Malawi is Africa’s most improved country in the latest FIFA rankings, climbing up by an impressive 28 positions to stand at position 99 currently.
The Southeastern African country’s improvement in these latest ranking comes on the back of a 1-0 win over Swaziland in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers. Continue reading Malawi Flames best improved African country in latest FIFA ranking
Paris, 3 June—The Government of Côte d’Ivoire and UNESCO will host a regional experts meeting on the protection of sport integrity and issues of sport governance in Abidjan, from 6 to 7 June. The meeting is part of UNESCO’s commitment to promote ethics and values in sport.
In order to continue providing effective responses to concerns such as doping, corruption and manipulation of sports competition, which jeopardize the integrity and the ethical values of sport, the government of Côte d’Ivoire and UNESCO are working together to strengthen sport governance to enhance interactions between public authorities, sport organizations, civil society and other stakeholders.
This debate will focus on the principles and commitments of UNESCO’s key instruments:
The Abidjan meeting will provide an opportunity for stakeholders, including public authorities, the sport movement, and experts, to exchange views about lessons learned and best practices at the national, regional and international levels.
The outcomes of the meeting, including its recommendations, will help inform the ministerial conference on the occasion of the Francophonie Games in Abidjan, from 21 to 30 July 2017. They will be presented to sports ministers attending MINEPS VI in Kazan, Russian Federation, in July 2017, ministers at the Conference of Parties to the International Convention against Doping in Sport (UNESCO Headquarters, September 2017), and to the Bureau of the Conference of Parties, which is engaged in a reflection to guide UNESCO and States Parties on the protection of sport integrity.
Contact: Evelyne Deba, UNESCO Office in Abidjan, Tel.: +(225) 22 52 70 20, e.gbe-deba@unesco.org
While today’s trial of former first lady Simone Gbagbo is an important step towards ending impunity in Côte d’Ivoire, Amnesty International maintains that the Ivorian authorities should reconsider their refusal to comply with their obligation to surrender her to the International Criminal Court (ICC) pursuant to an arrest warrant against her on charges of crimes against humanity.
Simone Gbagbo is set to go on trial today in Abidjan on charges of crimes against humanity related to the post-election violence in 2010-2011. More than 1,000 people were killed in the violence that ensued when her husband Laurent Gbagbo refused to relinquish power after losing an election.
“Unless Côte d’Ivoire applies to the International Criminal Court to again challenge the admissibility of her case they must immediately surrender Simone Gbagbo to the ICC,” said Gaëtan Mootoo, West Africa researcher for Amnesty International.
“If the domestic trial continues, Côte d’Ivoire must ensure its proceedings comply with international human rights law standards, including the right to a fair trial. Côte d’Ivoire must show the world it is serious about delivering post-conflict justice to victims of all crimes.”
For more information ou to request an interview please contact: press@amnesty.org, sadibou.marong@amnesty.org, or call: +44 (0) 7778 472 126. ; Or in Dakar: +221 77 658 62 27
Background:
Simone Gbagbo has been charged by the ICC with crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, persecution and other inhuman acts. An arrest warrant was issued against her on 22 February 2012.
In 2014, an ICC Pre-Trial Chamber rejected a challenge by Côte d’Ivoire against the admissibility of the case, which was confirmed on appeal in 2015. Côte d’Ivoire has so far refused to surrender her to the ICC.
Simone Gbagbo’s husband, the former President Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé, an ally of Gbagbo’s and leader of a militant youth group, are currently on trial before the ICC for crimes against humanity in relation to the post-election violence.
Simone Gbagbo was previously convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on 10 March 2015 on charges of participation in an insurrectional movement, conspiracy against the State, and disturbing public order.
