What We’re Reading 2/4/09

Feb 4th, 2009 12:21 PM UTC
By Steve Wilson

Reuters—World crisis to cut Africa social spending: Oxfam
African governments and their donors will be forced to cut social spending in 2009 as a result of the global financial squeeze, Oxfam said yesterday. “We fear that there will be a possible reduction in social spending as the global financial crisis is likely to hit Africa hardest this year, forcing governments to cut back on protection programs,” said Eve Odete, Oxfam’s Pan-Africa Policy Officer. Oxfam said donor countries are unlikely to meet their aid commitments because the current global financial crisis is unprecedented and its effects will be wide reaching.

Afrique en ligne—African First Ladies call for more political power to check HIV/AIDS
Ethiopia’s First Lady Azeb Mesfin Tuesday called for greater political power for women to prop their influence in the war against the threat of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis on the continent. As the newly-elected president of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS, Mesfin said that marginalization of women in mainstream politics denied them the clout they needed to influence important decisions on social and economic development of African women.

Sudan: U.S. Envoy to U.N. Speaks Out on Darfur
Susan Rice, the American ambassador to the United Nations, called on Sudan to protect civilians in Muhajiriya, in Darfur, where fighting has erupted. While the rebel attack that provoked the clashes was “of grave concern,” she said that “the onus is on the government to halt all aerial bombardment.”

International Herald-Tribune—Too partisan on AIDS relief
The International Herald Tribune criticizes the dismissal of U.S. global AIDS coordinator Mark Dybul in an editorial, saying that the sudden move was motivated more by partisanship than by the goal to save lives.

-Steve Wilson

TAGS: Policy News, What We're Reading