Nansen Prize, report on Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia… Tuesday’s news

UNHCR recognizes Merkel’s “great moral courage” for hosting refugees

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has received the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award 2022.

Each year, the award is given to individuals, groups or organizations that have done extraordinary work to protect refugees, internally displaced persons or stateless persons.

Under the leadership of Angela Merkel, Germany hosted more than 1.2 million refugees and asylum seekers between 2015 and 2016, at the height of the conflict in Syria.

“Angela Merkel showed great moral and political courage,” said High Commissioner Filippo Grandi. “His leadership was genuine. he challenged our human sense, and stood firm against those who promoted fear and discrimination.

UNHCR also awards regional awards. In America, Vicenta Gonzalez, from Costa Rica, has been recognized for working for more than 50 years helping displaced people. In addition, she created a cocoa cooperative to support refugee and local women survivors of gender-based violence.

Guterres encouraged by Petro’s peace and security approach to Colombia

The Secretary General is “encouraged” by the peace and security approach of the new Government of Colombia, according to the latest quarterly report of the UN mission in the country.

Guterres points out that the government of Gustavo Petro “prioritizes dialogue” to resolve conflicts; focuses security strategies on protecting vulnerable communities and human rights; and links solutions to violence with overcoming historical inequalities.

“If the instruments of the Peace Agreement are used to their full potential, they can decisively help put an end to the persistent expressions of violence in the country and, at the same time, contribute to the broader objective of creating conditions and opportunities for everyone in Colombia live in peace and with dignity”, says Guterres.

Despite the progress, the report warns about the persistent challenges that endanger the reintegration of ex-combatants. Between June and September, 15 were killed (all men), 11 of them in July alone, making it the deadliest month since 2019.

The report shows that the actions of illegal armed groups continue in areas with little State presence. In the same period, the UN received complaints of 45 homicides of human rights defenders.

Venezuela must reestablish its consular services and Bolivia, prohibit the arbitrary expulsion of migrants

The Committee on the Rights of Migrants asks Venezuela to restore consular services in foreign countries and expresses its concern about the massive expulsions from Bolivia.

With respect to deterioration of consular services for Venezuelan migrants Due to the closure of several consulates in foreign countries, the Committee asks Venezuela to redouble its efforts to restore care.

The Committee is also concerned about the crimes committed against Venezuelans abroad and asks the State to create mechanisms so that family members can file complaints in Venezuela.

As for Bolivia, the Committee denounces the large number of migrants, including families, expelled in recent years and ask to be prohibit collective expulsions and arbitrary and it is guaranteed that all procedures that affect children and adolescents are based on their best interests.

The Committee notes with concern that many migrant workers and their families are unable to benefit from Bolivia’s regularization policy, especially unaccompanied children and adolescents, due to the obstacles to obtaining the required documents and the financial costs involved.

11% of adolescents in Cambodia have been victims of sexual abuse online

11% of children between the ages of 12 and 17 who use the Internet in Cambodia, some 160,000 in total, have been victims of online sexual exploitation and abuse, according to a survey in which it has participated UNICEF

Of these, 16% of children were subjected to sexual comments, while another 16% received unwanted sexual images and 9% were asked to share photos or videos of themselves.

among the victims there are more boys than girls. While three out of four aggressors are someone known to the child, often relatives.

The survey has also found that very few children reported it through formal mechanisms. A common obstacle is not knowing where to turn or who to tell.