Thursday, 08 March 2012 16:29

Written by Niamh Griffin

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A greater recognition of work being done by women in Timor Leste is needed by those in the international community according to an expert in gender equality issues at the University of Ulster.

In the run-up to the presidential elections on March 17th, specialist in violence against women in war-torn areas Aisling Swaine said women in the region have made great changes in the ten years since independence.

“The women there are finding a safe way to make change, there is a really strong women’s network,” she said, speaking before a discussion on international humanitarian law.

Friday, 03 February 2012 14:00

Written by Niamh Griffin

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Collaboration between public and private initiatives is central to the fight against disease and poverty, Bill Gates was told by a European Commissioner.

Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn met with the co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Brussels last week to discuss research work and the foundation’s funding of EU projects.

One area of cooperation has been through the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).

The commissioner said these projects are working towards important breakthroughs on treatment and prevention of diseases including tuberculosis and malaria as well as AIDS.

“Only through collective efforts can we effectively tackle the really big issues affecting the world's most vulnerable, and respond to current and emerging research needs and priorities. Partnerships across regions and public-private initiatives are the way forward,” Ms Geoghegan-Quinn said.

University College Dublin is collaborating with eight African research sites and other universities to run clinical trials into therapy for HIV patients through the EDCTP.

Thursday, 19 January 2012 13:29

Written by Ruairi Kavanagh

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On January 7th, the feast of the Christian Orthodox celebration of Christmas, Serbian Prime Minister Boris Tadic made a highly publicised visit to Kosovo, to visit two important Orthodox religious sites. Visiting a country which his Government refuses to recognise, Tadic's visit necessitated a massive security operation involving the Kosovar Police, EULEX (the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo) with NATO led KFOR troops on stand-by.

The visit was sanctioned by the Kosovar Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, on the basis that it was a religious visit and Tadic was not to engage in any political debate or make any political statements. Then, outside the monastery of Istok, a journalist asked the Serbian Prime Minister if his government would ever recognise Kosovo as a nation? 'Never', was his succinct reply. He also vowed not to dismantle Serbian institutions which remain in Kosovo, arguing that they were vital for the Serb minority in the country. The next day, Kosovar Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci told Kosovar television that the Serbian Prime Minister would not be welcome again in Kosovo following his comments.

This swift verbal battle, played out via the media, is just the latest salvo in a continuing escalation of hostilities in relations between Pristina and Belgrade. The situation in Kosovo is reaching a critical phase. Aware that Serbia is eager to receive a roadmap to EU membership, the Pristina Government has, since late Summer, being trying to enforce its Northern borders in ethnically Serb areas. The first attempt to do so left one Kosovar police officer dead and another wounded, along with three civilians. Since then, Serbs have blockaded the region with a series of roadblocks and stand-offs with both NATO troops and both both EULEX and Kosovar Police.

Friday, 13 January 2012 15:20

Written by Niamh Griffin

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As the economic crisis deepens in Europe, reaching budget targets for overseas development is ambitious but realistic according to a spokeswoman for the bloc’s aid programmes.

“I can’t predict accurately, I don’t know what could happen …There will be a new graded co-operation so we won’t (always) provide direct aid,” Catherine Ray, spokesperson for the EU Commissioner for Development said. “But our aim is to make sure people see that increasing aid is not a luxury.”

The commissioner has proposed cutting bi-lateral aid to 19 countries including India and Indonesia who are now deemed to be emerging economies and no longer in need of direct aid.

Ray said it is important for aid budgets to remain predictable, saying at present projects are under the 2007-2013 budget so cannot be changed.