National Security

Ukraine Takes Steps Towards ‘Right to Bear Arms’ for ‘Civilian Population’

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2022

The Ukraine has moved towards a 30-day state of emergency declaration which would grant citizens the right to bear arms. “Preparing for the possibility of a large-scale Russian invasion, the Ukrainian government has moved to declare a 30-day state of emergency, grant citizens the right to bear arms, and conscript military reservists between the ages of 18 and 60” reports National Review.

#Ukrainian parliament has just made the first step towards provision for the civil population of the right to bear arms
A long-awaited and critically important decision in these circumstances pic.twitter.com/7W9v89qhET

— Dmytro Natalukha (@DmytroNatalukha) February 23, 2022

They have also added nearly 200,000 troops to prepare its defense as Russian troops continue to enter the Donbas region. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky said in a televised speech that there was no need for a “general mobilization” of civilians, however “we need to promptly replenish the Ukrainian army and other military formations.”

“As the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, I issued a decree on the conscription of reservists during a special period…We must increase the readiness of the Ukrainian army for all possible changes in the operational situation.”

He continued, “We are certain of ourselves, we are certain in our country, we are certain in our victory.” Parliament is also taking steps to vote on allowing citizens the right to bear arms.

The Ukrainian government has also urged all of its citizens currently in Russia to evacuate.

International

Mental health crisis spikes among Afghan women after Taliban regained control two years ago

Published

2 days ago

September 21, 2023

Sara Carter Staff

The women of Afghanistan are suffering a mental health crisis since the Taliban regained power two years ago. According to a joint report from three U.N. agencies released Tuesday, approximately 70% of women experience feelings of anxiety, isolation and depression.

The numbers continue to rise, as there has already been a significant jump between April and June of this year alone, with an increase from 57% the preceding quarter.

The report, conducted by U.N. Women, the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, interviewed women online, in-person and in group consultations as well as individual telesurveys.

592 Afghan women in 22 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces took part in the study. The Associated Press reports:

They have barred women from most areas of public life and work and banned girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade. They have prohibited Afghan women from working at local and non-governmental organizations. The ban was extended to employees of the United Nations in April.

Opportunities to study continued to shrink as community-based education by international organizations was banned and home-based schooling initiatives were regularly shut down by the de facto authorities — a term use by the U.N. for the Taliban government.

Afghanistan is the only country in the world with restrictions on female education and the rights of Afghan women and children are on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The report also served as a vessel for Afghan women to send a message to the rest of the world: do not validate the Taliban government. Forty-six percent of women said international recognition of the Taliban government should not happen under any circumstances, while 50% warned that recognition should only occur under specific conditions contingent on improving women’s rights.

The report notes that the women expressed concern that recognition would only encourage the Taliban government to continue becoming stricter in their policies and practices against women and girls.

Afghan women had specific ideas and suggestions: they “urged the international community to continue political and economic sanctions against the Taliban, including by not granting exemptions to a travel ban. They urged an increase in engagement with the Taliban on gender equality and women’s rights, including by engaging community and religious leaders in awareness and advocacy efforts” writes the Associated Press.