As Awareness Grows, Women With Obstetric Fistula May Finally Have Hope

obstetric-fistula-main

By: Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter, Africa

 

Nearly half of African girls are at risk for obstetric fistula.  This serious condition is defined by tears between the  birth canal and urinary tract, that causes the affected individual to constantly leak urine and feces.  This condition occurs at particularly high rates in Africa due to poverty, child brides, female genital cutting, sexual assault and rape, and unattended births.  Young girls are highly susceptible, as in rural parts of Africa, girls are often married and become pregnant before their bodies are sufficiently developed to handle the birth of a child. Furthermore, in rural regions with scare resources, unattended births compound the already dire situation that many women face.  In such conditions, women and girls giving birth may experience  exceptionally long labors that can not be properly or quickly addressed by medical personnel.  The child often dies in the situation of an unattended and prolonged labor, and if the mother does not die, she often sustains serious tears, or fistula.

Once a woman sustains a fistula, the condition is debilitating, humiliating, and there are few qualified individuals readily available to perform the surgery necessary to repair the tears.  As such, few women are able to receive medical care and are burdened by the stigma and pain associated with fistula.  Because of the constant fecal and urine leakage, affected women are often ostracized by their communities and families.  Husbands often abandon their wives; families of a rape victims who become pregnant and are then affected by fistula, are often ostracized for being “damaged” and “impure.” Communities may also abandon affected women, with the aim of avoiding the smell that  accompanies the fistula condition, and any possible fertility and birth “curse” that may follow affected women.  Abandoned by family and community, many of these women are left to suffer and die alone.

As debilitating and traumatizing as this disease is for women in rural and resource scarce areas, repair of the fistulas is relatively simple with involvement of qualified medical personnel.  As more awareness is called to the condition and the situations that underly the high occurrence of the condition, money, interest, and facilities can be focused to address at least some of the cases of obstetric fistula in rural Africa.  Attention given to the issues of child brides, sexual assault, and unattended births, may play a role in reducing the number of women who are affected by fistulas every year.

 

For more information, please visit:

Voices of America- Many African Females at Risk of Obstetric Fistula- June 25, 2014

Mercy Ships- Mercy Ships Provides Free Obstetric Fistula Surgeries in Africa- May 22, 2014

Aid For Africa- Fistula Foundation

Aljazeera- Fistula surgery transforms lives in Kenya- May 23, 2014

Bodies Recovered from Captured Libyan Base

By: Danielle L. Cowan (Gwozdz)
Senior Desk Operator, Africa

TRIPOLI, Libya – At least 35 bodies have been recovered from a Libyan military base that was overrun by Islamist-led militants.

Rival militias have been battling for control of Benghazi (photo courtesy of AFP)

 

The special forces base in Benghazi was captured on Tuesday, after two days of intense fighting.

An Islamist and jihadist alliance announced the capture of the main military base in the eastern city in a statement Wednesday, which was confirmed by an army official.

Libyan special forces fled from the Benghazi military base as militants overwhelmed them with rocket fire. A special forces spokesman told Reuters that militants have since assumed control of the military camp.

Libya has been facing violence since 2011. The violence came from militias uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.

The new parliament is said to be holding an emergency meeting this week.

A Red Crescent spokesperson told AFP that “up to now we have managed to recover 35 bodies. But there are more to be found.”

Further, the spokesperson said that “Special forces under the command of [Colonel] Wanis Abu Khamada withdrew after several attacks.”

Many western governments – including the United States, UK, France, and Germany – have already asked their citizens to leave the country. Several have also evacuated their embassies.

At least 97 people have also been killed in fighting between militias battling for control of Tripoli’s main airport in the past week.

The government has blamed clashes between the armed groups for starting a fire at a Tripoli fuel depot, and for preventing firefighters from putting out the blaze.

The special forces are one of the units of Libya’s regular armed forces that support rogue Libyan general Khalifa Haftar, but they have not placed themselves under his command.

Hafta began his offensive against radical Islamist groups in Beghazi dubbed “Operation Dignity” in mid-May.

The militias reportedly agreed on a ceasefire on Wednesday to allow the blaze to be brought under control.

For more information, please visit:
BBC News – ‘Dozens of bodies’ at captured base in Benghazi, Libya – 30 July 2014
Alakhbar English – Libya Islamists capture Benghazi base – 31 July 2014
War News Updates – Diplomats Flee Libya As The Violence Escalates Out Of Control – 30 July 2014
Gsbuzz – ‘Dozens of bodies’ at captured base in Benghazi, Libya – 30 July 2014

 

PILPG Update: PILPG Releases Report on Power-Sharing in Iraq

July 30, 2014

With the recent, rapid changes on the ground in Iraq and subsequent calls from the United States for a new power-sharing arrangement to govern the country, PILPG recently hosted a roundtable discussion on the topic, “Power-Sharing in Iraq: Impossible or Inevitable?”  The roundtable brought together experts to discuss whether, and under what circumstances, a power-sharing arrangement might be achieved in Iraq. Participants also discussed the potential geo-strategic and security implications that a power-sharing arrangement in Iraq would have.

The roundtable generated a number of key findings that the international community may consider when assessing the likelihood and implications of power sharing in Iraq.  The report, Power-Sharing in Iraq: Impossible or Inevitable?, sets forth the key findings that emerged from the roundtable.

The full text of the report can be viewed here.
About the Public International Law & Policy Group

The Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG) is a global, pro bono law firm providing legal assistance to governments involved in conflicts.  To facilitate use of this legal assistance, PILPG also provides policy formulation advice and training on matters related to conflict resolution.  PILPG was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

PILPG’s primary practice areas are Peace Negotiations, Post-Conflict Constitutions, and War Crimes Prosecution.  To provide pro bono legal advice and policy formulation expertise, PILPG relies almost exclusively on volunteer assistance from more than sixty former international lawyers, diplomats, and foreign relations experts, as well as pro bono assistance from major international law firms.  Annually, PILPG is able to provide over $20 million worth of pro bono international legal services.

In July 1999, the United Nations granted official Non-Governmental Organization status to PILPG.

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James Hooper – Managing Director

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Boko Haram Blamed for Suicide Bomb at Nigeria College

By: Danielle L. Cowan (Gwozdz)
Senior Desk Operator, Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria – At least six people have been killed in a suicide bombing at a college in northern Nigeria’s biggest city, Kano.

Destruction from the bombing at the college (photo courtesy of Reuters)

 

The bomber is reported to be a female and had blown herself up as students waited in line to check off their names on the admission’s list.

In addition, the government states that a 10-year-old girl has been arrested in a neighboring state for wearing a suicide belt.

This attack has been the fifth one in the city of Kano since this past Saturday. Three of these five attacks have been carried out by female bombers.

Boko Haram, the militant group, has been blamed for all of these attacks.

These female attackers are said to be a new trend in the attacks.

No one knows if the female attackers are being recruited or forced kidnapped girls to carry out these suicide missions. Currently, Boko Haram is holding 200 girls that were abducted from school.

A witness stated that bodies were strewn around everywhere from the blast at the college.

An additional seven people are said to have been wounded from the blast.

This year alone, the militants have killed over 2,000 people in their attacks.

In 2013, Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, imposed a state of emergency in the northern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, vowing to crush the insurgency.

For more information, please visit:
BBC News – Nigeria Kano blast: Boko Haram blamed for six deaths – 30 July 2014
AllAfrica – Nigeria: Kano Blast – Boko Haram Blamed for Six Deaths – 30 July 2014
GH Headlines – Nigeria Kano blast: Boko Haram blamed for six deaths – 31 July 2014
Hallmark News – Nigeria Kano blast: Boko Haram blamed for six deaths – 31 July 2014
Africa News Desk – Kano Blast – Boko Haram Blamed for Six Deaths – 31 July 2014

 

Reports Suggest Russia Is Ready To Reopen Intelligence Base In Cuba

By Lyndsey Kelly
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

HAVANA, Cuba – Recent news reports suggest that Russia has reached a provisional agreement with Cuba to reopen its electronic spying center which was once located on the Caribbean island and used to spy on the United States. Sources state that the agreement was made between Russia and Cuba on Friday, July 11th when Russian President Vladimir Putin made a trip to Havana, Cuba.

Russian President Vladimir Putin denies allegations concerning Russia’s reopening of the Lourdes base (Photo Courtesy of The Washington Times).

The Russian base was created in Lourdes, Cuba, just south of Havana, in 1964 after the Cuban missile crisis.  At the height of the Cold War the Russian intelligence base had nearly 3,000 personnel and was the biggest center used by Russia to gather intelligence from radio signals.

The base, located just 150 miles from the United States coast closed thirteen years ago. The precise reason behind the closing of the base is unclear. The Russians claim it was a “goodwill gesture” toward the United States, while many United States officials  believed it was a result of an economic crisis at the time.

Russian defense experts say that reopening the base would be a logical move for Russia as it would significantly increase the country’s ability to gather intelligence. Vyacheslav Trubnikov, the former head of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, told a Russian newspaper, “Lourdes gave the Soviet Union eyes in the whole of the western hemisphere… For Russia, which is fighting for its lawful rights and place in the international community, it would be no less valuable for the USSR.”

Reports did not give any financial details as to the agreement between Russia and Cuba. However, it has been noted that before President Vladimir Putin’s trip to Havana, Russia agreed to forgive 90 percent of Cuba’s $32 billion Soviet-era debt.

Putin has denied all reports that Russia plans to reopen the Lourdes base, and said that Russia has no plans to resume the electronic spying center. Additionally, Cuba has remained silent as to the reports. If the reports prove to be true the efforts made by Cuban President Raul Castro to build a more pragmatic relationship with the United States may quite possibly be damaged.

Despite the alleged efforts made by Russia to reopen the intelligence base, analysts say that Russia’s ability to gather information on the United States Government would be severely limited due to the improvements in technology since the Cold War.

 

For more information, please see the following:

HAVANA TIMES – Russia to Reopen Spy Center in Cuba – 16 July 2014.

REUTERS – Putin Denies Russia to Reopen Soviet-Era Post In Cuba – 17 July 2014.

REUTERS – Russia set to reopen Soviet-Era Spy Post on Cuba: Source – 16 July 2014.

WASHINGTON TIMES – Putin Gives Obama ‘Middle Finger,’ Strikes Deal to Reactivate Spy Base In Cuba – 16 July 2014.