Latest news with #publicparticipation
Zawya
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) public poll hits 10,000 responses — add your voice!
More than ten thousand people have completed UNSMIL's online public poll, submitting their views on the best way to approach the political process to take Libya to elections. The Mission encourages all Libyans to put their voices forward before the poll closes. The poll seeks feedback on the Advisory Committee's four proposed plans to take Libya to elections, preconditions for a successful power transfer, and ways to guarantee progress – among other things. The data collected, along with the outcomes of in-person consultations across the country, will be used to inform the development of the roadmap for the next step of the political process. 'Public participation is crucial to ensuring a Libyan-led, Libyan-owned political process,' said Special Representative of the Secretary-General Hanna Tetteh. 'We want Libyans from all walks of life, across the country to share their opinions and ideas. We are listening.' In particular, the Mission would like to hear from more women, cultural components, and people with disabilities. Libyans from the south and east are especially urged to join the conversation. In addition to online polling, the Mission will also be undertaking two telephone surveys, delivered through third parties, to ensure that as many people as possible are included in the process. Among those who have responded to the poll so far, the largest share indicated that they see unifying state institutions and eliminating political division as the most urgent issues to address, followed by security sector reform. When asked how the political division affects their life, respondents indicated their top two concerns were the security situation and a lack of rule of law and accountability for human rights violations. 'There is no proper education or healthcare, and every day there is a shortage of services – especially in areas where no party has clear influence,' wrote a student from Tripoli. 'Every area is ruled by a group or militia, and we don't know anyone we can turn to in times of hardship. Fear is constant. Prices are skyrocketing and people's money is blocked in the banks. Unemployment has reached dangerous levels. Then, there is no real justice or accountability.' In addition to voting on their favourite of the Advisory Committee's four proposed roadmaps, more than 3,000 people submitted written ideas to strengthen the political process. Some commonly raised suggestions included: forming a new transitional government to oversee elections with a binding timetable and guaranteeing the people's right to participate in elections. 'We should let people decide which kind of country they want to have,' one woman from Zwara wrote. 'This can only be done by removing all current characters from the field.' A university professor from Wadi Ashshati argued that the Advisory Committee's first option, which entails conducting simultaneous presidential and legislative elections, was the only option that 'represents the voice of all components of Libyan society without exception' and 'fully renews legitimacy by eliminating current bodies that have proven their failure.' 'This is the true path if the United Nations is serious about supporting Libyans to achieve stability and prosperity,' he wrote. In support of Option 2, which proposes holding legislative elections first, followed by adopting a permanent constitution, and then holding presidential elections, a woman from Benghazi wrote: 'I do not want the current bodies. I want parliamentary elections for a new national assembly with two chambers so that the House of Representatives does not monopolize power.' "I believe a permanent constitution will pave the way for fair and free, democratic elections,' wrote an Al Kufra man, voicing support for Option 3, which calls for the adoption of a permanent constitution prior to any elections. This is critical, a Tripoli man wrote, because "the constitution will decide whether the governmental system is a presidential, monarchy or parliamentary system." Another man from Tripoli voted for the Advisory Committee's fourth option, which proposed a political dialogue forum be launched to establish new transitional arrangements for elections in line with Article 64 of the Libyan Political Agreement, because, he wrote, 'of the difficulty of holding elections and unifying the military and security establishment, and the fear that the results will not be accepted by the parties that possess weapons.' Appointing a constituent assembly, he wrote, would help to 'enforce election results.' Asked about their priority for a political roadmap, respondents were equally divided among the importance of political feasibility, avoiding the extension of transitional periods, and establishing the fastest road to elections. One respondent from Azzawya underlined the need to 'restore trust between the people and the state.' 'All parties must be compelled to make concessions for the sake of the country,' wrote a respondent from Ghiryan. Results are preliminary. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Zawya
08-07-2025
- General
- Zawya
Eritrea: Extensive Water and Soil Conservation Program
Extensive water and soil conservation activities are being carried out with strong public participation in the Molqui sub-zone. Mr. Melake Woldemicael, Head of the Agriculture Office in the sub-zone, stated that the program aims to construct terraces over 2,365 hectares, and so far, 70% of the target has been completed. Mr. Melake also noted the exemplary participation of residents in the administrative areas of Adi-Gemi'a, Adi-Mihret, Endabasimon, and Tikul. He called for continued and reinforced public engagement to ensure better outcomes. Participants in the campaign, recognizing the impact of the program on improving their agricultural yields, expressed commitment to further strengthen their involvement. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Give public a say on prison sentences, says Reform UK
The deputy leader of Reform UK has proposed a new law that would allow members of the public a say when they think criminal sentences are either too harsh or too Richard Tice said he wanted a system where if 500 members of the public said they disagreed with a sentence in a petition to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), it would have to decide whether to refer the decision to a said it would add a further safeguard on sentences and that would give the public more confidence in the justice system.A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said they were not actively considering Tice's proposals. Tice told MPs that "even noble, experienced, wise judges can get things wrong", but that "maybe the public would have ever more confidence in a vibrant democracy, in our justice system, if it was like a system of treble check safeguard of the sentences, without being able to impinge on the original judgement that was following a case."He said it would give people more confidence in the "fairness and the comparative appropriateness of sentences within our system".An MoJ spokesperson declined to formally comment but said that under existing laws, a defendant can refer their conviction to the Court of Appeal if they believe their sentence to be unduly harsh or can refer a case they believe to be unduly lenient to the attorney general, the spokesperson proposed the bill in the wake of the case of Lucy Connolly, and referenced her in his speech in the House of to Connolly's case, he said someone sending a post on social media could be given a sentence "that might be significantly more than the sentence given to a shoplifter, a robber, a mugger, a drug dealer".Connolly was jailed for 31 months in October after admitting inciting racial hatred. She posted on on X calling for "mass deportation now", adding "set fire to all the... hotels [housing asylum seekers]... for all I care".Her message was reposted 940 times and viewed 310,000 times, before she deleted it three and a half hours May, she lost an appeal against her sentence. Tice has previously said Connolly should be freed and that her imprisonment was an example of "two tier justice".The CCRC, the body Tice proposes would assess any sentences a public petition has flagged, has faced criticism after a series of independent, arms-length body looks into potential miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Vera Baird KC, the new interim chair of the CCRC, told the BBC earlier this month the commission was "incapable of learning from their mistakes" and she wanted to "root out" the culture causing predecessor quit in January after an independent report concluded the CCRC had mishandled the case of Andrew Malkinson and had failed to complete basic work that could have cast doubt on his was wrongly imprisoned for rape in 2004. He was freed in 2023 when a judge declared his conviction unsafe when new DNA evidence on the victim's clothing was found to match another will debate the use of prison as a penalty for non-violent offences arising from social media posts after a Parliamentary petition created by ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe passed the 100,000 signatures threshold.
Zawya
12-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Ibri, Yanqul building four community-funded dams
Ibri – The Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) is constructing new water storage dams in the wilayats of Ibri and Yanqul in Dhahirah governorate, as part of a national push to enhance water security and improve sustainable resource management in rural areas. The ministry is overseeing the projects, which fall under a wider strategy to safeguard long-term water availability, particularly in regions reliant on traditional sources such as aflaj and wells. In a notable approach, the projects are being implemented through a joint funding model that involves both government and citizen contributions. The ministry is providing technical supervision and covering 20% of the construction costs, while the remaining 80% is funded by local residents. The model reflects growing public participation in resource management and a shared understanding of the need to secure water supplies amid changing climate conditions. In Ibri, construction is underway on three dams located in Wadi al Ajam, Wadi Jail and Wadi Mallah. In Yanqul, work is progressing on the Wadi Haqalat dam. According to the ministry, completion rates currently range from 20% to 90%, depending on terrain, availability of materials, and site access. The dams have been designed to raise groundwater levels, improve the recharge of aflaj and wells, and reduce the impact of drought during the periods of low rainfall. Officials said the projects support the goals of Oman's national water strategy, which seeks to ensure water security across all governorates. The ministry stated that the community-based model reinforces Oman's development vision by involving citizens directly in safeguarding natural resources. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Mail & Guardian
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Draft oil and gas regulations spark climate justice concerns
Seismic explorations for new oil and gas resources are going to escalate in the years to come. (Paul Botes/M&G) This is contained in a The Act is under review by the department, following its passage by parliament in April last year. The draft regulations are designed to implement the new law, which focuses on the orderly development of petroleum resources, equitable access and the sustainable development of the country's petroleum resources. The Green Connection said it formally endorsed a recent The regulations may fall short on several fronts, said Shahil Singh, a legal adviser at The Green Connection. 'We are most concerned about the issue of public participation. People may not be able to meaningfully engage with decisions that may affect their homes, livelihoods, and natural heritage if the terms that enable their participation are too restrictive,' Singh said. 'The definition of who qualifies as an 'interested and affected party' needs to be broadened to ensure that it does not silence those whose voices matter most — particularly small-scale fishers and coastal residents. 'Moreover, expecting communities to pay a non-refundable fee to appeal administrative decisions, could create obstacles to justice that marginalised communities should not have to endure. People should not have to pay to ensure that their voices are heard.' The global climate crisis necessitates an urgent and decisive transition away from fossil fuels, Singh wrote in the letter. 'The draft regulations, however, appear to promote the continued and expanded exploitation of oil and gas resources, directly contravening the country's national and international climate change commitments.' The Green Connection shared the 'profound concern'expressed in the joint submission that the promotion of gas as a transitional fuel, particularly for 'Methane emissions could potentially have a greater impact than those of carbon dioxide and may be up to eighty-two times more impactful over a 20-year period. 'We strongly support the joint submission's call for the draft regulations to explicitly define and incorporate critical terms such as 'greenhouse gas (GHG)', 'Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions', and 'sectoral emission targets'.' This is essential for alignment with the 'The failure of the draft regulations to mandate comprehensive lifecycle assessments that include quantification of all greenhouse gas emissions (including methane leaks and Scope 3 emissions) as well as the unquantified social cost of carbon, as highlighted by the joint submission, is a critical omission that undermines any claim of environmentally responsible development,' Singh said. Expanding fossil fuel infrastructure without rigorous scrutiny of the possible environmental and social implications runs counter to the global imperative for decarbonisation and South Africa's own stated commitments to a just energy transition. 'The Green Connection believes that the concerns and detailed recommendations articulated in the joint submission … are fundamental to ensuring that the regulatory framework for upstream petroleum activities in South Africa upholds constitutional environmental rights, promotes genuine public participation, protects our invaluable marine ecosystems and the livelihoods they support, and aligns with our urgent climate change obligations,' said Singh. The country's marine and coastal ecosystems are invaluable national assets, ecologically sensitive and critical for biodiversity and livelihoods. 'The Green Connection is deeply concerned that the draft regulations, in their current form, may fail to provide adequate protection for these environments against the inherent risks of upstream petroleum activities.' It aligned itself with the joint submission's assertion that the Act and its draft regulations appear to facilitate an accelerated expansion of oil and gas activities without adequately addressing the possibility of severe environmental impacts, Singh said, noting that this is particularly alarming for offshore exploration and production. 'We endorse the call for mandatory lifecycle impact assessments for all petroleum projects, which must quantify cumulative impacts, including those specific to marine ecosystems such as seismic impacts on marine fauna, potential for oil spills, and disruption of marine ecological integrity,' he said. The 'current vague reference' to 'possible impact on the environment' in notice requirements is wholly insufficient, he argued. 'The inadequacy of consultation requirements for offshore developments, which may exclude those with a significant interest if not 'directly affected' or if the landowner/lawful occupier concept is inappropriately applied to marine spaces, is a critical flaw identified in the joint submission that we support rectifying.' Coastal communities, particularly small-scale fishers, depend intrinsically on healthy marine ecosystems for their livelihoods, food security and cultural heritage. Upstream petroleum activities may pose direct and significant threats to these communities through potential pollution, displacement from traditional fishing grounds and adverse impacts on marine resources. 'We particularly highlight the joint submission's critique of regulation 23(1)(g), which vaguely mentions 'provision for co-existence with fishermen, where applicable', within local content plans, deeming it so vague as to be almost meaningless. Such provisions must be substantive and genuinely protect fishing communities. The broader failure of the draft regulations to create any meaningful obligations on rights holders to address and mitigate the adverse socio-economic impacts of petroleum operations on affected local communities, including fishing communities, 'is a grave concern we share with the joint submission'. The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance said in its comments on the proposed regulations that there is no provision made for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. 'There is also no plan for the transition to ensure a move from upstream fossil fuel developments to alternative sources as per the country's objectives.' The Climate Change Act aims to reduce carbon emissions and ensure the country moves from a carbon-intensive economy to a low-carbon intensive economy, however the draft regulations 'disregard this'. By disregarding the climate change question, these developments will result in more climate change-related disasters such as floods, droughts and runaways fires. Areas such as Durban that have been 'With South Africa having signed to commit to net zero by 2050, 25 years away (less than one term of a production right) this is a regressive piece of legislation,' it said.
