Panama, among other countries in Central America, is “a path to displacement for South American and extra-continental migrants,” says the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC). According to the U.S. Department of State’s trafficking profile of Panama, human traffickers exploit both domestic and foreign victims.
What to Know About Human Trafficking
Each year, the Department of State issues trafficking persons reports for each country. The U.S. Department of State makes it clear that human traffickers prey on all ages, genders, nationalities and backgrounds for profit. Homeland Security defines human trafficking as the “use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.” The International Labor Organization (ILO) released Global Estimates of Modern Day Slavery in September 2022. The Global Estimates of Modern Day Slavery estimated 27.6 million victims worldwide at any given time in 2021.
It is important to know that two main categories fall under human trafficking including forced labor and sex trafficking. Within each category, there are three elements including acts, means and purpose that are essential in forming a human trafficking violation. It embodies an array of activities that involve coercion, fraud or force to exploit labor. Domestic servitude falls under forced labor in which a victim is working in a private residence. Under this umbrella is also forced child labor, where children are compelled to work under traffickers’ forced labor schemes.
Similar to labor trafficking, children fall victim to sex trafficking. Sex trafficking occurs when one uses force, fraud or coercion to pressure one into commercial sex acts. In cases where the individual is under 18, the means element is extraneous regardless of evidence of force, fraud or coercion, prohibiting the use of children in commercial sex acts in the U.S. and many other countries.
Human Trafficking in Panama
While most cases involve women from South and Central America, this does not exclude men, children and other individuals. Panama’s National Anti-Trafficking Commission reported 16 confirmed trafficking victims in 2021. Of the 16 victims, seven were sex trafficking victims and the other nine were labor trafficking victims.
Panama’s government indicated that more than two-thirds of Panama’s traffickers are foreign nationals from the People’s Republic of China, Columbia and Venezuela. Of the traffickers in Panama, about half are men. In the trafficking profile, it mentioned that children tend to be exploited by traffickers into domestic servitude and sex trafficking in Panama.
The government slightly decreased prosecution efforts for human trafficking in Panama. One can see the decrease in prosecution in three articles. Article 456 of the penal code does not criminalize all forms of sex and labor trafficking because there needs to be movement to initiate a trafficking offense. Trafficking offenses involving adults resulted in 15 to 20 years imprisonment, while offenses involving children are 20 to 30 years. This article conflicts with international law because it relies on fraud, force and coercion rather than the three essential elements.
Article 180 criminalizes commercial sex exploitations with seven to nine years imprisonment with a fine of 5,200 balboas. Article 186 criminalizes commercial sex acts from a child with a five to eight-year sentence. These two articles offer a lighter sentence for sex traffickers by charging them with non-trafficking offenses.
Solving Human Trafficking in Panama
Different projects and campaigns are launching to solve the human trafficking problem in Panama. UNDOC launched a campaign to make September the month against human trafficking in Panama. In doing so, UNDOC and the Ministry of Security (MINSEG) joined forces in a joint project to establish a shelter for human trafficking victims, develop a booklet for shelter for victims and develop and implement a Master Training Plan that covers different areas in the public and private sectors.
UNDOC also founded the Blue Heart Prevention Campaign in four Central American countries including Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica and El Salvador). The campaign’s objective is to raise awareness across the world about human trafficking as well as its effects on people and society through the stories of its victims. The Blue Heart Prevention Campaign is trying to prevent further cases while encouraging entities from the government, civil society and corporate sector to help.
The Blue Heart Prevention Campaign donates all proceeds to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking Persons. This provides vital assistance and protection to victims of human trafficking.
In 2014, Panama joined the Blue Heart Prevention Campaign and is making small strides toward solving human trafficking in Panama. The campaign hosted the Blue Heart Gala Concert where music held great power in bringing individuals together in the fight against human trafficking. More than 600 people attended the concert where the country’s National Symphony Orchestra and the Nemeth Quartet from Turkey performed.
Looking Ahead
Supporters across the globe continue to raise money and awareness for victims of human trafficking in Panama, but it still is not enough. Panama has a ways to go to meet the required standards for the elimination of human trafficking. With more focus returned to the prosecution of traffickers, it is possible that Panama can reach the required standards that the U.S. Department of State.
– Brianna Green
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines female genital mutilation (FGM) as “all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.” The WHO highlights that FGM is a violation of human rights and holds no health benefits for females. Instead, it causes health complications such as excessive bleeding, infections, urinary issues and even death. In countries such as Kenya, the practice is prevalent among communities. UNICEF reported in 2021 that about 4 million females have undergone female genital mutilation in Kenya. Additionally, with the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of female genital mutilation in Kenya have risen even further. The Constitution of Kenya entrenches women’s and children’s rights to good health and protection from acts of abuse or detrimental cultural practices.
Young Girls at Risk
In Kenya, the genital mutilation procedure occurs at various ages and certain ethnic groups conduct the procedure after a girl turns 15. Other communities perform the procedure on girls as young as 9 or 10. Concern Worldwide says Kenyan girls choose to undergo this risky procedure “in order to maintain their social standing and, eventually, improve their chances of a good marriage.”
The risk for FGM across Kenya tends to be higher in rural areas and among poorer and less educated households. According to The Conversation, girls in Kenya often undergo female genital mutilation during school holiday periods. Due to the long absence from school, girls have more “time to heal from the procedure without scrutiny.” At the end of the school year, schools in Kenya close for roughly two months.
Abolishing Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya
In 2011, Kenya’s government outlawed FGM. The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act (2011) passed on September 30, 2011, making FGM a criminal offense in Kenya. Courts punish incidents of FGM through a three-year jail sentence, a $2,000 fine or both. In the event that an FGM procedure leads to mortality, the offender will be subject to life imprisonment.
Despite the legislation, FGM is a deeply entrenched tradition that continues today. The Orchid Project explains that “Implementation and enforcement of the national law remain a challenge, due to lack of resources and difficulty accessing remote rural areas. Judges are reluctant to apply the sentences provided for in the law and sentences are regularly reduced or quashed on appeal.”
Alternative Rites of Passage
Founded in 1952, Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) is a nonprofit organization in Kenya that aims to improve women’s economic, social and political status in Kenya. MYWO promotes alternative rites of passage (ARP), which respect indigenous cultures and the traditional initiation process but without the need for physical cutting of the genitalia.
MYWO first introduced ARP with the support of the Programme for Alternative Technology in Health (PATH) in 1996 in the Meru community in Kenya, encouraging 30 households to conduct alternative forms of ceremonies to celebrate a child’s passage into womanhood without the need for genital mutilation.
With the introduction of ARP, between 2009 and 2019, FGM prevalence rates declined by 24.2% to a prevalence of 56.6%. Widespread replacement of genital cutting with ARP will lead to prevalence rates dropping even further. Educating communities will aid in protecting the well-being of girls and women.
Over the past decade, the prevalence of female genital mutilation has fallen. By continuing efforts to end FGM in Kenya, organizations uphold the human rights of girls and women.
– Yv Maciel
Photo: Flickr
Landmines in Myanmar: Devastating Lives and the Economy
The Myanmar junta, which launched a coup in February 2021 claiming that the election of 2020 was fraudulent, is planting landmines all over the country. It is doing this as revenge against its political opposition. From its perspective, every citizen it is injuring or killing deserves what happens to them because of their connection to the junta’s political and civil adversaries. Landmines in Myanmar are not only costing lives, but they are hurting Myanmar’s economy.
The Coup: Death and Destruction
Guerrilla forces have planted landmines in Myanmar since 1999, but the coup in February 2021 caused a resurgence in their use. During a period of 19 months, catastrophic explosions caused 157 deaths and 395 injuries. The newly-formed junta has ordered health care officials to refuse treatments for landmine injuries. Meanwhile, it has also personally placed mines in homes, church compounds and farms. The junta has been implicated in committing major violations of war crimes.
The Coup: The UN and Amnesty International Advocate Sanctions and Aid
In January 2023, Acting President Myint Swe extended the national state of emergency for another six months. When the country is in a state of emergency, it cannot hold elections. This strategy keeps the junta in power.
In response, the United Nations has called on member nations to form a coalition to impose sanctions on Myanmar. It considers the junta illegitimate and cites reports about the devastation since the junta took control in 2021. The U.N. special envoy to Myanmar noted that more than 17.5 million Myanmar residents needed humanitarian aid in 2023 versus 1 million before the takeover. Amnesty International’s Senior Crisis Adviser Rawya Rageh noted, “There is an urgent need for a scaled-up humanitarian response that addresses rising food insecurity and ensures proper rehabilitative, psychosocial, and other needed care for landmine survivors, as well as adequate planning for and resourcing of post-conflict demining operations, to clear contaminated areas.”
Economic Devastation
Not only do the landmines hurt Myanmar residents physically and emotionally, but the junta’s coup and the internal fighting between the resistance fighters and the military have also devastated Myanmar’s economy. A run on banks immediately following the coup resulted in a lack of cash in ATMs. This especially hurts farmers and local merchants who depend on mobile banking. Myanmar suffered an 18% GDP contraction in 2021. Foreign investment is down. Inflation is soaring and since the coup rice prices increased by 50%. Forty percent of Myanmar civilians now live below the poverty line.
In 2021, China gave $6 million to fund landmine deployment and other military activity in Myanmar. On the other hand, that same year the United States sent $50 million that same year for COVID-19 aid that circumvented the military and went directly to international organizations and non-governmental organizations that provide direct aid to civilians. Meanwhile, in 2022, Min Aung Hlang, the Junta Chief, has approved an additional $150 million to fund its operations, especially because the resistance has been successfully fighting back.
Fighting the Junta: NUG
Fortunately, there is additional pushback against the junta on several fronts. First, the resistance movement, which the National Unity Government (NUG) is leading, has begun to claim territory from the military. In fact, 71% of townships engaged in resistance activities in 2022 which is a more than 10% increase in resistance engagement since 2021. The military actually controls only 17% of the country with the rest contested land or NUG-controlled land. Zachary Abuza, a southeast Asia policy expert, argues that in addition to “hollowing out” the military, NUG needs to fight economically by pushing for more sanctions and urging countries to discontinue support of the military-controlled oil and gas pipelines.
Global Efforts to Ridding the World of Landmines
In addition to NUG’s internal pushback, global efforts to rid the world of landmines are intensifying. The European Union (EU) and the United Nations (U.N.) are taking the lead on mine clearance and support of affected communities globally and in Myanmar. In addition to the actual mine clearance, the EU support includes research and development on mine detection, risk education and stockpile destruction.
The U.N. sponsors an annual International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action each April 4. In 2022, it launched the campaign, “Safe Ground, Safe Steps and Safe Homes.” Safe Ground focuses on “turning minefields into playing fields” — clearing areas of mines. Safe Steps refers to the goal of helping people feel confident that they won’t maim or kill themselves by stepping on a mine. It also refers to the technology that deminers use to clear contaminated areas. Finally, Safe Homes refers to the goal of people in communities with landmines to reestablish a sense of safety in their communities and in their homes.
Moving Forward
These efforts are working. Today 164 nations have signed the Mine Ban Treaty (also called the Ottawa Treaty) to ban the production, use and stockpiling of landmines. The Mine Ban states have destroyed more than 55 million stockpiled mines. They also cleared more than 132.5 square kilometers of contaminated land in 2021 alone. The path to removing landmines in Myanmar will not be an easy one, but with continued global efforts against landmines and NUG’s efforts to join the global campaign, it should proceed steadily. NUG’s gains in convincing the global community to condemn the junta and punish it economically should further drive success in ridding the Myanmar people of deadly and illegitimate landmines. That will also help restore Myanmar’s troubled economy because people will be able to farm their land, work in their villages, attract foreign investors and return to a more robust role as exporters.
– Robin Kalellis
Photo: Flickr
Reducing Malnutrition in India
Modern India is advancing in the sector of science and technology yet it has a serious rate of hunger and poverty. The Global Hunger Index of 2022 ranks India 107th out of 121 nations in terms of hunger, which equates to a serious level of hunger. The GHI score also reveals that 16.3% of the population in India suffers from undernourishment while 19.3% and 35% of children under 5 suffer from wasting and stunting respectively. The Government of India, however, has pushed the country’s development, specifically in health and education, through digitalization to a great extent. The Poshan Tracker app is one such initiative built with a vision of eliminating malnutrition among children and pregnant/lactating women, two groups that face dire impacts of malnutrition in India, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports. The app also benefits adolescent girls.
The Poshan Abhiyaan
The word “Poshan” is the Hindi word for nutrition. India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the Poshan Tracker app on March 1, 2021, through the National e-Governance Division with the goal to monitor and track malnutrition across the country. The Poshan Tracker is an innovative tool that forms part of the Indian government’s revolutionary flagship program, POSHAN Abhiyaan, a campaign that aims to reduce malnutrition among adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers and children from 0 to 6 years of age.
The Poshan Tracker helps the government to monitor the activities of the Anganwadi Workers (AWW) and record the progress of the beneficiaries. Anganwadi Worker Centers are central government-sponsored childcare centers designed to combat hunger and malnutrition and improve nutrition among children in India. In total, India has about 1.4 million Anganwadis across the country.
According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development of India, the Poshan Tracker app, available in 22 local languages, enables a full overview of the activities of the AWW and works as a supporting application to manage the complete system of services. These AWWs have to first register in order to access the app and provide services to people. The AWWs help the beneficiaries to register on the app while verifying their identity cards.
A September 2022 POSHAN Abhiyaan e-bulletin says the Indian government has provided more than a million smartphones to the AWWs. The government also grants Rs 200 to the AWW and the lady supervisor of each center for the recharge of their smartphones every month. The POSHAN Abhiyaan bulletin revealed that, by September 2022, more than 1.2 million AWWs received training on using Poshan Tracker.
How the App Works
The Poshan Tracker is an easy-to-use app that one can install on any android mobile phone with an android version above six. The app is not for general public use, hence, beneficiaries can register themselves on the app only with the help of the Anganwadi Workers. One can access the app offline and the app saves offline data input for up to three days. The beneficiaries may take home a free ration for 21 days a month. Children between 3 and 6 are able to access a hot cooked meal at the Anganwadi Centers for 21 days a month. The Centers supplement children experiencing nutritional deficiencies with additional nutritional food too.
The Poshan Tracker allows AWWs to assess the nutritional status of children according to the standards set by the World Health Organization. The Anganwadi Workers pay home visits too to monitor individuals and fill in real-time data on the app. The beneficiaries receive timely health checkups and vaccinations for infants and pregnant women at home at just a click of a button.
Poshan Tracker has proved to be a groundbreaking application to combat malnutrition in India, benefitting 98.4 million people as of September 2022. The hopes for this app and the nutrition scheme of India have increased even more after the government announced a budget exceeding Rs 11 billion for this flagship program for 2022-2023.
– Aanchal Mishra
Photo: Pixabay
OCHA Overcomes Challenges to Delivering Aid in Somalia
Since 2015, the African nation of Somalia has experienced five consecutive rainy season failures. The country is currently facing yet another drought, which will have serious impacts on food insecurity in the country. Humanitarian organizations like the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have made efforts to provide humanitarian aid in Somalia to combat the drought and prevent famine in the region. However, OCHA has faced obstacles in delivering aid in Somalia due to conflict in the area.
Conflict and Poverty in Somalia
Somalia has been in a state of civil war since 1988. Despite numerous attempts at peace, the conflict has failed to come to a resolution and has severely impacted poverty in the country. According to a World Bank report from 2019, almost 70% of the population of Somalia lived in poverty. Of the millions of people internally displaced due to the conflict, 74% endured poverty. The conflict has not only contributed to poverty in the country but has also presented barriers to delivering humanitarian aid in Somalia.
How Violence Makes Aid Difficult
Providing humanitarian aid in Somalia has proven difficult due to violence in some areas. According to OCHA, 565 “access incidents” were reported in 2022, threatening the “safety of aid workers” and the delivery of aid. More than 375,000 people living in areas controlled by armed non-state groups need humanitarian aid but are out of the reach of humanitarian organizations like OCHA. In Laas Caanood, aid programs, such as “school feeding, safety net and nutrition” initiatives, faced delays due to the risk of violence and conflict, affecting more than 15,700 households, a February 2023 OCHA situation report says. Despite these hurdles, OCHA continued to find ways to safely aid those in need.
Successful Aid Missions
To reach those in need, OCHA carried out multiple “caravan missions” using a U.N. Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) Cessna Caravan aircraft and a World Food Programme (WFP) helicopter. According to an OCHA situation report, the organization conducted 38 aid missions to 34 hard-to-access locations in Somalia between June 2021 and August 2022. Many of these areas had not seen humanitarian aid missions for a while. These missions helped aid “vulnerable people in hard-to-reach areas” and stand as examples of the determination of organizations like OCHA to provide humanitarian aid in Somalia.
OCHA also detailed successful operations in the Banadir region, an area with circumstances considered both “volatile and unpredictable” with aid workers often facing road closures and checkpoints when attempting to access hard-hit areas.
Despite these challenges, however, OCHA has proved successful in providing humanitarian aid to Somalia. In 2022, the organization reached 96% of its targeted population, providing aid to some 7.3 million people in the country. Initially targeting 761,000 people for nutrition assistance, OCHA reached 1.4 million Somali people with this assistance in 2022. OCHA also nearly reached its goal for food security, reaching 6.2 million people out of its 6.4 million target number. These successes are great examples of the dedication of humanitarian aid organizations like OCHA and their commitment to providing aid to all who need it, even if challenges present themselves along the way.
– Mohammad Samhouri
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Brazil
Between 2019 and 2021, 9.6 million people who were not previously impoverished fell below the poverty line. By 2021, 62.9 million people in Brazil (29.6% of the population) had a monthly per capita income of up to R$497. This was the highest level of poverty that the country had experienced since 2012. Although Brazil is facing a number of issues, such as homelessness and poverty, five charities operating in Brazil aim to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged citizens.
5 Charities Operating in Brazil
Overall, through community initiatives, these five charities operating in Brazil are working to make Brazil a better and safer place. These organizations not only benefit Brazil but also contribute to the reduction of poverty worldwide.
– Timothy Ginter
Photo: Flickr
Child Marriage in Thailand
Girls Not Brides has published concerning statistics regarding child marriage in Thailand. About 23% of girls in Thailand enter marriages before the age of 18 and 4% marry before turning 15. On the male side, 10% of boys enter marriages before turning 18. Overall, Thailand has the 11th highest rate of child marriages among boys worldwide.
The Causes of Early Marriage
Child marriage prevents many youths from having the opportunity to grow and reach their full potential. Child marriage and poverty have connections as high child marriage rates link to areas struggling with economic development.
The 2015-16 Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys show that “30% of women in Thailand’s poorest households were married before 18, compared to 10% from the richest households. Many young girls are married off so families can collect the bride price and to ease a perceived financial burden on families,” Girls Not Brides highlights. Sometimes parents pressure their daughters into early marriage to protect them from experiencing the same hardships of poverty that they faced.
Plan International explains the factors causing child marriage to remain so prominent: “a combination of factors including poverty, lack of education and job opportunities, society’s views on girls’ roles, weak legal frameworks and their enforcement, insecurity in the face of conflict and the effect of harmful customs and tradition.” Plan International also projects that by 2020, about 800 million females across the world may face the repercussions of child marriages.
Time to Act!
According to Plan International, “Louder than Words” is “a collection of testimonies reflecting girls’ and boys’ activism in collaboration with Plan International in tackling and challenging root causes of [Child, Early and Forced Marriage] to prevent this harmful practice and achieve girls’ empowerment and equality, promotes, celebrates and highlights the regional efforts to prevent and end [child marriage] that has evolved into a regional initiative called Time to Act!”
The initiative, Time To Act!, is working throughout Thailand to educate the youth on sex and reduce child marriage in Thailand. The staff members discuss often taboo subjects, such as early pregnancy, marrying young and safe sex, with Thailand’s youth.
Plan International Thailand’s Teen Power for Better Life project holds training sessions that discuss these topics. The mission aims to teach girls “to discover the links between early marriage, adolescence pregnancies, and gender discrimination” and encourage them to take hold of their lives.
Thailand ranks 12th in the Asia-Pacific region for the prevalence of child marriage; therefore, it is essential that initiatives such as Time to Act reach the country.
Testimonies from “Louder Than Words”
The testimonies in “Louder Than Words” attempt to unmask the negative repercussions of this practice. Quotes from Teen Power for Better Life project participants, such as Orn, demonstrate the initiative’s effectiveness: “After the training, I realized that If I married early, I might not be able to follow my dream to be a businesswoman. I want to study and obtain a degree, not to be someone’s wife only.”
At just 16 years old, Orn has become increasingly involved in the program and even began to teach other teenagers after the program changed her own life. She spoke on the critical information she learned from the training: “I was empowered with the learning that as girls, we can make our own choices and no one has the right to force us to do anything we do not like.”
Many girls throughout Orn’s village feel pressure to conform to child marriage because of the economic strains they feel in their families. Child marriage and poverty are often consequences of each other in disadvantaged homes throughout Thailand. Orn continues to work as a youth leader for Teen Power for a Better life.
Supporting initiatives like Time to Act!, which deconstruct cultural norms encouraging child marriages, is vital in saving the next generation from the constrictions of early marriage. These initiatives work against child marriage and poverty by empowering young women with the skills and knowledge to achieve independence and economic stability without having to rely on the potential economic benefits of marriage. Girls throughout Thailand deserve the same opportunities to pursue education and jobs without the binds of forced wedding bands.
– Brooklynn Rich
Photo: Flickr
Brazil’s Affordable Housing Program “My Home, My Life” Returns
Brazil’s affordable housing program is making a return. Brazil’s current president, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, announced plans to restart the nationwide federal housing program for low-income individuals in February 2023. President Lula initially created the program, named “Minha Casa, Minha Vida,” which translates to “My Home, My Life,” in 2009. However, former president Jair Bolsonaro neglected to manage the program, leaving more than 120,000 unfinished units throughout the country and many low-income people without access to affordable and sustainable homes.
Homelessness in Brazil
The Brazilian constitution guarantees adequate housing as a component of human dignity, therefore, the resurgence of Brazil’s affordable housing program will be extremely beneficial for disadvantaged Brazilians. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, poverty has risen, impacting access to housing. Estimates indicate that one out of four Brazilians is either homeless or without adequate housing, according to the Homeless World Cup Foundation. Furthermore, in areas such as Rio de Janeiro, the lack of affordable housing and other basic services is magnified.
An Institute of Applied Economic Research study says, by March 2020, Brazil noted a homeless population of about 221,000 people, which equates to a rise of 140% in contrast to homeless numbers from 2012. Rising economic and social inequalities have forced a plethora of the population onto the streets. Abandoned hotels throughout the cities have become homes for many squatters. Many began occupying these abandoned buildings out of pure necessity but also as a form of protest for affordable housing in Brazil.
The pandemic forced significant numbers of citizens back under the poverty line, with around 27 million Brazilians surviving on less than 246 reais a month by March 2021. Brazil was on a positive trend of eliminating poverty until the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a skyrocketing poverty rate throughout the country.
My Home, My Life
The resurgence of the My Home, My Life program will open affordable housing to the low-income population. The original goal of the program in 2009 was to facilitate access to housing after the financial crisis of 2008. Families making under $1,647 a month qualified for the “My Home, My Life” program. Though the program lost funding through the years, it was still able to bring suitable housing to 5.5 million disadvantaged Brazilian people during its years of activity. Reigniting this program is important now more than ever, considering the impacts of the pandemic.
Between March 2020 and May 2022, landlords and authorities evicted more than 125,000 Brazilian people from their homes and 569,000 people faced the risk of eviction by September 2022, with the elderly, children and females accounting for many of those evicted.
President Lula spoke during his presidential debate about reigniting his affordable housing program, saying “We will once again have a far-reaching affordable housing program, with adequate financing mechanisms for each type of public. Having dignified housing, the primary guarantee of a family’s security is a universal right and a requirement for a developed and sovereign Brazil.”
Now that Lula is back in power, his revival of Brazil’s affordable housing program will soon benefit struggling families without adequate shelter.
– Olivia MacGregor
Photo: Flickr
Foreign Aid to Somalia
Amid a drought, political conflicts and extreme food insecurity, Somalia is facing a severe humanitarian crisis. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification projected that between January and March 2023, 6.4 million Somalis would endure “crisis” or worse levels of food insecurity. Of these people, 1.9 million individuals would endure “emergency” levels of food insecurity and 322,00 would endure catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Further, through July 2023, about 1.8 million Somali children will suffer acute malnourishment. These statistics are likely to worsen as the year progresses. With the forecasted continuation of a dry spell, foreign aid to Somalia is critical.
Famine, Drought and Poverty
Somalia has faced humanitarian crises since the civil war broke out in the 1990s, continuing to materialize in the famines of 2008, 2011 and 2017.
Droughts and famine have only brought Somalis deeper into crisis as the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) estimated that 260,000 Somalis died on top of expected deaths between the years 2010 and 2012 alone. The population of the country is difficult to precisely calculate due to the mass movement of Somali refugees in response to food insecurity and conflict. In 2018, Somalia stood as the world’s fifth-highest source of refugees, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
According to 2014 data, Somalia had only about 0.02 doctors for every 1,000 citizens and a hospital bed density of 0.9 beds per 1,000 people as of 2017. Infectious diseases run rampant, such as hepatitis, typhoid, malaria and polio. Along with food insecurity, Somalia faces problems with water scarcity, deforestation, water contamination and improper waste disposal. Due to political instability and poor governance, terrorism and extremism are prevalent in Somalia. According to Somalia’s Voluntary National Review report of 2022, “Nearly seven out of 10 Somalis live in poverty, the sixth-highest rate in the region. Poverty averages at 69[%] among nomadic pastoralists, agro-pastoralists and [internally displaced persons]” while urban poverty stands at 60%.
US Foreign Aid to Somalia
The U.S. Department of State’s website has reported that U.S. foreign policy in Somalia strives “to promote political and economic stability, prevent the use of Somalia as a safe haven for international terrorism and alleviate the humanitarian crisis caused by years of conflict, drought, flooding and poor governance.”
Since 2006, the U.S. has given more than $3 billion in humanitarian aid and $253 million in developmental aid since 2011. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated $411 million in December 2022 to respond to the drought and prevent famine in Somalia. In total, the U.S. contributed $1.3 billion in 2022 alone.
More Action
The U.S. can still do more to aid in the Somali crisis. Stephen M. Schwartz, a foreign policy and diplomacy expert and “the first U.S. ambassador to Somalia since 1991,” recommends the United States, in an article published in the Foreign Policy Research Institute, “apply a whole-of-government approach” to alleviate tensions and extremism, something that could strengthen relations and national security.
He also urges the U.S. to support Somalia by improving corruption, establishing an economic connection between Somalis and U.S. citizens and businesses, accelerating and expanding developmental assistance and continuing efforts for military reform, which would improve quality of life and lessen conflicts.
In November 2022, the United Nations requested 25% more financial aid for 2023 to better aid and continue to fund humanitarian operations globally, highlighting that people in Somalia are already facing hunger-induced mortality.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has also warned about the growing gap between those suffering and response, reporting that it is working to increase its food assistance to benefit 4.5 million people per month, but required “$327 million until January 2023 to continue saving lives.”
In December 2022, UNICEF appealed for $10.3 billion to help more than 173 million people globally, including 110 million children, which would cover the millions of children impacted by famine in Somalia. By increasing funding for this appeal, UNICEF can send sufficient resources to fully meet the humanitarian needs of each struggling country. UNICEF projects that it requires $272.3 million to help the 7.7 million Somalis in need through nutrition, health, education and social protection. As countries continue and increase support financially, foreign aid to Somalia can save the lives of vulnerable people in the country.
– Audrey Gaines
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Human Trafficking in Panama
Panama, among other countries in Central America, is “a path to displacement for South American and extra-continental migrants,” says the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC). According to the U.S. Department of State’s trafficking profile of Panama, human traffickers exploit both domestic and foreign victims.
What to Know About Human Trafficking
Each year, the Department of State issues trafficking persons reports for each country. The U.S. Department of State makes it clear that human traffickers prey on all ages, genders, nationalities and backgrounds for profit. Homeland Security defines human trafficking as the “use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.” The International Labor Organization (ILO) released Global Estimates of Modern Day Slavery in September 2022. The Global Estimates of Modern Day Slavery estimated 27.6 million victims worldwide at any given time in 2021.
It is important to know that two main categories fall under human trafficking including forced labor and sex trafficking. Within each category, there are three elements including acts, means and purpose that are essential in forming a human trafficking violation. It embodies an array of activities that involve coercion, fraud or force to exploit labor. Domestic servitude falls under forced labor in which a victim is working in a private residence. Under this umbrella is also forced child labor, where children are compelled to work under traffickers’ forced labor schemes.
Similar to labor trafficking, children fall victim to sex trafficking. Sex trafficking occurs when one uses force, fraud or coercion to pressure one into commercial sex acts. In cases where the individual is under 18, the means element is extraneous regardless of evidence of force, fraud or coercion, prohibiting the use of children in commercial sex acts in the U.S. and many other countries.
Human Trafficking in Panama
While most cases involve women from South and Central America, this does not exclude men, children and other individuals. Panama’s National Anti-Trafficking Commission reported 16 confirmed trafficking victims in 2021. Of the 16 victims, seven were sex trafficking victims and the other nine were labor trafficking victims.
Panama’s government indicated that more than two-thirds of Panama’s traffickers are foreign nationals from the People’s Republic of China, Columbia and Venezuela. Of the traffickers in Panama, about half are men. In the trafficking profile, it mentioned that children tend to be exploited by traffickers into domestic servitude and sex trafficking in Panama.
The government slightly decreased prosecution efforts for human trafficking in Panama. One can see the decrease in prosecution in three articles. Article 456 of the penal code does not criminalize all forms of sex and labor trafficking because there needs to be movement to initiate a trafficking offense. Trafficking offenses involving adults resulted in 15 to 20 years imprisonment, while offenses involving children are 20 to 30 years. This article conflicts with international law because it relies on fraud, force and coercion rather than the three essential elements.
Article 180 criminalizes commercial sex exploitations with seven to nine years imprisonment with a fine of 5,200 balboas. Article 186 criminalizes commercial sex acts from a child with a five to eight-year sentence. These two articles offer a lighter sentence for sex traffickers by charging them with non-trafficking offenses.
Solving Human Trafficking in Panama
Different projects and campaigns are launching to solve the human trafficking problem in Panama. UNDOC launched a campaign to make September the month against human trafficking in Panama. In doing so, UNDOC and the Ministry of Security (MINSEG) joined forces in a joint project to establish a shelter for human trafficking victims, develop a booklet for shelter for victims and develop and implement a Master Training Plan that covers different areas in the public and private sectors.
UNDOC also founded the Blue Heart Prevention Campaign in four Central American countries including Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica and El Salvador). The campaign’s objective is to raise awareness across the world about human trafficking as well as its effects on people and society through the stories of its victims. The Blue Heart Prevention Campaign is trying to prevent further cases while encouraging entities from the government, civil society and corporate sector to help.
The Blue Heart Prevention Campaign donates all proceeds to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking Persons. This provides vital assistance and protection to victims of human trafficking.
In 2014, Panama joined the Blue Heart Prevention Campaign and is making small strides toward solving human trafficking in Panama. The campaign hosted the Blue Heart Gala Concert where music held great power in bringing individuals together in the fight against human trafficking. More than 600 people attended the concert where the country’s National Symphony Orchestra and the Nemeth Quartet from Turkey performed.
Looking Ahead
Supporters across the globe continue to raise money and awareness for victims of human trafficking in Panama, but it still is not enough. Panama has a ways to go to meet the required standards for the elimination of human trafficking. With more focus returned to the prosecution of traffickers, it is possible that Panama can reach the required standards that the U.S. Department of State.
– Brianna Green
Photo: Flickr
The Obesity epidemic Threatening the Poor
For a long time, many have considered obesity a disease that plagues the world’s countries with the highest incomes. It affects only those who could afford to over-eat. However, this is increasingly no longer the issue as low-middle-income countries bear the heaviest burden of obesity. The stain that diseases like life-threatening diabetes cause only further exacerbates this. An ODI report found that compared to high-income countries, obesity rates were twice as high in lower-income countries with the rates of fat and sugar consumption rising as well. Currently, the WHO estimates there are 115 million people with obesity in developing countries. Despite global health intervention efforts, diabetes continues to target the poorest and perhaps a more holistic approach would be more effective. Here is some information about the global obesity epidemic.
Genetics and the Environment
Previous studies have pointed to genetics as one of the main obesogenic factors. They suggest that lesser developed communities lack the genetic capacity to process a modern diet. However, recent research argues that sociocultural factors play the largest role, interacting in ways far more complex than genes or environment. One can see an example of this in the obesity prevention measures that mostly target indigenous communities. This stems from the presumption that they are better genetically programmed for feast and famine cycles and unfit for the modern diet which leads to fat-hoarding “thrifty genes” that conserve excess fat. Nonetheless, indigenous communities also tend to live in poverty and inequality drives obesity.
Changes in Global Production
Many changes in global food production are also leading to higher levels of obesity. One example is the way agricultural corporations use chemicals and factory farms in an effort to have high yields. Nonetheless, findings have determined there is a link between pesticides and industrial farming practices and obesity and other health conditions. Industrialized diets promote cheap energy-dense food and its marketing makes it more accessible. Moreover, areas with high rates of poverty also tend to have the least access to food that is both affordable and nutritious.
Aggressive Diabetes in Belize
The West treats diabetes as a manageable disease that is often non-life threatening, thanks to the various available medical resources. However, in Belize, diabetes is regarded as one of the leading causes of death. This high death rate is due to a lack of available resources and medical infrastructure in the country to treat patients. Moreover, patients have also cited the issue of struggling to afford the weekly bus fare to the hospital, causing them to miss medical appointments. Nonetheless, Belizean diabetic patients are instead using their voices to campaign for better medical infrastructure in the country, transforming themselves from victims to activists.
World Obesity Day Addressing the Obesity Epidemic
World Obesity Day serves to encourage discussion surrounding the global obesity epidemic to acknowledge its complexities and take action to break norms and revolutionize health outcomes. The World Obesity Federation emerged in 1967 as the former Obesity Association. It strives to provide and bring forward first-rate problem-solving in terms of the obesity crisis. The federation aims to change the narrative around global obesity and work with governments and health bodies to ensure the right initiatives are occurring to help solve the global obesity problem.
Obesity’s effects are detrimental to the poorest countries. Countries that are the least medically equipped must manage its repercussions. As World Obesity Day approaches on March 4th, it is imperative not to forget about low-income countries and the burden they bear. In the West, much of the discussion surrounding obesity focuses on a local problem. However, for those countries that cannot afford to provide medical treatment, this discussion should expand and interventions should be on offer to help obesity’s most vulnerable victims.
– Genevieve Lewis
Photo: Flickr