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African Countries Warned of Drug-Resistant HIV

African countries need to take steps to monitor and prevent the spread of drug-resistant HIV. This was the warning from researchers at the annual conference on retroviruses in Boston last week.

Evidence presented to the conference showed that people who had never taken antiretroviral (ARV) medicine were increasingly being infected with HIV that was resistant to common ARVs.

They were probably infected by people who had either stopped taking ARVs or their ARV treatment had failed.

Countries where ARV programmes have been running for a long time were most likely to report drug-resistant HIV.

In parts of Brazil, for example, almost 20 percent of people tested had HIV that was resistant to at least one ARV.

In a study of almost 2 500 people in six African countries, drug resistance was highest in Uganda, which introduced ARVs earlier than the other countries surveyed, including South Africa and Nigeria.

At three Ugandan sites, almost 12 percent of people who had never been on ARVs before were infected with drug-resistant HIV.

Uganda was one of the first African countries to introduce ARVs, but in the mid-1990s some people were treated with one or two ARVs because of the exorbitant costs.

As the HI virus mutates easily, three different ARVs need to be taken at the same time every day for the patient’s entire life to prevent drug resistant HIV mutations.

In Uganda, there was most resistance to nevirapine and efavirenz, two of the most common ARVs used in Africa. Nevirapine has also been used for a number of years to prevent mothers from infecting their children with HIV.

PharmAccess, which conducted the African study, estimated that the risk of resistance increased by 38 percent for each year of ARV provision.

PharmAccess’s Dr Raph Hamers also reported on a study of young, newly infected Ugandans run last year which showed that over 8 percent had drug-resistant HIV.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) survey identified a number of factors that could drive the spread of drug-resistant HIV in Africa, including patients dropping out of ARV programmes, picking up their medication late and clinics running out of ARVs.

(AllAfrica)

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Revolution and Unrest in North Africa

The current wave of revolution and uprising in North African and Middle East continues unabated. Below are the latest developments of unrests from across North Africa.

Friday developments: March 4, 2011

LIBYA

At least 15 people were killed and at least 200 wounded Friday in the Libyan city of Zawiya, a witness said. State-run Libyan TV reported that forces supporting Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi had re-taken the city, which had been under the control of Gadhafi opponents.

Meanwhile, demonstrators and security forces clashed in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Friday in the latest of several confrontations that have convulsed the country and triggered an exodus of refugees. The clashes happened after weekly prayers in or close to the center of the city, two sources said, and there were indications that some force was used against demonstrators.

The eastern Libyan town of al-Brega was calm early Friday, witnesses said, a day after forces loyal to Gadhafi launched airstrikes on the oil port in an effort to reclaim it from the opposition.

Two U.S. military aircraft plan to fly to Tunisia Friday to deliver 4,000 blankets, 40 rolls of sheeting and 9,600 water cans Friday to help refugees who have fled the unrest in Libya. Nearly 180,000 people, mainly foreign workers, have fled to the neighboring nations of Tunisia and Egypt, the U.N. refugee agency reported Thursday.

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez has said Gadhafi is receptive to the idea of an international commission coming to the country.

Roots of unrest:

Protests in Libya started in February when demonstrators, fed up with delays, broke into a housing project the government was building and occupied it. Gadhafi’s government, which has ruled since a 1969 coup, responded with a $24 billion fund for housing and development. A month later, more demonstrations were sparked when police detained relatives of those killed in an alleged 1996 massacre at the Abu Salim prison, according to Human Rights Watch. High unemployment and demands for freedom have also fueled the protests.

EGYPT

Egypt’s new prime minister, Essam Sharaf, appeared before thousands of protesters at Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Friday, telling them he is “of the people” and would resign if he failed to meet their demands.

Sharaf, Egypt’s former transportation minister, was sworn in Friday after the resignation of Ahmed Shafik, the last prime minister appointed by Hosni Mubarak.

On Thursday, Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda’s No. 2 man, called for Egypt to establish an Islamic state in the aftermath of last month’s revolution.

Mubarak resigned February 11 after 18 days of protest against his rule. The former Egyptian ruler, who is still believed to be at his residence in Sharm el-Sheikh, will be brought to Cairo next week for questioning in a corruption case, the Prosecutor General’s office said Thursday.

Roots of unrest:

Complaints about police corruption and abuses were among the top grievances of demonstrators who forced President Hosni Mubarak from office. Demonstrators also were angry about Mubarak’s 30-year rule, a lack of free elections and economic issues, such as high food prices, low wages and high unemployment. Since Mubarak’s departure, several thousand people have protested in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to urge Egypt’s new rulers to implement promised reforms. They pressed Egypt’s Supreme Council to end an emergency law and release political prisoners, among other things. They also demanded civilian representation in government.

TUNISIA

At least three Tunisian government officials resigned Monday and Tuesday, the country’s official news agency reported, in the wake of the resignation of the prime minister on Sunday.

The minister of higher education and scientific research, Ahmad Ibrahim, and the higher education secretary, Faouzia Farida Charfi, both quit on Tuesday, Tunis Afrique Presse reported. Mohamed Nouri Jouini, the planning and international cooperation minister, resigned on Monday, the agency said.

Former Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi’s resignation Sunday came a day after three people were killed during protests in the capital, Tunis.

Roots of unrest:

The revolt was triggered when an unemployed college graduate set himself ablaze after police confiscated his fruit cart, cutting off his source of income. Protesters complained about high unemployment, corruption, rising prices and political repression.

An interim government came to power after an uprising prompted autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to leave the country on January 14. Those demonstrations sparked protests around North Africa and the Middle East.

MAURITANIA

Protesters returned to Blocat Square in the capital, Nouakchott, on Saturday, February 26, hours after police chased demonstrators from the square. One person was arrested during that melee. But young people returned by evening, promising to continue the protests over the next several days. The call to action started on Facebook, which is said to be very popular in Mauritania, sources tell CNN. Protesters are calling for job creation, economic and political changes and an end to corruption.

Roots of unrest:

In January, a man set himself on fire in front of Mauritania’s presidential palace, according to news reports — a self-immolation in the same spirit as others in Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and elsewhere. There have been two bloodless coups since 2005 in the country, which borders Algeria and Mali, with ex-Gen. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz serving as president since 2009.

ALGERIA

Algeria lifted its 19-year-old state of emergency on February 22, according to the National Algerian Press Agency. The action lifts restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly imposed to combat an Islamist insurgency. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced last month that he would lift the emergency declaration, first imposed in 1992 and indefinitely renewed in 1993.

Roots of unrest:

Protests began in January over escalating food prices, high unemployment and housing issues. They started in Algiers but spread to other cities as more people joined and demonstrators toppled regimes in Tunisia and, later, Egypt. Analysts called Bouteflika’s announcement about lifting the state of emergency law an attempt to head off a similar revolt.

DJIBOUTI

Thousands of people have marched in protest through Djibouti. On February 18, riot police charged the crowd after the call to evening prayers, shooting canisters of tear gas at the demonstrators, according to Aly Verjee, director of the international election observation mission to Djibouti, who witnessed the event. Djibouti is home to Camp Lemonnier, the only U.S. military base on the African continent.

Roots of unrest:

Protesters have called for President Ismail Omar Guelleh — whose family has ruled the country since its independence from France in 1977 — to step down ahead of elections scheduled in April. Guelleh has held the post since 1999 and is seeking a third term. Economic stagnation is also a source of anger among the people.

SUDAN

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has decided not to run for another term in 2015, a senior member of Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party said. Al-Bashir has ruled since a military coup in 1989. He won another five-year term in a 2010 vote that opposition parties boycotted over complaints of fraud. He also faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region of Darfur.

Demonstrators have clashed with authorities on recent occasions in Sudan. Human Rights Watch has said that “authorities used excessive force during largely peaceful protests on January 30 and 31 in Khartoum and other northern cities.” Witnesses said several people were arrested, including 20 who remain missing.

Roots of unrest:

Demonstrators seek an end to National Congress Party rule and government-imposed price increases, according to Human Rights Watch. It accuses the government of being heavy-handed in its response to demonstrations, and using pipes, sticks and tear gas to disperse protesters.

MOROCCO

Protesters have taken to the streets in cities across Morocco to call for political reform. Labor unions, youth organizations and human rights groups demonstrated in at least six cities on Sunday. Police stayed away from the demonstrations, most of which were peaceful, Human Rights Watch reported.

Roots of unrest:

Protesters in Morocco are calling for political reform. Government officials say such protests are not unusual and that the protesters’ demands are on the agenda of most political parties.

Recent developments from THE UNITED NATIONS:

The U.N. refugee agency reported Tuesday that nearly 180,000 people have crossed over from Libya into Tunisia and Egypt and warned of a humanitarian catastrophe. The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Saturday to punish Gadhafi’s regime with sanctions for violence against unarmed civilians. In an emergency session, the 15-member council also referred the strongman to the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an effective solution to end the violence against anti-government protesters and a Libyan envoy tearfully asked the Security Council to step in.

Roots of unrest:

The Palestinian territories have not seen the kind of demonstrations as in many Arab countries, but the Fatah leaders of the Palestinian Authority have been under criticism since Al-Jazeera published secret papers claiming to reveal that Palestinian officials were prepared to make wide-ranging concessions in negotiations with Israel. Negotiations toward a resolution of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict have since collapsed. Palestinian protests, largely in support of Egypt and Tunisia, were generally small and poorly attended. In some cases the Hamas rulers of Gaza and the Palestinian Authority rulers of the West Bank actively tried to stifle protests. The split between Hamas and Fatah hampers internal change in the territories, although calls for political change are growing louder. Large-scale protests have failed to materialize as many Palestinians believe Israel remains their biggest problem.

 (Excerpt Unrest in the Middle East and Africa — country by country)
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Smart Steps to Healthy Living

Whether rich or poor, many people fail to see the link between their habits and their health. They may regard enjoying good health as a matter of chance or something over which they have little control. Such a fatalistic view holds many back from improving their health and leading a more productive life.

In reality, whatever one’s financial situation, there are basic steps that can be taken to protect and improve ones health and those of close associates. Some common healthy habits are provided below:

EAT WISELY– Concentrate on eating ‘real’ food- whole, fresh foods that people have been enjoying for millenniums- rather than modern processed foods. Commercially prepackaged foods and fast food from chain restaurants usually contain high levels of sugar, salt, and fat which are associated with heart disease, stroke, cancer and other serious ailments. When cooking, try steaming, baking, and broiling instead of frying. Try using more herbs and spices to cut down on salt. Make sure meats are properly cooked, and never eat spoiled foods.

The World Health Organization reports a dangerous worldwide increase in overweight and obesity, most of which result from overeating. One study found that in parts of Africa, ”there are more children who are overweight than malnourished”. Obese children carry both present and future health risks including diabetes. A balanced plate favors a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains over meats and starches. Once or twice a week, try substituting fish for meat. Reduce refined food such as pasta, white bread, and white rice, which are usually stripped of much of their nutritional value. Adults and children need to drink plenty of water and other unsweetened liquids every day. Drink more of this during hot weather and when doing heavy physical exercise. Such liquids aids digestion, and cleanse the body of poisons, make for healthier skin, and facilitate weight loss.

TAKE CARE OF BASIC BODY NEEDS– The demands and distractions of modern life have whittled away the time people spend sleeping. But sleep is germane to good health. Studies have shown that during sleep, our body and brain repair themselves, which benefiting memory and mood. Sleep reinforces the immune system and reduces our risk of infections, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, cancer, obesity, depression and so on. Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep every night to feel good and perform their best. Young people need more.

KEEP YOURSELF MOVING– Leading a physically active life can help us feel happier, think more clearly, have more energy, be more productive and, along with proper diet, control our weight. Exercise needs not be painful or extreme to be effective. Regular periods of moderate exercise several weeks can be beneficial. Jogging, brisk walking, biking can help prevent heart attack and stroke. Simply using your feet instead of a car, bus or elevator is a good step. Why wait for a ride when you can walk to your destination? No matter how old you are and when you start, you can benefit from moderate physical exercise. If you are older or have health problems and have not been exercising, it is wise to consult a doctor about how to begin. But do begin! Exercise that is started gradually and not overdone can help even the oldest to maintain muscle strength and bone mass.

PROTECT YOUR HEALTH– ”Hand washing is the single most important thing that you can do to help prevent the spread of infections and stay healthy and well”, reports the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As much as 80 percent of infections are said to be passed on by unclean hands. So wash them often throughout the day. Do so especially before eating, preparing food, or dressing or even touching a wound, and do so after touching an animal, using the toilet, or changing a baby’s diaper. Washing with soap and water is more effective than using alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Bathing everyday and keeping one’s clothes and bed linens fresh and clean also contribute to better health. Avoid close physical contact or sharing of eating utensils with any who have a cold or the flu. Their saliva and nasal secretions can pass the illness to you. Avoid insect bites. Do not sit or sleep outdoors unprotected when mosquitoes or other disease-carrying insects are active. Use bed nets especially for children, and use repellents. Make whatever effort is required to keep your home clean, inside and out. If there is no toilet, build a simple latrine rather than just relieving yourself in a field. Cover the latrine to keep out flies. Obey safety laws when working, riding a bicycle or motorcycle, or driving a car. Use appropriate protective equipments such as safety glasses, headgear, and footwear, as well as seat belts and hearing protection. Avoid excessive sun exposure, which causes cancer and premature aging of the skin.

(excerpts from AWAKE journal- march, 2011)[ad#Adsense-468×60]

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Business in Africa: It’s Boom Time if You Can Dance

There is much more happening in Africa than what you see on TV. There is a reason the world’s big businesses are paying closer attention to the continent known for its challenges like poverty, disease, gang rape and high maternal and infant mortality. Some of the portrayals are real.

Last week, former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo said ‘

“The lack of a dependable electricity supply hampers production, the absence of good roads slows transport, and insufficient access to modern technology limits industrialization and integration into the global marketplace. The resultant inefficiencies make Africa the most difficult and expensive place in which to do business; they also slow economic growth and frustrate general development”

President Obasanjo was 100% right is the statement he made but he was yet very optimistic about the prospects for the continent, a fact that is often clouded by the pessimism. Similarly, Mr. Kofi Annan in a speech delivered at the Exeter College on February 13 portrayed a similar sentiment: hope and excitement in the years ahead for the continent of Africa. Reports from several international bodies and financial institutions point to a continent experiencing an economic boom that is creating numerous opportunities not just for the African people, but for investors and business owners all over the world.

As Kofi Annan pointed out in his speech, the country with the world’s most sustained and strongest economic growth over the last four decades is in Africa; it is Botswana. In fact, the IMF assessment establishes that the African continent will have as many as seven of the ten fastest-growing economies in the world over the next decade.  The McKinsey report estimates that by 2030, the continent’s top 18 cities will have a combined spending power of $1.3 trillion. These are the reasons why multinational corporations can no longer afford to ignore the continent.

I still believe that Africa faces numerous challenges but those who have the eyes to see beyond these challenges are taking the lead and, by the time some of us wake up, the lead may be too big to catch up.

Last week I had conversation with a friend about business opportunities in our home countries. In the 45 minutes discussion I had with the friend, I can recollect that not less than 30 minutes were spent on listing the impossible. We might be right, but that is exactly what entrepreneurship is about. An entrepreneur is “one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen, amidst risks and challenges, in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods”.

I would like to end with laudable example of what people like you and I have embarked upon to change their lives and change their societies.  A group of African traditional dancers in Botswana met and decided to form an alliance to preserve and promote the rich and historic culture of Botswana traditional dance and music. The group, MatsosaNgwao Tradition Dancers, has being performing live music shows in the region over the past three years to promote this African cultural heritage. The MatsosaNgwao Tradition Dance group was the typical neighborhood dance group, unknown and not recognized beyond their physical location. But the group’s efforts did not go unnoticed. The Department of Culture and Youth invited them on a trip to Mumbai, India, for a cultural exchange event in 2009. It was then that the youngsters realized how far their talents could take them. Today, the group is hot. The waiting list for appointment is long. To have them say “yes” is a lifelong accomplishment

What is fascinating about the MatsosaNgwao Tradition Dancers is their impetus; it was simply to help their community preserve its cultural and historic heritage.  Money and fame are the bye-products.

Many communities in Sub-Saharan Africa are endowed with functional African music accompanying work, childbirth, marriage, hunting and political activities most of which are normally associated with a particular dance. Similarly, other regions of the African continent have distinct musical and dance traditions that have not yet been exploited economically. MatsosaNgwao Tradition Dancers have shown that these are untapped gold mine in today’s world.

Out of school and thinking of what the government can do? Look at how the MatsosaNgwao Tradition Dancers did it. Opportunites abound in all areas.

If you are an investor seeking to grow your business globally or an ordinary person seeking opportunities, keep Africa on top of mind. It is still early enough to bring your ideas to the table and join the competition.

MatsosaNgwao Tradition Dancers
MatsosaNgwao Tradition Dancers

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Ivory Coast and Manchester City Kolo Toure Fails Drug Test

Kolo Toure
Kolo Toure

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure has been suspended after testing positive for a specified substance.

The 29-year-old was informed by the Football Association that an A sample he provided had returned positive.

City confirmed in a statement that Toure had been suspended “pending the outcome of the legal process”.

Ivory Coast international Toure, whose brother Yaya also plays for City, is a former club captain who joined City from Arsenal in July 2009.

The defender has gone on to make more than 50 appearances for City, although he was not involved in Wednesday’s FA Cup victory over Aston Villa.

The failed test automatically triggered the suspension and it is understood that Toure was left out of the squad because the club had been made aware of the situation.

The City statement added: “There will be no further comment from the football club at this stage.”

And on Thursday evening an FA statement said: “The FA can confirm that a player has been provisionally suspended from playing pending investigation, having tested positive for the use of a prohibited substance.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency defines a specified substance as one that is “more susceptible to a credible, non-doping explanation”.

The Wada punishment for such a positive test ranges from a warning to a two-year ban.

Hamilton Academicals midfielder Simon Mensing recently served a four-week ban after a specified substance was detected in his system.

The 28-year-old tested positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine at the end of January and subsequently missed five matches after a period of ineligibility was imposed on him.

The player maintained he was unaware he had ingested the substance while using a dietary supplement – an explanation which was accepted by UK Anti-Doping.

Toure was the skipper of City until the start of the current campaign, when the armband was passed to Carlos Tevez.

The Ivorian defender was brought to the Premier League by Arsenal in 2002 and he remained with the London club until his £14m transfer to City.

Toure, who is under contract with City until the summer of 2013, was one of several high-profile arrivals in the summer of 2009 as then-manager Mark Hughes spent more than £100m on new players.

City are currently pursuing trophies on three fronts. They will play Reading in the quarter-final of the FA Cup, are set to take on Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League and lie third in the Premier League, 10 points behind leaders Manchester United.

(Story from BBC Sports)

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DR Congo: UN Report Details Suffering of Rape Victims, Recommends Reparations

 3 March 2011 –A United Nations report unveiled today highlights the deprivations endured by thousands of victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including poverty, denial of justice and lack of access to medical and psychological treatment, and recommends the establishment of a reparations fund.

“Remedies and Reparations for Victims of Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” prepared by a special high-level panel appointed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, reveals that the survivors of sexual violence have no recourse to compensation and other forms of remedies or reparations.

During the panel’s visit to DRC from 27 September to 13 October 2010, its members heard from 61 survivors of sexual violence, ranging from a girl raped when she was three years old to a 61-year-old grandmother, about what they perceived their actual needs to be.

The panel met with some individuals and groups, the report says, “including victims who had contracted HIV/AIDS as a result of rape, victims who had become pregnant and had children as a result of rape, victims whose husbands had rejected them following their rape, child victims of rape, victims of rape who had taken their cases to court seeking justice, and victims of rape by civilian perpetrators.

“Among the victims with special needs whom the panel met were a girl with sensory disabilities, a young woman who is blind, and four men, two of whom were raped and two of whom were sexually assaulted in other ways,” the report states.

Health care and education were among the highest priorities conveyed to the panel by victims.

“They are determined, but in many cases unable, to send their children to school. Those who have contracted HIV/AIDS are deeply troubled by concern over what will happen to their children when they die. Many victims who met with the panel have been displaced from their homes. They expressed the need for socio-economic reintegration programmes.”

Many women never report the rapes, either due to fear of stigmatization or lack of faith in the judicial system. “There is no point in making an accusation,” one woman said. “I learned by example from most people raped before me that there is no justice,” she said.

The report notes that “these victims expressed great frustration because their perpetrators have escaped from prison while they have not been paid the damages … even in those cases where the State has been held liable.”

The report notes that most victims interviewed were unable to seek justice through the courts because they cannot identify their perpetrators, or in some cases, because perpetrators have not been arrested.

The panel recommends that a fund to support reparations be established as a matter of priority, and that the management of the fund include representatives of the Government of the DRC, the UN, donors, civil society, and survivors themselves.

The panel was comprised of Kyung-wha Kang, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights; Elisabeth Rehn, former Minister of Defense of Finland; and Denis Mukwege, Medical Director of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, the capital of DRC’s South Kivu province.

Commenting on the report, Anthony Lake, the Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), who is currently visiting victims in the eastern DRC city of Goma, said sexual violence undermined the social fabric and reinforced a vicious cycle of violence.

(UN News Center)

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Victims of Sexual Violence in DR Congo Face Bleak Situation, UN Report

Congo has been described as the rape capital of the world

GENEVA (3 March 2011) – A new UN report, based on testimonies by some of the hundreds of thousands of victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, paints an extremely stark picture of the at best inadequate, and at worst non-existent, resources and efforts to meet their needs, ranging from medical and psychological treatment, to their socio-economic situation, and lack of access to justice, compensation and other forms of remedies and reparations.

The 55-page report, published Thursday by a special high-level panel appointed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, is the product of a 17-day field visit by the panel’s three members and their support team to seven locations in three different provinces and the capital Kinshasa.

During their visit, the panel heard directly from 61 survivors of sexual violence, ranging from a girl raped when she was three years old to a 61-year-old grandmother, about what they perceived their actual needs to be, and what they felt about the remedies and reparations currently available to them. Many of them also described in graphic detail to the panel members what had happened to them and to other victims in their neighbourhoods. In each location, the panel held talks with provincial and local government officials, and convened roundtables with officials in the justice sector, members of civil society and UN representatives.

The panel met with some individuals and groups, the report says, “including victims who had contracted HIV/AIDS as a result of rape, victims who had become pregnant and had children as a result of rape, victims whose husbands had rejected them following their rape, child victims of rape, victims of rape who had taken their cases to court seeking justice, and victims of rape by civilian perpetrators. Among the victims with special needs whom the panel met were a girl with sensory disabilities, a young woman who is blind, and four men, two of whom were raped and two of whom were sexually assaulted in other ways.”

Peace and security are seen as the precondition to any restoration of normal life, the report says, noting that “victims expressed concern that whatever they are given now to restore their lives can be again destroyed if there is no peace.”

Health care and education were among the highest priorities conveyed to the panel by victims. “They are determined, but in many cases unable, to send their children to school. Those who have contracted HIV/AIDS are deeply troubled by concern over what will happen to their children when they die. Many victims who met with the panel have been displaced from their homes. They expressed the need for socio-economic reintegration programmes.”

“The panel was struck by the difference between the urban centres and the villages it visited,” the report says. “In remote areas there is so little infrastructure that access to any form of assistance or reparation is virtually non-existent. Most women outside the cities are unable to get medical assistance within 72 hours of rape. Nor are there prisons and courts within reachable distance, making detention and trial of perpetrators very challenging and rendering justice unattainable.”

Even in Bukavu, the main city in South Kivu, the panel noted that “the police officer responsible for sexual violence investigations has only a motorcycle, which makes it impossible for her to transport arrested persons to detention facilities.”

Many women never report the rapes, either due to fear of stigmatization or lack of faith in the judicial system. “There is no point in making an accusation,” one woman said. “I learned by example from most people raped before me that there is no justice.”

The panel also met victims who have been able to overcome the many challenges of bringing a case to court and getting a judgment that condemns the perpetrators and awards them reparations in the form of damages and interest.

However the report says “these victims expressed great frustration because their perpetrators have escaped from prison while they have not been paid the damages…even in those cases where the state has been held liable.”

“This is a matter of widespread concern to judicial officers and provincial government authorities, as well as civil society and the victims themselves. The failure to pay these awards is undermining the judiciary and the confidence of victims in the justice system,” the report states, calling for immediate action to pay awarded damages.

The report notes, however, that most victims interviewed were unable to seek justice through the courts because they cannot identify their perpetrators, or in some cases, because perpetrators have not been arrested. “Victims have a right to reparations, which include restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition. There is a need to highlight the responsibility of the government in this regard, with support from the international community.”

The panel heard many views on the relative benefits and drawbacks of individual vs. collective reparations, and repeatedly the suggestion was made that both collective and individual reparations should be provided for. The panel recommends that a fund to support reparations be established as a matter of priority, with the governance of the fund to include representatives of the Government of the DRC, the United Nations, donors, civil society, and survivors themselves. Such a fund should benefit victims of sexual violence in all parts of the country.

“Shifting the stigma from the victims to the perpetrators would have a great impact on the ability of victims to reclaim their dignity and rebuild their lives,” the report says. “Breaking the silence and mobilizing public support for these victims could be the single most important form of reparation.”

The organization of the hearings, including the identification and selection of victims who met with the panel, was undertaken jointly by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Panzi Hospital, in consultation with the Joint Human Rights Office of the UN mission in DRC (MONUSCO). The potential security risks to each victim were assessed, and measures were taken to ensure their safety and confidentiality. Psychologists were hired to pre-screen each witness and to be available to the witnesses before, during and after the hearings.

The panel was composed of Kyung-wha Kang, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Elisabeth Rehn, former Minister of Defense of Finland and co-author of the UNIFEM report on Women, War and Peace, and Dr. Denis Mukwege, Medical Director of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, South Kivu.

(UNHCR)

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India Arie, Into Your Soul in Hebrew

On India.Arie’s last album, she blended a world music sound with her signature style of soul. She’s planning to take things to the next level on an upcoming CD with Israeli singer Idan Raichel.

“I always go different (and) I went even farther,” India.Arie said in a recent interview.

The album, “Open Door,” will be released this summer. It will feature songs in Hebrew and English, though India.Arie doesn’t know Hebrew, explaining that Raichel “teaches me the translation.”

While vacationing in Israel, the 34-year-old singer asked locals who the most influential political singer-songwriter was in town.

“Everybody said, ‘Idan Raichel, Idan Raichel — same name all the time,'” she recalled. “So I just went to his little apartment, I heard his music and was like, ‘That’s my music!'”

Raichel, the dreadlocked composer who uniquely blends Israeli, Ethiopian, Yemenite and Latin sounds, is mainly known for his role in the group The Idan Raichel Project. The Project has some 90 revolving members from Sudan, Uruguay, Colombia and Rwanda. They sing primarily in Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic and Swahili, and bandmates range in age from 16 to people in their 80s.

The Project burst onto the Israeli scene in 2002 and has released three successful albums.

India.Arie and Raichel, 33, can been seen in a YouTube video for their song, “Gift of Acceptance.” The two performed the tune in December at the Nobel Peace concert in honour of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo in Oslo, Norway. They also held special concerts in Los Angeles and Atlanta to promote the upcoming CD.

“People were crying and (there was) a lot of good feedback,” said India.Arie, who is also planning an international tour with Raichel.

“Open Door” will be the soul singer’s fifth CD. Her first three albums were multiplatinum, platinum and gold successes. But 2009’s “Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics” didn’t match her previous efforts, only selling 320,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Though the disc may — or may not — be a hit for the multiple Grammy winner, India.Arie says she’s not concerned with album sales, thanks to the encouraging support from family, friends and fans.

“My family especially, they’re like, ‘Oh my god India, why are you doing this? We don’t know who’s going to buy it,'” she recalled.

“My mom cries every time she hears the songs,” she continued. “…They kept saying stuff like, ‘This is you, but different. It’s almost like you can do anything, but it’s still you.

Indie.Arie and Israeli musician Idan Raichel

(credit: The Canadian Press)