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Core Specialty ouvre la voie en matière d’innovation avec les solutions SaaS basées sur le cloud de Duck Creek via la place de marché Azure de Microsoft

BOSTON, 27 mars 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duck Creek Technologies, le fournisseur de solutions intelligentes qui dessine les futurs contours du secteur de l’assurance générale et IARD (incendies, accidents et risques divers), présente Core Specialty comme son premier client effectuant des transactions grâce à son abonnement Duck Creek OnDemand sur la place de marché de Microsoft à utiliser son Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) existant.

Duck Creek et Microsoft améliorent l’expérience client et rationalisent les transactions pour les assureurs spécialisés dans les technologies comme Core Specialty. En tant que leader innovant dans le secteur de l’assurance, Core Specialty reconnaît la valeur stratégique de l’acquisition de produits Software–as–a–Service (SaaS) via la place de marché Azure. Cette approche permet à Core Specialty d’appliquer ses paiements de frais pour les SaaS de Duck Creek en créditant son MACC, et simplifie le processus de facturation grâce à une facture groupée.

En tant qu’assureur spécialisé dans les technologies immergé dans l’innovation constante en matière de produits et cherchant toujours à élargir ses activités, Core Specialty bénéficie de la présence de Duck Creek sur la place de marché commerciale. Cette relation entre Duck Creek et Microsoft génère des résultats à fort impact pour les assureurs en matière d’évolutivité, de sécurité et de durabilité, mais aussi en ce qui concerne la mise sur le marché rapide de technologies innovantes et émergentes.

« Nous sommes fiers de soutenir Core Specialty sur la voie de la croissance, de l’innovation et de l’excellence des services pour ses clients et ses partenaires de distribution grâce à nos solutions de classe mondiale et à notre expertise dans le secteur », a déclaré Mike Jackowski, PDG de Duck Creek Technologies. « La décision de rendre les solutions de Duck Creek disponibles sur la place de marché Azure de Microsoft est stratégique, et ajoute une valeur considérable pour les assureurs en alignant leur relation et leurs investissements auprès de Duck Creek et de Microsoft avec des résultats percutants ».

« Le succès de Duck Creek auprès de Core Specialty Insurance démontre l’immense possibilité en matière de partenariat que constitue le fait de se baser sur Azure de Microsoft et de vendre des solutions via la place de marché Azure. Cela permet de rationaliser la stratégie de transition vers le cloud de Core Specialty à travers des solutions SaaS et de transaction. Cela souligne la puissance de la collaboration, avec des fournisseurs de technologies et des assureurs innovants qui s’associent pour encourager l’innovation, améliorer l’expérience client et transformer le paysage des assurances. À mesure que nous poursuivons notre effort d’autonomiser le secteur des services financiers, des relations comme celles–ci illustrent le véritable potentiel du cloud et de l’écosystème de partenaires Microsoft », a déclaré Karen Del Vescovo, Vice–présidente des services financiers chez Microsoft.

« Chez Core Specialty, notre engagement à répondre aux besoins de nos clients et de nos courtiers est inébranlable », a déclaré Jeff Consolino, Fondateur, président–directeur général et chef de la direction chez Core Specialty. « Grâce à nos relations avec Duck Creek et Microsoft, nous avons mis davantage l’accent sur l’utilisation des technologies pour améliorer l’expérience client. Ces relations nous permettent de respecter notre engagement à fournir un service exceptionnel et des solutions innovantes ».

Découvrez plus d’informations à propos de la place de marché Azure et la manière dont les assureurs disposant de crédits Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) peuvent utiliser leurs dépenses pour des solutions de Duck Creek OnDemand, ainsi que du contenu concernant la politique, la tarification, la facturation, les réclamations, la production, la vision, la gestion de la distribution et le secteur.

À propos de Core Specialty

Core Specialty propose une gamme diversifiée de produits d’assurance spécialisés pour les petites et moyennes entreprises. Depuis ses bureaux de souscription répartis aux États–Unis, la société se concentre sur les marchés de niche, la distribution locale et ses connaissances supérieures en matière de souscription, offrant ainsi des solutions d’assurance traditionnelles et innovantes pour répondre aux besoins de ses clients et courtiers. Core Specialty est une société holding d’assurance opérant par l’intermédiaire de StarStone Specialty Insurance Company, un assureur américain spécialisé dans les assurances excédentaires, et de StarStone National Insurance Company, Lancer Insurance Company et Lancer Insurance Company of New Jersey, chacune étant un assureur de marchés reconnu aux États–Unis, et Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, un assureur spécialisé dans les assurances vie, accidents et santé. Toutes les entités d’assurance de Core Specialty ont reçu la note AM Best A – (Excellent). Pour obtenir plus d’informations à propos de Core Specialty, veuillez consulter le site www.corespecialty.com.

À propos de Duck Creek Technologies

Duck Creek Technologies est le fournisseur de solutions intelligentes qui dessine les futurs contours du secteur de l’assurance générale et IARD (incendies, accidents et risques divers). Les systèmes d’assurance modernes se reposent sur nos solutions et capitalisent sur le potentiel du cloud pour mener des opérations agiles, intelligentes et évolutives. Authenticité, détermination et transparence, voilà les maîtres–mots de la philosophie de Duck Creek. Pour nous, l’assurance est au service des particuliers et des entreprises, au moment, à l’endroit et de la manière dont ils en ont le plus besoin. Nos solutions, leaders du marché, sont commercialisées à l’unité ou sous forme de suite packagée, et sont toutes disponibles sur la page : Duck Creek OnDemand. Consultez le site www.duckcreek.com pour en savoir plus. Suivez–nous sur les réseaux pour découvrir nos dernières informations : LinkedIn et X.

Contacts auprès des médias :
Dennis Dougherty
dennis.dougherty@duckcreek.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9080239)

Core Specialty ist Vorreiter in Sachen Innovation mit Cloud-basierten SaaS-Lösungen von Duck Creek über Microsoft Azure Marketplace

BOSTON, March 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duck Creek Technologies, der Anbieter intelligenter Lösungen, der die Zukunft der Schaden– und Unfallversicherung definiert, hebt Core Specialty als seinen ersten Kunden hervor, der sein Duck Creek OnDemand–Abonnement auf dem kommerziellen Marktplatz von Microsoft abgeschlossen hat, um sein bestehendes Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) zu nutzen.

Duck Creek und Microsoft verbessern das Kundenerlebnis und rationalisieren die Transaktionen für technologieorientierte Versicherer wie Core Specialty. Als zukunftsorientierter Marktführer in der Versicherungsbranche erkennt Core Specialty den strategischen Wert des Erwerbs von Software–as–a–Service (SaaS)–Produkten über den Azure Marketplace. Dieser Ansatz ermöglicht es Core Specialty, seine Duck Creek SaaS–Gebührenzahlungen als Gutschrift auf seinen MACC zu verwenden und vereinfacht den Abrechnungsprozess durch eine konsolidierte Rechnung.

Als technologieorientierter Versicherer, der auf kontinuierliche Produktinnovation und Geschäftserweiterung setzt, profitiert Core Specialty von Duck Creeks Präsenz auf dem kommerziellen Marktplatz. Die Beziehung zwischen Duck Creek und Microsoft führt zu bedeutenden Ergebnissen für Versicherer in Bezug auf Skalierbarkeit, Sicherheit und Nachhaltigkeit und ermöglicht eine schnelle Markteinführung innovativer und neuer Technologien.

„Wir sind stolz darauf, Core Specialty auf seinem Weg zu Wachstum, Innovation und exzellentem Service für seine Kunden und Vertriebspartner durch unsere erstklassigen Lösungen und Branchenkenntnisse zu unterstützen“, so Mike Jackowski, Chief Executive Officer von Duck Creek Technologies. „Die Entscheidung, die Lösungen von Duck Creek auf dem Microsoft Azure Marketplace verfügbar zu machen, ist ein strategischer Schritt, der einen erheblichen Mehrwert für Versicherer darstellt, indem die Beziehung und die Investitionen von Duck Creek und Microsoft auf wirkungsvolle Ergebnisse ausgerichtet werden.“

„Die Gewinnung von Core Specialty Insurance als Kunden von Duck Creek zeigt die enormen Möglichkeiten, die sich für Partner ergeben, wenn sie auf Microsoft Azure aufbauen und Lösungen über den Azure Marketplace verkaufen, was dazu führt, dass die Cloud–Transformationsstrategie von Core Specialty über SaaS und transaktionsfähige Lösungen hinweg optimiert wird. Dies unterstreicht die Stärke der Zusammenarbeit, bei der zukunftsweisende Technologieanbieter und Versicherer zusammenkommen, um Innovationen voranzutreiben, das Kundenerlebnis zu verbessern und die Versicherungslandschaft zu verändern. Unsere kontinuierliche Unterstützung der Finanzdienstleistungsbranche und Beziehungen wie diese sind ein Beispiel für das wahre Potenzial der Cloud und des Partner–Ökosystems von Microsoft“, so Karen Del Vescovo, CVP Financial Services, Microsoft.

„Bei Core Specialty sind wir stets bestrebt, die Bedürfnisse unserer Kunden und Makler zu erfüllen“, so Jeff Consolino, Gründer, President und Chief Executive Officer von Core Specialty. „Durch die Zusammenarbeit mit Duck Creek und Microsoft haben wir unseren Schwerpunkt auf den Einsatz von Technologie zur Verbesserung des Kundenerlebnisses verstärkt. Diese Beziehung ermöglicht es uns, unser Engagement für herausragenden Service und innovative Lösungen fortzusetzen.“

Erfahren Sie mehr über den Azure Marketplace und wie Versicherer mit Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC)– Gutschriften ihre Ausgaben für OnDemand–Lösungen von Duck Creek verwenden können, einschließlich der Verwaltung von Policen, Bewertungen, Abrechnungen, Schadensfällen, Herstellern, Einblicken, Vertrieb und Brancheninhalten.

Über Core Specialty

Core Specialty bietet ein breit gefächertes Angebot an Spezialversicherungsprodukten für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen. Von seinen Versicherungsbüros in den USA aus konzentriert sich das Unternehmen auf Nischenmärkte, lokalen Vertrieb und hervorragendes Underwriting–Know–how und bietet sowohl traditionelle als auch innovative Versicherungslösungen an, um die Bedürfnisse seiner Kunden und Makler zu erfüllen. Core Specialty ist eine Versicherungsholding, die über die StarStone Specialty Insurance Company, einen US–amerikanischen Exzedenten– und Überschussversicherer, und die StarStone National Insurance Company, die Lancer Insurance Company und die Lancer Insurance Company of New Jersey, allesamt in den USA zugelassene Versicherer, sowie die Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, einen Lebens–, Unfall– und Krankenversicherer, tätig ist. Alle Versicherungseinheiten von Core Specialty werden von AM Best mit A– (Excellent) bewertet. Für weitere Informationen über Core Specialty besuchen Sie bitte www.corespecialty.com.

Über Duck Creek Technologies

Duck Creek Technologies ist der Anbieter intelligenter Lösungen, der die Zukunft der Schaden– und Unfall– sowie der allgemeinen Versicherungsbranche gestaltet. Wir sind die Plattform, auf der moderne Versicherungssysteme aufgebaut werden und die es der Branche ermöglicht, die Leistungsfähigkeit der Cloud zu nutzen, um agile, intelligente und zukunftssichere Prozesse zu betreiben. Authentizität, Zweckmäßigkeit und Transparenz sind für Duck Creek von zentraler Bedeutung. Wir sind der Meinung, dass Versicherungen für Privatpersonen und Unternehmen verfügbar sein sollten, wann, wo und wie sie diese am meisten brauchen. Unsere marktführenden Lösungen sind einzeln oder als Komplettpaket verfügbar, und alle sind erhältlich über Duck Creek OnDemand. Besuchen Sie www.duckcreek.com, um mehr zu erfahren. Folgen Sie Duck Creek auf unseren sozialen Kanälen für aktuelle Informationen –LinkedIn und X.

Medienkontakte:
Dennis Dougherty
dennis.dougherty@duckcreek.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9080239)

Core Specialty Lidera Caminho da Inovação com Soluções SaaS Baseadas em Nuvem da Duck Creek via Microsoft Azure Marketplace

BOSTON, March 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Duck Creek Technologies, fornecedora de soluções inteligentes que definem o futuro do seguro de propriedade e acidentes (P&C) e geral, destaca a Core Specialty como primeiro cliente a utilizar sua assinatura Duck Creek OnDemand no marketplace comercial da Microsoft para usar seu Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC).

A Duck Creek e a Microsoft estão aprimorando a experiência do cliente e simplificando as transações para seguradoras centradas em tecnologia, como a Core Specialty. Como líder voltada para o futuro do setor de seguros, a Core Specialty reconhece o valor estratégico da aquisição de produtos de software como serviço (SaaS) no Azure Marketplace. Essa abordagem permite que a Core Specialty aplique seus pagamentos de taxa SaaS da Duck Creek como crédito ao seu MACC e simplifique o processo de faturamento por meio de uma fatura consolidada.

Uma seguradora focada em tecnologia, imersa em inovação contínua de produtos e expansão de negócios, a Core Specialty se beneficia com a presença da Duck Creek no mercado comercial. Essa relação entre a Duck Creek e a Microsoft gera resultados impactantes para as seguradoras no que diz respeito à escalabilidade, segurança e sustentabilidade, além do lançamento de tecnologias inovadoras e emergentes mais rapidamente no mercado .

“Temos orgulho do nosso apoio à Core Specialty no seu caminho para o crescimento, inovação e excelência de serviços para seus clientes e parceiros de distribuição, com as nossas soluções de classe mundial e experiência no setor”, disse Mike Jackowski, Diretor Executivo da Duck Creek Technologies. “A disponibilização das soluções da Duck Creek no Microsoft Azure Marketplace é uma decisão estratégica que agrega valor substancial para as seguradoras, pois alinha o relacionamento e investimentos da Duck Creek e da Microsoft com resultados impactantes.”

“A conquista da Duck Creek da Core Specialty Insurance demonstra a imensa oportunidade do parceiro de desenvolvimento no Microsoft Azure e de venda de soluções no Azure Marketplace, resultando na simplificação da estratégia de transformação em nuvem da Core Specialty com soluções SaaS e transacionáveis. Isso ressalta o poder da colaboração, onde provedores e seguradoras de tecnologia com visão do futuro se unem para impulsionar a inovação, aprimorar as experiências do cliente e transformar o cenário de seguros. À medida que continuamos a capacitar o setor de serviços financeiros, relacionamentos como esses exemplificam o verdadeiro potencial da nuvem e do ecossistema de parceiros da Microsoft”, disse Karen Del Vescovo, CVP Financial Services da Microsoft.

“A dedicação da Core Specialty ao atendimento das necessidades dos nossos clientes e corretores é inabalável”, disse Jeff Consolino, Fundador, Presidente e Diretor Executivo da Core Specialty. “Com o nosso relacionamento com a Duck Creek e a Microsoft, destacamos ainda mais o uso da tecnologia para elevar a experiência do cliente. Esse relacionamento nos capacita a manter nosso compromisso de oferecer um serviço excepcional e soluções inovadoras.”

Saiba mais sobre o Azure Marketplace e como as seguradoras com créditos do Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) podem usar suas despesas com as soluções OnDemand da Duck Creek, incluindo apólice, classificação, faturamento, sinistros, produtor, insights, gerenciamento de distribuição e conteúdo do setor.

Sobre a Core Specialty

A Core Specialty oferece uma gama diversificada de produtos de seguros especializados para pequenas e médias empresas. Com seus escritórios de subscrição nos EUA, a empresa se concentra em nichos de mercado, distribuição local e conhecimento superior de subscrição; oferecendo soluções de seguros tradicionais e inovadoras para atender às necessidades dos seus clientes e corretores. A Core Specialty é uma holding de seguros que opera através da StarStone Specialty Insurance Company, uma seguradora de linhas excedentes e surplus dos EUA, e da StarStone National Insurance Company, Lancer Insurance Company e Lancer Insurance Company de Nova Jersey, seguradoras de mercados aprovadas nos EUA e da Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, uma seguradora de vida, acidentes e saúde. Todas as entidades da Core Specialty Insurance são classificadas AM Best A– (Excelente). Para mais informações sobre a Core Specialty, visite www.corespecialty.com.

Sobre a Duck Creek Technologies

A Duck Creek Technologies é fornecedora de soluções inteligentes que definem o futuro do setor de seguros de propriedade e acidentes (P&C) e geral. Somos a plataforma utilizadas como base dos sistemas de seguros modernos, permitindo que a indústria capitalize o poder da nuvem para executar operações ágeis, inteligentes e perenes. Autenticidade, propósito e transparência são fundamentais para a Duck Creek, e acreditamos que o seguro deve estar disponível para indivíduos e empresas quando, onde e como eles mais precisarem. Nossas soluções líderes do mercado estão disponíveis de forma independente ou como um pacote completo disponíveis em Duck Creek OnDemand. Visite www.duckcreek.com para obter mais informação. Siga a Duck Creek nos nossos canais sociais para obter as mais recentes informações – LinkedIn e X.

Contato com a Mídia:
Dennis Dougherty
dennis.dougherty@duckcreek.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9080239)

Hisense Returns to 2024 Proudly SA Buy Local Summit

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hisense, a global leader in consumer electronics and home appliances, is proud to announce its participation in the 2024 Proudly South African Buy Local Summit. The event, which took place at the Sandton Convention Centre, brought together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and consumers to celebrate and support local businesses.

At the heart of Hisense's participation is its commitment to technological excellence and supporting local businesses. The company was showcasing its Smart Fridges and Hero Mini–LED Pro model TVs, which recently won the prestigious 2024 TV Brand of the Year Award from Mybroadband and the No.2 Global TV Shipment spot from Omdia.

Luna Nortje, Deputy General Manager for Hisense South Africa, emphasized the company's commitment to local economic growth, stating, “We actively encourage and support local businesses and entrepreneurs to participate in manufacturing locally. By fostering innovation and collaboration within our community, we aim to build a sustainable ecosystem that benefits both Hisense and our local partners, while building a better future for South Africa, one job at a time.” Hisense, with its infrastructure in South Africa including warehouses, a factory, and other facilities, has been instrumental in creating over 5000 jobs directly and indirectly in South Africa. This commitment to job creation and economic development is a cornerstone of Hisense's operations.

At Hisense, we believe that supporting local communities goes hand in hand with our commitment to manufacturing and trading locally. It's not just about producing and selling products; it's about uplifting the people and places that make our operations possible. We donated over R100,000 to selected charities associated with the event, pledging R5 for every cyclist who crossed the finish line of the Cape Town Cycle Tour. Despite another donation of a Side by Side Fridge to the Fountain of Hope Foundation, we've gone further by inviting their children to tour our Atlantis Factory. This initiative aims to broaden their horizons and open their minds to endless possibilities, contributing to a brighter future for our communities. These initiatives are just a glimpse of our ongoing efforts to create a lasting impact and uplift our communities.

The 2024 Proudly South African Buy Local Summit is a vibrant platform for businesses to connect, learn, and collaborate towards a stronger local economy. Hisense's participation underscores its dedication to innovation, job creation, and economic growth in South Africa.

Contact
Henru van der Merwe – henru.vandermerwe@hisense.com 

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4b555e29–dba4–4dc3–b27c–045dfd7b0ef8


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1000931711)

Core Specialty Leads the Way in Innovation with Duck Creek's Cloud-based SaaS Solutions via Microsoft Azure Marketplace

Through their relationship with Microsoft, Duck Creek is redefining the customer experience and simplifying transactions for technology–focused insurers like Core Specialty

BOSTON, March 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duck Creek Technologies, the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, highlights Core Specialty as its inaugural customer transacting its Duck Creek OnDemand subscription on Microsoft’s commercial marketplace to use its existing Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC).

Duck Creek and Microsoft are enhancing customer experience and streamlining transactions for technology–centric insurers such as Core Specialty. As a forward–facing leader in the insurance industry, Core Specialty recognizes the strategic value of acquiring software–as–a–service (SaaS) products through the Azure Marketplace. This approach allows Core Specialty to apply its Duck Creek SaaS fee payments as a credit to its MACC and simplifies the billing process through a consolidated invoice.

As a technology–focused insurer immersed in continuous product innovation and business expansion, Core Specialty benefits from Duck Creek's presence in the commercial marketplace. This relationship between Duck Creek and Microsoft drives impactful results for insurers with regard to scalability, security, and sustainability, as well as getting to market quickly with innovative and emerging technologies.

“We take pride in championing Core Specialty on their path to growth, innovation, and service excellence for both their customers and distribution partners through our world–class solutions and industry expertise,” said Mike Jackowski, Chief Executive Officer, Duck Creek Technologies. “The decision to make Duck Creek solutions available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace is a strategic move and adds substantial value for insurers by aligning their Duck Creek and Microsoft relationship and investments with impactful results.”

“Duck Creek’s win with Core Specialty Insurance demonstrates the immense partner opportunity of building on Microsoft Azure and selling solutions via the Azure Marketplace, resulting in streamlining Core Specialty’s cloud transformation strategy across SaaS and transactable solutions. This underscores the power of collaboration, where forward–thinking technology providers and insurers come together to drive innovation, enhance customer experiences, and transform the insurance landscape. As we continue to empower the financial services industry, relationships like these exemplify the true potential of the cloud and the Microsoft partner ecosystem,” said Karen Del Vescovo, CVP Financial Services, Microsoft.

“At Core Specialty, our dedication to meeting the needs of our customers and brokers is unwavering,” said Jeff Consolino, Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer, Core Specialty. “Through our relationship with Duck Creek and Microsoft, we have heightened our emphasis on using technology to elevate the customer experience. This relationship empowers us to uphold our commitment to delivering exceptional service and innovative solutions.”

Learn more about the Azure Marketplace and how insurers with Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) credits can use their spend towards Duck Creek’s OnDemand solutions, including policy, rating, billing, claims, producer, insights, distribution management, and industry content.

About Core Specialty

Core Specialty offers a diversified range of specialty insurance products for small to mid–sized companies. From its underwriting offices spanning the U.S., the company focuses on niche markets, local distribution, and superior underwriting knowledge; offering traditional as well as innovative insurance solutions to meet the needs of its customers and brokers. Core Specialty is an insurance holding company operating through StarStone Specialty Insurance Company, a U.S. excess & surplus lines insurer, and StarStone National Insurance Company, Lancer Insurance Company, and Lancer Insurance Company of New Jersey, each of which is a U.S. admitted markets insurer and Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, a life, accident, and health insurer. All Core Specialty Insurance entities are AM Best rated A– (Excellent). For further information about Core Specialty, please visit www.corespecialty.com.

About Duck Creek Technologies

Duck Creek Technologies is the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market–leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information – LinkedIn and X.

Media Contacts:
Dennis Dougherty
dennis.dougherty@duckcreek.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9079456)

The Gambia Must Not Repeal FGM Ban

Nimco Ali, CEO, The Five Foundation (center), meeting with Andrew Mitchell, (right) Minister for Development, UK, and Harriet King (left), UK High Commissioner to The Gambia. Credit: The Five Foundation

By Alimatu Dimonekene
LONDON, Mar 27 2024 – Earlier this month, a UNICEF report on the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) showed that while some success is taking place, the pace of progress remains slow – lagging behind population growth, especially in places where FGM is most common.

The report revealed that over 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM – a 15 per cent increase, or 30 million more girls and women, compared to the data released eight years ago. The largest share of the global burden is found in African countries, with over 144 million cases, followed by over 80 million in Asia and over 6 million in the Middle East.

As the 68th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) concluded last week I became particularly anxious for the women and girls of The Gambia. As advocates from around the world arrived in New York to attend the annual event hosted by the United Nations, our excitement was quickly dissolved.

Just hours before, we had learned from our Gambian colleagues that religious leaders — predominantly men including politicians — were voting to repeal a law passed almost 10 years ago by former President Yayah Janneh, which banned the practice of FGM. In that time a law that has saved thousands of girls and women undergoing this devastating human rights abuse.

It came as a shock. However, as world leaders scrambled on what to do or say following the news it was African women including Jaha Dukureh from Safe Hands for Girls, Fatou Baldeh MBE from Women in Liberation and Leadership, Nimco Ali OBE from The Five Foundation, who showed leadership during one of our most challenging times.

Survivors and activists were relentless in our pursuits. In a few days, many of us took to the media, as well as anywhere we could gather within our communities to say no to repealing the law.

This is a crucial moment for the FGM campaign, which could have even further negative consequences for Gambian women and girls. This fight is not just a call to repeal the law on FGM but if this request succeeds, we are going to see a widespread roll back on other fundamental rights of women and girls.

Fatou Kinteh, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs said in a statement at a meeting at CSW68 that: “Women cannot be empowered if their rights continue to be violated“. Yet, this same government is putting them at risk.

World leaders must confront so-called religious leaders too including Imam Fatty who issued this very carefully planned fatwa, even while FGM is still illegal. Leaders like Imam Fatty are very determined to roll back the progress made in the Gambia in the last 10 years. His pronouncement has already cost lives. Because immediately after his statements many families were already receiving threats to have their daughters cut.

I hope that people like UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron now stand up to support Gambian women. In 2014, it was under his leadership that the Girl Summit co-hosted with UNICEF themed “A future free from FGM and child and forced marriage” took place. This helped to catalyse the groundbreaking work that gave rise to the ban. During that Summit, as the guest speaker, I was very pleased to hear of action and funding commitments.

As an FGM survivor activist, a global advocate and speaker, and a mother, I am calling on him, as well as all government representatives around the world to immediately release direct funding to women like me – grassroots activists working on the frontlines – to help with this fight.

Leaders should also sanction those who support the call to repeal the ban on FGM, while also finally calling on nations like Sierra Leone to enact laws and implement sustained policies that go towards protecting and safeguarding girls and women from FGM once and for all.

Alimatu Dimonekene MBE, is a leading women and girls rights advocate in the UK: https://agdgetitdone.co.uk/aboutalimatu

IPS UN Bureau

 


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Two Anglo American mines are first African iron ore operations audited against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining

SEATTLE, March 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today the Initiative for Responsible Mining (IRMA) released the audits of Kumba Iron Ore’s Kolomela and Sishen iron ore operations against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. Independent audit firm ERM–CVS assessed both operations at IRMA 75 when measuring their performance against the Standard’s best practice social and environmental criteria. Kumba Iron Ore is an Anglo American subsidiary.

The IRMA 75 achievement level means that ERM–CVS verified that the operations at least substantially met all 40 critical requirements of the IRMA Standard, as well as at least 75% of the Standard’s criteria in each of the four principle areas: social responsibility, environmental responsibility, business integrity and planning for positive legacies. The full audit reports are available on the Kolomela and Sishen audit pages on the IRMA website.

“The information stakeholders need to decide what’s going well — and what may require more attention.”

“This report demonstrates that mines can point to transparent, independent evaluations of their environmental and social performance,” said Aimee Boulanger, Executive Director of IRMA. “Through detailed IRMA audit reports, mining companies, communities and companies that purchase mined materials can gain the information they need to decide what’s going well — and what may require more attention — at specific mines.”

As the IRMA Standard is recognized and adopted around the globe, these audits are first steps in a deepening dialogue between mining companies and those affected by their operations. Because the process is still evolving, IRMA cautions that the results should be reviewed and interpreted accordingly.

“These mines began audits during the early COVID years. Their timelines were delayed by travel challenges, and then the company’s decision to use the optional corrective action period to make improvements. The public has long awaited opportunity to review the information included here, and we applaud Anglo American for volunteering these mines for audit against such comprehensive criteria.” Ms. Boulanger went on to say, “That said, the IRMA Standard is relatively new for companies that volunteer to be audited, and even our accredited auditors are still learning. The same is true for community members and workers who are interviewed as part of the process, some of whom may not yet feel comfortable engaging. So, the Kolomela and Sishen audits need to be read with this in mind.”

The reports also provide an honest accounting of IRMA’s progress as the Standard and assessment process continue to mature.

“If the results don't fully reflect the experience of communities, Indigenous rights holders or other affected groups, we want to hear from them,” Ms. Boulanger said. “We’ll help them communicate with the company to better understand its performance, and with the auditors on any issues they feel were overlooked in the review. This is a cornerstone of our own commitment to transparency. We invite anyone who has criticisms of our work to join us in making it better. Finding ways to improve is built into our system — and a measure of its success.”

The IRMA Standard is being updated in 2024; input on how to improve the IRMA Standard is welcomed. Chapters in the IRMA Standard include requirements on protection to human rights, water resources, worker health and safety, biodiversity, Indigenous free, prior, informed consent and more.

“Committing to an IRMA audit reflects our desire to improve and our openness to dialogue.”

Mpumi Zikalala, Chief Executive for Kumba Iron Ore said, “Our achievement of IRMA 75 for Kolomela and Sishen mines is testament to the hard work of our teams. The result is informed by evidence from a diverse range of stakeholders including employees, governments, NGOs, and communities alike. This invaluable input will drive our ongoing efforts to enhance sustainability performance. Achieving excellent results in IRMA audits serves as recognition and proof of our commitment to high standards, best practices, transparency and assurance.”

Including Kolomela and Sishen, 19 industrial–scale mines worldwide are within the IRMA independent assessment system. After an initial self–assessment, a participating mine engages a third–party audit firm — trained and approved by IRMA — to conduct a detailed independent evaluation, including on–site visits to the mine and nearby communities. Following the release of the initial audit, a shorter surveillance audit checks on the mine’s performance. Three years after the initial audit, the operation is fully audited again (Note: The first mines audited in the IRMA system have had extensions to this timeline due to Covid delays and launch–phase learning; updated full reviews will be required to maintain or increase achievement scores.)

The independent IRMA system is the only global mining standard that provides equal power to the public sector (communities and Indigenous rights holders, mine workers, and environmental and human rights advocates) alongside the private sector (mining companies, mined materials purchasers and investors).

 

4 April Webinar
WHAT: Learn about the meaning of the audit results, and how stakeholders can make use of the increased transparency an IRMA audit provides. All registrants will receive a webinar recording. Scheduled for 1 hour, the webinar will reserve at least 30 minutes for Q&A.

WHO:

  • IRMA Executive Director Aimee Boulanger
  • IRMA Africa Regional Lead Davidzo Muchawaya
  • Kumba Iron Ore Head of Corporate Affairs Pranill Ramchander
  • IRMA Assurance Director Michelle Smith

WHEN: Thursday, 4 April, 2pm South Africa time

HOW: Register at https://responsiblemining.net/kolomela–sishen–release–webinar

For More Information:

 


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9079853)

Global Governance: Time for Reform

Credit: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

By Andrew Firmin
LONDON, Mar 27 2024 – At last the UN Security Council has passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. While stopping short of demanding a permanent end to the violence, it goes further than the world’s peak peace and security body had so far managed since the start of the current brutal phase of conflict in October. But the time it’s taken to get to this point signals an ongoing failure of global institutions to uphold human rights.

Today’s conflicts around the world – not just in Gaza, but in Sudan, Ukraine and sadly many other places – are bringing immense cruelty and suffering, targeted at civilian populations and civil society. One in six people are currently exposed to conflict. International rules are supposed to make sure atrocities don’t happen, and if they do, the international community works to halt the bloodshed and bring those responsible to justice. But states are repeatedly flouting the rules.

The latest State of Civil Society Report, from global civil society alliance CIVICUS, highlights how international bodies are flailing as states make hypocritical decisions that undermine the rules-based international order. Belligerents are brazenly ignoring long-established tenets of international human rights and humanitarian law because they expect to get away with it. Civil society has global governance reform plans but isn’t getting a seat at the table.

Powerful states including Russia and the USA are demonstrating selective respect for the rules, shielding allies but castigating enemies. This is clear among the many states that rushed to Ukraine’s defence but have hesitated to criticise Israel. At the basest level, some states are displaying racism as they show concern for white people’s human rights but not for those of people of colour.

The Security Council has moved incredibly slowly, hampered by powerful states using their veto, its resolutions watered down through lengthy processes despite the urgency of the situation. States wanting to see an end to conflicts have taken to other arenas, including the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council – but these lack the clout of the Security Council.

Human rights are supposed to be one of the UN’s three pillars, alongside peace and security and sustainable development. But they’re very much the poor relation. The human rights pillar gets only 4.3 per cent of the UN’s regular budget. Problems with funding were plain to see in January, when UN offices in Geneva shut down temporarily due to a liquidity crisis, unable to meet heating costs at the height of a human rights emergency. Around 50 UN member states were reported to have failed to pay their 2023 contributions fully or partly.

Some states are withdrawing from the UN’s human rights scrutiny, with Uganda and Venezuela insisting on the closure of human rights offices in their countries, Sudan’s military kicking out a UN mission tasked with restoring democracy and Ethiopia successfully lobbying for an end to a commission scrutinising the many human rights abuses committed during conflict.

At the same time, repressive states are retaliating against activists who take part in UN human rights processes. The most recent report on reprisals against people for cooperating with the UN documented that over the last year, 40 states punished people for using the UN to stand up for human rights. Shockingly, 14 of them were members of the Human Rights Council – almost 30 per cent of the body’s members. It’s a disgrace that points to a broader problem of a lack of respect for human rights by many states active in the UN.

It goes beyond a failure to uphold human rights in conflict settings. The short-term calculations of unaccountable leaders are neutralising international agreements forged to tackle major transnational challenges such as the climate crisis and sustainable development, where delivery is falling far short. At the Sustainable Development Goals summit held last September, civil society put forward innovative ideas to unlock the money needed to finance development and climate resilience, but these were ignored. Civil society is often denied access, forced at best to sit on the sidelines of the annual high-level opening of the UN General Assembly.

Today’s multiple crises are exposing the fundamental design flaws of international institutions, testing them beyond their limit. If trust in the UN collapses, people could embrace more authoritarian alternatives. To prevent this, states and the UN must take on board civil society’s many practical reform ideas. The UN must become more democratic and it must fully include civil society as an essential partner.

It can start by implementing some civil society reform proposals. The first of these, and an easy one to adopt, is to appoint a civil society envoy, someone who could encourage best practices on civil society participation across the UN, ensure a diverse range of civil society is involved and drive the UN’s engagement with civil society groups around the world. At a time when civil society is under attack in so many countries, this move would signal the UN takes civil society seriously and potentially unlock further progress.

Another step forward would be a world citizens’ initiative, enabling people to mobilise to collect signatures to put an issue on the UN’s agenda. This could ensure that matters proved to have a high level of global public support are given consideration, including at the Security Council. Many in civil society also support a UN parliamentary assembly to complement the General Assembly and give a voice to citizens as well as governments. This could serve as a valuable corrective to the state-centric nature of decision-making and act as a source of scrutiny and accountability over the decisions the UN makes – or fails to make.

Civil society will keep calling for a rules-based order where clear laws and policies are followed to tackle climate change, end poverty, address deep economic inequality, de-escalate conflicts and prevent gross human rights violations. The UN Summit of the Future in September 2024 should commit to advancing this vision. Civil society is doing its best to engage with the process, calling not for more platitudes but for genuine reforms that put people at the heart of decision-making.

Andrew Firmin is CIVICUS Editor-in-Chief, co-director and writer for CIVICUS Lens and co-author of the State of Civil Society Report.

 


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Ahead of UN Summit of the Future, Mobilizing Youth for Change

Future Action Festival convened at Tokyo’s National Stadium on March 24, drawing approxisimatory 66,000 atendees.

By Katsuhiro Asagiri
TOKYO, Japan, Mar 27 2024 – In a significant precursor to the United Nations Summit of the Future slated for September, the “Future Action Festival” convened at Tokyo’s National Stadium on March 24, drawing a crowd of approximately 66,000 attendees and reaching over half a million viewers via live streaming. The event, a collaborative effort by youth and citizen groups, aimed to foster a deeper understanding and proactive stance among young people on nuclear disarmament and climate change solutions.

The festival featured interactive quizzes displayed on large screens, offering attendees a collective learning experience about the complex global crises currently challenging the international community. Additionally, a panel discussion with Kaoru Nemoto, director of the United Nations Information Center, and other youth representatives delved into nuclear weapons and climate change, facilitating a deeper exploration of these pressing issues. Adding to the event’s poignancy, performances included one by the “A-bombed Piano,” a relic from Hiroshima that endured the atomic bombing, and others that highlighted the value of peace through music and dances, reinforcing the call for action and solidarity as agents of change.

A panel discussion with Kaoru Nemoto, director of the United Nations Information Center, and other youth representatives including Yuki Tokuda, co-founder of GeNuine(Extreme right) delved into nuclear weapons and climate change.

Central to the festival’s impact were the insights shared by a participant of the panel discussion like Yuki Tokuda, co-founder of GeNuine, who shared her insights from a “youth awareness survey” conducted before the event. “The survey revealed that over 80% of young respondents felt their voices were not being heard,” she explained. “This suggests a systemic issue, not merely a matter of personal perception, which is discouraging the younger generation from engaging with vital issues.”

Despite this, the massive turnout at the festival offered a glimmer of hope. “The presence of 66,000 like-minded individuals here today signals that change is possible. Together, we can reshape the system and forge a future that aligns with our aspirations,” Tokuda remarked, emphasizing the power of collective action and the importance of carrying forward the momentum generated by the festival.

Equally compelling was the narrative shared by Yuki Tominaga, who captivated the audience with her dance performance at the event. “I have always been deeply inspired by my late grandmother’s life as a storyteller sharing her experiences of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima.” Tominaga shared. “My grandmother would begin her account with her own experiences of the bombing but then expand her narrative to include her visits to places like India and Pakistan, countries with nuclear arsenals, and regions afflicted by poverty and conflict where landmines remain a deadly legacy. She emphasized that the tragedy of Hiroshima is an ongoing story, urging us to spread the message of peace to future generations.”

Yuki Tominaga, a third generation Hibakusha from Hiroshima, continues her grandmothers legacy while using her passin for dance as a medium to communicate about peace and Hiroshima bombing. Credit: Yukie Asagiri, INPS Japan

Reflecting on her grandmother’s profound impact, Tominaga continued, “I once doubted my ability to continue her legacy; her words seemed irreplaceable. But she encouraged me, saying, ‘Do what you’re able to spread peace.’ That inspired me to use my passion for dance as a medium to communicate about peace and the Hiroshima bombing. I aim to serve as a conduit between the survivors of the atomic bomb and today’s youth, making peace discussions engaging and accessible through dance.”

The “Youth Attitude Survey,” which garnered responses from 119,925 individuals across Japan, revealed a striking consensus: over 90% of young people expressed a desire to contribute to a better society. Yet, they also acknowledged feeling marginalized from the decision-making processes. The survey illuminated young people’s readiness to transform their awareness into action, despite prevailing sentiments of exclusion.

This enthusiasm and potential for change have not gone unnoticed by the international community. High-profile supporters, including Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Orlando Bloom, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and Melissa Park, Executive Director of ICAN, have all voiced their encouragement, recognizing young people’s crucial role in driving global advancements in sustainability and peace.

The upcoming UN Summit of the Future offers a pivotal platform for youth engagement, with the “Joint Statement” released by the festival’s Organizing Committee—encompassing key areas like climate crisis resolution, nuclear disarmament, youth participation in decision-making, and UN reform—serving as a testament to the collective will to influence global policies. Tshilidzi Marwala, the Rector of the United Nations University and UN Under-Secretary-General acknowledged the vital importance of young voices in shaping the summit’s agenda, urging them to be “a beacon of hope and a driving force for change.”

As the world gears up for the UN Summit of the Future, the Future Action Festival stands as a powerful reminder of the impact of youth-led initiatives and collective action in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. Through education, advocacy, and direct engagement, the festival not only spotlighted the urgent need for action on nuclear disarmament and the climate crisis but also showcased the potential of an informed, engaged, and motivated youth to effect meaningful global change.

IPS UN Bureau

 


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The Kids of the Islamic State: A Childhood Stolen

Families as they tried to escape from Baghouz, the last Syrian town under the control of the Islamic State to fall. The IS leaders escaped, leaving behind almost 25,000 of their followers. Credit: Jewan Abdi/ IPS

Families as they tried to escape from Baghouz, the last Syrian town under the control of the Islamic State to fall. The IS leaders escaped, leaving behind almost 25,000 of their followers. Credit: Jewan Abdi/ IPS

By Jewan Abdi
HASSAKE, Syria, Mar 27 2024 – Rozena, a 31-year-old woman from Guyana, says she travelled to Turkey in 2015 to join an NGO which helped Syrian refugees. That’s all she’ll reveal when asked how and why she ended up living in the so-called Islamic State for four years.

IPS spoke to her inside the small tent where she has spent the last five years with her two children at Roj camp. At 780 km northeast of Damascus, it holds around 3,000 individuals with alleged links to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (IS).

“If we don’t help these children, I cannot imagine how their lives will be in the future. And this is not only the Kurdish administration’s responsibility”

Natascha Rée Mikkelsen

This transnational Jihadist group managed to set up an unrecognised quasi-state. By the end of 2015, the self-proclaimed caliphate ruled an area with an estimated population of 12 million people living under an extreme interpretation of Islamic Law.

After an intense conflict mainly with Kurdish forces backed by Washington, IS lost control of all its Middle Eastern territories in the Spring of 2019. Rozana and her two children were then captured in Baghouz, the last village under the Islamists´ rule to fall.

Since then, a tent where a few toys and books are stored in a separate corner has been the closest thing to a home for her and her children.

“This is no childhood for them,” says Rozena. “They’re missing the most basic things: from fresh air to clean water, not to mention a proper school…”

Some, however, have managed to escape from the camp since it was established. “I know people who have paid up to 15,000 USD but I don’t have such an amount. My only chance to leave this place with my two kids is to be repatriated”, says Rozena.

But Guyana is one of the countries that refuses to repatriate its nationals. Rozana says she’s tried “absolutely everything” with her government, but that there’s been no reaction so far. “My kids are certainly not a threat, and neither am I,” she insists.

She also fears that they might get radicalised inside the camp. “Half of the people here still stick to IS’s radical ideology. I can teach my kids the best I can, but they will learn other things from playing with other kids,” explains the captive.

 

Children born in the Islamic caliphate somewhere in the Syrian desert. Most of them remain in precarious prison camps in northeastern Syria. Credit: Jewan Abdi / IPS

Children born in the Islamic caliphate somewhere in the Syrian desert. Most of them remain in precarious prison camps in northeastern Syria. Credit: Jewan Abdi / IPS

 

Radicalisation

Although some Syrian citizens have been taken to court in Syria’s northeast for alleged links with IS, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) lacks international recognition and, hence, is unable to try foreign individuals.

Figures shared with IPS by the AANES point to over 31,000 children from families once linked with IS still under their custody. Many are born out of forced marriages or rape. Most of them languish in Al Hol camp, in the outskirts of Hassake.

At 655 Km northeast of Damascus, it’s a vast area for thousands of makeshift tents battered by the relentless rains during winter and burning sunshine during summer.

In conversation with IPS, Al Hol camp director Jihan Hanan says there are people from 50 different nationalities. But the kids pose a major source of concern.

“We have only two schools for them, but not all the children are attending these centres, especially the ones from 12 to 18 years old. They´re the most vulnerable here in the camp and many radicalised women trying to brainwash them,” explains Hanan.

She also points to “deadly attacks” in the past. “We had to conduct special security operations. Today the attacks are limited to thefts and threats, and they target NGOs too,” adds the official.

According to her, IS sleeping cells inside the camp are posing a major threat. “They are the most dangerous groups, and they are always approaching the children to recruit them,” she warns.

 

The foreigners' section of the Al Hol camp. Women and children wait to go to the hospital, shop or receive help. The Kurdish administration separated foreign Islamic State families from Syrians and Iraqis. Credit: Jewan Abdi / IPS

The foreigners’ section of the Al Hol camp. Women and children wait to go to the hospital, shop or receive help. The Kurdish administration separated foreign Islamic State families from Syrians and Iraqis. Credit: Jewan Abdi / IPS

 

A taste of home

Repatriation to their countries of origin is seemingly the only way out for many. US State Department sources point to more than 3,500 repatriated to 14 countries as of 2023.

A 2022 study conducted by Human Rights Watch gathering the experiences of more than 100 children revealed that most of them are attending school, with many excelling in their studies. 82 percent of survey respondents described the child’s emotional and psychological well-being as “very good” or “quite good.”

“Notwithstanding the ordeals they survived both under IS and subsequently in captivity in the northeast Syrian camps, many are reintegrating successfully in their new communities,” concludes the report.

Sweden is one of the countries that has repatriated most of their citizens in 2022. But policies changed after the arrival to power of a new government allied with the far right, in September 2022.

 

Aerial view of the Al Hol camp, in northeastern Syria, 655 kilometres from Damascus. It hosts more than 50,000 people, of which almost 30,000 are children of dozens of different nationalities. Credit: Jewan Abdi / IPS

Aerial view of the Al Hol camp, in northeastern Syria, 655 kilometres from Damascus. It hosts more than 50,000 people, of which almost 30,000 are children of dozens of different nationalities. Credit: Jewan Abdi / IPS

 

“These people chose to go there to join IS, one of the cruellest terrorist organisations we have seen, so there’s no obligation on the part of Sweden and the Swedish government to act for these people to come home,” the Swedish foreign affair minister Tobias Billström said in an interview with Swedish TV4 on March 13.

But not everyone agrees. Repatriate The Children is a Swedish NGO working and advocating to send children home. “It’s a purely political decision to leave these children there and not repatriate them,” RTC co-founder and spokesperson Natascha Rée Mikkelsen tells IPS over the phone from Copenhagen.

“They have already experienced things that no child should see, like war, unsafety, no proper education or no access to proper health care. By leaving them stranded in this environment, the risk of being part of IS ideology remains high,” adds the human rights advocate.

“If we don’t help these children, I cannot imagine how their lives will be in the future. And this is not only the Kurdish administration’s responsibility,” stresses Mikkelsen, who also labels the constant Turkish airstrikes as “one of the region’s main destabilising factors.”

The AANES has repeatedly stated that they lack the resources to cater for these thousands of families. Top United Nations officials have also called on governments to repatriate their nationals from the camps.

“Every country should take care of their citizens, especially the women and the children,” Abdulkarim Omar, the representative of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria to Europe, tells IPS over the phone from Brussels.

“We believe it is going to be a long process, that’s why we urge the countries to help us, especially with their citizens,” adds the Kurdish official, who also highlights the need to improve the conditions of alleged IS prisoners under Kurdish custody.

When asked about the possibility of the outside world ignoring the problem, Omar is blunt: “If no action is taken in the short term, we are soon to face a whole new generation of terrorists that will be a threat to all the world.”