Human rights in Pakistan are in peril. From the indifferent attitude toward “honor killings” to unnecessary executions, it seems that this country is far from establishing a free society.
In the twenty-first century, violence and discrimination are disregarded as memories of the past and considered rare in such an advanced and connected world. However, these problems continue to plague nations today. In countries that suffer political discourse especially, human rights have a long way to go.
Approximately 20 percent, or roughly 1,000, of the world’s honor killings each year occur in Pakistan alone. Women are often the victims of this longstanding practice. Those who disgrace the household by choosing to marry a man of their choice or exposing themselves in unorthodox manners are considered to be undeserving of life.
In July 2016, Qandeel Baloch, a popular actress, was drugged and strangled to death by her brother, Waseem Baloch. Her crime: in order to support her family, she became an internet sensation by posting videos that advocated for women’s rights and criticized Pakistan’s resistance toward expanding them.
The next morning, a country of more than 200 million people woke up to news channels covering the controversial killing of one of Pakistan’s most popular actresses. The nation’s justice minister promised anxious citizens that the Parliament would examine a proposed bill for punishing those who commit honor killings and other related crimes.
As for Qandeel Baloch, the Punjab provincial government restricted members of her family from legally forgiving her brother. In other words, even if her relatives forgive Mr. Baloch, he cannot escape prosecution. A common measure, this ruling is only effective in producing one result: the universal condoning of such acts, while the case remains unaddressed and the accused unpunished.
Honor killings are not the only form of human rights abuse in Pakistan, unfortunately. From child marriages to discrimination against minorities, the list goes on. However, what people do not realize is that in many cases, the culprit of unjust killings is the institution that aims to protect the lives of citizens: the government.
Pakistan is notorious for its legalization of capital punishment. This act goes unopposed because of its reputation as a proper measure. However, this is not any more legal or more ethical than the occasional honor killing.
In 2017 thus far, there have been 44 known executions in Pakistan–and these are only the ones which have been reported. From reasons ranging from rape to murder, it is estimated that thousands of people lose their lives to executions each year. Previously, only extreme offenses warranted capital punishment. That changed this year when 30-year-old Taimoor Raza received the death penalty for allegedly insulting Islamic religious figures.
As an unprecedented decision by the Pakistani Shari’at Court, this cannot be opposed because the court has the full autonomy to assess whether a crime is deserving of capital punishment. As Taimoor Raza awaits his sentence, 14 people who are also accused of this crime wait to see whether their fates will be like that of Mr. Raza’s.
There are many reasons why there is a human rights problem in Pakistan. The weak authority of the government and the presence of terrorism stand as the two most popular justifications.
However, it is hopeful to see that there are people who are attempting to change the state of affairs in this nation. From protests to petitions to measures by the government, there is a legitimate mission to end these abuses. In the case of Qandeel Baloch, the Monday after the murder, many women protested for the victim.
In the end, the true question lies in whether people will be successful in bringing human rights to Pakistan. So far, with rising danger for humanitarian activists, the answer to that pressing question remains unclear.
For now, the only ray of hope that Pakistanis find is in the words of political reform activists, who promise that change will eventually come.
– Sheharbano Jafry
Photo: Google
Turkey’s Tourism Industry Slowly Gains Back Visitors
Turkey’s tourism industry is vital to the country’s economy. After declines in the past two years, Turkey now reports an increased number of foreign visitors again.
Domestic and international political tensions dramatically intensified the downward trend. Numerous terrorist attacks in late 2015 and throughout 2016, which were partly attributed to Kurdish militants and partly to ISIS, claimed hundreds of lives, including many foreigners.
In July 2016, a bloody military coup against the government of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was quelled but led to the declaration of a state of emergency by the government that persists until this day. The situation has been used to justify an extensive crackdown on civil servants and civil society, including the closure of media outlets and non-governmental organizations and the detention of journalists, members of the parliament and human rights activists. The violence and political instability left tourists worried about their safety in Turkey.
The neglect of human rights and democratic values has also chipped away from the image of the country’s leader in Europe – an unfavorable image only further deteriorated by the “war of words” he has been waging with EU leaders. Recently, Erdogan has repeatedly made negative headlines throughout Europe, not only with his domestic policies but also with his hostility toward several members of the European Union, whom he accused of Nazism and fascism, for instance.
Visitor numbers from Russia also saw a steep decline in 2016. A diplomatic crisis had emerged between the countries, after Turkey shot down a Russian military jet close to the Syrian border in November 2015. The Russian government reacted by banning charter flights to Turkey and barring tour companies from selling deals to Turkey. Prior to the crisis, Russians had made up the second-largest group of visitors to the country, generating $34 billion in revenue in 2014 by themselves.
According to the Istanbul Culture and Tourism Directorate, the numerous crises amounted to a total drop of 25.9% of visitors in 2016 compared to the previous year, amounting to losses of billions of dollars in the industry, which is vital to the country’s economy: a report from the World Travel & Tourism Council stated that the travel and tourism sectors had generated 12% of Turkey’s 2014 GDP, based on its direct, indirect and induced GDP impact.
However, last year, many beds, beaches and restaurants stayed empty during the summer months, which in turn forced many businesses to drastically lower their prices. This tourism crisis threatens the livelihood of the eight percent of the workforce employed in Turkey’s tourism industry, as well as other businesses dependent on foreign consumers.
After the Russian government’s crackdown on travel to Turkey has ended, Russian tourists now flock back into the country. In April 2017, visitor numbers finally increased again compared to April 2016, but they still remained lower than pre-crisis levels.
Additionally, Turkish hoteliers hope to make up for some of their losses with domestic tourism, but visitors from within Turkey tend to spend less than tourists from Europe or the U.S. The German Tagesschau quotes a hotel operator in saying: “It is not only about increasing the number of visitors and filling up hotels. If the room rates remain low, our problems remain, too.” Despite recently increasing revenues, a challenging time still lies ahead for Turkey’s tourism industry.
– Lena Riebl
The Most Common Diseases in Indonesia
Indonesia is considered a hotspot for various diseases, due to factors such as tropical climate, biodiversity and frequent interaction between humans and animals. The CIA World Factbook states that some of the most common diseases in Indonesia, with a “very high” degree of risk, are as follows:
Dengue fever
Dengue is a vector-borne disease transmitted through the bite of infected female mosquitoes, which can spread more quickly in an environment that lacks reliable sanitation or produces garbage regularly. A recent study reported in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases found that more than half of all children in Indonesia’s urban areas were infected with dengue by the age of five, and over 80% of them have been infected with the dengue virus at least once by age 10. Typically, the outbreak of the disease surges every three to four years, with the most recent surge having occurred at the beginning of 2016.
The Indonesian Ministry of Health reported that 71,668 cases of dengue fever were recorded in 2014, with 641 of these cases ending in death. Although the number of cases on the national level seems to be on the decline, the number has been increasing in several areas, including North Sumatra, Riau, West Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Bali and Jakarta.
Malaria
Another one of the most common diseases in Indonesia is malaria. While Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali and other large cities are relatively free from the risk of malaria, other areas in the country are still vulnerable to the disease. According to the data from the Ministry of Health, malaria is still rampant in the provinces of Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, North Maluku and West Papua. An Indonesian health official from the Maluku province, whose local health department has been carrying out efforts to eradicate the disease, stated that eliminating the disease would require maintaining a healthy environment, killing mosquito larva through fogging, regular blood tests and the use of mosquito nets.
Bacterial diarrhea
Diarrhea was once a leading cause of death for children under the age of five in Indonesia, accounting for almost 25% of child mortality. Although efforts to combat mortality from the disease have decreased the death rates to approximately 2.5 per 1,000, the incidence of bacteria has remained constant at 25 to 30 million per year in children under the age of five. The fact that the number of outbreaks has not changed much implies the need for more innovative solutions to deal with the disease.
These three are among the most common diseases in Indonesia. Recently, the Indonesian government has been carrying out various policies to achieve the goal of attaining universal water and sanitation access by 2019, which, if successful, could help the country make significant progress in fighting these diseases.
– Minh Joo Yi
Photo: Flickr
The High Cost of Living in Hong Kong
Just like its skyscrapers, the cost of living in Hong Kong is among the highest anywhere in the world. In a Mercer survey published in June 2017, Hong Kong was named the second most expensive city globally for expatriates to live and first among developed nations.
Hong Kong is a destination city for businesses and professionals alike, boasting over 4,000 individuals worth over $30 million each. Many businesses have found Hong Kong to be one of the most agreeable cities to reside in due to the low 16.5% corporate tax rate.
For the less fortunate, however, the cost of living in Hong Kong is confining– literally.
With a monthly wage of $2,652, the average Hong Kong citizen spends most of their earnings on rent alone. The smallest apartments in Hong Kong cost around $1,000 per month, with more spacious units ranging from $2,000-2,500 before utilities. Many Hong Kong residents work longer hours and split small flats into sleeping cubicles in order to save on rent.
With so much disposable income being eaten up by housing costs, many residents face the very real problem of food insecurity. Going out to restaurants has become a luxury, as many people must now rely on charitable donations and government assistance to eat.
For Hong Kong’s poorest, those living on less than $328 a month, the cost of rent in Hong Kong makes living in the city unsustainable. Over 30% of the city’s elderly population lives in poverty, while the wealthiest families make over 44 times what the average citizen makes.
Economists have urged the government of Hong Kong to institute universal incomes and pensions to prevent the wealth gap from widening. Efforts to address the growing wealth inequality in the country must be made with urgency for the sake of Hong Kong’s struggling citizens.
– Thomas James Anania
Photo: Pixabay
New UN Report on Environmentally Sustainable Development
On July 14, 2017, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published a new report addressing global initiatives towards environmentally sustainable development. The Green Finance Progress Report assesses the progress made by the G20 and other countries in creating policies and financial reforms that are sustainable. Despite many countries falling short in the amounts of capital they invest in sustainable development, the UNEP highlighted many promising institutional changes that have taken place in recent years.
In 2015, the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development found that developing countries lacked investments by approximately $2.5 trillion in implementing environmentally sustainable development initiatives. While this financial goal is still largely unmet, the report noted that the majority of G20 countries have undertaken significant projects and proposals that suggest positive steps towards green finance. Thus, financial shortcomings aside, environmentally sustainable development is becoming a profitable and high-priority investment for many countries.
According to the report, both public and private sectors have shown great improvements in laying the groundwork for green finance plans. With global initiatives in place such as the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, climate change has become of major importance in terms of global cooperation. This has greatly accelerated recently, with more developments in green finance taking place in the last year than any one-year period in history. Most notably, the number of green bonds, or money issued towards environmental projects, increased by 100 percent in 2016.
The plans underway are primarily large-scale, ambitious overhauls that will require careful and swift mobilization in upcoming years. According to the UNEP report, the majority of changes in the financial market have included developments to “reallocate capital, improve risk management, enhance transparency and clarify responsibilities of financial institutions.” The challenge is now to set these plans in motion and continue incentivizing projects towards environmentally sustainable development.
Achieving these goals requires global leaders to continue diverting funds toward sustainable development. This presents a huge opportunity for private market innovation, as the report emphasizes the need for businesses that, “support our sustainable development objectives and create commercially viable green businesses for decades to come.”
According to the UNEP, there are many ways businesses can meet investors’ increasing preference for sustainable projects. Primarily, the report suggests that providing investors with clear, accessible data on environmental impact is extremely important. Negative environmental impact is no longer a risk that can be overlooked, and a shift towards green finance is imperative in addressing climate change.
– Julia Morrison
Photo: Flickr
Why is Kosovo Poor, and How Are the Poor Being Helped?
With approximately 30 percent of the population living in poverty, it is no surprise that Kosovo was ranked as the third poorest European country. Nearly 10 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty, and there is a 57.7 percent unemployment rate among people ages 15 to 24. With all of this shocking information, one might be compelled to ask: why is Kosovo poor?
One significant reason is the distribution of the government budget. While the government spent a whopping 210.2 million euros on roads in 2016, only 180.5 million euros went toward health and welfare. By prioritizing road development, Kosovars were left to pay for most of their medical needs. With the weight of their medical problems resting on them, many Kosovars remain in poverty.
The Kosovo government also spends an insufficient amount on education and science: only about 16 percent of the 2016 budget went toward these. This being noted, Kosovo’s youth received some of the lowest scores on the PISA test in 2015. The purpose of the exam is to determine the knowledge of 15-year-old students in the broad subjects of reading, science and math.
Having a strong educational system is crucial, especially in reducing poverty. Receiving an education gives one the opportunity to acquire a better-paying job. According to the Global Partnership for Education, if every single child could at least learn basic reading skills in school, then there would be a 12 percent drop in extreme poverty worldwide. This may not seem like much, but that is equivalent to 171 million individuals, who all possess different dreams and aspirations, and the potential to fulfill them.
With all of this information, instead of asking “why is Kosovo poor?”, it is now important to ask: what is being done to help Kosovo’s poor?
With more than two-thirds of the population living in rural areas, agriculture remains an important part of Kosovo’s economy. The World Bank is offering Kosovo a loan of 20.8 million euros to assist with agricultural purposes. The World Bank also supports the Agriculture and Rural Development Project, which helps finance investments in technologies that improve agricultural production.
Although Kosovo remains highly impoverished, there has been progress made. Over a span of a decade, the country’s GDP rose from $4.83 billion to $6.65 billion. With the help of different projects, Kosovo’s high poverty rates will continue to decrease.
– Raven Rentas
Photo: Flickr
Truth About Poverty in Chile
Chile is currently struggling with its finances and education system. A public charity called Hogar De Cristo conducted a survey concluding that 58 percent of Chileans found that a lack of opportunities and education were the leading causes of poverty in Chile.
This recognition has shown that poverty in Chile, as well as poverty in general, is multidimensional rather than solely related to a lack of money. In addition to those mentioned above, Chileans accredit their poverty to laziness, addictions, lack of state support, abandonment and disease.
Poverty in Chile: Facts and Figures
Poverty in Chile has a fairly low percentage of 14.4 percent, which is lower than the United States. However, Chile’s problem lies in the country’s high rates of income inequality: and this alone has driven around 10 percent of people into poverty.
The inequality also reverts back to the poor education systems. There are approximately 75,000 Chilean children who do not attend school. The number of uneducated closely correlates with those living in the deepest poverty.
At first glance, Chile’s economy appears stable. In fact, in 2011, Chile was even voted as the 44th country for highest human development rates by the United Nations. These rankings were achieved by collecting the national averages, meaning that this can hide the truth about the country’s inequality.
In truth, 75 percent of growth out of 8.4 percent went to the rich, and only 10 percent went to the poor. This information is not clear in reports about the nation. The world acknowledges Chile as a developed country, but only 20 percent have incomes matching those of a developed country. The rest, what is hidden, exposes the true extent of poverty in Chile.
The Chilean economy is reliant on copper prices. Chile’s GDP rises when prices go up, but this alone does not create jobs that lead to prosperity. The truth about poverty in Chile shows that the GDP growth does not always benefit the majority of people.
In order to reduce poverty in Chile, national and international education reform advocates suggest significantly increasing expenditures in education. The goal would be to produce quality institutions and in turn, reduce poverty. Some economists even suggest a change in tax rates, because the low tax rates are one main reason why inequality has not been reduced. By fixing the tax problems, Chile could solve issues like the poor education and poverty significantly.
– Katelynn Kenworthy
Photo: Pixabay
Education in Afghanistan Empowering Women Out of Poverty
In the past 16 years, girls have gone from comprising zero percent of students to almost 40 percent. While these statistics are encouraging, the female gender still faces significant barriers to education in Afghanistan.
Many families still believe that women should not work or go to school because it is improper for their gender. Without their family’s support, it can be nearly impossible to receive an education in Afghanistan. For some girls, schools are so far away from their homes that they have to walk a great distance to get there. According to the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation, 90 percent of women throughout Afghanistan have been sexually harassed on the streets. This harassment can create so much fear that they drop out of school to be safe.
Child marriage also poses a significant threat to female education in Afghanistan. Almost one-third of girls are married before they turn 18. Child marriage is an unfortunate result of tradition and a lack of career opportunities for women. Additionally, once a woman gets married, it is incredibly unlikely that her husband will allow her to continue her education.
Afghanistan can be a difficult place for a woman to receive an education due to it being a highly dangerous country for women. Thankfully, the Afghan government, with help from other nations, continues to work to improve conditions for women. The Education Quality Improvement Program, or EQUIP, provides schools with grants to for textbooks, equipment, schoolhouse improvement and increasing the teachers’ education levels. Currently, EQUIP focuses on improving the quality of education in Afghanistan for females, and most of the funding goes to schools that educate women.
Women who receive a proper education are less likely to become child brides and more liable contribute to their communities in a substantial way. Female education is thus essential to ending the cycle of poverty for individuals and communities. In Afghanistan, educational opportunities are increasing, and poverty levels are sure to decrease as more women receive an education.
– Julia Mccartney
Photo: Flickr
10 Important Facts About Refugees in Djibouti
The plight of refugees is of interest currently both in political and humanitarian terms. Refugees suffer a great uprooting from their homes, from their lifestyles and often experience a cultural shock at refugee camps. At their most vulnerable point, refugees must depend on stop-gap solutions to see them through their temporary and difficult living situations.
Djibouti is temporary shelter to thousands of refugees, as they search for a home beyond Djibouti. A tiny country on the Eastern coast of Africa, Djibouti is at the point where three countries meet: Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. A narrow part of the Red Sea separates Djibouti from Yemen. Here are ten facts about refugees in Djibouti:
These facts about the refugees in Djibouti show that they are suffering because of bloody conflicts and harsh environmental conditions, circumstances beyond their control. Fortunately, Djibouti’s welcoming of refugees underscores the importance of being open to those impoverished by their circumstances.
Through examining even 10 facts about the refugees in Djibouti, the realization of how refugees can positively contribute to business and social networks is emphasized. Ultimately, communities must fuse together to advocate for solutions to poverty.
– Smriti Krishnan
Photo: Google
Equator Prize: 7 Inventive, Local, Sustainable Solutions
The 15 winners include grassroots projects located across Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. They range from a campaign to secure management of a community Mangrove forest in Thailand to the Mali Elephant Project, which protects endangered elephants while working to reduce violence in a war-torn area of Mali.
However, these 15 winners are only the beginning. Across the globe, communities have created local, sustainable solutions to preserve their homelands. These solutions also help feed and educate children and promote peace and justice in their society.
In celebration of its 15th anniversary, the Equator Initiative launched a database that includes 500 of the local, sustainable solutions nominated to receive the 2017 Equator Prize. Here are seven of the most creative and impactful initiatives that local people developed in answer to the challenges they face:
The winners of 2017 Equator Prize have received more than a reward. They have created local, sustainable solutions that have transformed their community. Consequently, their successes can serve as examples and inspiration for future projects.
– Emilia Otte
Photo: Google
Problems Associated with Ignoring Human Rights in Pakistan
Human rights in Pakistan are in peril. From the indifferent attitude toward “honor killings” to unnecessary executions, it seems that this country is far from establishing a free society.
In the twenty-first century, violence and discrimination are disregarded as memories of the past and considered rare in such an advanced and connected world. However, these problems continue to plague nations today. In countries that suffer political discourse especially, human rights have a long way to go.
Approximately 20 percent, or roughly 1,000, of the world’s honor killings each year occur in Pakistan alone. Women are often the victims of this longstanding practice. Those who disgrace the household by choosing to marry a man of their choice or exposing themselves in unorthodox manners are considered to be undeserving of life.
In July 2016, Qandeel Baloch, a popular actress, was drugged and strangled to death by her brother, Waseem Baloch. Her crime: in order to support her family, she became an internet sensation by posting videos that advocated for women’s rights and criticized Pakistan’s resistance toward expanding them.
The next morning, a country of more than 200 million people woke up to news channels covering the controversial killing of one of Pakistan’s most popular actresses. The nation’s justice minister promised anxious citizens that the Parliament would examine a proposed bill for punishing those who commit honor killings and other related crimes.
As for Qandeel Baloch, the Punjab provincial government restricted members of her family from legally forgiving her brother. In other words, even if her relatives forgive Mr. Baloch, he cannot escape prosecution. A common measure, this ruling is only effective in producing one result: the universal condoning of such acts, while the case remains unaddressed and the accused unpunished.
Honor killings are not the only form of human rights abuse in Pakistan, unfortunately. From child marriages to discrimination against minorities, the list goes on. However, what people do not realize is that in many cases, the culprit of unjust killings is the institution that aims to protect the lives of citizens: the government.
Pakistan is notorious for its legalization of capital punishment. This act goes unopposed because of its reputation as a proper measure. However, this is not any more legal or more ethical than the occasional honor killing.
In 2017 thus far, there have been 44 known executions in Pakistan–and these are only the ones which have been reported. From reasons ranging from rape to murder, it is estimated that thousands of people lose their lives to executions each year. Previously, only extreme offenses warranted capital punishment. That changed this year when 30-year-old Taimoor Raza received the death penalty for allegedly insulting Islamic religious figures.
As an unprecedented decision by the Pakistani Shari’at Court, this cannot be opposed because the court has the full autonomy to assess whether a crime is deserving of capital punishment. As Taimoor Raza awaits his sentence, 14 people who are also accused of this crime wait to see whether their fates will be like that of Mr. Raza’s.
There are many reasons why there is a human rights problem in Pakistan. The weak authority of the government and the presence of terrorism stand as the two most popular justifications.
However, it is hopeful to see that there are people who are attempting to change the state of affairs in this nation. From protests to petitions to measures by the government, there is a legitimate mission to end these abuses. In the case of Qandeel Baloch, the Monday after the murder, many women protested for the victim.
In the end, the true question lies in whether people will be successful in bringing human rights to Pakistan. So far, with rising danger for humanitarian activists, the answer to that pressing question remains unclear.
For now, the only ray of hope that Pakistanis find is in the words of political reform activists, who promise that change will eventually come.
– Sheharbano Jafry
Photo: Google