With the crises in the Region, more cases of Human Rights violations have come up which explains the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP’s initiative to organize a 1-day training program in Mindiff, Mayo Kani Division, Far North Cameroon to drill close to 105 Cameroonian military men and women on the importance of respecting Human Rights while safeguarding the civilian population as they tirelessly fight against the armed non-state group.
The capacity building Workshop that took place on February 20, 2024, was aimed at making sure that the participants are better equipped to protect the rights of civilians.
‘Defence and security forces play a very important role in Stabilisation. Without them, there can be no stabilization. But we have to be certain that what they do is in line with the respect of human rights that Cameroon Subscribe to through Conventions. So, we assist in training in the light of human rights which is also a necessity in the human rights’ due diligence concept.
So, we want to ensu
re this Principle is respected and we come behind to reconstruct Schools, administrations, Police, and military Stations, with the means allocated to us”. Head of the UNDP Stabilisation Programme in Maroua said.
‘The Cameroonian defense forces must respect its local population, respect the laws of the country and humanitarian laws so as not to be punished’ the head of the Far North branch of the Cameroon Human Rights Commission, Basini Wadepou said.
‘It is important for them while conducting operations to earn the trust and support of the civilian population’ Basini Wadepou added.
UNDP officials however maintained, reports show that Human Rights abuses have reduced.
‘We know they have learned about all these, but we thought it necessary to remind them once more. They should not just be hearers but more importantly, put the knowledge gained from the training into use by ensuring the protection of civilians and respect for human rights in their daily routine.’
‘We need not brutalize civilians and if we se
e someone wounded, we should give them first aid,’ Mballa Tala Benedicte, 2nd class soldier who took part in the awareness-raising campaign said.
‘I was satisfied hearing all of this given that I am just at the beginning of my career. This will help me’ Mballa Added.
Lele Brenda who also participated in the seminar said, she has learned to watch her attitude while on the field. ‘I have also learned about international humanitarian law and gained knowledge on gender-based violence’ Lele Added.
UNDP Officials say they remain committed to accompanying the state to carry out more training for a better Cameroon.
The training was organised in partnership with Cameroon’s Human Rights Commission.
Source: Cameroon News Agency
Dr Daniel McKorley, Executive Chairman, McDan Group Ghana, has called for the establishment of a global consortium of salt producers, distributors, and pharmaceutical companies to foster knowledge sharing, streamline supply chains, and mitigate potential shortages.
He called for investment in research to develop innovative salt harvesting techniques such as automated mining, drone technology, and advanced purification methods, ensuring efficiency, productivity, and minimising environmental impact.
This was in a statement to the Ghana News Agency made by Dr McKorley at the Global Conference on Advances in Salt and Marine Chemicals in India.
The conference brought together experts from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the salt industry.?
‘Let us explore the development of sustainable transport solutions such as electrification of transportation fleets, utilisation of renewable energy for logistics, and the implementation of smart logistics systems to optimise routes and re
duce carbon emissions,’ he said.
He called for partnerships with brine mining companies to tap into the potential while ensuring sustainable practices in the sector.
‘Additionally, let us encourage the identification of innovative applications for salt products beyond the traditional markets, such as using salt as a renewable energy storage medium or exploring its potential in the field of biotechnology,’ he said.
Dr McKorley said it was imperative to harness solar salt and marine chemicals to ensure sustainable salt production and resource recovery.
That, he stressed, would foster an inclusive and comprehensive dialogue on the global salt industry.
‘We need to explore the utilisation of marine chemicals for value-added products, such as algae-based biofuels or pharmaceutical-grade compounds derived from marine sources,’ he added.
He said the recommendations were important because the salt industry was facing significant opportunities and challenges in the face of increasing global demand and competitio
n.
Source: Ghana News Agency