Prominent Human Right Activist Arrested in Yemen.

Responding to reports that Abdulrasheed al-Faqih, the Executive Director of Mwatana Organisation for Human Rights, was arrested this morning while on his way to Sey’oun airport in the southern Yemeni city of Mukalla.

Amnesty International’s Middle East Campaigns Director Samah Hadid, said;

Abdulrasheed al-Faqih is one of Yemen’s most prominent human rights defenders and has worked tirelessly to expose the myriad human rights abuses committed by all parties in Yemen’s brutal conflict. Unfortunately, Abdulrasheed al-Faqih’s courage and dedication have made him the target of repeated harassment, and prior to his arrest today he was detained by Huthi forces on several occasions.

For more infohttps://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/yemen-prominent-human-rights-activist-arrested

Amnesty International has urged Pakistan to end the “current crackdown” on human rights ahead of Election.

The group called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of 37 activists it said were currently detained in the city of Rawalpindi for participating in peaceful protests against extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations.

Amnesty said it was also “deeply concerned by the hours-long arbitrary detention” of British-Pakistani journalist and rights activist Gul Bukhari earlier this month.

For more visit https://www.rferl.org/a/freedoms-under-relentless-attack-in-pakistan-ahead-of-elections-amnesty-warns/29291025.html

Be independent in 2019 elections, UK tells EFCC

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission not to take sides with any political party ahead of the 2019 general elections. Arkwright also called on the EFCC to collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that there is no vote buying. The UK envoy said this when he visited the corporate headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said, “INEC and EFCC should be there to preserve the integrity of the political process, including taking forward investigations without any prejudice on one side or the other, following the evidence and taking action where it is justified.”

He further gave assurances of the British Government’s support “both in technical assistance, in an investigation and of course broadening support of this great independent institution of the EFCC.”

The high commissioner commended the ant-graft agency for its recent achievements in tackling corruption. “We are pleased to see how the EFCC operates, and we are assuring you of the endless support of the British Government in the fight against corruption. “The UK and Nigeria have evolved and made progress in the fight against corruption, and the EFCC’s achievements have been impressive,” he added.
To read full article – http://punchng.com/dont-take-sides-in-2019-elections-uk-tells-efcc

Kogi Writes

“Kogi WRITES 1.0” is a creative writing competition which is conceived as a result of the need to create a unique platform for young emerging writers to express and channel their individual talents for sustainable personal and community development. This competition involves secondary school students, and it covers three major areas of writing namely, short story, poetry, essay writing and public speaking contest.

This Project is set to offer a unique platform to young emerging writers for showing and further refining their individual talents for sustainable personal and community development, create an avenue for discovering and harnessing useful talents and potentials among young people and developing them through focused mentorship.

And to promote reading and writing culture among students, first within Lokoja, Kogi State.

It is a project of Oku-Otu Chukwuemeka a serving corper in Kogi State on Youth Empowerment and Development

Partners

Ministry of Education Kogi State
Federal University Lokoja Kogi State
Actionaid Nigeria
Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Lokoja, Kogi State
RemodAfrica Initiative
BOOKMYSCHOOL Initiative