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Unami

Accountability for Domestic violence in Iraq: Promoting justice and non-discrimination [EN/AR]

Post author By jeff
Post date March 8, 2024
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UNAMI/OHCHR Report Calls for Further Measures to Address Domestic Violence in Iraq

Baghdad, 07 March 2024 – Ahead of the International Women’s Day, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have jointly released a comprehensive report entitled “Accountability for Domestic violence in Iraq: Promoting justice and non-discrimination.” EN/AR

The findings of the report are derived from a comprehensive analysis of data, including a review of 100 domestic violence court cases in Baghdad, Kirkuk, and Mosul, trial hearing observations, examination of court judgments and meetings with judges, lawyers, prosecutors, government officials, survivors and their families, as well as civil society. A draft of the report was shared with relevant government ministries through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their comments have been taken into account in the final version.

UNAMI/OHCHR recognize that Iraq has implemented several positive measures to address domestic violence, such as the adoption of two national strategies and the establishment of the Directorate of Family and Child Protection against Domestic Violence, as well as the assignment of specifically nominated judges in misdemeanor courts for domestic violence cases.

However, the report underscores how domestic violence remains a form of discrimination that significantly hinders women’s enjoyment of their rights and freedoms, and emphasizes the impact of social stigma and other barriers preventing survivors from reporting incidents. The report further highlights the limited scope and effectiveness of investigations, which often result in a lack of justice, remedy, or protection for survivors. The absence of a legal protection framework, particularly a law on domestic violence in conformity with international standards, exacerbates the lack of awareness among the public and law enforcement agencies and poses substantial challenges in addressing criminal violence within homes.

In light…

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Nanticoke

Nanticoke/West Nanticoke Bridge plans dominate first Luzerne County manager town hall meeting

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Post date March 8, 2024
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The Nanticoke/West Nanticoke Bridge dominated Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo’s first town hall meeting Thursday night at Nanticoke City Hall, with questions about which solution will be selected.

County officials are exploring options for the county-owned span over the Susquehanna River, which connects Nanticoke and Plymouth Township, because the bridge was downgraded to a 15-ton weight limit in 2020 due to issues found in an inspection.

The partial replacement recommended by Alfred Benesch and Associates would cost an estimated $39.6 million. The company was hired by the county to study the bridge and determine the “best and most economical option.”

This plan would replace the three truss spans with four new steel bridge spans on new piers, replace the beams and deck on the 21 approaching spans and repair existing piers and abutments. The bridge would be widened to 32 feet and equipped with an added right turning lane onto Route 11. These additions could accommodate potential future industrial development in the area of the bridge, Benesch representatives have said.

The top of piers would be widened to support extra beam lines needed for the wider deck.

Some local officials and residents are pushing for full replacement, which would cost $64 million based on the engineer’s estimate.

The county has access to $55 million from casino gambling revenue, which means another $9 million would have to be found if a council majority chooses a new bridge.

Some council members also have pointed out that using the entire $55 million casino-funded infrastructure pool on the Nanticoke/West Nanticoke bridge would leave no funds to cover other roadway projects that had been on the county’s list for completion if funds remained.

County officials said the partial replacement option recommended by Benesch addresses the same safety…

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Mohegan

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Post date March 8, 2024
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Munsee

A small earthquake and ‘Moodus Noises’ are nothing new for one Connecticut town

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Post date March 8, 2024
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EAST HAMPTON, Conn. (AP) — Donna Lindstrom was lying in bed and looking at her phone Wednesday morning when she heard a loud bang that rattled her 19th-century house in the central Connecticut town of East Hampton.

Soon, the 66-year-old retired delivery driver and dozens of other town residents were on social media, discussing the latest occurrence of strange explosive sounds and rumblings known for hundreds of years as the “Moodus Noises.”

“It was like a sonic boom,” Lindstrom said. “It was a real short jolt and loud. It felt deep, deep, deep.”

It was indeed a tiny earthquake with a magnitude of 1.7, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Robert Thorson, an earth sciences professor at the University of Connecticut, said booms, rumblings and rattling have been recorded in the East Hampton area, including the nearby village of Moodus, for centuries, dating back well before a larger earthquake, recorded on May 16, 1791, knocked down stone walls and chimneys.

In fact, Moodus is short for “Machimoodus” or “Mackimoodus,” which means “place of bad noises” in the Algonquian dialects once spoken in the area. A local high school has even nicknamed their teams “The Noises,” in honor of that history.

The occurrences were frequent enough that the federal government, worried about the possible effect of seismic activity on the nearby, now-decommissioned Haddam Neck Nuclear Power Plant, conducted a study of the “Moodus Noises” in the late 1980s, Thorson said.

What they found was that the noises were the result of small but unusually shallow seismic displacements within an unusually strong and brittle crust, where the sound is amplified by rock fractures and topography, he said.

“There is something about Moodus that is tectonic that is creating these noises there,” Thorson said. “And then there is something acoustic that…

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Lenni Lenape

Here is why streetwork is being done on Baker’s Hill, one of Topeka’s steepest slopes

Post author By jeff
Post date March 7, 2024
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The streetwork being done on one of Topeka’s steepest hills is aimed at replacing failed concrete, not reducing its slope.

“Road closed” signs currently block motorists from using Baker’s Hill, located on S.E. 21st Street just east of S.E. Wittenberg Road.

Bettis Asphalt & Construction of Topeka is working under contract with the city to replace 275 feet of failed concrete on S.E. 21st, beginning about 140 feet east of Wittenberg, said Taylor Bugg, interim co-communications director for Topeka’s city government.

“We expect work to be complete by early April,” she said.

This photo was taken about two months ago looking eastward up Baker’s Hill, just east of S.E. 21st and Wittenberg Road.

S.E. 21st is the boundary between the city of Topeka and unincorporated Shawnee County in the area involved.

Members of the Topeka and Shawnee County News & Police Scanner Facebook group in December identified Baker’s Hill as one place drivers should avoid in particular when streets get slick. They shared that information in response to a query from The Capital-Journal.

Some know it as “Bigger’s Hill,” one group member said.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Project aims to replace concrete on one of Topeka’s steepest slopes

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Munsee

NEH grant expands horizons for Ramapo’s digital humanities programs

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Post date March 7, 2024
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Dr. Sarah Koenig, assistant professor of American studies, was recently awarded the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), a grant that will help grow Ramapo’s digital humanities program.

The grant is approximately $150,000, the largest awarded in the state of New Jersey. The money will be used to train and support faculty and students but also to help partner communities, like public schools and the Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation, learn how to use digital tools and work on their own projects.

“I love teaching in the American Studies convening group because it lets me combine my interests in American history, American religion, and American culture,” said Koenig in an email with The Ramapo News.

Koenig’s research focuses on how Americans have narrated history, looking particularly at the American West, the taking of Native American lands and how religion has shaped encounters between Native Americans and European settlers.

These events are interesting to Koenig because, despite happening in the 19th and 20th centuries, the events she studies still affect Americans today.

“The way we narrate history tells us a lot about our hopes, fears, and values,” Koenig stated. “History can seem like a just series of facts, but it’s also about interpretation: we make decisions about what to emphasize, what to leave out, and how to depict different people and actions.”

In the past, Koenig has worked on three digital humanities projects at Ramapo. The first was “The Human Side of a Pandemic: A Ramapo College Digital Humanities Project,” which was a project where Ramapo students collected oral histories of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The second is titled “Mapping the Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation,” which is an interactive map that features important Ramapough Munsee Lenape places and histories. The third project Koenig has worked on at Ramapo is called…

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Unami

UN Report Urges Iraq to Enhance Domestic Violence Protections, Highlights Legal Gaps

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Post date March 7, 2024
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The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have jointly released a pivotal report underlining the urgent need for Iraq to bolster its domestic violence protections. This comprehensive analysis draws from a sweeping review of 100 domestic violence court cases across Baghdad, Kirkuk, and Mosul, alongside observations of trial hearings, examinations of court judgments, and extensive stakeholder interviews.

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Current Measures and Persistent Challenges

Iraq has taken significant steps towards addressing domestic violence, including the adoption of national strategies and the establishment of specialized directorates and courtroom positions. Despite these advancements, the report stresses that domestic violence continues to act as a discriminating force, severely limiting women’s rights and freedoms. A critical issue highlighted is the social stigma and various barriers that deter survivors from reporting incidents, compounded by the ineffectiveness of investigations leading to a concerning absence of justice, remedy, or protection for survivors. Additionally, the lack of a comprehensive legal framework on domestic violence in line with international standards is pinpointed as a major hurdle in effectively combating this issue.

Recommendations for a Holistic Approach

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The UNAMI/OHCHR report sets forth a series of urgent recommendations aimed at enhancing the judicial process related to domestic violence cases. It calls for the Iraqi government to adopt a comprehensive, survivor-centered approach that includes legislative reforms, specialized training for law enforcement and judicial personnel, improved support services for survivors, and heightened public awareness campaigns. These measures are deemed essential for ensuring effective reporting, protection, and accountability in cases of domestic violence, aligning with international human rights standards.

Future Collaborations and Expectations

In a move towards constructive collaboration, UNAMI/OHCHR express their readiness to work closely with the Iraqi Government in implementing these recommended measures. The goal is…

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Nanticoke

Nanticoke Man Slapped with 78-Month Sentence for Major Fentanyl Operation

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Post date March 7, 2024
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SCRANTON, PA — A Nanticoke, Pennsylvania resident, 32-year-old Dario George, has been sentenced to a stern 78 months in prison. The sentence came down on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, from U.S. District Court Judge Malachy Mannion, for the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.

George had previously pleaded guilty to distributing between 280 grams and 400 grams of the deadly opioid fentanyl in the Luzerne County area over the course of 2021 and 2022. United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam revealed these details, shedding light on the severity of George’s operation.

The charges hinged on an investigation during which investigators made four separate purchases of fentanyl directly from George. Then, on May 19, 2022, the authorities obtained a search warrant for George’s residence in Nanticoke. The search unearthed a staggering 30,000 individual bags of fentanyl, alongside additional amounts of heroin and cocaine, $8,098 in U.S. currency, and drug packaging materials.

This large-scale operation was brought down thanks to the diligent work of the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara expertly prosecuted the case, leading to this significant sentence.

The case highlights the ongoing battle against drug distribution, particularly the deadly opioid fentanyl, and the commitment of local and federal agencies to keep Pennsylvania communities safe.

For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News.

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Mohegan

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Post date March 7, 2024
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Mohican

Stay in a Treehouse in the Heart of Amish Country

Post author By jeff
Post date March 7, 2024
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Ohio’s Amish County is a popular spot for exploring markets, restaurants (like Boyd & Wurthmann!), and shops, and if you’re visiting the area, you need a solid home base. Enter Amish Country Lodging and their treehouses in Berlin, Ohio! Amish Country Lodging offers a variety of lodges, cottages, and treehouses throughout the region, and they invited us to stay in one of the Skyview Treehouses.

The Skyview Treehouse is a two-story treehouse with a crows nest. It sleeps six, with a pair of king beds and a couple twin beds. It features some nice outdoor spaces and a hot tub. Like the other Skyview Treehouses, it sits on an elevated piece of their property, so it offers some pretty nice views.