Day: September 12, 2022

 

President Joe Biden on Monday urged Americans to come together for a new “national purpose” — his administration’s effort to end cancer “as we know it.”

At the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Biden channeled JFK’s famed moonshot speech 60 years ago, likening the space race to his own effort and hoping it, too, would galvanize Americans.

“He established a national purpose that could rally the American people and a common cause,” Biden said of Kennedy’s space effort, adding that “we can usher in the same unwillingness to postpone.”

Biden hopes to move the U.S. closer to the goal he set in February of cutting U.S. cancer fatalities by 50% over the next 25 years and to dramatically improve the lives of caregivers and those suffering from cancer. Experts say the objective is attainable — but with adequate investments.

The president called his goal of developing treatments and therapeutics for cancers “bold, ambitious, and I might add, completely doable.”

In his speech, Biden called on the private sector to make drugs more affordable and data more regularly available. He ticked off medical advancements possible with focused research, funding and data.

And he spoke of a new federally backed study that seeks evidence for using blood tests to screen against multiple cancers — a potential game-changer in diagnostic testing to dramatically improve early detection of cancers.

Danielle Carnival, the White House coordinator for the effort, told The Associated Press that the administration sees huge potential in the commencement of the blood diagnostic study on identifying cancers.

“One of the most promising technologies has been the development of blood tests that offer the promise of detecting multiple cancers in a single blood test and really imagining the impact that could have on our ability to detect cancer early and in a more equitable way,” Carnival said. “We think the best way to get us to the place where those are realized is to really test out the technologies we have today and see what works and what really has an impact on extending lives.”

In 2022, the American Cancer Society estimates, 1.9 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed and 609,360 people will die of cancer diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rank cancer as the second-highest killer of people in the U.S. after heart disease.

The issue is personal to Biden, who lost his adult son Beau in 2015 to brain cancer. After Beau’s death, Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which dedicated $1.8 billion over seven years for cancer research and was signed into law in 2016 by President Barack Obama.

Obama designated Biden, then vice president, to run “mission control” on directing the cancer funds as a recognition of Biden’s grief as a parent and desire to do something about it. Biden wrote in his memoir Promise Me, Dad that he chose not to run for president in 2016 primarily because of Beau’s death.

Despite Biden’s attempts to hark back to Kennedy and his space program, the current initiative lacks that same level of budgetary support. The Apollo program garnered massive public investment — more than $20 billion, or more than $220 billion in 2022 dollars adjusted for inflation. Biden’s effort is far more modest and reliant on private sector investment.

Still, he’s tried to maintain momentum for investments in public health research, including championing the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), modeled after similar research and development initiatives benefiting the Pentagon and intelligence community.

On Monday, Biden announced Renee Wegrzyn as the inaugural director of ARPA-H, which has been given the task of studying treatments and potential cures for cancers, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and other diseases. He also announced a new National Cancer Institute scholars’ program to provide funding to early-career scientists studying treatments and cures for cancer, with a focus on underrepresented groups and those from diverse backgrounds.

The president was joined by Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of JFK who is now the U.S. ambassador to Australia. And he was expected to speak later in the day at a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee.

Experts agree it’s far too early to say whether these new blood tests for finding cancer in healthy people will have any effect on cancer deaths. There have been no studies to show they reduce the risk of dying from cancer. Still, they say setting an ambitious goal is important.

Carnival said the National Cancer Institute study was designed so that any promising diagnostic results could be swiftly put into widespread practice while the longer-term study — expected to last up to a decade — progresses. She said the goal was to move closer to a future where cancers could be detected through routine bloodwork, potentially reducing the need for more invasive and burdensome procedures like colonoscopies, and therefore saving lives.

Scientists now understand that cancer is not a single disease, but hundreds of diseases that respond differently to different treatments. Some cancers have biomarkers that can be targeted by existing drugs that will slow a tumor’s growth. Many more targets await discovery.

“How do we learn what therapies are effective in which subtypes of disease? That to me is oceanic,” said Donald A. Berry, a biostatistician at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. “The possibilities are enormous. The challenges are enormous.”

Despite the challenges, he’s optimistic about cutting the cancer death rate in half over the next 25 years.

“We can get to that 50% goal by slowing the disease sufficiently across the various cancers without curing anybody,” Berry said. “If I were to bet on whether we will achieve this 50% reduction, I would bet yes.”

Even without new breakthroughs, progress can be made by making care more equitable, said Dr. Crystal Denlinger, chief scientific officer for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a group of elite cancer centers.

And any effort to reduce the cancer death rate will need to focus on the biggest cancer killer, which is lung cancer. Mostly attributable to smoking, lung cancer now causes more cancer deaths than any other cancer. Of the 1,670 daily cancer deaths in the United States, more than 350 are from lung cancer.

Dr. Michael Hassett of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston said Biden’s goal to reduce cancer deaths could be met by following two parallel paths: one of discovery and the other making sure as many people as possible are reaping the advantages of existing therapies and preventive approaches.

“If we can address both aspects, both challenges, major advances are possible,” Hassett said.

 

Source: Voice Of America

 

In an executive order signed Monday, President Joe Biden announced steps by his administration to bolster the “bioeconomy” in the United States, a classification that covers research and development across a broad swath of products, including medical supplies, sustainable new fuels and food, as well as technologies meant to help fight climate change.

The order comes barely a month after Biden signed a major piece of legislation, the CHIPS Act, meant to supercharge U.S. manufacturing of semiconductors, an area in which the U.S. has lost its once-dominant global position.

The effort to boost the U.S. biotech sector further underscores the administration’s apparent belief that deeper engagement by the federal government with domestic manufacturing operations is necessary to preserve U.S. competitiveness in the global economy.

In a briefing over the weekend, administration officials made it clear that the administration’s push to bring more U.S.-based biotechnology manufacturing online comes as a response to other countries — particularly China — investing heavily in the sector.

Administration officials stressed that biotechnology-based products and “biomanufacturing” present a promising alternative to many current products — fuel, plastics and other materials — that are currently made using the byproducts of carbon-laden petrochemicals.

Order text

The executive order reads, in part, “It is the policy of my Administration to coordinate a whole-of-government approach to advance biotechnology and biomanufacturing towards innovative solutions in health, climate change, energy, food security, agriculture, supply chain resilience, and national and economic security.”

It continues, “Central to this policy and its outcomes are principles of equity, ethics, safety, and security that enable access to technologies, processes, and products in a manner that benefits all Americans and the global community and that maintains United States technological leadership and economic competitiveness.”

Caution urged

Among the Biden administration’s promises in the executive order is a vow to “substitute fragile supply chains from abroad with strong chains at home.” But not everyone agrees that a government effort to manipulate the supply chain is the smartest strategy for the long run.

“Government can play a role in funding basic research, university labs and the rest, but when it starts micromanaging supply chains, you end up with more fragile supply chains than robust ones,” Scott Lincicome, a director for general economics and trade at the Libertarian-leaning Cato Institute, told VOA.

Similarly, he said, government decisions to privilege “onshore” production over foreign producers can be dangerous.

“There’s nothing wrong with domestic manufacturing, but as we’ve learned throughout the pandemic, there’s a big problem with putting all of your eggs in one basket, either all foreign or all domestic,” Lincicome said.

“While onshoring can insulate you from foreign shocks, it makes you far more vulnerable to domestic shocks,” he added. “And in the process, it makes you poorer and weaker overall. The best approach is to have a very open, diverse global supply chain with domestic networks, foreign suppliers, and a very light government touch on trade, investment, talent and the rest.”

Multiple aims

The executive order lays out a number of areas in which the Biden administration plans to flex the federal government’s muscle, including the domestic manufacturing of biotechnology products. The aim is to encourage both the creation of domestic manufacturing facilities, as well as the supply chains of fuel and raw materials needed to operate them.

The administration also promises to help create markets for biotechnology products by increasing mandatory purchasing requirements for federal agencies.

In addition, the executive order proposes to push more funding into research and development and to provide innovators support in the form of federal data that helps identify unmet needs. Other efforts will include job training programs, streamlined regulatory approval of new products, and cooperative programs with international partners.

Mending fences

The administration’s push to help U.S. biotechnology firms could go some way toward mending fences with the industry, which was angered by elements of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which Biden recently signed into law.

The IRA, for the first time, allows Medicare, the government health insurance program for senior citizens, to bargain with pharmaceutical firms over the prices of some prescription drugs. Many in the industry strongly opposed the measure, claiming it would reduce incentives to innovate.

The executive order comes less than a week after the Biotechnology Innovation Organization sent a letter to the administration requesting it to “take additional steps to foster the development and deployment of pioneering technologies that will further reduce greenhouse gas emissions in manufacturing, transportation, and agricultural supply chains to build a stronger, more resilient, and environmentally sustainable economy.”

Biden signed the order before traveling to Boston, where he was scheduled to tout the results of the infrastructure bill he signed last year, which pumped federal money into a wide array of construction projects.

Also on Monday, Biden named Renee Wegrzyn, a biotechnology executive, to head the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. The announcement came as part of a discussion of Biden’s “moonshot” initiative to drive new research on treatments for cancer.

 

 

Source: Voice Of America

 

 

Luanda – The fifth legislature of the National Assembly (AN) begins on Friday (15), with the inauguration of the 220 MPs elected in the general elections of 24 August.

The programme was approved on Monday  at the end of the Permanent Commission meeting of the National Assembly chaired by the current Speaker of the Parliament, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos.

The Permanent Commission meeting also approved the programme of the seminar for the integration of the elected MPs, scheduled for September 19.

In the new composition of the National Assembly, whose legislature lasts until 2027, the MPLA will hold 124 seats, UNITA 90, and the PRS, FNLA and the Humanist Party of Angola (PHA) with two, each, an insufficient number to form parliamentary groups.

The current second secretary of the National Assembly’s board, Raul Lima, said, at the end of the Permanent Commission meeting, that all conditions have been created for the 220 members to occupy their seats in Parliament.

In addition to the swearing in of the members of National Assembly, the constitutive meeting of the fifth legislature will elect the National Assembly board, namely the Speaker of the National Assembly, the deputy-speakers  and the secretaries.

 

 

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Luanda – The Algerian Head of State, Abdel Majid Tabun, on Monday congratulated his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, on his re-election as President of the Republic of Angola.

“On the occasion of his re-election as President of the sister

Republic of Angola, I am pleased to present to you, on behalf of the people and the Government of Algeria, and on my own behalf, my warmest congratulations and best wishes for success in your noble task at the service of the people, as well as in achieving the progress and prosperity of Angola”, states the message of Abdel Tabun to President João Lourenço.

 

The Algerian Head of State added that trusting the leadership of President João Lourenço is a sign of gratitude, for his wisdom and political experience, as a leader committed to serving his country.

 

Abdel Majid Tabun also expressed willingness and availability to work, with his Angolan counterpart, in order to consolidate the historical bonds of friendship and solidarity between both countries, as well as to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields, in order to promote and respond to the two brother peoples’ expectations.

 

Meanwhile, the President of Algeria also expressed the will towards the promotion and deepening of political consultations between the two countries, on regional and international issues of common interest, and the joint efforts within the African Union, in order to defend justice, incorporating the objectives of peace, security, stability and sustainable development and integration, throughout the African continent.

 

The final results of the elections published by the National Electoral Commission (CNE), after validation by the Constitutional Court, gave victory to the MPLA and its candidate for President of the Republic, João Lourenço, with 51.17% of the valid votes, thus gaining 124 seats in the Parliament.

 

These were the fifth elections in Angola, since 1992.

 

 

Source: Angola Press News Agency

 

Luanda – Petro de Luanda and 1º de Agosto on Tuesday begin preparing the matches of the second leg encounters, aiming for access to the stage group of of the CAF Champions League.

After the triumph away from home, the Angolan players of both clubs observe a day off this Monday.

 

1º de Agosto will work at Nicola Bernardineli field, while Petro de Luanda at Osvaldo Saturnino “Jesus” field a.k.a Catetão.

 

Petro de Luanda faced the Black Bulls of Mozambique on Saturday at the 11 de Novembro Stadium, in Luanda, for the second leg of the knockout stage, after winning 3-0 in the first leg, last Sunday in Maputo.

 

The scorers for Petro de Luanda were Tiago Azulão at 65 min, Anderson at 75 min and Pedro Pinto at 82 min.

 

Meanwhile, 1º de Agosto beat Sunday Red Arrows at the same field, after their narrow 1-0 win last Saturday in Lusaka. The only goal was scored by Zine at 5min.

 

These two Angolan ambassadors in the continental club event have already reached the semi-finals, being 1º de Agosto in 2018 and Petro de Luanda in the last edition, this year.

 

Full results, after the dispute of the first knockout round:

 

Black Bulls-Petro de Luanda (0-3)

Red Arrows-1º de Agosto (0-1)

Casa-JSKabtlie (1-0)

Coton FC-Asec Mimosa (1-2)

Gaberone Utd-AS Vita Clube (1-0)

Kara-Nouhadibou (1-1)

Rivers United-Watanga (3-0)

As Arta-AlMerreikh (1-2)

CCFA-Leopards (2-3)

Flambeaudo Centre-Al Ittihad (1-0)

Dep Mongomo-Djoliba (2-0)

St George-Al Hilal (2-1)

Bo Rangers-Belouzidad (0-0)

Nigelec-Soar (2-1)

Olympic Realde Bangui-Vipers (0-3)

Matlama-Coton Sport (0-3)

Stade Mandji-Plateau (2-2)

APR-Monastir (1-0)

Big Bullets-Simba (0-2)

CapeTown City-Otoho (2-0)

KM KM-Al Ahly de Tripoli (0-2)

Zalan-Young Africans (0-4)

Vol Club- La Passe (1-0).

 

 

Source: Angola Press News Agency

 

Luanda – The Angolan minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, said Monday that the traditional therapist Kitoko Maiavangua, also known as “Avô Kitoko”, was a reference figure and a driving force in the training of young therapists in Angola.

In a condolence message to which ANGOP had access, the minister recognises the deceased as a pioneer in the expansion and dissemination of traditional medicine, whose contribution was marked in the elaboration of the Traditional Medicine Policy and in all phases of the identification and registration of more than two thousand national and foreign therapists.

 

Sílvia Lutucuta also considered Avó Kitoko a tireless partner of the Ministry of Health (MINSA).

 

“Papa Kitoko contributed a lot in the treatment of the mentally ill and, many times, was an intercessor mediator for the recognition and development of this medicine, a true patriot, knowledgeable about traditional heritage and its power”, states the message of the minister.

 

In her message, the minister deemed the late therapist a good interpreter of traditional medicine who took it beyond borders, leaving an invaluable legacy.

 

Avô Kitoko, who was the Executive Chairman of the National Chamber of the Angola Traditional Medicine Forum and Patron of the Kitoko Foundation, died on Sunday in Luanda, victim of a car accident.

 

Kitoko Mayavangua was notable in philanthropic actions, in the country with emphasis on Luanda where he was based and deeply involved in the recovery of individuals with mental disorders, coupled with his social intervention moves.

 

 

Source: Angola Press News Agency

 

The Human Rights Council this morning opened its fifty-first session, hearing an oral update by the Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al Nashif, on global human rights developments and the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner.

Ms. Al-Nashif extended her warmest welcome to Under-Secretary-General Volker Türk, whose appointment as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was approved by the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, 8 September. His leadership and commitment to championing human rights will be a real asset in the defence of the rights of everyone, everywhere.

Presenting the High Commissioner’s oral update, Ms. Al-Nashif said that since the Council’s last session in June, several situations around the world continued to raise serious human rights concerns requiring urgent action. The coming months were a critical test to political will. When galvanised through multilateral and concerted action, by building bridges rather than sowing division, political commitment that was grounded in international human rights standards could propel the world forward towards more just and equal societies. It lay at the core of the mission of the Council – to fulfil it was therefore to uphold the collective commitment to the enduring principle that all human beings were born free and equal in dignity and rights.

The general debate on the High Commissioner’s oral update will be held on Tuesday, 13 September.

The Council also heard a statement by Alphonse Charles Wright, Minister of Justice of Guinea, who said the Human Rights Council helped States to uphold human rights. All countries needed to promote respect, non-discrimination and combat violence in all spheres, and this was the main role of the Human Rights Council. However, no protection of human rights was conceivable unless authorities and non-governmental organizations were able to put them above their own interests. The Republic of Guinea was committed to observing its human rights commitments, releasing detained political opponents. Strategic documents all reflected the Government’s aim to uphold human rights.

The Human Rights Council also held a minute of silence for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, and a minute of silence for the passing of the Leopold Samba, Permanent Representative of the Central African Republic to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The webcast of the Human Rights Council meetings can be found here. All meeting summaries can be found here. Documents and reports related to the Human Rights Council’s fifty-first regular session can be found here.

The Human Rights Council will next meet at 10 a.m. to hold an interactive dialogue on the report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, followed by an interactive dialogue on the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka.

Minute of Silence for Passing of Queen Elizabeth II

United Kingdom thanked many in the hall for the words of condolence and tribute in the last few difficult days for the United Kingdom. It was a day of national mourning. Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a truly remarkable person, and an era had ended. She was an internationalist before the word became fashionable, and was present at the very first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in London in 1946, and throughout her long life of service to her country and to the Commonwealth, she visited more than 100 countries and touched the lives of countless people across the globe. She was the United Kingdom’s greatest diplomat. She worked until the very last day of her life, devoted to the service of her people and her country.

The Human Rights Council then held a minute of silence in commemoration of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

Minute of Silence for Passing of Permanent Representative of the Central African Republic

FEDERICO VILLEGAS, President of the Human Rights Council, expressed the Council’s deep sorrow as well for the death of Ambassador Leopold Samba, Permanent Representative of the Central African Republic to the United Nations Office at Geneva, who had been an active participant in the work of the Human Rights Council.

In memory of Ambassador Samba, a second minute of silence was held.

Opening Remarks by the President of the Council

FEDERICO VILLEGAS, President of the Human Rights Council, welcomed Nada Al-Nashif, Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, to the Human Rights Council, also expressing the Council’s support for the new High Commissioner for Human Rights, Under-Secretary-General Volker Türk. He urged all speakers to respect the work and role of the mandate holders, including Special Rapporteurs. He reminded all that the code of conduct including protection against sexual harassment was in force, and would be implemented during the Council session, ensuring that any and all complaints be dealt with promptly. The work of national human rights institutions and representatives of civil society was essential to the fulfilment of the mandate of the Council – and all allegations of acts of reprisal due to their contribution to the work of the Council would be investigated.

The Council then approved the draft programme of work for the session.

Oral Update of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

NADA AL-NASHIF, Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, extended her warmest welcome to Under-Secretary-General Volker Türk, whose appointment as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was approved by the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, 8 September. His leadership and commitment to championing human rights will be a real asset in the defence of the rights of everyone, everywhere.

Presenting the High Commissioner’s oral update on the global situation of human rights, Ms. Al-Nashif said that since this Council’s last session in June, several situations around the world continued to raise serious human rights concerns requiring urgent action.

Ms. Al-Nashif welcomed the recently concluded peaceful and inclusive elections in Angola as well as in Kenya. The Office was concerned about the deteriorating situation and shrinking civic space in Burundi. In the Central African Republic, the Government should ensure that defence and security forces and foreign private military contractors immediately ceased violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. In the context of ongoing transitions taking place in several countries such as Chad, Guinea, and Sudan, all alleged violations committed during military operations or in the context of protests must be promptly, impartially and thoroughly investigated. More than a year on, political instability and civil unrest that started with pro-democracy protests in Eswatini were being reportedly met with excessive use of force by security officers.

Following the recent resumption of hostilities in northern Ethiopia, the announcement by authorities in Tigray of their readiness to abide by an immediate cessation of hostilities and to participate in a robust peace process under the auspices of the African Union was encouraging. The most recent violent clashes in Tripoli, Libya had resulted in civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and all parties should protect civilians, refrain from further violence, and comply with international human rights and international humanitarian law. In Mali, there was concern about alleged violations committed during military operations conducted by Malian defence and security forces.

In the context of the conflict of northern Mozambique, the Government should investigate and hold to account perpetrators of human rights violations, and of threats and intimidation against human rights defenders, ensuring the findings were made public. The Office reiterated its call to the Government of Sierra Leone to hold prompt, impartial and thorough investigations into the violence and fatalities that occurred during public protests on 10 August and bring those responsible to account regardless of their status and political affiliation.

The peaceful transfer of power and the formation of a new Federal Government in Somalia was welcome, as well as the newly elected President’s statement on the need for universal suffrage for the next elections. In Tunisia, concerns were mounting regarding executive interference with the judiciary, including summary dismissals and the launching of criminal proceedings against judges. In Haiti, the Office of the High Commissioner had consistently raised the alarm about the unbearable levels of violence and associated human rights abuses involving heavily armed gangs – as well as the urgent need to support State institutions to curtail this violence.

The new Colombian Government’s strategy to seek “total peace”, including its commitment to fully implement the 2016 peace agreement with the FARC-EP and the recommendations of the Truth Commission’s final report was positive. In Ecuador, the economic recession and unresolved social grievances affecting already marginalised populations had sparked widespread protests in June. The Office continued to record attacks against rights defenders in Honduras, ranging from threats to harassment to killings.

During the first ever visit by a High Commissioner to Bangladesh last month, as well as to the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, the former High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet had discussed a full range of concerns with the authorities and offered the Office of the High Commissioner’s support to review restrictive laws governing on-line expression. On 31 August, the Office published its assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, with recommendations to the Government and other stakeholders.

In the Papua region (Papua and West Papua Provinces) of Indonesia, there were reports of intensified violence, including clashes between the Indonesian security forces and armed groups resulting in unknown numbers of civilian casualties and fatalities and internal displacement. In Iraq, people continued to suffer the consequences of the political deadlock, amidst economic challenges, a shrinking space for freedom of expression, and the severe impact of climate change. The Office was closely following the transitional justice agenda in Nepal, including relevant legislative amendments, and urged the Government to ensure their compliance with international human rights norms and the aspirations and rights of victims.

There was concern for the targeting of human rights defenders in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the disturbing increase in the number of Palestinians, including children, killed and injured by Israeli forces in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in the recent escalation in Gaza in early August and the widespread use of live ammunition in law enforcement operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The recent executions of at least eight people for drug-related offences in Singapore were deplored. In Viet Nam, the Government’s growing restrictions on civic space and fundamental freedoms, as well as the sentencing of people on charges related to their human rights work and efforts to promote a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment were worrisome. Since the United Nations’ mediated truce was announced in Yemen, the country had witnessed a decline in reported casualties from conflict-related violence.

The former High Commissioner had visited Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2022, during which she conveyed strong messages ahead of the October general elections, occurring in a particularly polarised context. In the Russian Federation, the intimidation, restrictive measures and sanctions against people voicing opposition to the war in Ukraine undermined the exercise of constitutionally guaranteed fundamental freedoms, including the rights to free assembly, expression and association. In Tajikistan, particularly in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, concerns persisted about the harassment of human rights defenders and journalists and recent prosecution requests for 25 years or life term prison sentences in some cases, disregarding due process. In Ukraine, the war’s serious socio-economic consequences persisted, including severe fuel shortages and threats to food security in some of the poorest countries.

The coming months were a critical test to political will. When galvanised through multilateral and concerted action, by building bridges rather than sowing division, political commitment that was grounded in international human rights standards could propel the world forward towards more just and equal societies. States could and should use the full gamut of human rights as problem-solving measures, including for inclusive participation and stronger institutions. Fuller use should be made of the international human rights mechanisms. The pursuit of peace, stability and justice united all. It lay at the core of the mission of the Council – to fulfil it was therefore to uphold the collective commitment to the enduring principle that all human beings were born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Statement by the Minister of Justice of Guinea

ALPHONSE CHARLES WRIGHT, Minister of Justice of Guinea, said that the Human Rights Council helped States to uphold human rights. The shortcomings of States needed to be recognised. All countries needed to promote respect, non-discrimination and combat violence in all spheres, and this was the main role of the Human Rights Council. However, no protection of human rights was conceivable unless authorities and non-governmental organizations were able to put them above their own interests. The Republic of Guinea was committed to observing its human rights commitments, releasing detained political opponents. Strategic documents all reflected the Government’s aim to uphold human rights. The Government intended to participate in international meetings and safeguard the gains of the country. The transitional Government would genuinely cooperate with all human rights missions.

A report was being drafted on human rights violations in Guinea by the local mission of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and this work was welcomed. It was incumbent on the Government to deliver justice to the victims of the events of September 2009. Proceedings would be held to put an end to impunity and bring justice to the families of victims. A draft law on the protection of victims had been prepared. A training course had been provided to judges who would be hearing trials. An investigation of deaths occurring in the most recent protests would also be carried out. The compensation fund needed to be strengthened through partnership with international organizations.

 

Source: UN Human Rights Council