Displaying items by tag: empowering

Eurasia Foundation (EF) has announced the launch of a two-year Justice for Underserved Youth with Disabilities (JUDY) initiative, which promotes the full social, economic, and political integration of youth with disabilities in Armenia and Moldova. EF works with local organisations, international disability rights experts, and youth advocacy experts to amplify the voices of youth with disabilities between ages 18 and 30. Lisa Coll, EF president, says, ‘JUDY addresses the unique challenges faced by youth with disabilities, both because of their age and entrenched cultural stigma around disability.’ While both the governments of both countries demonstrate interest in protecting the rights of people with disabilities, the legacy of Soviet-era policies and cultural stigma often complicate the work of disability rights advocates. Many institutions in both countries view disability as a medical topic, rather than a social and political issue that can change through concerted effort. JUDY will approach these challenges by involving organisations and experts with deep roots in the local disability rights communities. This collaboration will foster more open dialogue, build relationships, and provide support for youth-led initiatives.

News that Saudi Arabia is on course to host the 2034 football World Cup is grim. The country might not win the cup, but its capacity for state murder is world class: 112 killed this year so far and counting. However, the news should come as no surprise: its geopolitical power is rising and combining with vast wealth to ensure that objections to its human rights record are brushed aside by those in power. Before he was elected president, Joe Biden declared that Saudi would be treated as a ‘pariah state’ following the state-sanctioned murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. But once he was in the Oval Office, realpolitik intervened. His administration is now most concerned about China’s growing influence, which is why it has agreed to Saudi Arabia’s request for help in building a civilian nuclear programme - which critics fear could lead to developing nuclear weapons. US dollars could end up paying for the defence of a brutal Gulf regime that has undermined Western economies, helped Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by cutting oil supplies and keeping prices high, and continued with the catastrophic war in Yemen. In these terms, gifting Bin Salman the World Cup seems like a minor folly.