Metro

Amnesty International calls for probe into mass killings in Ethiopia

Published

2 years ago

July 21, 2022

Global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has called on the Ethiopian government to launch what it calls an “impartial” probe into the mass killings where over 400 ethnic minorities were killed in the country’s Oromia region in June.

The violence which took place in the Tole area of Gimbi district in Orimia saw farming villages populated by minority ethnic Amharas targeted which the government blamed on the armed group the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).

But Amnesty International, in a press release on Thursday, criticised the authorities for failing to respond fast enough to the violence, saying the killings showed the attackers’ “utter disregard for human life.

“Government forces arrived hours after the attackers had left despite being told about the attack much earlier,” the human rights watchdog said.

Amnesty called the Tole killings “a callous massacre” which was followed two weeks later by similar attacks in a different district in the region, adding that govetnment officials had failed take measures in the wake of the two attacks despite promises to conduct investigations.

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Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda

Published

8 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

“As a representative of the deaf community, I believe digital rights should be inclusive. Everyone, including persons with disabilities, should enjoy these rights through various devices to express themselves and participate in national discourse,” he asserted.

He also called for the recognition of sign language as the eighth national language, aligning with United Nations conventions that mandate sign language interpreters at all events to promote inclusivity.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda (video)

Published

9 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.