Israel’s war on Gaza: List of key events, day 107
EXPLAINER The Israeli army killed at least 165 people in the past 24 hours as Netanyahu doubles down on his refusal of a Palestinian state. Here’s how things stand on Sunday, January 21, 2024: Latest developments A video verified by Al Jazeera showed a fire broke out in Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp after an overnight Israeli attack in the area. Thousands of people rallied in central Tel Aviv on Saturday, demanding the return of Hamas captives and elections to replace Netanyahu’s government. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is urging an investigation into allegations by pro-Palestine students at Columbia University in New York that they were sprayed with a noxious “chemical agent” during their protest on Friday. Tess Ingram, a communication specialist for UNICEF, called on the world to bring an immediate end to the “warped version of normal” in Gaza in a video statement posted on X on Saturday. Israeli forces dropped leaflets in southern Gaza on Saturday, suggesting benefits for those who provide information to Israel on captives taken by Hamas on October 7. Human impact and fighting In the past 24 hours, the Israeli army has been accused of committing several massacres against Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 165 people, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Israeli shelling east of the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza on Saturday killed four Palestinians and injured 21 others, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Syrian state media SANA said Israel attacked a building in Damascus on Saturday. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack or offered any comment. Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi promised to hit back at Israel following the air raid on Syria after it killed five members of the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to state broadcaster IRIB on Saturday. The United States military personnel targeted in an attack on Iraq’s Ain al-Assad airbase on Saturday suffered “minor” injuries, the Reuters news agency reported, quoting an unnamed US official. A member of Iraq’s security forces was also wounded in the attack. Diplomacy Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to the independent Palestinian state, rebuffing the Biden administration’s stand on the issue. “Full Israeli security control … is contrary to a Palestinian State,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated on Sunday that “the denial of the right to statehood for the Palestinian people” is “unacceptable”. “The right of the Palestinian people to build their own state must be recognized by all,” he posted on X. On Saturday, the US Office of Palestinian Affairs called for an “urgent investigation” into the killing of 17-year-old Palestinian-American Tawfiq Ajaq in the occupied West Bank. San Francisco Mayor London Breed declined to veto a resolution by city officials calling for an extended ceasefire in Gaza, saying the measure would leave her city “angrier, more divided and less safe”. Breed explained that her veto would send the issue back to the board of supervisors, in whom she has “no confidence”. At a foreign policy conference on Saturday, British Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy faced interruptions from pro-Palestinian protesters during a speech and briefly left the podium, saying he wanted “change through power, not through protest”. Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud says the kingdom is “very worried” about a “difficult and dangerous time in the region” amid Red Sea tensions, Reuters reported, citing a CNN interview that will be aired on Sunday. Adblock test (Why?)
Russian lawmakers to debate seizing property of those who ‘discredit’ army
A bill to be voted on next week aims to confiscate assets of Russians spreading ‘deliberately false’ information amid Ukraine war. Russia’s parliament will consider a law allowing for the confiscation of money, valuables and other property from those deemed to spread “deliberately false information” about Moscow’s military actions, a senior lawmaker has said. Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the State Duma, wrote in a Telegram post on Saturday that a bill has been developed in an attempt to punish “scoundrels” who “pour mud” on Russia and its soldiers participating in the war in Ukraine, which is approaching its two-year mark. He said the bill will be submitted to the Duma, which is Russia’s lower house of parliament, on Monday. The proposed measure would apply to those publicly inciting “extremist activities” or calling for the introduction of sanctions against Russia, the speaker explained. It would also be applicable to those “discrediting” the armed forces, a criminal offence under a law adopted as part of Moscow’s crackdown on dissent after it sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Those found guilty also face being stripped of any honorary titles. “Everyone who tries to destroy Russia, betrays it, must suffer the deserved punishment and compensate for the damage inflicted on the country, at the cost of their property,” Volodin said. The existing law against “discrediting” the Russian military, which covers offences such as “justifying terrorism” and spreading “fake news” about the armed forces, is regularly used to silence critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Existing laws Multiple activists, bloggers and general Russian citizens have received long jail terms under the existing law. Popular writer Dmitry Glukhovsky was handed an eight-year jail term in absentia after a Moscow court found him guilty in August of deliberately spreading false information about Russia’s armed forces. One of the country’s bestselling novelists, known under the pen name Boris Akunin, was charged under the law and added to the Russian register of “extremists and terrorists”. In November, a court in St Petersburg jailed Sasha Skochilenko, an artist and musician, for seven years for swapping supermarket price tags with antiwar messages. The month before, Russian blogger Aleksandr Nozdrinov received an 8.5-year term for posting photos of destroyed buildings in Kyiv, along with a caption implying that Russian troops were responsible. Meanwhile, attacks on the ground continue. On Saturday, Russian forces shelled the southern Ukrainian town of Huliaipole, local governor Yuriy Malashko wrote on Telegram. Earlier, regional Ukrainian officials reported that one person was killed when Russian forces shelled the southern Kherson region overnight. In southern Russia, close to the Ukrainian border, an exploding drone hit a gas pipeline on the outskirts of the city of Belgorod, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported on Telegram, blaming Ukraine for the attack. The European Union said it will drastically increase ammunition production this year in response to Ukraine’s growing pleas for support. It also aimed to impose a new round of sanctions on Russia next month to mark the second anniversary of Moscow’s invasion, adding to its previous 12 rounds of sanctions. Adblock test (Why?)
‘Refuse to fight’: Jewish, Arab activists call for peace in Israel’s Haifa
Peace activists have taken part in a protest in Israel’s third-largest city, Haifa, demanding a ceasefire in the war on Gaza and the exchange of captives and prisoners between Hamas and Israel. “This is the first time we are seeing this protest happen in the north,” said Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Haifa on Saturday. “It’s a protest with Israeli Jews and Palestinian Israelis, and it is significant because of the two coming together. “The message here is to end the war and that they can only live peacefully side by side with a political solution for the Palestinians,” she said. Omri Evron, a member of the Communist Party of Israel, who helped organise the anti-war protest, spoke to Al Jazeera about the message the protesters were hoping to convey. “The killing of thousands and thousands of Palestinians, the vast majority of whom are innocent civilians, is not only reprehensible, it does not serve the security of the people of Israel. It does not bring us security, it only ensures the next massacre, the next cycle of violence,” he said. “Currently, they [the protestors] are chanting “refuse to kill, refuse to fight, refuse to murder” – this is our call.” Evron admitted there were difficulties in organising a protest of this kind. “It has been difficult, not because there aren’t Jews and Arabs who want to come together who believe in a joint future of peace and equality and national liberation of both people in two states,” he explained. “It has been difficult because the government and the police in particular have done everything in their power to prevent us from coming together, to prevent us from voicing a lawful and peaceful voice. We had to appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice just to allow us to come together and demonstrate.” Al Jazeera’s Dekker said the protesters were not allowed to march, and officials said the protest could not be held at night. But several hundred people were finally able to gather for two hours during the day. Adblock test (Why?)
Tens of thousands protest in Germany against the far-right
Public outcry followed revelations that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party had discussed plans to mass deport immigrants. Tens of thousands of people have gathered across Germany to protest against a far-right political party and its stance against migrants. People protested in several cities and small towns on Saturday, with some mocking the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party with signs saying “Facism is not an alternative”, German media reported. The protests come following an outcry after it was revealed that AfD members held a meeting with far-right activists and discussed plans to mass deport foreigners. Police said some 35,000 people joined a call under the banner “Defend democracy – Frankfurt against the AfD”, marching in the financial heart of Germany. A similar number, some carrying posters like “Nazis out”, turned up in the northern city of Hanover. Protests were also held in cities including Braunschweig, Erfurt and Kassel and many smaller towns, mirroring mobilisation every day over the past week. Some 50,000 people demonstrated in Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city, on Friday, police said. In all, demonstrations have been called in about 100 locations across Germany from Friday through the weekend, including in Berlin on Sunday. Politicians, churches, and Bundesliga coaches have urged people to stand up against the AfD. On January 10, a report by investigative outlet Correctiv, revealed that AfD members had discussed the expulsion of immigrants and “non-assimilated citizens” at a meeting with other far-right activists. Among the participants at the talks was Martin Sellner, a leader of Austria’s Identitarian Movement, which subscribes to the “great replacement” conspiracy theory that claims there is a plot by non-white migrants to replace Europe’s “native” white population. ‘An attack against our democracy’ News of the far-right gathering sent shockwaves across Germany at a time when the AfD is polling second in nationwide surveys, just months before three major regional elections in eastern Germany where their support is strongest. The anti-immigration party confirmed the presence of its members at the meeting, but has denied taking on the “remigration” project championed by Sellner. Co-leader Alice Weidel parted ways with one of her advisers who participated in the talks. But leading politicians, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who joined a demonstration last weekend, said any plan to expel immigrants or citizens alike amounted to “an attack against our democracy, and in turn, on all of us”. He urged “all to take a stand – for cohesion, for tolerance, for our democratic Germany”. Members of the country’s business industry also voiced their concerns. “If everything is true as reported, then that is absolutely disgusting,” said Siemens Energy’s supervisory board chairman Joe Kaeser in an interview with Reuters published on Saturday, Kaeser’s comments come after leaders of German companies, including chip manufacturer Infineon and chemicals maker Evonik voiced their concerns earlier this week. Highlighting lessons from Germany’s history, Kaeser warned of the damage to Germany’s image around the world and called on German businesses to publicly warn of the consequences. Adblock test (Why?)
Can international justice stop Israel?
There is growing pressure to hold Israel to account for its war on Gaza. It has been more than three months since Israel launched its devastating war on Gaza. Nearly 25,000 Palestinians have now been killed, and tens of thousands more injured. Many countries have rejected Israel’s actions – and South Africa has taken it to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of committing genocide. Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, even became the subject of criminal complaints in Switzerland. Meanwhile, Mexico and Chile have referred Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC). But will any of this make a difference? Presenter: Elizabeth Puranam Guests: Lara Elborno – International lawyer and human rights advocate who co-hosts the weekly podcast, The Palestine Pod William Schabas – Professor of international law at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom Jennifer Cassidy – Lecturer in diplomacy and international law at the University of Oxford and a former UN and EU diplomat Adblock test (Why?)
At least 13 students killed in China school fire: State media
The victims were identified as third-grade students from an elementary school in Henan province, according to reports. A fire has ripped through a dormitory in a boarding school in central China, killing 13 students, state media reported. One student was injured in the blaze at Yingcai School in Henan province’s Yanshanpu village, the Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday. The victims were identified as third-grade elementary school students. A teacher told the state-run Hebei Daily that all of them were from the same class of nine and 10 year olds. Firefighters managed to swiftly extinguish the blaze, which was reported at 11pm (15:00 GMT) on Friday and the head of the school was taken into custody while the authorities were investigating the cause. The injured survivor was being treated in hospital and reported to be “in stable condition”, according to Xinhua. China National Radio reported that some windows on the school’s dormitory building were smashed and published photos showing police cordoning off a nearby area. Yanshanpu village lies on the outskirts of Nanyang, a city of nearly 10 million. Little information about the boarding school is publicly available, though social media videos published earlier showed young children including kindergarteners wearing smocks with the school’s logo as well as older children learning calligraphy. The private boarding institution with a kindergarten and an elementary school gives students a break every two weeks, but not this weekend, reported The Paper, a news outlet supported by the Shanghai government. Many of Yingcai’s students are from rural areas, it said. ‘Too scary’ On Saturday, Chinese social media users expressed outrage about the fire and called for any safety lapses to be punished. “It’s too scary, 13 children from 13 families, all gone in an instant … if there is no severe punishment their souls will not rest in peace,” one commenter on the Weibo social media site wrote. China frequently experiences fires and other fatal accidents, largely attributed to lenient safety standards and inadequate enforcement. In November, 26 people died and dozens were sent to hospital after a fire at a coal company office in northern China’s Shanxi province. Eleven people died in July after the roof of a school gym collapsed in the country’s northeast. In April, a hospital fire in Beijing killed 29 people and forced desperate survivors to jump out of windows to escape. After the coal company fire in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the country to “conduct in-depth investigations of hidden risks in key industries, improve emergency plans and prevention measures”. Adblock test (Why?)
The US plan to revamp the Palestinian Authority is doomed to fail
For two months now, the United States and other Western countries, backing Israel, have been talking about “the day after” in Gaza. They have rejected Israeli assertions that the Israeli army will remain in control of the Strip and pointed to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as their preferred political actor to take over governance once the war is over. In so doing, the US and its allies have paid little regard to what the Palestinian people want. The current leadership of the PA lost the last democratic elections held in the occupied Palestinian territory in 2006 to Hamas and since then, it has steadily lost popularity. In a recent public opinion poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR), some 90 percent of respondents were in favour of the resignation of PA President Mahmoud Abbas, and 60 percent called for the dismantling of the PA itself. Washington is undoubtedly aware of the low public trust in the PA, but there is a reason why it insists on supporting its takeover of Gaza: its leadership has been a reliable partner for decades in maintaining a status quo in the interests of Israel. The US would like that arrangement to continue, so its backing for the PA may be accompanied by an attempt to revamp it in order to solve its legitimacy problem. But even if this effort succeeds, it is unlikely the new iteration of the PA would be sustainable. A reliable partner Perhaps one of the main factors that has convinced the US that the PA is a “good choice” for post-war governance in Gaza is its anti-Hamas stance and willingness to conduct security coordination with Israel. Since the commencement of the conflict between Israel and Gaza on October 7, the PA and its leadership have not issued an official statement offering explicit political support for the Palestinian resistance. Their rhetoric has predominantly focused on condemning and disapproving of attacks on civilians on both sides, while also rejecting the expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland. In a political address on the ninth day of the war, Abbas criticised Hamas, asserting that their actions did not represent the Palestinian people. He emphasised that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and underscored the importance of peaceful resistance as the only legitimate means to oppose Israeli occupation. This statement was later retracted by his office. In December, Hussein al-Sheikh, a PA official and secretary-general of the executive committee of the PLO, also criticised Hamas in an interview with Reuters. He suggested its armed resistance “method and approach” has failed and led to many casualties among the civilian population. The stance of the PA is consistent with its own narrow political and economic interests which have come at the expense of the Palestinian national cause. It has systematically and brutally stamped out any opposition and any support for other factions, including Hamas, in order to maintain its rule over West Bank cities while Israel continues with its brutal occupation and dispossession of the Palestinian people. In Israel’s war on Gaza in 2008–2009, the PA leadership hoped to regain administrative control of Gaza with assistance from Israel. During that conflict, the PA prohibited any activities in the West Bank in support of Gaza and threatened to arrest participants. I, myself, faced harassment and the threat of arrest for attempting to join a demonstration against the war. Similar positions were adopted by the PA, albeit with less aggressive measures, in subsequent Israeli assaults on Gaza, as its leadership came to recognise that Hamas was unlikely to relinquish its control over the Strip. Since October 7, the PA has taken a bolder stance, marked by more aggressive actions. Its security forces have suppressed demonstrations and marches held in support of Gaza, resorting to shooting live ammunition at participants. Additionally, the PA has recently detained individuals expressing support for the Palestinian resistance. While cracking down on Palestinian protests, the PA has done nothing to protect its people from attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian communities, which have resulted in deaths, injuries and the displacement of hundreds of people in the occupied West Bank. Additionally, the Israeli army has intensified its raids in the PA-administered areas, leading to the arrest of thousands and the killing of hundreds of Palestinians, with no reaction from the PA. The PA’s inability to offer basic protection has added to the deterioration of its legitimacy among Palestinians. Furthermore, by taking a stance against the Palestinian resistance and aligning itself with Israel and the US, the PA is only further undermining its own legitimacy. PA 1.0 and PA 2.0 Washington is aware of the growing unpopularity of the PA and its leadership among Palestinians but it is not giving up on it because it seems to believe that that can be fixed. That is because the US has tried to revamp the authority before as it has always faced problems with legitimacy due to the way it was set up. As a governing institution, the PA was established to bring an end to the first Intifada. Conceived under the interim peace agreements in Oslo, it was envisioned as an administrative body to oversee civil affairs for Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip and certain parts of the West Bank, excluding occupied East Jerusalem. It effectively took on a role as an Israeli security contractor in exchange for certain benefits related to administering Palestinian population centres. The PA faithfully fulfilled its mandate, carrying out routine arrests and surveillance of Palestinian individuals, whether they were involved in actions against Israel or were activists opposing its corrupt practices. Thus, Israel strategically benefitted from the establishment of the PA, but the same cannot be said for the Palestinian people, as they continued to experience the ravages of a military occupation. Despite this, the PA under Yasser Arafat – or what we can call PA 1.0 – leveraged patronage and corruption to maintain some level of support. Notably,
Dominican Republic to trial four-day work week: Can it work globally?
In February, the Dominican Republic will become the first Caribbean nation to test a four-day work week, following similar trials in countries such as the United Kingdom. The six-month pilot will be voluntary for companies and will not involve a pay cut for participating employees. Growing calls for a shorter work week have stemmed from COVID-19-era discussions and anecdotes that long and in-person work hours do not necessarily guarantee higher productivity. So what is the four-day work week trial in the Dominican Republic, and has it had success elsewhere? What is the Dominican Republic’s four-day work week trial? Beginning in February, organisations in the Caribbean nation can choose whether to implement a six-month-long trial of a four-day work week. The standard week will drop to 36 hours from 44 hours, typically running from Monday through to Thursday. Employees will continue to earn the same salaries. Some of the companies expected to participate in the trial run include the government’s national health insurance agency; power company EGE Haina; Claro, a Latin American telecommunications company; and IMCA, a heavy equipment business. A local university has been tasked with analysing the results, including any health changes in workers and the relationship between work and their personal lives. How does a four-day work week actually … work? In a four-day work week, the workload typically remains the same. But companies, managers and their teams are forced to prioritise even more than they otherwise have to, cutting out, perhaps, some meetings. But there’s something else too that a four-day week model must emphasise, according to the Dominican Republic’s Labour Minister Luis Miguel de Camps. “It prioritises people, improving health and wellbeing, and promoting a sustainable and environmentally friendly productivity,” said de Camps. Where has a four-day work week been trialled — and what happened? Several countries around the world have tested or legislated a four-day work week, particularly since COVID-19, which reignited conversations around workplace flexibility, productivity, and work-life balance. In 2023, the UK launched what is considered the largest trial of a four-day work week and found positive results. A total of 61 companies joined the trial, and 56 extended it, with 18 making the switch permanent. About 2,900 employees were part of the pilot in the UK. Surveys taken before and after the trial found reduced stress levels within staff. More than half of the surveyed employees said it was easier to balance work and home responsibilities, while 40 percent also said they were sleeping better. Some of the other benefits that emerged from the UK trial included: Employees ended up taking less sick leave since they had more time to physically and mentally recuperate from work and associated stress. Gender parity improved. Men contributed more to household and family tasks when they had three-day weekends. In Japan, where death by overwork killed close to 3,000 people in 2022, larger companies such as Microsoft have tested the four-day work week and found positive results. Are there other success stories? Iceland trialled a shorter work week between 2015 and 2019. Approximately 2,500 public sector employees participated in it. The results: Workers were less stressed, and productivity did not suffer. The trial, that Iceland’s labour unions renegotiated contracts for more than 85 percent of the country’s workforce to reduce work hours. But are all four-day work weeks the same? In February 2022, Belgium became the first European country to legislate a shorter work week. Employees can choose to work four days a week instead of five, without losing their salary. But there’s a catch: They must still work 40 hours. In other words, those who choose the four-day work week must work 10 hours a day. In 2021, the United Arab Emirates government announced that all public sector organisations would operate for four and a half days per week. However, employees in the country still spend some of the highest hours at work, at an average of 52.6 hours per week per employed person. How about going longer rather than shorter? In India, recent calls for a 70-hour week have sparked heated debate. In 2023, Narayana Murthy, the iconic co-founder of Indian multinational technology company Infosys, made the recommendation saying it could boost productivity and the country’s economy. India’s economy is already the fastest-growing among G20 nations. And Indians already work an average of 47.7 hours a week, which is higher than the 36.4 average in the United States or 36.6 in Japan, according to the International Labour Organisation. In China, some firms practice a “996” work culture, in which employees work from 9am to 9pm, six days a week. The average work week, however, is 46.1 hours. Still, Murthy suggested that the younger generation is not hardworking enough. “India’s work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Our youngsters must say: This is my country, I want to work 70 hours a week,” he said during a podcast. India’s labour unions have hit back at Murthy’s comments. Adblock test (Why?)
Sudan suspends membership in IGAD regional bloc
DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY, Announcement by army-aligned foreign ministry comes after it accused bloc of ‘violating’ country’s sovereignty by inviting RSF chief to a summit. The government of war-ravaged Sudan says it has suspended its membership in the East African regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The announcement on Saturday was made by the foreign ministry, which is loyal to army chief and Sudan’s de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group have been fighting for nine months in a vicious war that has killed thousands of people and displaced more than seven million. The government had already announced this week that it was freezing its relations with IGAD ahead of a meeting of the bloc in Uganda on Thursday after it had invited RSF head Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo to the gathering. It accused the bloc of “violating Sudan’s sovereignty” and setting a “dangerous precedent”. IGAD, in parallel with the United States and Saudi Arabia, had repeatedly attempted to mediate between the two warring parties, but to no avail. This is a developing story. More to come… Adblock test (Why?)
‘I don’t want him to die this way’: Uganda’s hidden disabled children
Namazala, Jinja District, Uganda – The home of Joy Nangobi sits on the edge of Namazala village. Its front is open to the main road and thoroughfare that carries trucks loaded with sugar cane harvested from the fields surrounding it. Its back yard is small and fenced by the tall, dense cane. Two goats sit idle in the yard as three neighbourhood children play around them. Laundry hangs neatly drying over a wood stack beneath an overcast mid-morning sky. From a small outside kitchen, Joy slowly tugs her 20-year-old daughter Katherine “Kat” Muwunguzi by the wrist across the hard clay, Kat’s knees grinding the sharp rocky earth to the storeroom she now sleeps in. The walls are covered in a thin layer of red dust, the floor scattered with wood chips beneath a steel bed rusted and lacking a mattress. A filthy, tattered blanket is the only barrier between Kat’s lithe body, the cold night air and malaria. Joy wrenches Kat up to the bed’s edge, her arms and head flailing. Kat’s legs are twisted unnaturally beneath her as she sits on its edge, her smile childlike as she puts her hand inside her mouth. She is instructed not to move and Joy leaves the room and shuts the door behind her, to resume cooking the midday meal. The sleeping quarters of 20-year-old Katherine Muwunguzi who lives with an undiagnosed intellectual disability and is frequently violent towards her mother, Joy Nangobi [Christopher Hopkins/Al Jazeera] Kat lives with an intellectual disability and what is assumed by her mother to be epilepsy. Her intellectual disability has never formally been diagnosed, she can’t talk and is prone to acts of violence. “When we went to a government facility [hospital], that was when they told us she has mental issues and to go away.” Joy’s despair is clear as she explains through an interpreter: “At one point when in the process of taking her to the hospital she would bite my husband seriously. At one point, he was even forced to throw her after a strong bite.” The stigma of people with intellectual disabilities is fuelled by a cultural belief that they are ‘cursed’ Kat has a four-year-old son, Edwin, though she isn’t aware that she is the boy’s mother. When Kat began to show at seven months and she was confirmed to be carrying Edwin, their next-door neighbour disappeared. Joy and her husband Robert Balina, workers on the sugar cane plantations, suspect their next-door neighbour raped Kat in the sooty outdoor kitchen while they slept inside. He has never been charged. This family dynamic means that Joy raises Edwin, but not as her own. She is determined to teach Edwin that Kat is his mother. Joy Nangobi, the mother of Katherine Muwunguzi, becomes emotional as she recounts her daughter’s story [Christopher Hopkins/Al Jazeera] “We are trying our level best to try and create a relationship between the child and his mother, but she doesn’t have anything that she cares about given her mental situation. “We always tell this child [Edwin] that no matter the condition of your mother, she is your mother. Every time we try to ask him, just to find out, if he remembers who his mother is, and if you ask him, he says – ‘the one who is mentally disturbed is my mother’.” Kat is among an estimated one in four adults with a psychosocial or intellectual disability in Uganda to have been the victim of sexual assault. But rape is only one of a raft of human rights abuses this minority face due to their vulnerability. The stigma of people with intellectual disabilities is fuelled by a cultural belief that they are “cursed”. Restrictive practices such as restraint, tethering and forced seclusion are common. In Uganda, people living with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities are often considered a burden on society. While NGOs and local experts in the field of intellectual disability cite a lack of education and awareness as being the major hurdles to overcoming the cultural taboo around such disabilities within communities, they also say the government has failed to prioritise funding. But a small corner of society has taken up the challenge and is providing a sliver of hope to those like Joy and Kat. Adblock test (Why?)