News story: Foreign Secretary announces £1.6 million for women in conflict mediation

Championing girls’ education to promote global stability will be at the heart of UK foreign policy to positively transform the lives of women and girls in conflict.

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by conflict but they are also key to its resolution.

The Network of Women Mediators, will train women from across the Commonwealth with the practical skills to play an active role in resolving conflict worldwide. Today the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson has committed £1.6 million UK support to fund this groundbreaking work.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

Conflict affects whole communities, but the fact is women and girls often bear the brunt. Girls are twice as likely to be out of school as boys, and more likely to experience gender-based violence.

This year one of my main focuses will be to ensure that girls in the poorest countries in the world receive at least 12 years of quality education because this is the single most powerful spur to development and progress.

To end wars, build sustainable and lasting peace and create stable societies, women around the world must be able to participate in peace processes. Today’s £1.6 million will empower women across the Commonwealth to rightfully take their seat at the negotiating table.

Commonwealth women who take part in the programme will work across the globe to help resolve conflict. They will also support and train up women outside the Commonwealth to enter mediation and peace processes and work with grassroots organisations to empower women mediators amplifying the impact of UK funding.

Despite making up over half of the population, too few women’s voices are heard when peace agreements are being drawn up. Between 1992 and 2017 only 2% of mediators, and 5% of witnesses and signatories to major peace processes were women. However, evidence shows that when women are a part of peace agreements they are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years.

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Appeal for information on missing man in Chai Wan (with photo)

     Police today (April 16) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Chai Wan.

     Ng Chuen-fuk, aged 54, went missing after he left his residence on Shau Kei Wan Road this morning. His family made a report to Police today.

     He is about 1.66 metres tall, 46 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion, short black hair and a tattoo on his left forearm. He was last seen wearing white short-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, black shoes and carrying a black handbag.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Hong Kong Island on 3660 1040 or 9886 0034, or email to rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

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Cancer Coordinating Committee meeting held (with photo)

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, chaired the 12th Cancer Coordinating Committee (CCC) meeting today (April 16) to receive reports on and discuss the progress of work related to cancer prevention and screening, treatment, surveillance and research.

     At the meeting, the CCC deliberated and endorsed the updated recommendations of its Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening (CEWG) on cancer prevention and screening, which were based on rigorous assessment of the latest evidence. Based on the CEWG’s recommendations on cancer prevention and screening, the Government will consider the feasibility of their implementation in the local situation, taking into account the resources available in the healthcare system, manpower and supporting facilities, and public acceptance in examining whether to accept the recommendations in their entirety.

     The CCC also reviewed the population-based cancer data for 2015 as well as the incidence and mortality trends and projections of major cancers in Hong Kong. The CCC noted the Hong Kong Cancer Registry (HKCR) has enhanced the Colorectal Cancer and Breast Cancer registries since 2015 to support planning and evaluation of public health care services and cancer research, including the Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot Programme and the commissioned research on risk factors of breast cancer among Hong Kong Chinese women.

     With regard to the increasing service demand, the Hospital Authority (HA) has gradually increased the service capacity for cancer patients’ treatment, including diagnostic tests, radiological investigations, operation theatres, chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions. The HA has also improved accessibility to new technologies and medical treatment through regular reviews and the introduction of new medical equipment, as well as updating its drug formulary. In addition, the HA has enhanced patient services through better co-ordination of cancer case managers and improved patient care for cancer drug related issues through the clinical pharmacist programme. The HA will also develop the Strategic Service Framework for Cancer Service to enhance the existing cancer service quality, and to guide the relevant service developments in the HA, over the next five to 10 years.

     The Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) administered under the Food and Health Bureau (FHB) supports research and development for cancer control. Since its establishment in 2011, the HMRF has funded over 200 cancer-related research projects covering different aspects of epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Under the Health Care and Promotion Scheme of HMRF, funding was also provided to support evidence-based health promotion programmes for the prevention of cancer.

     “In view of the overall rising cancer burden as well as trends and projections in incidences of different cancers, the Government will implement relevant aspects of cancer work in a more strategic, co-ordinated and proactive approach in order to cope with the challenges imposed by the cancer burden on population health and society at large. Members also agreed that the Government should consolidate and enhance a comprehensive strategy on cancer prevention and control,” said Professor Chan.

     In addition, the CCC opined that lifestyle risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and obesity are closely related to cancer. The meeting supported the Government’s current strategy in promoting awareness on cancer prevention through channels including mass media, the Healthy League Facebook fanpage and other social media, as well as through collaboration with community partners.

     The CCC was established in 2001, comprising cancer experts and doctors from the public and private sectors, academics and public health professionals, to advise the formulation of strategies on cancer prevention and control and steer the direction of work in relation to cancer prevention and screening, treatment, surveillance and research. Under the CCC, the CEWG regularly reviews international and local evidence and makes recommendations on cancer prevention and screening in the local context. In addition, the HKCR, the HA and the Research Office of the FHB oversee cancer surveillance, treatment and research respectively.

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Popsicle sample detected with total bacterial count exceeding legal limit

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (April 16) announced that a mango flavour popsicle sample was found to contain a total bacterial count exceeding the legal limit. Follow-up is in progress.
 
     A spokesman for the CFS said, “The Centre collected the above-mentioned sample from the premises of a frozen confection factory in Kwun Tong for testing under its regular Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that the sample contained a total bacterial count of 130 000 per gram, exceeding the legal limit.”
 
     Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 50 000 bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months’ imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the total bacterial count exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.
 
     “The CFS has informed the premises concerned of the irregularity and instructed it to immediately stop supplying the affected product and selling it at its retail outlets. The CFS will provide health education on food safety and hygiene for the person-in-charge and staff concerned, and request them to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection,” the spokesman said.
 
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.


Bombing action led by Trump’s tweets risks making the Syrian humanitarian crisis worse

Back in 2015, David Cameron brought forward a debate on military action against ISIS in Syria, following the abhorrent terrorist attacks in Paris.

 

That motion explicitly stated that any military action would be targeted against ISIS – and we were told time and again that this would not be a blank cheque for action in Syria . This was the precedent to be followed.

 

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