News Highlights: Situation in Ethiopia remains tense amidst ‘peace effort’, Thousands held in illegal detention in Libya, EU humanitarian bill adopted
21 Jan 2022

News Highlights: Situation in Ethiopia remains tense amidst ‘peace effort’, Thousands held in illegal detention in Libya, EU humanitarian bill adopted

by | posted in: COVID-19, Detention, Empowerment, Eritrea, Ethiopia, EU funding, European Union, Horn of Africa region, Libya, Migration, South Sudan, Sudan, Tigray, UNOCHA | 0

This week news highlights: UNOCHA report indicates new clashes and dire humanitarian needs in Tigray; UN Secretary-General is hopeful progress towards peace is being made in Ethiopia; Debretsion states Eritrea needs to be addressed before peace negotiations can start in Ernest; ICRC prevented from aiding those in need due to lack of medical supplies in Tigray; Church reports the dire humanitarian situation in Tigray; Farmers in the Horn affected by drought need support, states FAO; UN human rights office urges Sudan authorities to stop the use of force against protestors; 12,000 migrants and refugees estimated by UN to be held in Libya, some in secret prisons; Unaccompanied minor refugees forced to share rooms with adults in the UK; Risk of discrimination and violation of human rights by UK border bill, say UN experts; Campaigners warn Greek biometric policing plan violates privacy rights, and Migrant boats to be stopped by UK military from crossing; EU adopts an annual humanitarian bill of € 1.5 billion

Voices from Tigray: Testimonies of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence against Women in Tigray
26 May 2021

Voices from Tigray: Testimonies of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence against Women in Tigray

by | posted in: Africa, EEPA news and activities, Empowerment, Eritrea, Ethiopia, European Union, Horn of Africa region, Human Rights abuses, United Nations, UNSC | 0

On 25 May 2021, the webinar “Conflict-Related Sexual Violence against Women in Tigray” took place in the framework of webinar series “Voices from Tigray”. The aim of this online meeting was to give a platform to testimonies of witnesses, describing the atrocities that occurred in the conflict in the Tigray region. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Julia Duncan-Cassell, former Minister of Gender in Liberia. International experts discussed the consequences of rape and gender-based violence on Tigray women and girls and the implication of soldiers, particularly Eritreans, in these crimes In conclusion, experts called for peace in the Horn of Africa and an end to the violence and discrimination of the civil population. The meeting’s main outcomes included calls for all foreign troops, particularly Eritreans, to withdraw from Ethiopia; referral of Eritrea to the International Criminal Court; and immediate cessation by all parties of rape as a weapon of war. 

Resisting Silence; Voices of New Women in the Digital Age: A space for female migrants and refugees in a modern society
29 Jan 2020

Resisting Silence; Voices of New Women in the Digital Age: A space for female migrants and refugees in a modern society

by | posted in: Asylum Seekers, EEPA news and activities, Empowerment, Libya, Refugee Camps, Refugees in the EU, Stereotypes | 0

“A space for women’s voices” is required, as female refugees and migrants are overlooked and not represented in the modern, digital age. That is how speaker Anila Noor, founder of New Women Connectors, opened the debate on ‘Resisting Silence; Voices of New Women in the Digital Age’. As put forward by the participants of the event, refugee and migrant women face particular challenges. These challenges include technological discrimination, stereotyped perceptions and sexual violence. Therefore, many of the participants argued that the issues of female refugees and migrants must be addressed through an intersectional approach, explaining that female refugees and migrants meet various forms of discrimination.