchange, with participating countries sharing innovative approaches and best practices in national development planning and results-based reporting.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

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Kenya’s 1950 Kolloa massacre: Britain won’t own up to its colonial violence but communities need closure

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Chloé Josse-Durand, Senior Research Associate in African Politics, Newcastle University

In 1950, British forces killed at least 29 civilians in one of the deadliest, but least chronicled, episodes of colonial violence in Kenya.

Armed soldiers killed at least 29 civilian members of Dini ya Msambwa, a spiritual and anti-colonial movement in Kenya active around what is now West Pokot county in the north-western region. Survivors describe the group’s gathering on 24 April 1950 as a peaceful one. However, British colonial forces, fearing a potential uprising, violently confronted the group at the Kolloa trading centre.

It led to one of the highest number of deaths in a single day in a single place in Kenya’s colonial period.

For the surviving families and followers of Dini ya Msambwa (the “religion of the spirits” in Kiswahili), it was a massacre. However, the British government has never publicly apologised for this atrocity.

The movement’s adherents continue to seek justice and recognition, but they face legal, political and historical roadblocks.

I am part of a team at Newcastle University working on Afterlives of Colonial Incarceration, a project focused on former British colonies. I’ve been working closely with communities affected by colonial violence in Kenya, including Dini ya Msambwa adherents.

In my view, Britain’s recognition of the Kolloa massacre isn’t just a matter of historical record. It is about acknowledging that the group’s pain is real, their loss unjust and their struggle worth remembering.

To acknowledge Kolloa as a massacre would open the door to legal and moral accountability from the British government. This would help Dini Ya Msambwa followers affirm the legitimacy of their historical grievances and their place in Kenya’s national story.

Crucially, it could also lay the groundwork for reparations, which could include financial compensation for surviving families, and the restitution of confiscated land and livestock.

The British government remains silent on the massacre. But this doesn’t erase memory. Dini ya Msambwa followers and representatives and historians are working to ensure that Kolloa – like so many forgotten chapters of colonial violence in Africa and beyond – is not buried with the last of its survivors.

The group’s origins

Dini ya Msambwa was founded in the 1940s by Elijah Masinde among the Bukusu people of western Kenya. The movement rejected colonial authority, resisted Christian missionary dominance and called for a return to African spirituality and traditions.

This combination of cultural pride and political defiance made it a target for suppression by British authorities.

Lukas Pkech, a prominent Pokot leader, brought Masinde’s preachings to West Suk and Baringo in the British-administered north-west region in 1950. His teachings were increasingly influential among Pokot communities and were seen as a direct challenge to colonial order.

British district commissioner Arthur Simpsons, along with a contingent of tribal police and British officers led by Alan Stevens, moved to quell the movement and most likely to kill its leader. What followed was a fatal confrontation in Kolloa: over 300 Dini ya Msambwa followers, armed mainly with spears, faced off with colonial security forces in what came to be called the Kolloa Affray.

Pkech and at least 28 followers were killed, along with Stevens, two other British nationals and an African askari (soldier). Oral testimonies suggest that between 44 and 50 people were killed – 29 during the event itself, and 15 to 20 others later succumbing to wounds sustained in the fighting. At least 176 Dini ya Msambwa members present at the standoff were imprisoned. Seven of them were executed for their direct involvement.

This event led to increased repression of Pokot communities and suspected Dini ya Msambwa leaders and followers.

The colonial administration confiscated over 5,600 cattle and deployed a special police force in the region. Residents were forced into hard labour on district roads as part of communal punishment. Hundreds of adherents were thrown into colonial jails and detention camps near the district administrative centre, Kapenguria.

The exact number of Dini ya Msambwa followers today is hard to assess as many choose to remain discreet for their own safety. However, the growing visibility of branches like Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole ya Africa (African Religion of the Gently Anointing Spirit) indicates the movement’s enduring significance in Pokot society.

Dini ya Roho attracts approximately 4,000 members weekly for worship and yearly for Kolloa commemorations. In the church’s doctrine, the deaths at Kolloa are reinterpreted as a selfless act of sacrifice in fulfilment of peace for the community. Since its official registration in 2012, the church has gained growing influence.

Silencing through legal reform

In 2013, the UK government issued a formal apology and paid £19.9 million (US$26.5 million) in compensation to 5,228 Mau Mau veterans. The compensation was related to Britain’s brutal suppression of the Mau Mau uprising (1952–1960), also known as the “Kenya Emergency”. This was a large-scale anti-colonial rebellion during which more than 150,000 Kenyans were detained without trial in a vast system of camps and fenced villages. Here, torture, forced labour and systematic abuse were widespread.

The Mau Mau case secured an official apology and compensation for colonial-era torture. It also demonstrated that legal redress for historical injustices was possible.

Yet, it was also a strategic concession by the UK government.

It was limited in scope, restricted to a specific group (those tortured during the Emergency), and designed to avoid setting a broad legal precedent.

Since then, the UK has enacted a new law – the Overseas Operations Act – that imposes strict legal limits on claims related to the actions of British troops abroad, effectively barring historical claims.

Worse still, under the legal doctrine known as divisibility of the Crown, claimants must prove that abuses were ordered by the UK government in London, not just carried out by colonial administrators.

In the case of Kolloa, where documentation is sparse and most evidence comes from oral testimonies, this is an almost impossible task.

Further, unlike the Mau Mau case, which gained global attention, Kolloa has remained largely absent from mainstream narratives. The Kenyan government has lacked political will to put pressure on Britain and has itself seen the movement as dangerous. It remained banned until 2012, after the new constitution strengthened protections for freedom of religion and beliefs.

Without strong advocacy from the Kenyan state, Britain has no diplomatic incentive to revisit or acknowledge Kolloa.

Is there still hope for justice?

One promising path is international litigation. In 2022, the Talai clan from Kenya’s Nandi and Kipsigis communities – themselves victims of colonial brutality – brought a case against the UK at the European Court of Human Rights. Their efforts could set a precedent for groups like Dini ya Msambwa seeking redress beyond British courts.

Back home, Kenya’s devolved county government of West Pokot has also given representatives from the church more freedom to speak openly. While the group remains cautious about challenging the national government directly, there’s a growing movement for memorialisation, truth telling and intergenerational dialogue.

For Dini ya Msambwa, the fight is about more than financial compensation. It is about being seen, heard and remembered. The group’s struggle touches on deeper questions of dignity, memory and the right to practise their faith with pride instead of fear and resentment.

– Kenya’s 1950 Kolloa massacre: Britain won’t own up to its colonial violence but communities need closure
– https://theconversation.com/kenyas-1950-kolloa-massacre-britain-wont-own-up-to-its-colonial-violence-but-communities-need-closure-262133

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La Charte de la Jeunesse lance un appel mondial à l’action à l’occasion de la Journée internationale de la Jeunesse des Nations Unies : « De la rhétorique à la réalité »

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

À l’occasion de la Journée internationale de la Jeunesse des Nations Unies 2025, la Charte de la Jeunesse (www.YouthCharter.org) a lancé un puissant appel mondial à l’action, exhortant la communauté internationale à s’unir dans un effort renouvelé et fondé sur des données probantes pour mettre le sport au service du développement et de la paix (SDP) au service de la réalisation des Objectifs de développement durable (ODD) des Nations Unies d’ici 2030.

Cet appel intervient alors que le monde entre dans les cinq dernières années avant l’échéance de 2030, alors que les progrès sur de nombreuses cibles des ODD stagnent ou s’inversent. La Charte de la Jeunesse, une organisation caritative basée au Royaume-Uni, forte de 32 ans d’expérience dans l’engagement, l’équipement et l’autonomisation des jeunes dans plus de 40 pays, prévient que sans une action urgente et coordonnée, le potentiel d’une génération sera perdu.

« Les cinq prochaines années sont cruciales. Nous devons aller au-delà des gestes symboliques et produire un impact réel et mesurable », a déclaré le professeur Geoff Thompson, MBE, FRSA, DL, fondateur et président de la Charte de la jeunesse. « Le sport n’est pas une option : c’est un moteur essentiel de santé, d’éducation, d’égalité, de paix et d’opportunités. Nous avons besoin d’un véritable effort collectif et mondial pour faire des Objectifs 2030 une réalité pour chaque jeune. »

Trois priorités urgentes de l’Appel mondial à l’action

Lancé en 2019 sous le nom de #LegacyOpportunity4All, l’Appel mondial à l’action de la Charte de la jeunesse appelle à :

1.     Mobiliser un Fonds mondial pour le développement durable (SDP) – un financement dédié et géré de manière transparente pour investir dans des projets communautaires qui répondent directement aux cibles des ODD ;

2.     Encourager un leadership authentique – soutenir les coachs sociaux, les mentors et les jeunes leaders locaux en leur offrant des formations, des ressources et une reconnaissance ;

3.     Intégrer les données probantes et la responsabilisation – aligner toutes les initiatives sur les indicateurs des ODD et publier des données d’impact vérifiables.

Preuves d’impact Depuis

1993, le travail de la Charte de la jeunesse a démontré la contribution du sport à plusieurs ODD : • ODD 3 (Santé) : Réduire l’obésité chez les jeunes, améliorer la santé mentale et allonger l’espérance de vie. • ODD 4 (Éducation) : Améliorer la fréquentation et la réussite scolaires grâce à l’apprentissage par le sport. • ODD 5 (Égalité des sexes) : Élargir l’accès et les opportunités de leadership pour les jeunes femmes dans le sport. • ODD 8 (Travail décent) : Créer des voies d’accès à l’emploi grâce à la qualification d’entraîneur et au bénévolat lors d’événements. • ODD 11 (Communautés durables) : Réduire la criminalité et revitaliser les quartiers grâce aux campus communautaires. • ODD 16 (Paix) : Utiliser le sport pour instaurer la confiance, réduire la violence et favoriser la réconciliation dans les zones de conflit. • ODD 17 (Partenariats) : Forger des alliances intersectorielles entre les gouvernements, les ONG, les organismes sportifs et les entreprises.

Rayonnement international

De Moss Side à Manchester à Soweto en Afrique du Sud, d’Islamabad au Pakistan à Louisville aux États-Unis, la Charte de la jeunesse a collaboré avec les gouvernements, les organisations sportives et les communautés pour instaurer un changement durable. Des programmes tels que le Programme de leadership des coachs sociaux et le Modèle de campus communautaire ont été reproduits sur tous les continents, créant des espaces sûrs, des compétences et des opportunités pour les jeunes.

Journée internationale de la jeunesse des Nations Unies 2025 : Un moment pour l’action collective

L’essai de la Charte de la jeunesse pour la Journée internationale de la jeunesse

« De la rhétorique à la réalité : un appel mondial à l’action pour le sport au service du développement et de la paix », a été soumis aux dirigeants de l’ONU et du CIO et est disponible sous forme de document d’information public. Il appelle :

• Les gouvernements à intégrer le sport dans leurs stratégies nationales de jeunesse ;

• Les institutions internationales à coordonner les politiques et les pratiques mondiales en matière de développement social et de paix ;

• Le secteur privé et les organisations philanthropiques à investir stratégiquement dans le sport de masse ;

• Les jeunes leaders à concevoir et diriger des projets locaux, alignés sur les ODD ;

• Le milieu universitaire à fournir une évaluation d’impact solide et indépendante.

Distribué par APO Group pour Youth Charter.

Charte de la Jeunesse @ Réseaux sociaux :
LinkedIn: @ YouthCharter
Facebook: @ YouthCharter
Instagram: @ youthchartersdp
YouTube: @ YouthCharter
X: @ YOUTHCHARTER

#Hashtags de la Charte de la Jeunesse :
#Comité International Olympique
#Olympisme
#CombattreLaRue
#JeunesViesPerdues
#AppelÀL’Action
#HéritageOpportunitéPourTou
#SportDéveloppementPaix
#AutonomiserLaProchaineGénération
#SecrétariatDuCommonwealth
#ObjectifsDeDéveloppementDurableDeL’ONU

À propos de la Charte de la Jeunesse :
La Charte de la Jeunesse est une organisation caritative enregistrée au Royaume-Uni et une organisation non gouvernementale accréditée auprès des Nations Unies. Lancée en 1993 dans le cadre de la candidature olympique de Manchester 2000 et des Jeux du Commonwealth de 2002, la Charte de la Jeunesse a milité et promu le rôle et la valeur du sport, de l’art, de la culture et des technologies numériques dans la vie des jeunes en difficulté issus de communautés défavorisées, aux niveaux national et international. La Charte de la Jeunesse a fait ses preuves dans la création et la mise en œuvre de programmes de développement social et humain, dont l’objectif général est d’offrir aux jeunes la possibilité de s’épanouir.

Plus précisément, la Charte de la Jeunesse s’attaque à l’échec scolaire, aux inégalités en matière de santé, aux comportements antisociaux et aux effets négatifs de la criminalité, de la drogue, des gangs et du racisme, en appliquant l’éthique de l’excellence sportive et artistique. Ces éléments peuvent ensuite se traduire par des avantages sociaux et économiques en matière de citoyenneté, de droits et de responsabilités, avec une amélioration de l’éducation, de la santé, de l’ordre social, de l’environnement, de l’enseignement supérieur, de l’emploi et de l’entrepreneuriat.

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