June 13, 2016 Michael Heflin
On Sunday, around the same time that LGBTI rights activists marched peacefully down the streets of Kyiv for their annual pride celebration and half a world away, a lone gunman entered a popular LGBTI nightclub in Orlando, Florida. After reportedly pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, he opened fire, killing at least 49 people and injuring dozens more before being killed by police.
The Kyiv Pride march was the first in that city to be held successfully. Last year’s event had barely started when it was abruptly called off after parade goers were attacked by members of a far-right organization. This year, police preemptively sealed off a 10-block area in the city in response to threats of a “bloody mess.”
Taken together, the events in Kyiv and Orlando demonstrate the horrific hatred and violence LGBTI people continue to face in much of the world today. In many countries, they are criminalized, imprisoned, tortured, and even executed. Even in countries where rights protections exist, LGBTI people are still shunned by family and friends, denied housing and employment, and attacked, both emotionally and physically.
Participants at the civil society consultation about the SADC Model Law on child marriage, in Johannesburg, South Africa. | Photo credit: UNFPA ESARO
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is a Regional Economic Community comprised of 15 Member States; Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius,Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Established in 1992, SADC is committed to Regional Integration and poverty eradication within Southern Africa through economic development, and ensuring peace and security.
Photo Kay Kermush
International Day Against Child Labour – June 12, 2016
ILO – International Labour Organization - http://www.ilo.org/ipec/facts/lang--en/index.htm
INDIA - GIRL CHILD BRICK WORKER - EXTREME POVERT
DEFINING CHILD LABOUR
The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.
It refers to work that:
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is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and
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interferes with their schooling by:
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depriving them of the opportunity to attend school;
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obliging them to leave school prematurely; or
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requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.
TO ACCESS FULL 22-PAGE REPORT OF THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN,
CLICK: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/32/42
