January 28, 2003
Tourism Rate Hits Record Despite Terrorism, U.N. Agency Says
Italy and India Agree to Control Smuggling of Cultural Assets
Sexual Abuse of Girls by Elders Causing AIDS Spread
Sexual abuse, often at the hands of guardians or caretakers, is fueling alarmingly high HIV/AIDS rates among Zambian girls, according to a report released today by Human Rights Watch. Suffering in Silence: Human Rights Abuses and HIV Transmission to Girls in Zambia chronicles numerous instances of sexual abuse, particularly among girls who have been orphaned by AIDS. The HIV rate for girls under 18 in Zambia is five times that of boys. Janet Fleischman, Washington director for Human Rights Watch's Africa Division and the author of the report, says that statistic is "no accident."
"Young girls are preyed upon by older men -- including those who dare call themselves guardians or caretakers of these girls -- and the government fails to protect them," she said. "Girls orphaned by AIDS face stigma and poverty and too often are unable to stay in school," she added. "They may have no recourse but to trade sex for survival -- their own survival and sometimes that of their siblings -- and they are rarely able to negotiate safer sex."
The report offers testimonies by girls, some as young as 12, who have been raped by uncles, stepfathers and brothers after the death of one or both parents has forced them into relatives' homes. Prostitution is another common route. According to Human Rights Watch, laws against sexual abuse are poorly enforced in Zambia, and insensitive handling of complaints keeps victims from reporting cases to the authorities.
Zambia is to receive $93 million for AIDS programs from the Global Fund on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis and $42 million from the World Bank in the coming years, though little of it is targeted at preventing sexual violence toward girls, Human Rights Watch said (Human Rights Watch release, Jan. 28). -keralamonitor.com
Tourism Rate Hits Record Despite Terrorism, U.N. Agency Says
International tourism hit a record high last year despite fears of terrorism, exceeding the 700 million mark in tourist arrivals for the first time, although travelers stayed closer to home, made shorter visits and spent less money, the World Tourism Organization said yesterday. The 715 million travelers last year marked a 3.1 percent increase over 2001, which had suffered a 0.6 percent drop from the year before because of the Sept. 11 U.S. terrorist attacks, the U.N. agency said. It added that domestic travel has risen dramatically because of these attacks, especially in the United States (Associated Press/Yahoo! News, Jan. 27).
Europe remained the most popular destination for international travelers, with an estimated 76.7 million people visiting France alone, while Asia and the Pacific replaced the Americas as the second most popular tourist destination, the agency said. North Africa felt the greatest effect from terrorist attacks, while the October Bali bombings has not seriously affected Indonesia's tourism statistics, the agency said, adding that this indicates that the global economic situation is a more powerful threat to international tourism than fear of terrorism (World Tourism Organization release, Jan. 27).
The agency expressed cautious optimism about the outlook for this year. "We have a lot of work to do to reaffirm positive trends, but first of all, to regain consumer confidence where needed," Secretary General Francesco Frangialli said (AP/Yahoo! News). -keralamonitor.com
Italy and India Agree to Control Smuggling of Cultural Assets
New Delhi, 28th January, 2003
India and Italy have agreed to cooperate against illegal trafficking of cultural assets and finding legal remedies for implementing and prohibiting illegal transfer of these assets. The two countries will work for identification and return of the works of art, which might have entered the two countries by illegal means. A cultural exchange programme to this effect was signed in the presence of visiting Cultural Minister of Italy Mr. Guiuliano Urbani and Minister of Tourism and Culture, Shri Jagmohan. Secretary, Culture, Shri Dhanender Kumar and Ambassador Francesco Aloisi de Larderel, Director General for Cultural Promotion and cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy signed the programme.
The Cultural Exchange Programme envisages cooperation between the two countries, broadly in the areas of archaeology, art, archives, museums, libraries and cinema. It proposes to encourage teaching of Italian language in India and Hindi and Sanskrit in Italy, for which university teachers will be exchanged. Both the countries have agreed to exchange of art and music, dance and theatre events. The Programme contemplates to work together for the protection of cultural heritage of both the countries, particularly in the area of restoration of cultural and art heritage. The relevant information and experience in the areas of conservation and heritage will be mutually exchanged.
Further, it proposes to exchange experts in the field of musicology and archaeological studies. Research projects in the area of archaeological studies will be encouraged and information and know-how in the area of archaeology and conservation will be mutually exchanged. In the area of book promotion and libraries, the Programme envisages to exchange of library experts between the two countries and to share information and technology for the restoration and preservation of valuable documents, books and manuscripts. It is also proposed to hold a publishing exhibition in India by Italy. The Programme also proposes to encourage translation of Italian literature in India and Indian literature in Italy. Modalities of the implementation of this Cultural Exchange programme will be worked out subsequently. This programme will be in force for a period of 3 years. -keralamonitor.com
Indian Government Planning Law Against Cybercrimes
New Delhi January 28, 2003 The Centre is contemplating a comprehensive legislation to deal effectively with cyber crimes. In this connection, the Ministry of Law and Justice has taken preliminary steps to evolve a law against cyber crimes. Necessary consultations with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Home Affairs, Defence and Finance are afoot to evolve such a law, which is most needed as absence of such a law poses a threat to the country's defence, security, economics and other such vital fields of national importance. Before the Government moves faster in the field of information technology and applying the same to all fields, the Government will like to put in place a comprehensive law to tackle cyber crimes.
Under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the rules framed thereunder, punishments have been provided for various cyber crimes within the frame of the existing criminal laws. But in view of the cyber crimes taking very sophisticated and menacing forms, a separate comprehensive law to provide deterrence has been suggested.
-keralamonitor.comIndia to Repay Foreign Currency Loan Ahead of Schedule
New Delhi: January 27, 2003
The Central Government has decided to repay prematurely two ADB and IBRD loans for $ 1254 million and $ 1549 million respectively in the current financial year, through the forex reserves of the country. This premature repayment will be financed entirely through domestic market borrowings. This swapping of fixed rate foreign currency debt with fixed rate rupee debt will be advantageous to the country. This is the first time that the Finance Ministry is repaying an external debt of this size, ahead of schedule.
