Top stories from DAWNS Digest
Huge Setback for Gay Rights in Africa
The most populous country in Sub-Saharan Africa passed a notorious jail-the-gays law. “A new law in Nigeria, signed by the president without announcement, has made it illegal for gay people to even hold a meeting. The Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act also criminalizes homosexual clubs, associations and organizations, with penalties of up to 14 years in jail. The act has drawn international condemnation from countries such as the United States and Britain. Some Nigerian gays already have fled the country because of intolerance of their sexual persuasion, and more are considering leaving, if the new law is enforced, human rights activist Olumide Makanjuola said recently.” (ABC http://abcn.ws/1a3dcfO)
Syria Humanitarian Pledging Conference Kicks Off–Largest in UN History
The United Nations is seeking is $6.5 billion to aid Syrians, its largest appeal ever, in a pledging conference in Kuwait. “Ban Ki-Moon will chair the one-day ministerial-level Second International Pledging Conference for Syria, which will be opened by Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah. UN Secretary General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator Nigel Fisher has told Kuwait’s official KUNA news agency that the funds will be used to aid some 13.4 million Syrians whom the United Nations estimates will be affected by the Syrian civil war by the end of 2014. The figure is higher than the original 10 million people announced by the United Nations seven months ago. The United Nations will need $2.3 billion to support 9.3 million people inside Syria and $4.2 billion for Syrian refugees, expected to nearly double to 4.1 million by year’s end.” (AFP http://yhoo.it/L24ByM)