On The Road To Success | Personal Blog of Zuzeeko Abeng

City of Helsinki shouldn't contract companies exploiting foreign workers

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:23:00 +0000

Foreign workers in the cleaning services sector in Finland face exploitation and abuse from employers and sometimes from customers. The authorities, including city councils that award cleaning contracts to companies that violate employment rules and collective agreements share the blame.

According to a Yle report, work safety inspections conducted in about 20 cleaning companies that employ foreign workers revealed problems at every company inspected, and the City of Helsinki is considering contracting the services of one of the companies.

Violations uncovered by inspections carried out this year include irregularities in registering work hours, payment irregularities and employment of workers without work permits.

As a foreign national with experience and connections in Finland's cleaning sector, I am not surprised by news that inspections turned up problems in every cleaning company inspected. What is surprising to me is that the City of Helsinki is considering contracting a company that violates employment standards.

In my view, companies that do not register work hours exploit workers - intentionally or unintentionally - by not remunerating all work hours since some hours "slip through the cracks". Payment irregularities could mean workers are not paid as per their work contracts and collective agreements. For instance, some foreign employees work without a fixed payment date, hence they can't plan payment of bills, rents and other living expenses because they don't know when they'll be paid.

Workers employed without work permits, in my opinion are vulnerable and subject to exploitation and abuse since they mostly work in hiding and cannot take legal action against exploitation and abuse. Employers take advantage of undocumented workers.

Background checks

The City of Helsinki and all other authorities in Finland, including private sector businesses requesting bids should ensure that bidding companies respect labor laws and collective agreements before contracting their services. This can be done by working closely with labor inspectors and trade unions.

Service suppliers should be subjected to background checks before bid contracts are accepted.

In 2009 I wrote a complaint to the City of Espoo about the exploitation of workers (mostly Africans and Chinese) by a cleaning company operating in Espoo. In reply to my complaint a lawyer at the City of Espoo said, that before contracting companies the city ensures that the companies comply with labor laws and collective agreements. It was hard to believe the lawyer because the company in question, in my assessment, violated many labor standards and collective agreements in the cleaning services sector, including the obligation to register hours spent on the job by all employees. (Read my story, in Finnish, on PAM-lehti).

Exploitative companies that disregard labor regulations, collective agreements and workers' rights should not be given contracts. Contracting such companies sends a wrong message that exploitation of foreign workers is acceptable in Finland.

*Image: The Copenhagen Post

Ask Finland's Minister of Interior to stop detention of innocent children

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Wed, 08 May 2013 10:28:00 +0000

The International Convention on the Rights of the Child - to which Finland is party - outlaws the detention of children, unless as a last resort and for the shortest possible time (see article 37[b]) and obligates States Parties to ensure that a child seeking asylum receives appropriate protection and assistance (see Article 22). Despite obligations under international law, Finland detains, as a first resort, children seeking asylum for long periods of time.

Amnesty International, Finnish section, launched a petition to stop detention of children seeking asylum in Finland.

According to Amnesty International, children should be in day care centres, schools or skateparks - not in police detention. Finland detains thousands of people yearly, including people who have fled persecution, war or poverty. They are held in prison-like conditions, although guilty of no crime.

There are children seeking asylum in Finland who live behind closed doors on a daily basis.

I have signed Amnesty International's petition asking Minister of Interior Päivi Räsänen whether innocent children belong in police prisons. I believe children should be in homes, preschools, schools and playgrounds - not locked up.

Detention is not in the best interest of a child.

Amnesty's petition urges Minister Räsänen to:

Fulfill the promise to stop detention of unaccompanied children.
Immediately terminate detention of all children, expectant mothers and people traumatized by torture.
Ensure that detention is used only as a last resort and for the shortest possible time. Detention places should develop less restrictive alternatives.
Ensure that Finland comply with human rights obligations in detention.

Sign the petition.

According to Amnesty International, the government of Finland promised in 2011 to forbid the detention of unaccompanied children and to develop alternatives to detention. The promise was written in the government's program, but it has not been fulfilled. Alternatives to detention have not yet been developed and children are still detained.

Amnesty International states that seeking asylum or a better life is not a crime and detained asylum seekers are not criminals.

I have visited Metsälä Detention Centre, one of the facilities where asylum seekers in Finland are detained. It is located in Helsinki and I can confirm that the facility is like a prison. Children are detained there. It has one "playground" with no appropriate recreational facilities for kids.

In my view, the Metsälä facility is called a "detention centre", but it is in fact a prison. It is no place for children, especially children who have done absolutely nothing wrong.

Unacceptable ban on Sikh turbans by bus company in Finland

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Sun, 05 May 2013 13:12:00 +0000

There are lots of good people working tirelessly in Finland to promote diversity, but stories regularly come to light that portray Finnish society as intolerant and disrespectful of the identity of ethnic and religious minorities, including Muslims, people of African descent and now, Sihks.

A bus company in Finland banned bus drivers from wearing the turban behind the wheel. The turban, it is worth mentioning, is a headwear and religious identity of Sikhs - followers of Sikhism.

A Sikh bus driver, Gill Sukhdarshan Singh, would like to wear the turban during work, but his employer, Veolia Transport Vantaa, banned the use of the turban in February, according to Helsingin Sanomat. Other bus companies in Finland reportedly support the ban.

The Managing Director of Pohjolan Liikenne, service jobs require "neutral dressing" that don't "stir up passions".

In my view, I do not see how turbans stir up passions. I see a ban on turbans behind the wheel as an infringement on freedom of thought, conscience and religion. It is a threat to all visible religious minorities in Finland, including Muslim women - many of whom wear the veil. Should bus companies like Veolia have their way, Muslim women would also be forced to take off their veils before working as bus drivers.

According to the Transport Manager of another bus company called Nobina, the ban is for security reasons.

"Security", it should be noted, is commonly invoked to justify human rights infringements around the world, including the existence of Guantanamo Bay detention facility - a hallmark of torture, cruel and inhumane treatment.

I am not surprised therefore that security was put forward as an excuse for a clear attack on Sikhism in Finland.

I applaud Gill Sukhdarshan Singh's decision to take the matter to the Ombudsman for Minorities and to court. Giving in without a fight to an attack on freedoms and liberties is not a good option. People whose rights, freedoms and civil liberties are threatened or infringed in Finland and elsewhere should, like Singh, have the courage to demand redress.

According to Helsingin Sanomat, the bus driver in question does not want to loose his job. He is standing up in order to secure his son's freedom to use to turban. He is ready to go to court on behalf of his children, which in my assessment is an honorable thing to do.

Finland is party to international treaties that guarantee freedom of thought, conscience and religion - such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (article 18) and the European Convention on Human Rights (article 9).

It remains to be seen what the court will decide, but given Finland's obligations under international law it would be a slam-dunk case in Singh's favor.

*Image: Migrant Tales.

Racist bullying at school forces African family to flee Mikkeli, Finland

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:29:00 +0000

It cannot be overstated that many people of African, Roma, Arab and Muslim descent endure shocking manifestations of racism on a daily basis in Finland. Some victims choose to stay put and weather the storm while others relocate - in the interest of their children and perhaps their sanity.

According to Migrant Tales, an African mother (named Sara) relocated from Mikkeli, eastern Finland to Helsinki because her child, 8 years old, was subjected to continuous racist bullying at school.

The story strikes a chord and is hard to ignore partly because it is not the first time a mother living in Finland is forced to relocate in a bid to protect her child from racist abuse.

In December 2012, the story of Umayya Abu-Hanna was published (in Finnish) by Helsingin Sanomat (read article in English, here) and sparked a storm both online and offline. Abu-Hanna, a woman of Palestinian origin and her adopted daughter of African origin relocated from Finland to the Netherlands in December 2010 as a result of what she termed "Finnish racism". According to Abu-Hanna, she moved to Finland in 1981 and as an immigrant she experienced racist name-calling. But she never guessed that black skin is - in her words - such a big "hate magnet" in Finland, until she adopted a child of Zulu origin born in South Africa. Her daughter was allegedly racially abused (verbally) in public on numerous occasions.

Although Sara's plight in Mikkeli has not grabbed headlines like that of Umayya Abu-Hanna, the two women have something in common: they were forced to relocate because of racism. Abu-Hanna left the country while Sara relocated internally. Both of them aspire to raise their kids in an environment free of racist abuse.

Racism is taught

According to Sara, her 8-year-old son was bullied by the majority of his classmates and at one point he asked why he was not born white like other children at his school. Nobody wanted to play with him at school and one day he did not want to go to school.

People who choose to downplay the prevalence of racism in Finland would argue that the bullies were children, hence did not know what they were doing. Rather than discuss the bone of contention, some would find a way to criticize the victim or the person who brought the story to light (like Abu-Hanna was criticized). Attacking victims who dare to speak out is part of the problem in Finland.

In my opinion, the bullies at Sara's son's school in Mikkeli did not just wake up one morning and decided to be racist. Racism is taught. Society or someone must have taught the children to hate.

Finland has many values that should be inculcated in the next generation, racism is not one of them.

Like Nelson Mandela wrote, "no one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love..."

Parents and teachers have a moral duty to teach children to respect everyone - irrespective of race, color, origin, gender or religion. Failure to do so is a disservice to Finland and society as a whole. Children are Finland's future and the country's leaders of tomorrow. Raising kids who could be aptly described as "next generation racists" is bad for Finland and the world in general.

Racist bullying in schools in reprehensible. Parents and teachers have a major role to play to nib it in the bud before it spirals out of control and develops into a more sinister societal problem.

Stories like these do not help the reputation of Mikkeli. In October 2012, stickers with racist messages were posted on municipal election posters in the city and the picture of candidate of immigrant background was vandalized. Go figure.

Read Sara's story in Finnish, here, here, here and here.

Correction: Umayya Abu-Hanna is Christian, not Muslim as erroneously stated previously. Not that it matters.

Photo source: BCG

Margaret Thatcher on wrong side of history in struggle against apartheid

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:49:00 +0000

Apartheid in South Africa was a great injustice and a violation of freedoms and liberties of black South Africans. I have little or no admiration or respect for anyone who opposed action against the racist regime.

Britain's first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, passed away on 8 April 2013 at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke. Flags in Britain fly at half staff in honor of the Baroness and tributes have been flowing in. Many portray her in a positive light. Little is said about her controversial apartheid policies that propped up a racist regime in Africa.

Champion of freedom and liberty?

British Prime Minister David Cameron described Thatcher as a "great Briton" who has a "well-earned place in history" and the "enduring respect" of the British people. According to David Cameron, Margaret Thatcher "saved" Britain.

I agree with Prime Minister Cameron. Lady Thatcher was a great Briton. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that she put Britain's economic interests ahead of freedom and liberty by opposing sanctions and doing business with a racist regime that oppressed its people.

She opposed a plan of action against apartheid and frustrated efforts by Commonwealth leaders to end apartheid. She opposed sanctions designed to pressure South Africa's apartheid regime to stop racial discrimination, release political prisoners and respect civil and political rights because she believed sanctions would negatively impact Britain's interests in the African country.

Reacting to the death of Margaret Thatcher, US president Barack Obama said she was "one of the great champions of freedom and liberty".

It is hard to agree with Obama's assessment of the former British prime minister. Champions of freedom and liberty do what is necessary to stop an injustice like apartheid.

Black terrorist

Margaret Thatcher linked Nelson Mandela, a towering symbol of freedom and liberty, to terrorism during the struggle against apartheid.

Nelson Mandela's African National Congress (ANC) opposed the apartheid regime and advocated for a non-racist government in South Africa, but Thatcher called the ANC a "typical terrorist organization". She said "anyone who thinks it [the ANC] is going to run the government in South Africa is living in a cloud-cuckoo land." [Source]

Needless to say she was wrong. The ANC is South Africa's ruling political party as of the time of this writing and has governed post-apartheid South Africa since 1994.

Nelson Mandela - a man who has been described as "one of the greatest men alive" - declined to meet Thatcher during a visit to London in 1990. [Source]

Mandela was repeatedly called a "terrorist" by Conservative Party MPs under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher. A Conservative MP once called the freedom fighter a "black terrorist". [Source] Others said Mandela should be shot. Like Thatcher, many Conservative MPs were hostile toward the ANC and its members.

In 2009, David Cameron said Margaret Thatcher was wrong to link Nelson Mandela to terrorism, and apologised for Thatcher's apartheid policies.

Death celebrations

People held parties to celebrate the death of the Baroness in parts of the UK.

In South Africa there were mixed responses to her death. Dali Tambo, son of ANC's late president Oliver Tambo, said ANC ancestors will boycott Margaret Thatcher's arrival at the pearly gates (gateway to Heaven).

While I disagree with Thatcher's apartheid policies, I condemn celebrations of her death.

I admire Margaret Thatcher for the fact that she broke the glass ceiling and inspired women around the world. However, I would remember her as a Conservative hardliner who stood on the wrong side of history at a time when black South Africans were in desperate need of concerted international action to redress a grave injustice.

Appointment of fascist coach undermines anti-racism efforts

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:50:00 +0000

The appointment of a fascist and vocal supporter of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini as head coach of Sunderland football club damages the image of the club and undermines efforts to kick out racism in football.

Racism is a real problem in football. Black players are racially abused by delusional fans in the stands and in some cases by fellow players. There are efforts to nip racism in football in the bud and kick racism out of the game by way of fines and suspensions levied on clubs and individuals found guilty of racial abuse. Some brave footballers have even taken the struggle against racism further by walking off or threatening to walk off the pitch in an event where they face abuse - a move I support.

Instead of developing campaigns against growing racism and political extremism in football, Sunderland Association Football Club decided to hire a fascist as head coach. Paolo Di Canio, 44, was appointed coach of Sunderland on a two-and-a-half-year contract. The Italian is a known fascist and supporter of Benito Mussolini, a dictator and ally of Adolf Hitler.

Fascism propagates, amongst other things, "superiority" of one race over others. In Fascist Italy, the so-called Manifesto of Race that was published in 1938 under the leadership of Mussolini targeted races that were deemed "inferior". Marriages between Jews and Italians were banned.

Di Canio praised Mussolini in his autobiography as a "very principled individual". He also wrote that he is "fascinated" by Mussolini.

In 2005, the Italian coach told an Italian news agency: "I am a fascist, not a racist". [Source]

Sides of the same coin

Benito Mussolini who ruled Italy as a dictator from 1930 to 1943 was one of the founders of Fascism. The dictator once said Italy was right to pursue an imperialist policy in Africa because all black people were "inferior" to white people. [Source]

This is racist. It is therefore wrong for Di Canio to suggest that a fascist is not a racist.

In a speech in Pula, Croatia on 20 September 1920, Mussolini again expressed a racist fascist belief when he called Slavics "inferior and barbarian". He said, "we can easily sacrifice 500,000 barbaric Slavs for 50,000 Italians." This expression, in my view was a racist and genocidal expression by the fascist leader.

In my opinion, fascism and racism are sides of the same coin. Racism is part of the twisted ideology that Di Canio pays allegiance to.

Paolo Di Canio's support for fascism and fascination with its leader goes beyond verbal expressions. He has DVX (Latin appellation for Benito Mussolini) tattooed on his right arm [Source] and was pictured in 2005 making a Hitler salute to a group of supporters of Italian Lazio football club. He was suspended and fined, but it was not the first or last time he made the Hitler salute. [Source]

Like many opponents of racism and fascism, I am appalled by the appointment of Paolo Di Canio as head coach of Sunderland. Fascism, like Nazism, is a deadly ideology that caused untold suffering and claimed thousands lives across continents, including Africa. Mussolini's military committed massacres and used chemical weapons in Ethiopia and Libya.

I welcome David Miliband's resignation as a result of the appointment and the decision of war veterans to boycott Sunderland. The appointment is an insult to victims of Fascism, members of their families and all those who were affected by the twisted ideology.

People "fascinated" by tyranny and a racist ideology should not be appointed to leadership positions in sports, politics or civil society.

*Photo of Paolo Di Canio doing "Roma salute" in 2005: TheNational.

Nazi clock gift speaks volumes about Finns Party

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 11:06:00 +0000

The case of a city councillor for the Finns Party who donated a clock with Nazi insignia to a right-wing extremist group once again highlights what the party is made of.

The Finns Party, Finland's populist anti-immigration (and anti-immigrant) political party is no stranger to political scandals that repeatedly show that the party is made up people who share far-right extremist ideologies.

Councillor Risto Helin donated a clock bearing the portrait of Adolf Hitler and the swastika to a known anti-immigrant extremist group in west-coast town of Vaasa. [Source] The councillor reportedly sees nothing wrong with what he did.

According to Image, a cultural magazine based in Helsinki, the extremist group in question is called "Kerho" (in English: Club). Its members are young men who call themselves patriots, skinheads, racists and neo-Nazis. The group meets in a big yellow building at Vaasa city centre, close to the central railway station. [Source]

It is disturbing that Risto Helin gave a Hitler clock to a group of troubled young men who are enchanted by blind nationalism and a deadly ideology that claimed millions of lives under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. But even more disturbing is the fact that Helin sees nothing wrong with donating a Hitler clock to men who shamelessly identify themselves as racist.

In my view, Risto Helin's action was a show of support for the racists at the so-called Kerho. The councilman aligned himself and the Finns Party he represents with a local extremist group. No one gives a gift to or donates to a group that he/she does not support.

This is not the first time Helin is linked to right-wing extremism.

He was spotted wearing a T-shirt bearing the logo of Blood & Honour - a neo-Nazi organization banned in many countries. Helin later claimed he did not know what the logo means. It is like me, a supporter of Amnesty International, wearing a shirt with Amnesty's name and logo on it, then claim I do not know what it represents.

Knowing what I know now, it is plausible to conclude that wearing the Blood & Honour T-shirt was a move designed to show solidarity with neo-Nazis. Helin just lacked courage to admit it.

The councilman seems to be unaware of many things.

He wore a neo-Nazi T-shirt and claimed he did not know what it means; he gave a Hitler clock to an extremist neo-Nazi group without knowing the repercussions or seeing anything wrong with it.

The last thing a city council needs is a councillor who promotes extremism and neo-Nazism and who does not know right from left or wrong from right. The Finns Party is full of such politicians.

*Photo of clock: Yle.

Call for interviewees in project to end exploitation of migrant workers in Finland

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:59:00 +0000

Migrant workers who have faced labour exploitation in Finland have an opportunity to make their voices heard by contributing to a research project. Their experiences will be presented in such a way that they will not be recognized.

Migrant workers in Finland, especially those from the so-called developing world are highly represented in the cleaning sector and other low skilled sectors, partly due to, in my view, unfair barriers in high skilled sectors. Many are exploited by employers who disregard labour laws and collective agreements. Effort is being made through various projects and initiatives to curb the exploitation. Migrant workers who have experienced labour exploitation in Finland have an opportunity to make their voices heard through the ADSTRINGO project - a project designed to address labour exploitation.

The ADSTRINGO project is an international project coordinated by the European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, affiliated with the United Nations (HEUNI). The project is aimed at preventing exploitation of migrant workers in Finland and the Baltic Sea region by mapping out practices and problems in the recruitment of migrants workers. According to HEUNI, the project will prepare guidelines for employers and recruiters on how to identify and prevent labour exploitation.

A research report on Finland, Sweden, Lithuania and Estonia will also be published as part of ADSTRINGO project.

HEUNI researchers would like to interview people who have been exploited for labour purposes in Finland, especially in the cleaning and restaurant sectors. Interviewees will be asked about working conditions, how they were recruited, and how they were treated by the employer.

According to HEUNI, interviews will be confidential and the institute's staff is bound be secrecy. Information obtained from the interviews will be published in such a way that interviewees cannot be identified.

At the moment, there is a need for African interviewees.

I encourage migrant workers, especially those of African origin who have experienced labour exploitation in Finland's cleaning and restaurant sectors to contact HEUNI and be interviewed. Your participation will be a valuable contribution to the fight against exploitation of migrant workers in Finland.

Questions about the interviews and how you can participate should be directed to HEUNI.

Note that I am not affiliated with the institute and I am in no position to answer questions about the project or the interviews. I am just a supporter of what the ADSTRINGO project seeks to achieve. I have however discussed with a researcher at the institute and I can facilitate direct contact.

Greek footballer banned for Nazi salute, ignorance no excuse

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:24:00 +0000

Nazism is a well-known and infamous political ideology in Europe. Its major elements include a gesture commonly known as the Nazi salute and a misguided belief that society should be dominated by a group of people considered to be "racially superior" while people considered "inferior" should be exterminated. A Greek footballer celebrated a goal with the Nazi salute and claimed he didn't know what it means. Unbelievable.

Nazism is a popular culture in European societies. It's therefore impossible for any right-thinking individual to believe a grown-up European who claims, in 2013, that he doesn't know what the Nazi salute means. The Hitler salute as it is also called is a gesture adopted in the 1930s as a signal of obedience to Adolf Hitler, a totalitarian and autocrat who aggressively promoted antisemitism, supremacist and racist policies that resulted in the murder of millions of people, including Jews and the Roma.

On 16 March 2013, Greek footballer Giorgos Katidis celebrated a goal with the Nazi salute. He scored the winning goal for this team - AEK Athens - in a Super League game in Athens, Greece. [Source] The salute rightly attracted widespread condemnation and Greek football federation responded swiftly.

Giorgos Katidis was banned for life from playing for the Greek national team.

Insult to intelligence

The 20-year-old footballer issued a statement that he would not have made the gesture had he known what it means. He said he was pointing at a team mate in the stands.

In my opinion, it's an insult to the intelligence of victims of Nazism and analysts for Katidis to insist that he was "pointing" at a team mate in the stands. The Hitler salute he made (see photo) is distinctive and cannot be mistaken. It's hard to believe that the footballer didn't know what the controversial celebration meant, especially considering the fact that he's from Greece - a country where an economic crisis has propelled a fascist, xenophobic and neo-Nazist political party to prominence.

Suggesting that he didn't know what the gesture means is ludicrous and adds insult to injury.

In Greece, the Golden Dawn political party makes use of Nazi symbolism (including the Hitler salute) and has been linked to football hooliganism and racist violence against foreigners. The party's flag has a close resemblance to the flag of Adolf Hitler's National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party) - founded to promote far-right, racist politics in post-World War I Germany.

The Golden Dawn is a well-known far-right "extremist" movement in Greece.

Mindful of widespread hostility against immigrants and other minority groups marked by the rise of the Golden Dawn in Greece, it's plausible to conclude that Giorgos Katidis was saluting neo-Nazis in the stance and paying allegiance to a deadly ideology.

I welcome the decision by Greece's football federation to sanction Katidis. The sanction might be deemed too heavy, but it sends a loud good message: Nazism has no place in modern-day Europe.

In my view, Nazism is like a deadly virus. It claimed millions of lives across Europe after an outbreak in Hitler's Germany. Anyone spreading the virus in modern times or creating a conducive environment for it to fester should be isolated and sanctioned. A new strain of the virus, known as neo-Nazism, is spreading rapidly in Greece and other European countries. It should be eradicated before it's too late.

In Greece, neo-Nazism has gone beyond symbols and gestures in public spaces. Racist and xenophobic violence is rampant. In August 2012, an Iraqi migrant was stabbed to death in central Athens. Foreigners reportedly live in fear in the "birthplace of democracy". This is an affront to freedom and what democracy is all about.

Giorgos Katidis isn't the first Greek sports figure to be sanctioned as result of unacceptable behavior that could be linked to far-right activism. In July 2012, triple jumper Voula Papachristou was expelled from Greece's Olympic team for targeting African immigrants on Twitter.

Greek sport authorities, in my view, are doing a better job than police and the judiciary to curb neo-Nazism and related crimes. Police have been accused of siding with the Golden Dawn and according to Human Rights Watch no one has been convicted of hate crime under Greece's 2008 hate crime statute, despite the fact that attacks against foreigners are "frighteningly common." [Source] The leader of Golden Dawn has been seen making Nazi salutes at public rallies [Source] - with no consequences for his actions.

There should be consequences for actions that insult, provoke and intimidate victims of "Nazi bestiality". Everyone, including athletes and politicians should be held to the same standards.

Glorifying Nazism emboldens far-right extremists and incites hatred, racism and antisemitism against vulnerable minority groups.

*Photo: BBC.

International Women's Day theme speaks to men

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:56:00 +0000

Acts that undermine women's well-being are mostly perpetrated by men. It therefore makes sense that this year's theme of International Women's Day seems to speak directly to men. It's a call for an end to violence against women.

The theme of 2013 International Women's Day celebrated on 8 March is - "A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women."

The UN General Assembly defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private." [Source]

International Women's Day - marked on March 8 every year - is a day dedicated to women around the world and the extraordinary challenges they face, including discrimination and gender-based violence. Violence against women include despicable acts like acid attacks, honor killing, rape and various forms of domestic violence and abuse.

Power to stop it

Men, including husbands, brothers and sons, are largely responsible for shameful acts of cowardice against women and girls. As perpetrators, they have the power to stop it.

In India, a young girl was brutally gang raped on a bus and died in hospital as result of injuries sustained during the senseless crime; in Afghanistan, a teen was shot to the head at close range for seeking education, and rape is used as a weapon of war in conflicts around the world. These are just a few of some of the most shocking acts of violence against women and girls. The acts of cruelty all have something in common - male perpetrators.

Many cases go unreported, but are equally heinous.

It's time for governments, groups, organizations, individuals and the international community to take concrete action to stop violence against women and girls. Victims should be protected and supported, and perpetrators should be prosecuted.

On 28 February 2013, United States Congress voted to renew the Violence Against Women Act aimed at improving access to justice and services to victims, including Native Americans, immigrants and LGBT victims. Other countries should enact and implement such laws.

Personally, I condemn all acts of violence against women and challenge all men to do the same. I don't have high regard for men who abuse women and I believe such men should be prosecuted. In my opinion, men have a major role to play in the fight to stop all forms of violence against women committed in private or in public. We can start by respecting women's rights and protecting our mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, daughters-in-law and all women around us from violence, discrimination and ill-treatment.

I urge all men to tell a friend, father, husband, brother, brother-in-law or son-in-law on International Women's Day and every other day, that violence against women is unacceptable. Tell them that real men don't hit, abuse or violate women.

*Photo: PegasusNews

Cameroon: Arrest of Buea university student leaders is persecution

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:59:00 +0000

Leaders of University of Buea Students' Union (UBSU) face intimidation and arrest in relation to their work as active, elected members of the students' union.

I'm an alumni of the University of Buea (UB) and although I wasn't a registered or active member of UBSU during my studies in the institution, I'm aware of, and can attest to limitations on students' right to express their grievances in UB and other state institutions of higher learning in Cameroon. Recent arrests of UB students and the presence of security forces on campus (see photo of gendarmes on campus) indicate that the situation hasn't changed: the authorities continue to use intimidation and security forces to suppress free expression.

Pale, weak and hospitalized

The entire student body reportedly met on 6 February 2013 and declared a peaceful strike due to the "unresponsiveness and unwillingness" of the Vice Chancellor of the university to listen to students' complaints. According to an update on UBSU's Facebook page, four students were arrested on 12 February 2013 and brutalized in relation to a peaceful strike against what UBSU believes to be conditions on campus that greatly affect every student. The students were detained and appeared in court the next day. They were granted bail.

UBSU's acting president, Ronald Minang, was allegedly "kidnapped" on 12 February and was not seen for many days. He reportedly re-appeared more than a week later looking "pale and weak", and was hospitalized. According to UBSU, arrest warrants were issued for more than 40 students and many have been arrested, tortured and forced to sign various types of documents.

The acting president was reportedly arrested on 27 February when he went for a meeting with the Vice Chancellor.

What students want

Grievances that prompted the strike include a ban on businesses on campus that provide services such as photocopying, constant burglary, rape and insecurity on campus (especially in the girls' hostel), victimization of student leaders, inconsistencies in the issuance of transcripts of results, poor sanitary conditions in the university restaurant and poor quality of food served in the university restaurant.

UBSU would also like to see an end to the "continuous" presence of security forces on campus, an end to a practice where some lecturers allegedly force students to buy their text books or forfeit tests, and the recruitment of qualified lecturers.

In my opinion, many of the concerns raised by the students' union are genuine and can't, and shouldn't be ignored or overly dismissed as unreasonable. Intimidation, arrests and persecution of student leaders will not solve the crisis.

A ban on businesses providing photocopying services on campus, for instance, most definitely makes life difficult for students. Such a ban would only make sense if the university provides enough photocopy machines to replace banned photocopiers. But the university is either unwilling or unable to do so.

According to information on UBSU's Facebook page, university authorities decided to provide each faculty with three photocopy machines and there are faculties such as the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences (FSMS) with 6 to 10 departments - each with a population of thousands of students. Three photocopy machines are insufficient for a faculty. Students shouldn't be forced to stand on long queues or travel long distances out of campus to photocopy handouts, notes and other documents.

Violation of international standards

Arresting students and dragging them to court in relation to a peaceful strike is a violation of the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Cameroon is party to international and regional human rights conventions such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) that uphold these rights. The state and its institutions are legally obligated to uphold international human rights standards.

Even more relevant to the rights of students is the African Youth Charter ratified by Cameroon in 2011. The charter clearly provides for young people's right to freedom of expression and freedom of association.

No stranger to abuse

Buea university is no stranger to student strike actions and repression by the authorities. Some strikes have resulted to deaths and destruction of property. The fact that strikes always reoccur after a few years is an indication that a heavy-handed response to student demands is no lasting solution.

In 2005, I witnessed a brutal crackdown on a peaceful student demonstration by police that left two students dead. I was among many students brutalized by security forces. The event marked a turning point in my life. Despite the deaths, another protest erupted the following year. Repression isn't a lasting solution to students' concerns.

Not free or democratic

Freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly are foundations of a free and democratic society. Violation of students' right to freely and peacefully express their grievances, and impunity enjoyed by perpetrators send a clear message that Cameroon is NOT free or democratic. Repression is endemic.

The administration of Vice Chancellor Nalova Lyonga Pauline Egbe should seek a lasting solution to students' grievances and stop arrests and intimidation of student union leaders. Needless to say, such tactics violate human rights and fundamental freedoms, and portray Cameroon in a negative light in the free world.

Minister of Higher Education, Jacque Fame Ndongo should listen to the cries of students affected by the violation and guarantee their safety and freedom. No one should be arrested or intimidated for peacefully expressing grievances.

UBSU on its part should conduct itself responsibly and refrain from violence or anything that could undermine its legitimate aim. The union should stick to its main objective - protect the interest of students in the spirit of the famous slogan, "All for One, One for All". Non-violence should be the mantra.

A case for anonymous job applications and workplace diversity in Finland

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:56:00 +0000

There's a glaring lack of ethnic, religious, cultural or racial diversity in Finland's professional workforce. Many workplaces in Finland, including non-governmental and governmental organizations in the field of human rights and development are homogeneous - mostly made up of white Finns. The City of Helsinki has launched a pilot procedure that could equalize chances for job applicants and ensure diversity in the workplace.

The City of Helsinki has started accepting anonymous job applications.

According to Yle, the purpose of the process is to ensure that the employer focuses solely on the skills and experience of job seekers, rather than on gender, age or origin. The anonymous application process is being run in the hiring of a new project chief for the City of Helsinki's Youth Department.

Foreign name

An experiment by a foreign student in Sweden revealed that job applicants with foreign names are less likely to find work. For the experiment, the student printed 40 CVs. He put his real name on 20 and used a common Swedish name on 20. The CVs with his real name got no interview offers while 13 out of the 20 CVs with a Swedish name yielded job interviews. This shows that employers don't focus solely on the skills and experience of job seekers.

In my opinion, the homogeneous workforce in offices, banks, non-governmental organizations and state institutions in Finland is no coincidence. The lack of diversity has something to do with [discriminatory] recruitment practices and stereotypes against minority groups.

Restaurant experience

I have had the honor of working professionally in offices in Finland. From my experience, I can say without fear of contradiction that there's lack of diversity in workplaces. There's some degree of gender diversity at least in terms of hiring, but diversity on other grounds such as race, ethnicity or origin is glaringly lacking.

A good time to check diversity in offices for instance is during lunch. Many organizations provide employees with meal tickets, hence workers go to restaurants to eat. I have worked in two offices in Helsinki and I've had lunch during break in numerous restaurants. I've never seen someone who looks like me - a black African - having lunch with colleagues from an office. Maybe workers from backgrounds other than Finnish (and Swedish) don't go for lunch, but their noticeable absence in restaurants during lunch speaks volumes about the state of diversity in workplaces.

The absence of visible minorities working in offices doesn't mean they are unqualified to do so. Many are qualified and apply for positions in their field of studies, but they are forced by circumstances to work jobs that don't match their education and skills. Many have resigned to low-paying jobs.

A survey by Service Union United PAM shows that nearly half of the union's foreign members work jobs that don't match their education and training. Most of them work as cleaners.

No illusion

I welcome the fact that the City of Helsinki is now accepting anonymous job applications. Being anonymous might equalize chances for all applicants. Qualified applicants with varying backgrounds might be employed or at least invited for job interviews.

I have no illusion that the project by Helsinki City will immediately lead to diversity in the workplace. An applicant might be invited for an interview, but disqualified for questionable reasons when s/he shows up for interview.

Employers need a change in mindset. They need to understand that people can get the job done irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation, faith, language or origin.

Accepting anonymous job applications in my opinion is a good place to start the journey towards diversity in professional workplaces in Finland.

Different backgrounds and results

According to Helsinki City HR Director Hannu Tulensalo, the city wants to find out whether accepting anonymous applications will have different results from the traditional recruitment practice. The intention is to hire people with varying backgrounds.

I'm confident that the result will be different. The anonymous job application process should be extended to all departments. The success of the project shouldn't be measured only in one vacancy or department. Other employers, both governmental and non-governmental, should copy the project and start accepting anonymous applications.

*Photo: eHow.

Slave wages for migrant workers from Cameroon in Sweden's forestry sector

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:35:00 +0000

I have read about countless human rights violations, but few have hit very close to home like the story of my compatriots, Cameroonians, lured to Sweden by fraudulent work contracts and the promise of decent work and decent pay only to find themselves in an abusive situation of exploitation for labour purposes in the hands of a rogue Swedish employer in the forestry sector.

In its 2012 Global Estimate on Forced Labour, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 20.9 million people are victims of forced labour globally - working jobs which they were forced or deceived into and which they cannot leave freely. A group of Cameroonians deceived into migrating to Sweden to plant trees fall in this category.

A report by Svt tells the story of migrant workers from Cameroon misled by a false contract of employment to travel to Talvelsjö, a locality in Umeå in northern Sweden - where they were forced by circumstances to engage in back-breaking labour for slave wages. The men were allegedly deceived and exploited by a Swedish man identified as Niklas Gotthardsson, owner of a company called Skogsnicke AB.

Slave wages

The workers were reportedly contracted to plant trees for Gotthardsson's company for a fixed monthly salary of 18.500 Swedish kronors (about 2,900 US dollars), but upon arrival in Sweden their contracts were changed and they weren't paid as agreed. According to Svt, they were paid 0.2288 Swedish kronors/plant under a new contract. That's about 0.036 US dollars/plant or 0.027 euros/plant.

They were forced to accept the new deal because they had no other option in a foreign land - where they reportedly knew no one other than their employer. They planted thousands of trees a day in numerous localities in northern Sweden.

One of the workers tells reporters that he was paid only 6000 kronors (about 954 US dollars) a month under the new contract. A far cry from what he was offered before leaving Cameroon.

Threats, insufficient food and sleep

Those who complained were threatened by business owner Niklas Gotthardsson. The employer provided accommodation for the workers: one room and one toilet for 10 people. According to one of the workers, Ndjomo Denis, they didn't have sufficient sleep or enough food.

The men were trapped at the mercy of Gotthardsson.

The video that shines light on a shocking tale of exploitation for labour purposes is largely in Swedish, with segments in English and French. WATCH.

In my view, the case has hallmarks of human trafficking for labour exploitation and should be investigated and tried as such. The workers were deceived, exploited for labour purposes, paid slave wages, threatened and left in a vulnerable position as undocumented migrants in Sweden. The architect of their suffering should be held to account.

Shared blame

While Gotthardsson is largely responsible for exploitation, Swedish authorities, in my opinion, share part of the blame for leaving migrant workers at the mercy of an employer without information about their rights and how to seek help in case of labour rights violations.

The government of Cameroon also shoulders part of the blame. Endemic corruption and decades of bad governance has left scores of Cameroonians vulnerable to exploitation by potential modern-day "slave owners" like Niklas Gotthardsson. Governments have a duty to protect their citizens, but migrant workers from Cameroon are stranded in Sweden with no word or assistance from their government. This speaks volumes about lack of commitment by a government to serve and protect its people from abuse.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Gotthardsson's company - Skogsnicke AB - is a subcontractor of Swedish forestry giants SCA and Holmen. Both corporations have denied responsibility for the exploitation although the workers planted trees on their land. [Source]

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) requires corporations and companies to ensure that human rights, national laws, international standards and ethical norms are respected all through the supply chain. By subcontracting a company that violates Swedish law and international human rights and labour rights standards, SCA and Holmen are socially irresponsible corporations - in my opinion. The corporations have a corporate social duty to ensure that all their contractors respect human rights and labour laws. It's socially irresponsible to fail to do so.

Niklas Gotthardsson is reportedly under investigation by police and Swedish immigration office.

As of the time of writing, Sweden has not signed or ratified the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.

Bearers of foreign names less likely to find work in Sweden

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:22:00 +0000

Whenever I hear or read about unequal opportunities or discrimination on grounds of origin, Barack Obama's keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention comes to mind. In the speech Obama said, "...they would give me an African name, Barack, or 'blessed,' believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success." He called America a "magical place" where your name is no barrier to success. [Source] I wish the same could be said of European countries, but tales of discrimination and exclusion like the story of a foreign student in Sweden leave me with no doubt that European countries have a long way to go in terms of guaranteeing equal opportunities for all without discrimination on grounds of origin.

Discrimination is hard to prove. Due to the difficulties involved, many perpetrators go unpunished and many cases unreported. Consequently, some people in societies plagued by the social ill, mostly beneficiaries of discriminatory practices, overlook or downplay the prevalence of discrimination and naively think that victims of discrimination are simply lazy underachievers. Little do those not targeted by discrimination know that there is an invisible hand working against a certain group of people. Discrimination is a big problem in many societies around the world, including in so-called free and democratic societies in Europe. A CV experiment by a Romanian student in Uppsala, Sweden's fourth largest city located about 70 kilometers north of Stockholm supports this assertion.

Name change

After sending numerous job applications in Sweden with no positive outcome, a student from Romania decided to experiment. According to The Local, he changed his name on his CV to a "more Swedish" name after reportedly sending more than 200 CVs in Sweden and receiving no response. He printed 40 CVs in Swedish - not specifying his nationality. All 40 CVs contained the same information, but he used his real name in 20 of them and used a common Swedish name on the other 20. He sent the CVs to companies in Sweden and to a job recruitment agency.

All CVs with his real name went unanswered while 13 out of 20 CVs with a Swedish name landed interview offers. According to him the CVs with his real name got no interviews because employers saw a foreign name.

No coincidence

I love Sweden, but I can't defend it in this case. In my opinion, it's no coincidence that 20 CVs with a foreign name went unanswered while 13 out of 20 with a common Swedish name garnered interview offers. Results of the experiment show that a job seeker with a Swedish name is 13 times more likely to be invited for job interviews than an equally qualified job applicant with a foreign name.

The experience of the Romanian student in Uppsala represents the actual situation on the ground. According to a programme on Radio Sweden, there's lack of diversity in Swedish workforce and only 65 percent of foreign-born Swedes have jobs, compared to 80 percent among Swedish-born population. Based on the CV experiment, it is plausible to conclude names on CVs have something to do with the disparity.

Sweden is not alone. Discrimination prevails in labour markets in many countries around the world. Foreigners seeking employment in Sweden and other European countries can relate to the name-change experiment. In Finland for instance, unemployment among foreign nationals was 25.9 percent in late 2009 - more than double the unemployment rate among Finland's native-born population. Go figure.

Barrier to success

The CV name-change experiment tells me that in Sweden, a qualified Zuzeeko doesn't have equal opportunities in the labour market with a Johansson, Karlsson, Nilsson or Eriksson - simply because Zuzeeko is a foreign name. It suggests that a qualified job seeker with a foreign name ought to change his/her identity in order to easily find work or at least be invited for an interview. It's a shame that in a country like Sweden that promotes diversity and equal opportunities, people's chances of finding relevant work are limited by the names they bear. Perhaps Barack Obama, a "skinny kid with a funny name" would have had his hopes, dreams and aspirations shattered had he pursued them in Sweden or somewhere in Scandinavia or Europe - where your name is a barrier to success.

While the U.S. still has a lot of work to do in terms of equality and equal opportunities, the country is in my opinion way ahead of many - if not all - European countries. In the U.S., the son of a foreign student and bearer of an African name became 44th president. In Europe, the odds against someone with the same story and the same name are staggering. Perhaps Barack Obama was right when he said, "in no other country on earth" is his story possible. I would argue that Sweden and Europe as a whole have something to learn from America. Everyone should be given a fair shot to pursue dreams and contribute to society - without discrimination of any kind.

Knife attack at book presentation reveals deadly threat posed by Finnish far-right

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:36:00 +0000

Far-right extremism in Europe is a major cause for concern, especially as extremist groups have started using violence to back up their racist rhetoric targeting immigrants, Muslims and other minority groups. A knife attack at a book presentation event in a city library in Jyväskylä in central Finland on 30 January 2013 reveals that far-right extremists in the Nordic country have become violent and pose a deadly threat to minority groups and Finns of goodwill who promote multiculturalism and those who stand up against far-right extremism.

A group of young men who call themselves "patriots" disrupted a discussion event about Finnish far-right extremism. According to Yle, the "patriots" were denied entry to an event in the Jyväskylä city library. The event was in connection with the presentation of a book titled "Äärioikeisto Suomessa" ("The Finnish Far-Right"). The young men started a fight and one person was injured with a knife. Bottles were also reportedly used as weapons. The men involved are reportedly affiliated with a militant, anti-democratic extreme right-wing organization called. [Source]

According to a Finnish Security Intelligence Service (SUPO) research there is evidence to show extremist groups in Finland have an "ideological preparedness" to commit violence. [Source] The research indicates that the country should be prepared to deal with terrorist attacks of the kind carried out by Norwegian far-right terrorist and mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik. According to the researcher far-right extremist groups in Finland have so far remained within the law. But the Jyväskylä attack indicates the contrary: Finland's far-right extremist groups operate outside the law.

In my opinion, the knifing at the event was designed to disrupt the book presentation and the goal of the ~~"patriots"~~ far-right affiliates involved was to terrorize authors of the book and their audience. It was a violent attack on freedom of expression and freedom of association, and an attempt to silence critics of right-wing extremism.

According to authors of Äärioikeisto Suomessa, radical views and racist remarks are becoming more acceptable and mainstream in Finnish public debate. [Source] I agree with the authors. Racist anti-immigration statements - even by public officials - are common and enough Finns and people in power don't condemn such remarks. A case in point is a racist remark by Perussuomalaiset MP Teuvo Hakkarainen in a video interview on his first day in parliament. He used the Finnish word neekeri (the n-word) to describe people of African descent. Recent widely read and criticized writings by people like Pakistani-born Umayya Abu-Hanna and Somali-born Wali Hashi reveal that the use of the offensive and derogatory n-word is widespread in Finnish everyday life. Police declined to investigate MP Hakkarainen's foreigner comments at the request of the Ombudsman for Minorities. Racists have been given a blank check.

From the point of view of a researcher at the University of Eastern Finland, the Jyväskylä knife attack is no surprise given the recent political developments in Finland and Europe. Police chief Tuomas Portankorva isn't also surprised by the incident.

I was surprised to learn that the Minister of Interior, Päivi Räsänen, doesn't see the far-right as a strong threat in Finland. In my view, the authorities downplay the threat in a bid to keep the public calm. But people deserve to know the truth. Right-wing extremism poses a real deadly threat to Finnish democracy and freedoms as proponents of neo-Nazi views seek to terrorize minority groups and silence critics. The cowardly attack in Jyväskylä city library is an indication that far-right extremists in Finland are violent and if given the chance could commit terrorist attacks of the kind committed by Anders Breivik in Norway. The authorities should not overlook the incident simply because only one person was injured. Perpetrators should bear the full weight of the law. Finland should take concrete steps to ensure that far-right extremists who, like Breivik, strongly oppose multiculturalism don't go down the same road like the Norwegian mass murderer. Unlike Norway, Finland has had warning signs. In February 2012, a gunman opened fired in a pizzeria in northern Finland killing an immigrant of Moroccan origin. Forewarned is forearmed.

*Photo of book on Finnish far-right: Yle.

Unconditional support for Atlanta Million Woman Walk for Congo

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 14:08:00 +0000

I saw a great quote on Twitter, that read: "I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody." The quote, which is attributed to Lily Tomlin, in my opinion is a call to service. It is a call for people of goodwill to step up to the plate to make a difference in the world. A war has raged on in the Democratic Republic of Congo for decades and many people wonder why somebody hasn't done something about it. A small group of women have realized that they can do something about it. They are organizing a walk in Atlanta, Georgia for the women of DR Congo.

The DR Congo is located in central Africa and it's the second largest country in the continent. With a population of 71 million, DR Congo has for decades been embroiled in a bloody armed conflict, that claimed about five million lives between 1994 and 2003. The conflict has been described in gruesome terms, including the "deadliest conflict in African history". [Source] Despite peace accords and United Nations Peacekeeping forces on the ground, war continues mainly in the east of the country - with devastating effects on the civilian population, especially women and children. For more than 10 years, the UN has been engaged in DR Congo. At one point, the biggest UN Peacekeeping mission with almost 20,000 personnel was in the country, but the mission has little to show for its presence in terms of peace.

Since May 2012, about 800,000 people in DR Congo have been displaced. [Source]

Women and children bear the brunt of the war. Rape is used as a weapon of war and many actors in the conflict have been accused of using children as soldiers - a practice, that is classified by the International Labour Organization as one of the worst forms of child labour.

Objectives of the Atlanta walk

The Atlanta Million Woman Walk for Congo has four simple objectives: to call attention to the war in the DR Congo, to urge the U.S. to hold its allies accountable for their role in destabilizing the Congo, to call on world leaders and U.S. Congress to commit to ending the war, and to stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable civilian population affected by the war.

How you can help

The organizers of the walk have my unconditional support. My support is driven by the fact that I have a mother, four sisters, a wife and a daughter. I won't wish what is happening to women and girls in DR Congo on any of them. I completely support the Atlanta Million Woman Walk for Congo and the campaign to raise money to support women and children affected by the war. I hope the walk draws more attention to a war, that is relatively forgotten - and even unknown to some people. Open a newspaper or turn on your international news TV channel any day, chances are you will hear or read about armed conflicts and rapes around the world - but you will probably not hear a thing about DR Congo - despite the fact that 48 women are raped every hour in the central African country and 12 percent of its women have been raped at least once. [Source]

Women are reportedly brutally raped multiple times, sometimes with sticks, guns and even bayonets. This, in my view, is unacceptable.

The good news is, that you can do something to help. If you are in Atlanta, I encourage you to join the walk for Congo scheduled to take place on Saturday 23 March 2013. Everyone is welcomed. The walk starts at 10 A.M. at Georgia World Congress Centre in downtown Atlanta.

If you can't make it to the walk, you can make a donation, that will go a long way to help affected women and children. Funds raised will be used to provide shelter for displaced women and their children, to set up means of livelihood, such as helping them start up petty businesses, provide medical supplies to local hospitals and provide food, clothing and basic necessities to women and their children caught in the crossfire.

The goal of the fundraising campaign is to raise 10,000 dollars in 14 days. As of the time of writing, the fundraising campaign has 13 days to go. Chip in what you have to offer. Every amount will be helpful.

To my fellow bloggers, I encourage you to throw your weight behind the Atlanta Million Walk for Congo.

Spread the word on the streets of Atlanta and on social media. Share information about the walk on Facebook and tweet about it. I'm on twitter and will tweet about the Atlanta Walk for Congo using the hashtag #ATL4Congo. Join the campaign in any possible way. The women of Congo would be grateful.

*Photo of rape victim, DR Congo: TheGuardian.

James Hirvisaari: An embarrassment to Finland's parliament

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:32:00 +0000

Parliament is no place for someone who has been convicted of inciting hatred. As lawmakers, Members of Parliament are supposed to be respectable, law-abiding citizens. But in Finland, some lawmakers - mostly representatives of the populist far-right Finns Party - are convicted lawbreakers.

Fifty two-year-old James Hirvisaari who seemingly enjoys fanning flames of hate against immigrants, refugees and other ethnic, religious and national minority groups in Finland is one of such MPs. South Africans were targets of his latest onslaught. I am not a South African, but I found his comments offensive.

James Hirvisaari was convicted in 2011 of ethnic agitation. The Kouvola Court of Appeal found him guilty of inciting ethnic hatred in a blog post. According to the court, Hirvisaari's text was slanderous and likely to cause contempt and hatred towards Muslims. He was slapped with a fine of 1,425 euros.

Despite this conviction, Hirvisaari keeps his seat in Finland's eduskunta (parliament) and has continued to slander minority groups and incite hatred. I guess this supports the idiom that a leopard can't change its spots.

In the latest of his derogatory comments, the 52-year-old said South Africa has a "criminal jungle culture" and that rape is a "national pastime" in the rainbow nation. He said foreigners in Finland are over-represented in rape statistics and that raping is a genetic trait. According to Hirvisaari, immigration from countries with the same type of cultural environment as South Africa should be tightened. [Source]

In my view, what the MP was trying to say is that Africans and foreigners in general are genetically programmed to rape.

As an African who unlike Hirvisaari has never been convicted, I find his comment deeply offensive. Some foreigners commit rape, but not all foreigners are rapists. In the same vein, the fact that some Finns are racist far-right fundamentalists does not mean that all Finns hold neo-Nazi views. It is not sensible to reach an inductive generalization based on insufficient evidence. Foreigners convicted of rape are only a small sample group and do not represent all foreigners.

By the way, according to rape statistics, which are routinely misused by far-right ideologists for political gains, 27 percent of rape suspects in 2011 were foreigners. Hence 73 percent were NOT foreigners. It would however be wrong to argue that non-foreign suspects - who made up the majority of rape suspects two years ago - are genetically wired to commit rape. There is no scientific evidence to support such an abhorrent claim.

In my opinion, James Hirvisaari does not base his arguments on facts. His views are shaped by prejudice and are detrimental to human rights and democratic principles of freedom and equality. He is an embarrassment to Finland's parliament and to lawmakers around the world. His comments are demeaning to the reputation of the office he holds. MPs make laws; they do not undermine laws for political gains or self-gratification. Finland's parliament is charged with legislative and budgetary powers, it is no place for convicts.

*Photo: Ilta Sanomat.

Finns Party members antagonize minority groups in Finland

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 12:19:00 +0000

A month rarely goes by without a member of Finland's far-right Finns Party making news headlines for saying or writing something designed to incite ethnic or religious hatred. The party's members antagonize minority groups and provoke hostility through online writings and comments. This week alone, two Finns Party members called refugees and asylum seekers "rapists" and "welfare leeches".

Finland's controversial Finns party, locally called Perussuomalaiset, known for its anti-immigration and anti-European Union (EU) platform is disturbingly gaining popularity in Finland, amid concerns of growing racism and xenophobia in the Nordic country. The party's manifesto has a lot in common with right-wing populist parties across Europe that tend to follow trends that have an "authoritarian streak". The party reportedly believes that low birth rate is not solved by immigration and that women should study less and spend time giving birth to "pure" Finnish children. [Source]

Despite its faint Nazi ideology, the Finns party is doing surprisingly well in Finland. In December 2012, Finns Party support peaked. A poll commissioned by Yle showed that the party was second most popular political party in Finland at the end of 2012. Support for the party increased by 2 percent - more than any other party in the country. The fact that the party is growing is an indication that a growing number of Finns share its extreme views.

Perussuomalaiset is always on the headlines. It is famous for wrong reasons. Its members, many of whom make no secret of their xenophobic and racist stance, attack minority groups with hateful writings online. A month rarely goes by without a member of the party making news headlines for saying or writing something designed to incite ethnic or religious hatred. Two scandals hit the party this week alone.

It was reported on Monday that a councilor for the Finns Party, Mika Hiltunen, used obscene and offensive language against refugees and asylum seekers. He accused refugees and asylum seekers of being "welfare leeches and rapists". He expressly mentioned Somalians in his infamous Facebook comment. Somalians, it is worth mentioning, are among the groups most affected by racism and intolerance in Finland.

Three days later, it was reported that another Finns Party member attacked refugees and asylum seekers. Kai Haavisto proposed "medical treatment" for refugees guilty of rape. It is unclear whether he meant that refugees guilty of rape should be castrated or sterilized.

The Finns Party "distanced itself" from the comments, but it is no coincidence that both Mika Hiltunen and Kai Haavisto are its members. You can fool some people sometimes, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Perussuomalaiset is known for its anti-immigration and anti-Islamic stance, and hostility towards anything "foreign", including the EU and Swedish - Finland's second official language. The Hiltunen and Haavisto share the party's views.

Results of a poll by Helsingin Sanomat in 2011 revealed that Finns Party members are most willing to concede negative attitudes towards minorities.

Given the Finns Party's position on key issues like immigration and EU membership, should the party have its way and someday become majority in Finland's Eduskunta (parliament), Finland would isolate itself from the civilized free world and might even reconsider its obligations under the UN Refugee Convention and other international treaties like the Schengen agreement.

Using refugees and immigrants as punching bags does not help Finland. On the contrary, such offensive and hateful messages antagonize minority groups and provoke hostility against the majority - thereby making Finland unsafe for both the oppressed and oppressors.

*Photo: Socialismi.net.

Cameroon: Imprisonment for "looking gay" and drinking Baileys mocks rule of law

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 18:49:00 +0000

Two men have been acquitted by an appeal court in Cameroon after spending one year in prison because "... the way they dressed, the way they spoke and the fact that they drank Baileys Irish Cream proved they were gay."

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the African Charter on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR) are incorporated into the constitution of Cameroon and it is stated in the preamble that international law takes precedence over national laws. Looking at the constitution, it is easy to think that Cameroon is a haven where international human rights standards and fundamental freedoms are respected. But in reality, the situation on the ground is dire. Human rights and fundamental freedoms are limited - so limited that people are arrested and imprisoned for "looking gay."

Two Cameroonian men, Jonas Kimie and Franky Ndome, jailed for wearing women's clothes were recently acquitted by an appeal court in Yaounde, Cameroon. The men were reportedly arrested outside a nightclub in Yaounde in July 2011 and spent more than one year in jail for looking gay. Their lawyer reportedly said the conviction was based on stereotypes and that the judge who sentenced them said the way they dressed, the way they spoke and the fact that they drank Bailey's Irish Cream proved they were gay. [Source]

According to Amnesty International, the acquittal exposes systematic discrimination against homosexuals in Cameroon - where homosexuality is outlawed.

The law and wrong interpretation

Section 347 bis of the Cameroon penal code sanctions homosexuality with up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine. The law criminalizes "sexual relations with a person of the same sex." [Source] Many people are arrested and prosecuted and condemned under the law - without evidence of sexual relations.

In March 2011, Roger Jean Claude Mbede was arrested based on a text message and sentenced to three years in prison. He was provisionally released in July 2012, but unlike in the case of Jonas Kimie and Franky Ndome, an appeal court upheld his three-year sentence in December 2012.

Disregard for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cameroon is not limited to the persecution of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexual (LGBTI) people. Perceived LGBTI people are also harassed and imprisoned due to stereotypes and wrong interpretation of Cameroon's controversial homosexuality law. Security forces routinely crack down on peaceful demonstrations and commit serious human rights violations, including unlawful killings; freedom of expression is gagged with several journalists and government critics arrested and detained; freedom of association and assembly are infringed, and political and human rights groups are denied the right to organize activities. Political activists are routinely arrested and detained. [Source]

Culture of disregard for human rights

It is worth mentioning that there is a culture of disregard for human rights in Cameroon. Many ordinary people in the country support anti-gay laws, discrimination and prejudice against LGBTI people. Other abhorrent rights violations such as mob justice enjoy widespread support. Hence not only the state is guilty of injustice and discrimination.

Government authorities, lawmakers, civil society groups, security forces, lawyers, judges, magistrates and ordinary people are in need of human rights education. Campaigns and petitions by rights groups may free prisoners of conscience like Jean-Claude Mbede and other victims of rights violations, but won't stop the persecution and harassment of people on grounds of sexual orientation. A long term solution lies in education and inculcation of a culture of mutual respect for human rights. This can be achieved through seminars and human rights education in schools and government institutions.

The acquittal of Jonas Kimie and Franky Ndome is a welcomed move in the right direction but a lot more needs to be done to guarantee the rights of LGBTI people in Cameroon. The reasoning behind the initial imprisonment of the two men is laughable, makes a mockery of the rule of law and threatens fundamental freedoms in Cameroon. No one should be imprisoned for dressing differently, speaking differently or for drinking Baileys Irish Cream.

*Photo: Global-customer.

Kevin-Prince Boateng: Walk-off does not empower racist fans

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 14:11:00 +0000

When Mario Balotelli threatened to walk off the pitch ahead of Euro 2012, I told a few friends of mine that I would unconditionally support a walk-off by Balotelli in protest against racism in football. I said the first player to walk off the field in protest against racism will earn my respect and a place on my list of highly regarded anti-racism advocates and freedom fighters. I said should Balotelli walk off, I would buy a Manchester City F.C. shirt with his name and number inscribed on it as a sign of my respect and admiration. Shortly after Balotelli's declaration, UEFA president Michel Platini threatened players with sanctions - if they walk off the pitch in protest against racism. Of course racist incidents were recorded during Euro 2012. Mario Balotelli did not walk off, neither did any other player. I was disappointed, but I knew someday someone would walk off the pitch in protest.

On 3 January 2013, Kevin-Prince Boateng took a personal stand against racism; a stand that would hopefully inspire other players to do the same. He walked out of a friendly match after he was racially abused by fans of Italian club Pro Patria.

Keeping a promise

I am officially a Kevin-Prince Boateng supporter, not because he plays good football. I am a supporter because he has the courage to take action against a social ill that many people lack the courage to stand up against.

At the moment, I do not own a football shirt. I have been thinking about buying one, but although I enjoy football - no player has ever inspired me to carry his name behind my back. However, events of 3 January helped me make up my mind.

In keeping my promise made before Euro 2012, I will order A.C. Milan's number 10 shirt inscribed with the name PRINCE - as a sign of solidarity with Boateng in the fight against racism in football. I admire his courage and he did exactly what I would do under the same circumstance.

In an interview with CNN, Kevin-Prince Boateng promised to carry on with the fight. He said, "I'd walk off again" in protest whenever racism shows its ugly face in a match - be it a friendly, Italian League or Champions League match. In the interview, the 25-year-old footballer of German and Ghanaian origin encouraged other black players to do the same.

It is worth mentioning that Boateng did not walk off alone. His team mates rightly decided to walk off with him. Although he would have done it without them, I applaud the whole A.C. Milan team for supporting their mate and taking a stand against racism. Their collective action adds weight to my jersey choice.

Some people have argued that Boateng was wrong to walk off. Clarence Seedorf said he does not see the walk off as a positive thing because it empowers the racists.

If you ask me, Seedorf is wrong.

Walk off in protest doesn't empower racists

I have no illusion that this gesture will put an end to racism. Perpetrators of racial abuse are mindless and defiant. However, I look forward to more protests. If enough players and teams abandon a good number of games, football authorities will take a serious look at racism in football and do what is expected to abort the problem - especially when football bodies and federations start loosing money because of abandoned matches.

Besides, civil disobedience and protests in the interest of human rights never empower the oppressor. When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in a bus the oppressor was not empowered; when Nelson Mandela took a stand against a racist regime the oppressor was not empowered; when Dr. King led the match against civil rights violations in the U.S. the oppressor was weakened. In the same vein, racist fans will not be empowered by protests against racism. On the contrary, walking off the pitch gives players the power to end abuse - especially when their team mates walk with them.

Way forward

All across Europe, "the beautiful game" is marred by racism and racial abuse. Black players are taunted with monkey chants and bananas by fans. A lot has been written and said about racism in European football: from stadiums of hate in Poland and Ukraine to Russia - where racist Zenit St. Petersburg fans and others make no secret of their racism and narrow-mindedness. Racism is clearly alive and well in Europe. Like lawmakers and politicians in parliaments and presidential palaces around Europe, football authorities lack the will to take a serious stand against racism. Consequently, so-called non-white players continue to play under very hostile conditions in many stadiums.

The good news is that there is something players can do to counter blatant racism in football or force football authorities to take concrete steps to ensure that stadiums are void of racism. The action players and teams can take is encapsulation in four words: walk off in protest.

I might as well buy more football shirts in solidarity.

*Photo: SkySports.

Make 2013 better than 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:21:00 +0000

This is the first blog entry for 2013. With barely four days into the new year, there is a lot to write about but before I start putting out blog posts on relevant issues, which directly or indirectly affect us all, courtesy warrants me to wish all my readers a very happy new year 2013.

Personally, I would say 2012 was great. It will be remembered as one of the most significant years in my life because it saw the birth of my son - who is named after my father who passed away in 2003. In this light, I cannot complain. I registered other successes last year - successes, that I would rather not bore you with. Besides, this entry is for you, not about me.

I wish you all what you wish yourself this 2013 and I hope you achieve your heart's desires. I believe in the power of written goals. Hence - as I have done in previous new year messages in 2011 and 2012 - I encourage you to write down what you would like to achieve in 2013. Write them down where you can see them daily and be reminded. Written goals make it easier for you to better assess your achievement at the end of the year and hold you accountable for what you failed to do. You must not have a complete list from the word go. Feel free to add goals to the list as time goes on.

Keep in mind that it is not enough to simply write down goals. Get out there and do what it takes to achieve them. Strike achieved goals off the list and proceed to the next. Examine the list at the end of the year and have a conversation with yourself.

HAPPY 2013. The good news is that we all have the power to make it better, in terms of achievements, than 2012. Set clear goals, write them down and go get them.

Laugh, love, live. God bless.

CAR: Former renegade general seeks western intervention

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:39:00 +0000

The West does not always impose itself on the African continent. Some African rulers actually solicit western intervention in the continent. The president of Central African Republic (CAR), a former renegade general and rebel leader, sought French and American intervention to stop a rebellion that threatens his regime.

It is an open secret that many people on the African continent and elsewhere blame the West for the perils of the African continent. Many critics argue that the West is an invisible hand engineering conflicts, corruption, poverty, disease and supporting dictatorships in Africa. According to an article on The Economist, titled Africa, oil and the West, a month rarely goes by without the discovery of oil deposits in Africa and only 5 of Africa's 55 countries are neither producing nor exploring for oil. Despite Africa's mineral, oil and agricultural wealth, a chunk of its people live below the poverty line and die of hunger while Western multinationals plunder their resources; sometimes with little or no corporate social responsibility - as in the case of Shell in the Niger Delta. As if the exploitation of resources is not enough, the international criminal justice system disproportionately targets Africans. It is partly against this backdrop that Africans are suspicious of the West - and rightly so.

However, many critics of the West lose sight of the fact that African leaders are partly and largely responsible for the sorry-state of affairs on the continent. Some have argued that our rulers are pressured by their western counterparts to submit to their demands. But a shameful request of Francois Bozize, president of Central African Republic (CAR), for American and French intervention in the central African country shows that some African leaders -without any pressure from the usual suspects - actually solicit western intervention.

On Thursday 27 December 2012, Francois Bozize expressly asked France, his country's former colonial master, and the U.S. to intervene in the internal affairs of CAR and help stop the advance of rebels seeking to overthrow his government. The president reportedly said "the French are our cousins. They should fix what is happening." [Source]

It is unheard of for the president of a sovereign country to expressly seek western intervention in his country's internal affairs. As a matter of fact, many countries that are truly independent abhor foreign intervention. Slain Muammar Gaddafi of Libya would attest to this - if he could.

The last time I checked, CAR became an independent state since August 1960. After more than 50 years of independence, the country should be able to fix what is happening. Unfortunately, misrule is dragging the country into instability and neo-colonialism.

President Bozize's request, in my opinion, is a disgrace to the continent and a source of embarrassment to its people - especially those who argue that African countries can handle their affairs. Bozize's request is an indication, that perhaps the West does not always impose itself on Africa - some African leaders actually solicit western intervention.

A quick search on the internet reveals that President Francois Bozize came to power through a bloody military coup that deposed a civilian government under President Ange-Felix Patasse in March 2003. Renegade general Francois Bozize, who reportedly served as army chief of staff under his predecessor, formed a "transitional government" and was affirmed as president after elections in 2005. He was re-elected in 2011 after a controversial election regarded as flawed. [Source]

Amnesty International reported in its 2012 annual report that Bozize's government imprisoned suspected critics together with their associates and family members. [Source] Freedom of expression is gagged under Bozize's rule and members of his security forces are accused of torture.

French and/or American intervention in the CAR to stop the rebels is not a lasting solution to the country's problems. President Francois Hollande of France rejected Bozize's call. Hollande reportedly said the days of French intervention in the internal affairs of a country are over. It remains to be seen whether France will keep its word in CAR and other countries in the region. According to an article published by the BBC, African governments with close ties to France have a poor record of governance, in terms of human rights, corruption and the concentration of power among a tiny ruling class. [Source] CAR - member of the so-called Francafrique - is, without a doubt, one of such countries with unhealthy ties to France.

The Seleka rebels who reportedly surrounded Bangui before Bozize cried out for help claim the government has broken its promises. President Bozize, a former rebel General, should return to the negotiation table and seek a political solution to the crisis. Military intervention by Western powers is not a sensible solution. President Bozize should also release prisoners of conscience, guarantee freedom of expression and put an end to torture and other ill-treatment as reported by Amnesty International.

*Photo of Francois Bozizi: LaMontagne.

Finland: Racially motivated hate crimes highest in 2011 than any time in decade

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:54:00 +0000

The majority of hate crimes reported to police in Finland in 2011 were racially motivated, and the police reportedly recorded the highest number of racially motivated hate crimes in 2011 than at any other time in more than 10 years.

The end of each year is always an interesting time. Besides holidays, parties and new year wishes and resolutions, many organizations and bodies release statistics that put events during the year or the previous year into perspective. One of such statistics, which I always look forward to, is Finland's hate crime statistics published by the Police College of Finland and the Ministry of Interior's Police Department. The 108-paged report published this year reviews hate crimes reported all across Finland in 2011. It reveals that in Finland, people are physically attacked on grounds of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability, and as a hate crime motivation in 2011, race won by a landslide.

In the report, hate crime is defined as:

"... a crime against a person, group, somebody's property, institution, or a representative of these, motivated by prejudice or hostility towards the victim's real or perceived ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender identity or appearance, or disability." [Source]

The report, entitled Poliisin Tietoon Tullut Viharikollisuus Suomessa 2011, reveals that Finland saw an increase in racism and racial abuse in 2011. Police recorded 918 crimes that were suspected to be motivated by hate - a 7 percent increase compared to 2010. According to the report, majority of the crimes, 86 percent, were racially motivated. The report brings to light the fact that most racist hate crimes were committed in the evening and at night in public outdoors such as streets, roads or market squares. Restaurants, bars and dance spaces were also racist crime scenes. A surprisingly high number (12 percent) of suspected hate crimes were committed in victims' residential areas and staircases. In this internet age, it is worthy to mention that the internet accounted for 2 percent of suspected hate crimes. Religious background motivated 6.6 percent of the cases, sexual orientation motivated 4.6 percent, disability motivated 2.6 percent and three hate crimes (0.3 percent) were motivated by victims' transgender identity.

Assault was the most common form of racially motivated hate crime between 2003 and 2011. (See page 55).

By municipality, Finland's capital city, Helsinki, accounted for the highest number of suspected racist crimes reported to the police in 2011, followed by Vantaa, Turku and Espoo. By region, racist powerhouses included, Länsi- and Itä-Uusimaa (with Helsinki as capital), keski-Suomi (with Jyväskylä as capital), Pirkanmaa (with Tampere as capital), Pohjois-Savo ( with Kuopio as capital), Etelä-Savo (with Mikkeli as capital), Pohjois Karjala (with Joensuu as capital), Varsinais-Suomi (Turku as capital) and Satakunta (Pori as capital). Looking at a map on page 53 of the report, central, eastern, western and southern Finland could be aptly described as hate crime hot spots.

Somalis, according to the report, were the most targeted group. This puts into perspective results of a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat in 2011 that showed that Somalis are most affected by racism in Finland.

Following the publication of the police report, Yle reported that there were more cases of racism and related physical abuse in Finland in 2011 than at any other time in more than 10 years. [Source] The news report also pointed out that hate crime and racism are not recognized as criminal offences in Finland's criminal code. This puts into question the objective of the annual hate crime report published by the Police College of Finland and the Ministry of Interior's Police Department since 1998. Statistics should not be gathered for the sake of it. Hate crime statistics, which have been gathered for over a decade, should be used to push for legislation against hate crime. It is incomprehensible that the Criminal Code of Finland sanctions "ethnic agitation" (see Chapter 11, Section 10) and does not sanction racially motivated physical abuse or hate crime that could result from such agitation.

"Monitoring" hate crime and publishing yearly statistics without hate crime legislation to deter perpetrators does not make sense. Statistics are not a deterrent. There is a need for hate crimes to be recognized as criminal offences in the Criminal Code of Finland, especially in light of the 2011 hate crime report that paints the grimmest picture of racially motivated hate crimes in more than 10 years.

Racism is a real problem in Finland and there is a lack of political will or leadership to address the problem. This explains why a Member of Parliament of the "True" Finns Party, Teuvo Hakkarainen, could make a racial slur on his first day in parliament against people of African descent and get away it. In a country where racism and racially motivated abuse are not tolerated, he would have resigned. Perpetrators of racism face no real consequences.

Believe it or not - racism damages Finland's image and the image of its people.

My Google Analytics (GA), a service that gathers statistics about visits to a website, shows that internet users are curious about the state of racism in Finland and that many people are searching the internet for related information about Finland and Finns. Some users searching for information end up on my blog, and according to GA, keywords about Finland that landed people on my blog between 21 November 2012 and 21 December 2012 include: "finnish people are racist", "are finnish people racist", "finland racial law", "racism in finland", "finland racist" and "finland xenophobia". Perpetrators of racism might think they are damaging the lives of their victims, but they are also damaging the image of their country and how they and their compatriots, the majority of whom are not racist - in my opinion - are perceived internationally. Racism is a double-edged sword. It negatively impacts both the perpetrator and the victim.

Make no mistake, not all hate crimes are reported or brought to the attention of the police. It is therefore plausible to conclude that the figures published by the Police College of Finland and the Ministry of Interior's Police Department are not representative of the real situation on the ground.

*Photo: bikyamasr.

Desmond Tutu: Homophobia, just like Racism

noreply@blogger.com (Zuzeeko Abeng) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:07:00 +0000

"We cannot claim that our societies are free and equal as long as some among us are treated as inferior and denied even their basic human rights." ~ Desmond Tutu

A video message from Archbishop Desmond Tutu on "the role of leadership in the fight against homophobia" caught my attention on 13 December 2012. In the video, the retired Anglican Archbishop, anti-Apartheid icon and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate likened homophobia to racism and highlighted the importance of speaking out against the denigration, arrest, harassment, imprisonment, torture and killing of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) people around the world. The compelling YouTube video was shared by a friend on Facebook and I thought it wise to share the message, together with my thoughts on the subject, with a broader audience.

This is not the first time Desmond Tutu has spoken out against homophobia. He was once asked by a student that if he could have one wish granted to reverse an injustice, what would it be? The archbishop said he would wish for the world to "end the persecution of people because of their sexual orientation, which is every bit as unjust as that crime against humanity, apartheid." [Source] In July 2012, he called for an end to gay stigma to help tackle HIV.

It is no secret that homosexuality is [still] a taboo in many parts of Africa and beyond. It is criminalized in many countries, including Cameroon and Uganda.

In Cameroon, people are routinely arrested, persecuted and imprisoned on grounds of homosexuality or perceived homosexuality. In 2011, a Cameroonian, Roger Jean-Claude Mbede, was sentenced to 3 years in prison for homosexuality under Cameroon's controversial anti-homosexuality law. Although Roger Jean-Claude Mbede was released provisionally on 16 July 2012, his appeal is still pending and other people like him continue to live in the shadow of discrimination, persecution and imprisonment. In Uganda, an odious anti-gay bill designed to imposed harsher sanctions, including the death penalty, on homosexuality was proposed in 2009. Although the death penalty clause was dropped, the misguided bill is still expected to pass and poses a threat to the rights of the LGBT community in Uganda and beyond.

Repressive laws in many African countries are bad enough, but even more worrying is the deafening silence of people of good conscience, especially young people and those with the power to change perception.

Many young people either support archaic anti-homosexuality laws or lack the courage and confidence to speak out against homophobia for fear of being accused of promoting homosexuality or fear of being perceived as homosexual (as if only women promote women's rights or only Roma promote Roma rights or better still - as if only victims of human rights violations work for human rights). Many seem to be unaware that the defence of human rights is not about self interest.

Imagine a world where people lacked courage to fight against social ills like racism, gender inequality, slavery, colonialism or other human rights violations and prejudices that shame humanity. South Africa would still be stuck in the racist apartheid era and African-Americans would still be disenfranchised and relegated to the back of buses.

I am of African descent and I know what prejudice looks like. I know how it feels to be a minority and to be discriminated against. I would not wish it on anyone, including LGBT people. I abhor homophobia as much as I abhor xenophobia, racism, discrimination against women, discrimination against the Roma and other minority groups. I refuse to turn a blind eye on homophobia simply because I am "straight" and not affected by it. It beats my mind that some people can afford to condemn discrimination based on race and at the same time perpetuate or support discrimination based on other grounds.

No double standards.

It does not make sense to be against discrimination on grounds of race, gender, religion or what have you, and at the same time support discrimination based on sexual orientation. Desmond Tutu once wrote, "I could not have fought against the discrimination of apartheid and not also fight against the discrimination that homosexuals endure, even in our churches and faith groups." [Source]

Talking about churches and faith groups - they are the powerhouses of homophobia. Many people quote the Bible to justify hatred against LGBT people. Those who invoke the Bible to justify an injustice somehow forget that the same scripture says, "Judge not and ye shall not be judged; condemn not and ye shall not be condemned." In the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, "The Jesus I worship is not likely to collaborate with those who vilify and persecute an already oppressed minority." [Source]

We all have a responsibility to speak out against homophobia and all other forms of prejudices, and to respect the rights and freedoms of all people, without discrimination of any kind.

*Photo: The Telegraph.