Archive for category: Children

Information and stories addressing children.

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The Future of India’s Development

Future of India’s DevelopmentCelebrating India’s 75th anniversary of independence from British governance, Prime Minister Modi announced on August 15, 2022, that the country would be working toward becoming a developed nation within the next 25 years. In addition, he promised to lift millions of Indians out of poverty while cracking down on “corruption and nepotism” within the government. With more than 1.4 billion people in India, accomplishing these tasks is a monumental challenge, but one that Modi believes is achievable for the future of India’s development.

Striving for Development

Although there is no single metric that defines a country as developed, ways of assessing development include factors ranging from income per capita to electricity usage. Generally, developed countries will have lower rates of unemployment, higher levels of literacy and industrialization, a diverse economy and high gross national income (GNI). With a GNI of $2,170 in 2021, India holds the status of “lower middle income” according to the World Bank. However, that figure once stood at $440 in 2000, showing a clear upward progression of moving toward the GNI of more developed nations.

India also has a broad network of poverty relief and social welfare programs. One example is the Public Distribution System (PDS), which costs close to 1% of India’s GDP and distributes grain to low-income families, according to the World Bank in 2011. Introduced in 2005, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme ( MGNREG) aims to provide up to 100 days of paid work per year for impoverished adults in rural areas. Lastly, through the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) program, India’s impoverished receive health insurance coverage. By 2011, RSBY served more than 70 million Indians, a huge success given the country has very few insurance programs for its labor force.

Program Shortcomings

Unfortunately, India’s development suffers from logistical issues and mismanagement. According to National Sample Survey data from 2004-2005, grain distributed under the PDS reached less than half of the intended recipients. The cause of this problem is “leakage and diversion of grains,” leading experts to suggest cash transfers that directly give families an equivalent value.

Other programs like the MGNREG also struggle with providing benefits, with fewer than 100 days of work being available, particularly in rural areas. Prime Minister Modi addressed these issues during the August 15 celebrations, promising to curb inefficiencies within the government and fight against corruption.

A Vision for India

Modi’s vision for India’s future development also includes achieving “excellence in science and technology” while attaining “food and energy security.” India’s minister of power, R.K. Singh, said on August 5, 2022, that India is ahead of many developed countries in progress toward achieving clean energy.

Furthermore, India’s strong relationship between itself and the United States is touted as a catalyst for growth, with U.S. President Joe Biden stating that the two countries would work together to bring “prosperity and security for our people.”

Transforming India into a developed nation is a massive undertaking, one which will require an incredible mobilization of human and economic resources. With 21.9% of the population living under the national poverty line in 2011, according to the latest available data from the World Bank, substantially reducing this statistic would be a major humanitarian victory. The country’s future 100th anniversary holds massive potential and the opportunity to showcase India’s development.

– Samuel Bowles
Photo: WikiCommons

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3 Facts About Child Poverty in Italy 

Child Poverty in Italy 
In 2020, about 5.6 million people in Italy were living in absolute poverty, meaning they greatly struggled to obtain basic needs, including water, food and shelter. More than 20% of those people were children. Though Italy is not on the list of poor countries in the EU, its population of children in poverty has steadily grown over the last few years. Child poverty in Italy has become a worsening crisis. Here are three facts about child poverty in Italy.

The Link Between Child Labor and Child Poverty in Italy

In 2015, approximately 340,000 children had to work to financially support their families. The Italian government does not have a standardized system for measuring child labor, which is why no consistent data has been released in the last few years. Researchers are concerned that child labor has sharply risen amid this gap in data, especially due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Most of the children who had to work lived in Southern Italy, where there is significant segregation among social classes. Working kids typically come from impoverished multi-child households. An only child runs a 7% risk of living in poverty, whereas a child with siblings faces a 30% chance of poverty. These kids tend to work after school or miss school to work. In many areas of Italy, child labor is often culturally acceptable in workplaces like restaurants because customers think they are family businesses.

In the process of trying to make more money, some child workers fall into the hands of criminal organizations, such as the Mafia, according to Humanium. These organizations often pay kids higher than average wages in exchange for requiring them to sell drugs on the streets of low-income areas with high rates of violence. Criminal organizations often force young girls to make money through sex work.

How the EU and Italian Government are Eliminating Child Poverty in Italy

In 2021, the EU implemented the European Child Guarantee, under which member states create their own Child Guarantee National Action Plan (NAP) aimed at improving the lives of children and decreasing child poverty. The Italian government collaborated with local organizations and submitted its NAP to the EU in April 2021.

In its NAP, the Italian government focuses on early childhood education and childcare. Italy plans to provide more support to caregivers and further integrate children that are national citizens with immigrant children, especially those coming from Ukraine. The government is planning to ensure that all children have access to healthy meals at school and that more full-time schools are available for working parents. To help fight child poverty in Italy, the government has said that it will implement special support measures for children from underserved communities.

The Tree of Life Foundation is Helping Kids

The Tree of Life Foundation — or the L’Albero della Vita in Italian — focuses on providing children with proper nutrition, comprehensive health care and social and sports activities. The organization started in 1997 as a volunteer program, and about a decade later, the Tree of Life became an official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Italy. Since becoming an NGO, the program has expanded to other countries across the world.

In its latest response to growing child poverty in Italy, the Tree of Life Foundation gave baskets of staples to families that included groceries, children’s clothing and educational materials. It also provided families with an education program to learn how to best manage their household budget. The Tree of Life offers individual counseling, parent-support programs, workshops for children and employment-guidance meetings. The organization has created a network where impoverished families can support and learn from one another, and it prioritizes supporting mothers and pregnant people.

Looking Ahead

Though poverty is worsening in Italy, and child poverty is no exception, community members work to protect kids. Local communities help children in need by volunteering, assisting families and mothers, donating meals and speaking up when they see signs of child abuse, homelessness or child labor. Multiple NGOs in Italy are fighting child poverty and asking the government to do more simultaneously. Hopefully, the country’s NAP will make important systemic changes that help alleviate child poverty in Italy.

– Delaney Murray
Photo: Flickr

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5 Charities Operating in Albania

Charities Operating In Albania
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many countries, even developing ones that saw progress before it. Inflation rates and the current war in Ukraine are also slowing things down for Albania. However, some organizations and charities operating in Albania are still at work helping to alleviate prior and new struggles.

Efforts Before Pandemic

Albania had been undergoing work towards equitable growth for years even before the pandemic. One example was the help it was receiving from organizations like the World Bank Group and its Country Partnership Framework plan (CPF). This strategy began in 2015 and lasted through 2019 where it focused on macroeconomic balances, private and public sector growth and service delivery. This plan was then extended two more years due to elections and the pandemic.

Current Help From Charities

Efforts are still ongoing with well-known and even smaller charities. Project Worldwide has compiled a list of many nonprofit organizations that are helping in Albania. Here are five of the charities operating in Albania that deserve mention along with a quick rundown of what they are doing in their work:

  1. Integra Ventures USA – Starting in 1995, Integra joined together with a ministry already operating in Slovakia. It then expanded to several other countries in Central/Eastern Europe helping them economically. It did this not just through investments but also by providing training and education on business and economic matters. Integra’s work in Albania includes seminars and mentorship to Christian entrepreneurs in the country over finances, marketing, sales and inventory. It specifically focuses on small or medium businesses in these communities to support.
  2. ABC Health Foundation – The ABC Health Foundation has focused its work on improving health care by providing education and training for students and physicians in Albania. It has implemented internship programs, a training center and even basic training for First Aid and CPR. The programs focus on teachings of biblical family medical care and they provide some training not just for medical students but also expecting mothers and different groups of women. Albania compared to surrounding countries has a lower health status for its population. This is due to economical, political and social transitions happening over the past years including demographic changes. Albania’s health system is still facing challenges and will benefit from any focus on health care like those that the ABC Health Foundation and other charities are providing.
  3. Childspring International, INC. – Another charity working towards health care in Albania is Childspring International. It provides medical care for developing countries. The children and their families benefit from these services, such as the provision of important surgeries. Childspring International has granted medical care to more than 4,242 children in developing countries including Albania.
  4. Know My World Inc. – Know my World Inc. supports teachers and students with more than traditional academia. With emphasis and focus on education about self, cultural and global awareness, it also works to provide students with the knowledge to help initiate social change. The programs and training at Know My World Inc. are all geared towards that goal. One project incorporating this goal is its Student Virtual Cross-Cultural Exchange Experience.
  5. UNICEF – UNICEF is a well-known organization that helps bring developmental aid to children worldwide. In Albania, it does the same but can be clarified more as supporting the government and partners with policies, reform, research and resources towards children’s rights and helping them establish sustainable and equitable development. One specific way UNICEF brings support to education is by working with Albania’s ministry of education, sports and youth. It helps find children who are not in school and get them back into the system while also helping with financial analysis to help further preschool education. UNICEF also assists with teacher training in Albania.

Albania’s Future

These charities operating in Albania are just a few among many others that are helping Albania. Business, education and health care are some of the focuses that help countries reach stability. These organizations do not always give funds, but often also provide mentoring, educational programs, governmental support and other resources. The types of aid that these organizations are giving should help Albania recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and any future challenges.

– Marynette Holmes
Photo: Flickr

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Benefits of Increasing Economic Development Aid to Turkey

Economic Development Aid to TurkeyThe relationship between the United States and Turkey began in 1831 when the country was still the Ottoman Empire. Turkey is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and one can best describe the U.S.-Turkey relationship as diplomatic. While the United States only had $220 million in obligations to the Western Asian country in 2020, more economic development aid to Turkey could help alleviate poverty and an ongoing economic crisis.

Poverty in Turkey

In 2019, the World Bank reported that 0.4% of Turkish citizens lived in poverty. In a country of 84 million people, that equates to 336,000 impoverished people.

One of the most significant factors contributing to poverty in Turkey is the lack of education. In 2019, only 66% of the population 25 and older had finished lower secondary education. Low education attainment gives rise to unemployment. In 2021, unemployment in Turkey stood at 13.4%. While the COVID-19 pandemic does stand as a contributing factor to the unemployment rate, the unemployment rate increased only about 3% since 2018.

With the unemployment rate also comes low wages, which factors into poverty. In 2018, the average wage stood at about 4,000 Turkish lira (about $220). But, the cost of living in Turkey jumped nearly 70% in April 2022, according to the BBC. To try and counteract that, the Turkish government has raised the minimum wage to 5,500 lira a month, but citizens say rent alone equates to “3,000-4,000 Turkish liras.”

Foreign Aid to Turkey

The majority of foreign aid to Turkey from the United States comes from the U.S. Department of State, largely going toward humanitarian aid. The Department of Defense gave Turkey $28.43 million in 2020 for “conflict, peace and security” programs. However, Turkey only received about $2.8 million through the Trade and Development Agency for economic development.

Trade and the Economic Crisis

Money for economic development from the Trade and Development Agency involves creating economic opportunities by exporting goods from the United States for development projects. This is beneficial to the United States as the money is invested in the Turkish economy through products produced domestically. In turn, that investment is returned through the continued trade partnership of U.S. goods.

The trade relationship between the United States and Turkey has increased significantly since 2009. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, from 2009 to 2019, U.S. exports to Turkey increased by about 41% to $10 billion.

Despite a GDP increase of 0.9% in 2019, Turkey is facing an economic spiral. The value of its currency, the Turkish lira, has endured instability since 2018. Outstanding circumstances like the pandemic and economic sanctions have created a perfect storm of financial woes for the country, along with rampant inflation.

In November 2021, the value of the lira dropped sharply by 30%, triggering another wave of panic in the country. In 2022, the war between Russia and Ukraine exacerbated these financial circumstances, with Turkey seeing inflation rise more than 70% this year.

The United States can help alleviate poverty and the ongoing economic crisis via increased foreign aid to Turkey, especially through economic development. Expanding programs through the Trade and Development Agency would be one instrumental way to facilitate change in Turkey. Additionally, increasing economic development aid to Turkey could greatly aid the stability of the country until the lira crisis resolves.

– Emma Rushworth
Photo: WikiCommons

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Agriculture in Malawi Uses Solar Power to Water Crops

Agriculture in MalawiIn high-rise corporate buildings and individual cubicles, a barrier unfolds in the lives of many people who work in air-conditioned offices toward the difficulties of a career in agriculture. Small changes in the weather or environmental conditions impact entire communities. The emergence of the collaboration between new, innovative technological solutions and the farms of Malawi shed light on the future of farming.

Agriculture in Malawi

Malawi is a landlocked country in the southeast Africa. About 80 percent of Malawi holds connections to the agricultural sector as a means of their livelihood, representing the importance of efficient and innovative farming policies. Political leaders implemented the “National Nutrition Policy and Strategic Plan” to complement the pre-existing “Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program”. Together, the policies coordinate government spending and growth in the agricultural sector. Malawi also works with other organizations and governments for additional agricultural support. For example, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) invests in dairy and legume cultivation, provides training to assist in financial and economic improvements and works with local communities to develop lasting solutions.

Concern Worldwide in Malawi

Another organization that provides agricultural assistance is Concern Worldwide. Created in 1968 by a couple named John and Kay O’Loughlin-Kennedy, this group is based in Ireland. It initially started as a response to the independence movement in Biafra from Nigeria that resulted in widespread famine. The organization eventually expanded to countries in need around the world, providing aid and sending volunteers.

In 2021, Concern Worldwide provided emergency assistance to 17.8 million people and health services to 11.4 million people. In 24 countries, Concern Worldwide emphasizes the livelihoods and education of impoverished communities and fights for adequate health and gender equality.

Harnessing the Power of the Sun

One of Concern Worldwide’s latest initiatives is the implementation of a program to improve agriculture in Malawi. Because a large portion of the country relies on the success of agriculture to survive, it is vital that the productivity and efficiency of new technological innovation transfer to the communities to establish a sustainable livelihood. Concern helps install solar-powered irrigation systems with funding partnerships with organizations such as the European Union and Irish Aid.

The new irrigation system allows farmers to avoid problems associated with droughts and other environmental inconsistencies and plant multiple times per year. The collaboration in these local communities ensures that the program will be long-lasting and sustainable. Groups in specific areas assemble into co-operatives, jointly operate the system and make decisions about entering the agricultural market to ensure a profit. The profits provide repayment for the irrigation system, allowing the organization to move on to the next co-operative group. Thus, the system that Concern Worldwide supports encourages productive farming techniques and resourceful business strategies to ensure long-term success for agriculture in Malawi.

Success Builds From Previous Projects

The development of solar-powered irrigation systems builds on prior projects in the region from similar humanitarian groups. Concern Worldwide previously worked with the Promoting Sustainable Partnerships for Empowered Resilience (PROSPER) program to provide treadle pumps in partnership with UK Aid.

It functioned as a means to increase food accessibility and availability. After budget cuts, the organizations that were supporting the project were unable to continue. Thus, there is hope that the new solar-powered system yields more success among renewed efforts in the field of agriculture in Malawi. The solar-powered irrigation system also builds on a prior UNICEF project for a solar-powered water pump in Malawi. UNICEF installed this pump and also trained citizens to operate and fix the pump when needed while creating a way to fund the pump through a community garden. The program assisted in a wide variety of poverty-reducing actions in the areas of sanitation, agriculture, trust in local institutions and time for children to attend school.

A Look Ahead

As more projects such as the prior project that UNICEF implemented as well as the more recent project by Concern Worldwide make a difference in Malawi’s local agricultural communities, individuals remain closer to maintaining healthier and stable lifestyles.

–Kaylee Messick
Photo: Flickr

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Cryptocurrency in the Philippines

 cryptocurrency in the PhilippinesThe fallout from a new cryptocurrency game in the Philippines, Axie Infinity, has prompted involved parties to question the nature of the role that cryptocurrency plays in the economy of developing countries. The game’s adverse effects halted players’ hopes of financial gain, which cost many, including those on low incomes, their savings. Axie Infinity originally saw Filipinos earning sums as large as $487 in just over two weeks, and thousands of people entered the crypto game, as it soared in popularity. However, the game’s economy crashed, leaving many of its players in debt and a poor reputation for cryptocurrency in the Philippines.

The Appeal of the Game

The Philippine Statistics Authority saw an increase in the percentage of the population living in poverty, from 21.1% in 2018 to 23.7% in 2021. One can attribute this increase in poverty to the COVID-19 pandemic, which negatively impacted many people’s work and income stability. Many Axie Infinity players had an attraction to the play-to-earn element of the game so that they could improve their incomes. The game involved buying monsters (Axies,) that are NFTs (non-fungible tokens.) Players could trade or breed these and also obtain an exchangeable currency called SLP (smooth love potion).

How the Game Collapsed

The low income of many players (minimum wage in the Philippines currently being around 570 PHP/$10.3 USD) meant that as SLP began to increase in price, it became more difficult to afford the starter monsters and therefore, Axie Infinity became less financially accessible. This led to an employment scheme where “managers” from high-income countries, such as Australia, would buy monsters, and those who could not afford to would take the position of “scholars,” leveling the monsters up, while the managers raked in the profit. As the game’s popularity increased, the value of the currency dropped, and a bad situation turned into a catastrophe for cryptocurrency in the Philippines, with a hack costing the network and its players $600 million. Despite the players getting their stolen money back, the game lost its credibility as a multi-faceted lack of security emerged, and many players were worse off than where they started.

The Benefits

Upon seeing the damage that the Axie Infinity crash caused, it is easy to doubt the benefits of cryptocurrency, specifically to those living in poverty. Despite the magnitude of the fallout, cryptocurrency still plays a crucial role in the socio-economic system of the Philippines. At least 70% of people in the Philippines do not have a bank account, and sources show that cryptocurrency and distributed ledger technology (blockchains) are helping to decrease this percentage. Having access to banking is a vital tool for bringing people out of poverty, enabling them to have more financial stability and security in receiving pay, paying bills and opening doors for aspiring entrepreneurs. More than half of Filipinos would consider investing in cryptocurrency, and the trust issues caused by Axie Infinity may be somewhat repairable by building knowledge.

Barriers to Overcome

In order to tackle financial exclusion, and therefore poverty, using cryptocurrency must become the accessible tool it has the potential to be. This is only enabled by further research to ensure regulation will not lead to a market collapse, and for users to be educated and informed. Despite players having some trust issues with the prospect of regulation, many believe that regulating could make the market bring possibilities for rapid economic development. Working on these trust issues by studying and teaching cryptocurrency in the Philippines would mean that people could reap the benefits with minimal risk.

– Lydia Tyler
Photo: Flickr

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Mexico’s Drug War Affects Education

Mexico's Drug War Affects EducationSince the Mexican government declared war against drug cartels in 2006, nationwide violence between cartels, police and the military has been taking a steep toll. The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI)  estimates the war led to 300,000 homicides and the disappearance of 66,000 people since 2006. This increased violence raises particular concern about how Mexico’s drug war affects education quality.

Major Disruption to Mexico’s Education System

Widespread violence from the drug war has caused mass school closures, negatively affecting the quality of education Mexican youths receive. Between 2019 and 2020, cartel violence forced school closures in eight states: elementary schools closed 104 times, junior high schools 51 times, preschools 49 times, high schools four times and universities three times. These forced closures caused severe disruptions for Mexican youths, undermining the quality of their educational opportunities. The World Bank reported in 2020 that only 72% of Mexicans used the internet, implying difficulties for remote learning options.

A study collected data during the 2000s and captured stark differences in education quality between areas with high rates of violence and areas with lower violence. Student absenteeism in high violence areas was 44%, while lower violence areas had 33%. Teacher absenteeism follows the same trend: High violence areas were 20.8%, while lower violence areas had 13.2%. Student lateness compared 52.9% to 11.9%, and teacher lateness had 41.2% to 29.1%. The study found the widest divergence in the presence of youth gangs: 51.6% versus 23.5%. Even one month of gang-related violence can reduce school enrollment by 14%. These statistics show how drug-related violence has heavily disrupted many educational systems in Mexico.

Drug Cartels Target Students and Teachers

The study emphasizes how homicide is now the second leading cause of death for Mexican males aged 15-24, a critical age range for learning skills from education and entering the labor force. Between 2000 and 2019, 21,000 Mexicans under 18 were killed, while 7,000 have disappeared. Cartels have also recruited youths in economically deprived areas where a lack of opportunities and resources contribute to youth recruitment. In 2019 alone, cartels recruited an estimated 30,000 Mexican youths. This recruitment targeting is partly why youths sometimes avoid or drop out of school. In 2006, at the start of the drug war, 11,664 Mexican youths did not attend primary school, compared to 106,131 in 2019.

In 2011, 7,000 Acapulco teachers protested against gang violence threatening their schools. They called on the government to provide safety in the face of teachers being attacked, extorted and kidnapped. More than 100 schools shut down in Acapulco due to teachers standing up to cartels who had demanded half their salaries in extortion. Schools only reopened four years later, in 2015, after the Mexican National Guard stepped in to ensure student and teacher safety.

Mexican citizens have increasingly mobilized to demand accountability from their government and better protection for schools. In 2014, the disappearance of 43 students in Guerrero sparked national protests over the government’s inability to provide a safe, educational experience for teachers and students. Mexico continues to fight drug-related violence affecting schools, knowing how important education is in reducing poverty and improving opportunities.

– John Zake
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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The UK Government’s Asylum Partnership Agreement with Rwanda

Asylum Partnership AgreementOn April 14, 2022, the U.K. government and Rwanda entered into an agreement, that later became a five-year asylum partnership agreement. The agreement, officially titled “U.K.-Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership,” will aim to provide asylum for immigrants traveling to the U.K. illegally, through relocation to Rwanda. As part of the agreement with Rwanda, officials will process refugees on entry into Rwanda, where they will receive a decision regarding their refugee status.

What Does the Agreement Entail?

U.K. Home Secretary Priti Patel and Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Biruta signed the asylum partnership agreement, which falls under the Memorandum of Understanding. The decision to strike an agreement with Rwanda came about as a result of the U.K.’s new immigration policy, which intends to counteract illegal immigration. “The consultation showed public support for the need to disrupt the criminal activity that underpins illegal migration.”

Rwanda will receive financial support from the U.K. government to accommodate and process refugees. According to the House of Commons Library “…the U.K. is providing £120 million funding to Rwanda. It will also pay for the processing and integration costs for each relocated person.”

Is the Agreement Necessary?

The two states signed the agreement in response to the migrant crisis affecting much of Europe in recent times. They intend to provide a safer, more manageable system to combat illegal immigration into the U.K.

It is anticipated that approximately 60,000 people are set to travel across the English Channel by the end of 2022. This figure is more than double in comparison with last year’s 28,526 people crossing the Channel in small boats. There was hope that schemes such as the partnership agreement would present a more viable option to combat future illegal immigration. However, “14,728 people have arrived since the government launched the Rwanda policy,” according to BBC.

Questions Over Suitability of the Deal and Its Potential Impact on Poverty

Many raised notable questions over the suitability and practicality of Rwanda serving as the representative country to accommodate refugees. Significant concern from U.K. officials regarding the asylum partnership agreement with Rwanda has manifested from numerous documents submitted to a high court hearing earlier this year.

A key point raised questions over Rwanda’s human rights status. Rwanda is one of the 14 countries presenting substantial issues in relation to asylum systems and human rights.

Concerns regarding the impact the agreement may have upon refugees traveling to Rwanda and the communities that they could settle in have been a prevalent talking point. Treatment of refugees arriving in Rwanda remains an issue from a human rights perspective, as suppression of freedom of speech, detention and even torture are common practices.

Economically, Rwanda has seen steady progress in recent times, with the country aiming to become a middle-income nation by 2035. However, according to The World Bank, with its poverty percentage standing at 55% in 2017, it may represent a difficult beginning for many refugees. The refugees that could face relocation to Rwanda will indeed discover this and with the right to leave Rwanda available to thousands of them, it has the potential to cause chaos and increase the strain on aid agencies working to combat poverty within Rwanda and across Africa.

The Ethical and Legal Challenges of the Agreement

At this current time, the agreement appears to be shrouded in controversy and indifference due to human rights concerns. The inaugural flight carrying asylum seekers destined for Rwanda should have departed on June 14, 2022. However, the European Court of Human Rights'(ECHR) late intervention successfully halted the first wave of deportations. Prime minister Boris Johnson condemned the ECHR’s decision and threatened to revoke the U.K.’s participation in the convention.

The asylum partnership agreement with Rwanda was met with a considerable outcry in the lead-up to June 14 and efforts to disrupt and put an end to the agreement were voiced in the form of organized protests. The UNHCR commented on the agreement, stating “They should not be traded like commodities and transferred abroad for processing.”

With the considerable legal battles looming over the asylum partnership agreement, any effort to relocate migrants to Rwanda as part of the agreement will not take place before late autumn at the earliest. The next landmark step in the ongoing developments of the agreement will take place on September 5, when a judicial review will take place at London’s High Court to determine the legality of the agreement.

– Jamie Garwood
Photo: Flickr

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Increasing Disability Support in Brazil

Increasing Disability Support in BrazilBrazil’s poverty rate was 13.10% in 2020, well above the global average poverty rate of about 9% for the past several years. Among Brazil’s low-income residents, many have physical and mental disabilities. A global survey shows a strong correlation between disability and poverty in low and middle-income countries such as Brazil. Increasing disability support in Brazil is crucial to decreasing its poverty rate.

Statistics on Disability and Poverty in Brazil

In 2019, the National Survey of Health (PNS) reported that 17.3 million adults and children in Brazil were living with a mental or physical disability. PNS found that nearly half, 8.5 million, were 60 and older. Currently, Brazilian law recognizes disability in those who live with any long-term impairment that hinders full participation in society.

Poor Conditions Found in Institutions

Brazil has been criticized for its poor treatment of people with disabilities. In 2018, the Human Rights Watch released an 83-page report exposing inhumane conditions in institutions for people with disabilities. The report revealed a lack of basic food and hygiene services, neglect, abuse and little to no legal rights for those detained in institutions. The HRW visited eight institutions that forcibly restrained patients and sometimes tied them to their beds. Although the government passed the Brazilian Law for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in 2015, poor treatment of people with disabilities still occurred, as the HRW’s 2018 report shows.

A Need for More Government Support

Article 11 of the disabilities inclusion law states that people with disabilities retain legal rights to refuse medical intervention or forced institutionalization. However, many of these people have little choice. Often, they or their caregivers lack enough financial means for people with disabilities to live independently.

The government offers Benefício de Prestação Continuada (BPC), a monthly social pension for those with disabilities who cannot support themselves. BPC provides 954 Brazilian reals, $259, per month to an individual, but families state that this is not enough. The 2018 HRW report presents testimony from Brazilians calling for more services such as physical therapy and mobility devices.

HRW states that an over-reliance on institutionalization occurs partly because the Brazilian government does not provide enough support for these households. In addition, BPC is not adequate alone: In many cases, people with disabilities did not directly receive their social pension, and HRW found that institution employees had used these pensions without permission.

Increasing Disability Support and Funding

The Brazilian government responded to HRW reports and expanded the BPC program as of March 2020. More people with disabilities became eligible for a monthly pension in the expansion. Actions taken by other countries may also provide some models for supporting people with disabilities. Italy annually recalculates disability benefits based on changes in inflation and cost of living. Japan provides monthly compensation based on disability severity rather than a fixed amount.

Following the HRW’s recommendations, critics call on Brazil to do more for its people with disabilities: to continue expanding BPC, regulate institutions while working toward deinstitutionalization, pass legal reforms that protect autonomy, and develop more community-based services such as health care and inclusive education.

– Luke Sherrill
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Indigenous People in the U.S.

Indigenous peoples in the U.S.Indigenous people have endured an undeniably long and dark history of displacement, oppression and discrimination; and now subsequently constitute 15% of the world’s population living in extreme poverty. In the U.S., they bear the highest poverty rate compared to other minority groups at 25.4% and often lack access to economically reliable housing, health care and other resources. As the native population grows, so have national movements and tribal rights. In the last 10 years, Native Americans have made progressive strides in the United States. These are some of the advancements indigenous people in the U.S. have accomplished in the past decade.

Land Acknowledgements and Tribal Economic Development Efforts

One way for Native Americans to uplift themselves out of poverty and food insecurity is through acquiring tribal sovereignty. Recently, indigenous people in the U.S. and their allies have further pressured the federal government to amend its federal trust management system.

Indigenous land in the U.S. is abundant in vital natural resources. However, many policies prohibit native leaders from utilizing the resources that could be used to stimulate economic growth in reservations (and reduction in poverty rates).

Tribes like the Oneida Nation have worked around the discrepancies to stabilize their local tribal economy. The nation developed a sustainable food system that would circulate food within the reservation and allow for more job opportunities. The Oneida Community Integrated Food Systems (OCIFS) has thrived since 1994 and continues to influence other tribes.

The native lands are vital to the indigenous communities and the world as they house over 80% of the planet’s biodiversity and natural resources, according to Amnesty International. Governments and corporations continue to exploit indigenous land, which results in the pollution and displacement of the native people. As migration from their lands continue, Native Americans lack access to essential resources and their sacred customs. As a result, indigenous people are more likely to experience economic hardship, abuse, illness and the ultimate threat of extinction.

Electing the First Indigenous Woman as Cabinet Secretary

In 2021, Debra Haaland assumed office and made history as the first indigenous woman to serve as cabinet secretary. Haaland is a 35th-generation New Mexican member of the Pueblo of Laguna currently serving as the United States secretary of the interior. Before becoming secretary of the interior, Haaland served as a tribal administrator, lieutenant governor and a representative in congress.

As secretary, Haaland enacted the Not Invisible Act, a commission in coordination with the Department of Justice to cut down on crimes against indigenous peoples in the U.S. The commission would act as a hub to take on trials, evidence and witnesses. Upon collection the data acquired, the commission would then give the federal law enforcement guidance on how to fight crimes against Native Americans better.

On April 1, 2021, Secretary Haaland declared the creation of the Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU) under the Bureau of India Affairs Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS). The unit would aid interdepartmental efforts and provide better resources to investigate missing and murdered indigenous people. The unit will continue to work on unresolved and active cases by collaborating alongside the BIA, FBI, Tribal prosecutors and other agencies.

Declaration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day

On October 8, 2021, President Biden made the historic decision to proclaim October 11, 2021, “Indigenous Peoples’ Day.” The presidential action recognizes and honors the diverse communities of indigenous peoples in the U.S. and their contributions to the nation. Moreover, the proclamation acknowledges the extensive history of horror and injustice inflicted on native people within the United States. In addition, it promises to maintain and uphold “a future grounded in tribal sovereignty and respect for the human rights of indigenous people in the Americas and around the world.”

The Long Road to Reconciliation

Organizations like The Red Road remain at the forefront of advocacy for Native Americans. The organization started in 1999 when its founder Charles Robinson, gave a speech on Native Americans at a school and was disturbed by the misconceptions about indigenous people in the U.S.

The Red Road devotes its efforts to spreading awareness of indigenous struggles and addressing the colonial history of indigenous people. One of the organization’s upcoming projects is to uplift Native Americans from poverty and food insecurity. One project involves establishing a self-sustaining source of healthy food via community gardens as grocery stores are scarce in and around reservations.

The other project looks at the inter-reservation economies. Most reservations have very few tribally-owned businesses and fewer opportunities to build indigenous wealth, hence why countless indigenous communities rely on federal subsidies. The project would assist and promote the establishment of native-owned companies, allowing for greater tribal independence and economic opportunities for the indigenous people in the U.S.

Native Americans continue to endure tremendous hardship but remain resilient. There are many years of decolonization and rebuilding left before reaching true reconciliation. But, with the constant changes occurring throughout the recent decades, the future appears promising.

– Ricardo Silva
Photo: Flickr