Weekly Digest for 24 to 31 July 2022

Welcome to the summary of selected articles that appeared last week on our website xunicefnewsandviews.blogspot.com

Traveling to Cuba by Myra Rudin

Myra Rudin shares many wonderful photos and memories of her 2017 visit to Cuba.  As she tells us, "Photographing a country caught in a time warp was an extraordinary and exciting experience."  Click here.

Etienne Bashizi answers our 10 Questions this week.  En français;  In English.

Click here to see the answers given by earlier contributors.  Consider sending us your own responses to these ten questions at xunicef.news.views@gmail.com 

Tough days for the UN in West Africa - UN Peacekeeping has faced serious troubles for years, but this week was a particularly rough one in eastern DRC where anti-UN riots have resulted in deaths of so far killed at least 15 people, including 3 UN peacekeepers. The DRC wasn't the only country in West Africa where the UN forces are facing hard times - UN missions in Mali, Western Sahara, and the CAR also are in trouble. 

Ukraine, Russia and the UN - PassBlue reported this week on a 'Curious UN Russia Deal' done quietly and on the sidelines of the Black Sea Initiative (the agreement to allow some Ukrainian grain to pass through the Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports).  On the face of it, the agreement seems designed to bypass western sanctions using UN channels.  We wondered, "Was this the price the UN paid for the bigger deal?"

Rights - on the side of implementation, Kamaluddin reminded us that we have ΅A Long Way to Go' on the rights of children and women.  Indeed, we do.

Thanks from the son of a colleague -  Siamak Namazi sent via his father, Baquer, a heartfelt thank you from Evin Prison to the American members of XUNICEF who signed the letter we sent to President Biden last week.   

Climate - the General Assembly declared that everyone has the right to a healthy environment.  Now, let's see how our governments try to live up to that commitment.

Kids in prison - three of our articles offer glimmers of hope, but the fact is that thousands of children remain in prison around the world, and efforts for reform of juvenile justice systems are few and far between.  Still, we'll take what we can get. 

* 'Drip by drip - Somewhat good news' from Syria, where Tajikistan repatriated 104 children and 42 women from the detention camps for ISIS dependents.  (Keep in mind, however, that some 55,000 women and children remain there, and that many have been there since 2018).  See also our article last week, Children of ISIS Fighters are Growing Up

* Systemic reform, starting with girls - Also among the 'good news' of the week was the report that Hawaii has reduced its population of girls in detention to zero, and plans to keep it that way, thanks to a major reform of its juvenile justice system.  

* Hearing their voices - Finally, our poetry selection this week comes from 'Words Unlocked' a poetry contest for children in prison.

More Mini Reunions -The Mayrides and Mary Racelis

Sree's Quiz of the Week - two easy questions for this week, but tougher ones lie ahead in coming weeks

A Weekend Greeting from MENA

Child Labour - Serious Reflections in Ditty Form
A Psychiatrist and a Proctologist

Fouad Kronfol        Soliloquy #62: The International Human Rights Year, 1968

Gianni Murzi          Climate Change and Longevity   

Ramesh Shrestha:    In the Horizon - Water War

Nuzhat Shahzadi     Once Upon a Time....

Horst Cerni reviews The Not-Quite States of America by Doug Mack.  

Have you read a book recently that you enjoyed - or even one you didn't enjoy?  Send us a brief review to share with other members.  Let's share what we read.

Show Yourself - A 'Highly Commended entry in 'Words Unlocked' - poetry by children in prison.

Reports

Global Guidelines for Children on the Move in the Context of Climate Change

Cyber Conflicts and Children

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