Latest news with #TlalengMofokeng
Days of Palestine
2 days ago
- Health
- Days of Palestine
UN Experts Condemn Israel's ‘Medi-cide' in Gaza
DayofPal– Two United Nations human rights experts have issued a scathing condemnation of Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, accusing it of deliberately dismantling the enclave's healthcare system. The experts describe the attacks on health sector as a calculated act of 'medicide', the systematic extermination of medical infrastructure and personnel. In a joint statement released Wednesday, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, and Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said the Israeli army is 'deliberately attacking and starving healthcare workers, paramedics, and hospitals' in an effort to annihilate Gaza's capacity to deliver medical care. 'Alongside witnessing an unfolding genocide, we are also witnessing a 'medicide,' a sinister and intentional destruction of health systems that amounts to an act of genocide,' the experts warned. 'As human beings and UN experts, we cannot remain silent about the war crimes being committed before our eyes.' Their statement comes amid mounting international alarm over the collapse of Gaza's healthcare infrastructure after nearly a year of sustained bombardment, siege, and restricted humanitarian access. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between October 7, 2023, and June 11, 2025, there have been 735 recorded attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza, resulting in at least 917 deaths and 1,411 injuries. A total of 125 healthcare facilities have been affected, including the destruction or damage of 34 hospitals. Health workers have reportedly been detained, tortured, and starved, the experts said, highlighting that some have fainted from hunger while on duty. 'This is a grave violation of not only their own right to health, but of their patients' right to care,' they said. The rapporteurs also linked the attacks to what they describe as a broader Israeli policy of apartheid and occupation, clarifying that the targeting of Gaza's medical infrastructure is part of a pattern aimed at destroying Palestinian society. 'The disregard for the crimes Israel continues to commit in Gaza sends a stark message to the world that the lives of Palestinians do not matter,' the statement read. 'They are being denied their right to dignity, to existence, to food, and to safety.' The experts issued an urgent call for a ceasefire as a first step toward accountability and the restoration of basic human rights for Gaza's besieged population. 'There is a moral imperative for the international community to stop the carnage, protect what remains of Gaza's healthcare system, and prevent the extermination of its people,' they said. They also criticized the international community for its inaction, saying states have failed in their legal and moral obligations. 'Palestinians trapped in Gaza's hellscape are paying the ultimate price for that failure and indifference.' Both Mofokeng and Albanese serve as independent experts under the UN Human Rights Council's Special Procedures, an unpaid role independent of any government or UN body. Their mandate allows them to investigate and report on specific human rights issues around the world. While their views do not represent official UN policy, their findings contribute to ongoing international legal assessments and pressure on member states to take action. Shortlink for this post:
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Israel pounds Gaza, kills 123 in 24 hours
Agencies At least 123 Palestinians, including 21 people seeking aid, have been killed and 437 others were injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza in the past 24 hour reporting period, according to the Health Ministry in the besieged territory. In the same period, at least eight people, including three children, died from Israeli-imposed starvation and malnutrition, bringing the total number of hunger-related deaths since the war began in October, 2023 to 235, among them 106 children, the ministry said on Wednesday. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), described the deaths as 'the latest in the war on children and childhood in Gaza'. 'This is in addition to: over 40,000 children reported killed or injured due to bombardment and airstrikes, at least 17,000 unaccompanied and separated children, and one million deeply traumatised children and out of education,' he wrote in a post on X. 'Children are children. No one should stay silent when children die, or are brutally deprived of a future, wherever these children are, including in Gaza.'Gaza's healthcare system has also been the subject of targeted destruction by the Israel military, which amounts to 'medicide,' UN experts said on Wednesday, accusing Israel of deliberately attacking and starving healthcare workers, paramedics and hospitals to wipe out medical care in the enclave. 'As human beings and UN experts, we cannot remain silent about the war crimes committed before our eyes in Gaza,' said Tlaleng Mofokeng, special rapporteur on the right to health and Francesca Albanese, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967. 'In addition to bearing witness to an ongoing genocide we are also bearing witness to a 'medicide,' a sinister component of the intentional creation of conditions calculated to destroy Palestinians in Gaza which constitutes an act of genocide,' the experts said. 'Health and care workers have been continuously targeted, detained, tortured and are now, like the rest of the population, being starved,' they added. As the death toll continues to rise in Gaza, a delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas was scheduled to begin discussions in Egypt over a potential ceasefire on Wednesday. The previous round of indirect ceasefire talks in Qatar ended in deadlock in late July, after Israel and the United States withdrew their delegations hours after Hamas submitted its response to a truce proposal. The talks in Cairo will focus on ways to stop the war, deliver aid, and 'end the suffering of our people in Gaza', Hamas official Taher Al Nono said. A Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations told the news agency Reuters that 'Hamas believes negotiation is the only way to end the war and is open to discuss any ideas that would secure an end to the war'. A Hamas representative also told Reuters the group was willing to hand over governance of Gaza to a non-partisan committee, but would not give up its weapons before a Palestinian state is established. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to continue the war until Hamas is 'destroyed'. Israel's security cabinet last week approved plans to take control of Gaza City, despite international condemnation from the United Nations and dissent from within Israel's own military.
Barnama
3 days ago
- Health
- Barnama
Israel Committing ‘Medical Genocide' In Gaza, UN Experts Say
Humanitarian aid packages are airdropped over the Gaza Strip, as seen from Israel, August 1, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen NEW YORK, Aug 13 (Bernama-WAFA) -- Israel's deliberate destruction of Gaza's healthcare system amounts to "medical genocide," deliberately attacking and starving healthcare workers, paramedics, and hospitals to eliminate medical care in the besieged enclave, the Palestine News and Information Agency (WAFA) reported. "As human beings and UN experts, we cannot remain silent in the face of the war crimes being committed before our eyes in Gaza," said Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, and Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967. "In addition to witnessing an ongoing genocide, we are also witnessing a medical genocide - a contributing factor in the deliberate creation of conditions designed to destroy Palestinians in Gaza, which constitutes an act of genocide," they added. bootstrap slideshow The experts warned that the apartheid regime targeting Palestinians in the occupied territory and the ongoing attacks on Gaza's healthcare system are exhausting the last remaining resources in the besieged and devastated enclave. They said, "Health and care workers have been repeatedly targeted, detained, and tortured, and now, like the rest of the population, they are starving." The United Nations reported that health and care workers have fainted due to lack of food and hunger, a violation not only of their right to health but also of their ability to perform their duties and jeopardising the care and treatment conditions necessary for their patients. They added, "Ignoring the crimes that Israel continues to commit in Gaza sends a clear message to the world: the people of Gaza do not count, and their lives are worthless. Palestinians in Gaza are being denied their right to dignity, existence, and food." 'There is a moral duty on the international community to end the massacre and allow the people of Gaza to live on their land without fear of attack, killing, starvation, or the enduring reality of occupation and apartheid,' they said. 'States have failed in this duty, and the people trapped in the hell of Gaza are paying the ultimate price for this failure and indifference.' They called for an immediate ceasefire, to hold Israel accountable, and to save what remains of Gaza's healthcare system to prevent the extermination of its population.
Scoop
28-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Gender Equality And Human Rights Are Indivisible, Foundational And Unconditional
"When human rights are treated like an 'à la carte menu' by governments, and not what they truly are - indivisible, foundational and unconditional... we move fast into dystopia," said Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Right To Health. "We saw during COVID-19 lockdown time that people who were from the most marginalised groups, were furthest pushed behind. These included: peoples from gender diverse communities, women in all diversities, women in sex work, women who use drugs, or young girls, for whom there was hardly any access to care, support and services. Gender-based violence was being more reported during the pandemic. We have learnt the harder way that how we want to ensure marginalised people are included in strengthening the health systems and making them resilient in gender-transformative manner," said Dr Harjyot Khosa, Regional External Relations Director, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and member of Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC 2030. "We need to engage marginalised communities in all their diversities to adapt and redesign health systems to better protect them within the framework of universal health coverage," Dr Khosa added. She was speaking at a special Side Event alongside 78th World Health Assembly organised by Global Centre for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI), International Planned Parenthood Federation, Fos Feminista, CNS, and partners. Are health systems designed for gender diverse peoples? Dr Harjyot Khosa reminded that health systems are defined and designed for heterosexual married people, like 'good couples' as per the harmful social norms rooted in patriarchy. 'So, perception and level of stigma and misogyny within healthcare systems is what we all grapple with every day. Sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice has to be the first push to deliver on UHC at all levels,' she said. "Just because of the colour of your skin, people become a victim of sexual assault. When they go the police, they are turned away because they are 'not citizens of the country.' Or a woman is denied mental healthcare because of language barriers. These are the realities I face daily in Dominican Republic,' said Dr Eliezer Lappots-Abreu, Executive Director, Health Horizons International, Dominican Republic. "Although we live in Dominican Republic where health access and universal health coverage is part of the norm, but it is not accessible for everybody because it excludes women of colour and immigrants. One of my patients, a Haitian woman, was diagnosed with cervical cancer but when we connected her to services to treat her cancer, she was turned away because of the language barrier. When we arranged a translator for her, we were told that they can understand her but unable to serve her without documentation. Patient wondered if her options was to get palliative care or just die in the house,' he added. UHC is not about coverage alone but Universal Health Care 'It is not accidental that 'C' in 'UHC' (Universal Health Coverage) stands for 'coverage' in the official language but it should be about Care – Universal Health Care. No wonder due to governments focussing on UHC, or coverage, we see increasing space for 'health insurance.' Universal Health Care (and not Universal Health Coverage) better links us with the spirit of Alma Mata Declaration of 1978 (which heralded WHO led call to deliver on Health For All),' said Baba Aye, Health and Social Services Officer, Public Services International (PSI), who earlier worked for two decades in the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria. "We cannot talk of universal health care without health workers for all," said Baba Aye of PSI. He said that when 13% of maternal mortality are from unsafe abortions, and two-thirds of healthcare workers are women themselves, imagine the struggle in countries where abortion is criminalised. Connect the dots: Leprosy, gender justice, human rights, and SDGs Leprosy (also known as Hansen's disease), once feared as an incurable disease, is now treatable with modern medicine. When diagnosed early and accurately, and treated early with right medicines, it is not disabling too. But leprosy-related stigma and discrimination continues to cause havoc in lives of people affected with leprosy and blocks access to care even today. But only when we put leprosy under gender lens, we get to see the alarming inter-sectional stigma and discrimination that impacts women with leprosy. 'Women with leprosy face unique and often invisible struggles. At home, they are often unable to express their problems, even to other women. This is not the case for men. In family matters, whether it is making decisions or purchasing essentials, women are frequently excluded. Gender discrimination plays a major role here,' said Maya Ranavare, President of Association of People Affected by Leprosy. 'Women with leprosy receive lower wages than men for the same work, which is a clear example of gender inequality. These issues are compounded by the stigma of leprosy. But perhaps the most serious impact is in the area of healthcare. Women with leprosy often suffer in silence. Social stigma, economic dependence, and a lack of agency prevent them from seeking timely medical help or sharing their experiences. This intersection of gender and disease requires urgent attention. If we want to truly support people affected by leprosy, we must also address the gender-based injustices they face every day,' she added. 'We need to ensure people living with HIV are covered under UHC (under Indian government's health insurance). Although government of India has done a commendable job in ensuring people living with HIV receive lifesaving antiretroviral therapy and support at government-run healthcare facilities across the country, there are other healthcare needs too which people face - and often have to pay. Out-of-pocket expenses often become catastrophic costs for people with HIV, especially women who face inter-sectional stigma and discrimination at all levels,' said Daxa Patel, co-founder and former President of National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India (NCPI Plus) and leader of Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV (GSNP Plus). Gender inequality and violation of rights exacerbate during conflicts and humanitarian crises Parwen Hussaini of Afghanistan is at risk of her life along with her lesbian lover Maryam (Maryam is under arrest). Parwen was born in Gazhni province of Afghanistan and identifies as a lesbian and Afghan. She narrowly escaped persecution and arrest by the Taliban on 20th March 2025 and she is now in Iran. Parwen and her lover were engaged to get married when they tried to escape. Her lover (Maryam) is being tortured and imprisoned by the Taliban and in prison for over one and a half months (as on 10 May 2025). Nemat Sadat, CEO of 'Roshaniya' (an advocacy network dedicated to assisting LGBTQI+ Afghans) and one of the first Afghans to have openly come out as gay person and to campaign for rights, gender freedom and liberty, said: 'We have a list of over 1,000 LGBTQI+ peoples who still remain in Afghanistan. To this date, we have supported the safe evacuation of 265 people to different countries and we hope that Parwen will also get to a safe place.' 'The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has disempowered a lot of excluded and marginalised peoples including women, LGBTQI+, people living with HIV, persons with disabilities, sex workers, among others. So, when it comes to gender justice the issue of gender-based violence becomes central. There is physical violence, domestic violence, and sexual harassment and sexual abuse. They are raping women rampantly. Due to the conflict there is also increased risk for the displacement of women and girls in South Sudan (which puts them at greater risk of violence). There is also limited access to justice and support for young women, women with disability, and people with HIV because of their condition,' said Rachel Adau, Executive Director of the Women's Empowerment Centre South Sudan. Let us hope that at the upcoming UN intergovernmental High Level Political Forum where UN Sustainable Development Goals for health (SDG3) and gender equality (SDG5) are under review, governments commit to get on track to deliver on all SDG goals and targets. We cannot 'pick and choose' rather deliver on all SDGs. Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen News Service) (Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024). She also coordinates SHE & Rights initiative (Sexual health with equity & rights). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here
Saba Yemen
18-04-2025
- Health
- Saba Yemen
UN Special Rapporteur Condemns Israeli Attack on Baptist Hospital in Gaza
Geneva - Saba: The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Tlaleng Mofokeng, condemned the Israeli attack on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, the last functioning hospital in the northern Gaza Strip. Mofokeng said in a statement: "Months of brutal violence continue to make it difficult to provide healthcare services to an already strained system. I am appalled to learn that the war on hospitals, healthcare providers, and civilians continues, making the provision of health services even more impossible." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
