Run Down Bulletin

What was said during the inauguration speech of the new president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Abuja on Monday, May 29, will be enough to start a process that should very quickly lead to the official removal of the petrol importation subsidy that has been troubling. The Nigerian Economy Through the Ages. “There are no more subsidies” said the head of the state and for a moment moved away from the official script distributed to the press. The next day, worried Nigerians stormed gas stations across the country, leading to yet another fuel shortage.

“I realized something had changed when I got on my bus to go to work, explains Presus, in front of a vegetable stand at Obalend Market in Lagos. The driver asked me for 300 naira when I usually only pay 100 naira for this trip. I was told here that gasoline has increased. » Fuel prices almost tripled in just one day on Wednesday, May 31.

In the afternoon, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) issued a statement informing consumers that “Gasoline price at the pump.” [ses] The gas stations were adjusted according to the reality of the market. This represents an increase to 488 naira per liter at NNPC stations, while it was only 184 naira forty-eight hours earlier. Private gas stations quickly lined up, often posting even higher prices.

A significant shock

For Nigerians who see access to cheap fuel as one of the few privileges they get from oil power, the shock is significant. Especially since gasoline is also used to power generators in the country’s extremely damaged power grid. “Yesterday I sent my daughter to get petrol for our generator, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that she only brought me the bottom of a pot! » Precious exclaims, astonished. In this process, the price of food products in the market has increased dramatically. “We knew the subsidies would go away, but this is really violent.” laments Aziz, who drives taxis at a nearby parking lot. The cost of a fully packed seat in one of his cars has increased by 100 GEL since the beginning of the week. “We should double the prices, but it’s impossible, people wouldn’t be able to afford it.” So we lose money. “ Explains the fiftieth anniversary.

The change is all the more drastic because communication around this topic is, at the moment, almost non-existent. “There is not much transparency in what is happening, Regrets Noel Okwedi, an analyst at Stears in Lagos. We knew that the subsidies were included in the budget until the end of June, but there was clearly a desire to act faster. »

In August 2021, the Nigerian government adopted a ” Oil Industry Act” to organize the deregulation of the market and, in principle, the end of subsidies. But the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari continued to fund this aid for imports, which cost Nigeria $10 billion in 2022.

“Strong political signal”

Despite their harmful pressure on the economy, no one could imagine that the new head of state would get rid of them from the first day of his mandate. “This is a strong political signal for investorsNoel Okwedi admits. The president wants to show his seriousness, desire to reduce the debt and be more efficient. » Nigeria had previously been forced to borrow to finance this controversial bailout, taking on increasingly unsustainable debt. “On this topic, the government has been under pressure from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund for a long time.Adds Mickaël Vogel, director of research firm Hawilti in Lagos. It is estimated that almost half of the subsidized fuel imported into Nigeria is trafficked to neighboring countries. » The removal of subsidies for this industry specialist will not only benefit private operators in the oil sector, but also give a boost to the gas industry in Africa’s largest market.

“Because of the initial shock to people who are already facing high inflation, this is good news for Nigeria.claims a player in this sector in Nigeria who speaks on condition of anonymity. We have spent ridiculous amounts of money on these subsidies when they could have been invested in infrastructure, health, education or industrialization of the economy.. He simply regrets that the government has not announced palliative measures to support the population during this transition period. “But let’s not kid ourselves: because of repeated shortages in recent months, the price of petrol has already risen significantly in Nigeria. »

On the streets of Lagos, many are abandoning this long heralded rise. “We will be fine as always.said Solomon, a tailor from Obalende. We’ve faced Covid-19, the economic crisis, gas shortages and cash shortages. [suite à une politique monétaire controversée de la banque centrale en début d’année]. We can only hope that all this will eventually lead to something positive for the future of our country. »

A year ago, hopes for LGBT+ couples in South Korea to finally achieve some form of recognition were fading. But a ruling by the Seoul High Court set a precedent that led to the proposed law. Jang Hae-young, an MP from the Justice Party, brought a text in favor of same-sex marriage to parliament on Wednesday, May 31. A historic first, which advocates for sexual minorities welcome, in a context where a strong conservative side of South Korean society continues to oppose them. “True Enmity”According to the Human Rights Watch organization.

The two men, So Seong-wook and Kim Yong-min, were symbolically married in 2019 in a ceremony that had no legal effect. They live together as a married couple. Mr So will then register his partner as a dependent with the country’s health insurance service, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Eight months later, Mr. Kim’s status was revoked after the NHIS discovered that Mr. Soo and Mr. Kim were a same-sex couple.

In 2021, Mr. So sued the facility after the benefits his partner had received were terminated. The Seoul Administrative Court rejects his request and rules in favor of the NHIS in 2022: “According to the lawThe court then asserts, The union of a man and a woman is understood as a fundamental element of marriage, and there is no legal basis for extending this definition to same-sex couples. »

Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation

Major change: In February 2023, the Seoul High Court overturned that decision and ordered the Health Insurance Service to reinstate Mr. Kim’s benefits. The judges recalled that Social Security law allows married couples to register for one member who is a dependent of the other. They also believe that exempting same-sex couples could be considered discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

“The complainant and her partner are men, but they see each other as loving partners who care for each other. One is financially dependent on the other. They announced their reunion in front of their families and friends. Therefore, their relationship, in its essence, is no different from that of a married couple.concludes the court’s decision, which specifies, however, if this decision is the first in South Korea, it is in no way a recognition “Legal Status” Same-sex marriage.

A “Decision [qui] Gives hope that prejudice can be overcome”said Boram Jang, East Asia researcher at Amnesty International. Despite this, “There is still a long way to go to end discrimination against the LGBT community”she argued.

“deeply patriarchal system”

On several occasions, the Democratic Party of Korea has proposed laws aimed at combating discrimination against sexual minorities. Although none of these have ever been adopted, influential evangelical churches have campaigned to prevent the LGBT+ community from accessing rights such as marriage.

Therefore, political support for a legal union between two people of the same sex was never discussed. In fact, nothing is forbidden, but nothing is allowed and neither is it recognized. In 2013, director Kim Joo Kwang-soo himself dreamed of a big wedding with his partner. The union took place, but remained symbolic.

daily Korea messenger A month ago, he said that the Korean constitution “Doesn’t specifically mention same-sex marriage”But Article 36 deals with marriage “Traditionally, marriage has been interpreted to include persons of the opposite sex.”

Thus, the introduction of a text in favor of same-sex marriage in South Korea’s parliament is the first He welcomed the Justice Party. The change is part of a bill that aims to expand the right to start a family, in addition to protecting health care for single women – but not female couples. “Another step towards disrupting the deeply patriarchal system of marriage and family and changing the institutions, practices and culture of our society. (…) more towards equality”Welcomed the Korea Marriage Equality Association.

This new law proposes to establish a union “At the request of both opposite-sex or same-sex parties, to remedy the fact that same-sex marriage petitions have not been accepted to date due to the habitual discrimination in our company.”Deputy Jang Hae-young reveals.

The elected member of the Justice Party defends A “Birth Aid” For single women who wish to apply for medically assisted reproduction, regardless of their marital status. As for the recognition of social motherhood among several women (those who do not give birth to children), no details have been released. MP We also offer A law that allows two unmarried adults to legally live together “Enjoy the legal rights and social support they need to live and care for each other as a family”.

With the support of the Democratic Party, the People’s Power Party, as well as independent MPs, the bill is unlikely to be passed, but will increase pressure on the government, which is gradually pushing to recognize the existence of families outside traditional models.

“If everyone had done their part to protect Lindsay, she would have been alive.” The family of a 13-year-old girl who killed herself after being bullied at school, Thursday 1^Eh June, who filed a complaint, in particular, against the rectory and Facebook.

Three complaints have been filed against the college’s management, the Lille Academy and the police officers in charge of the investigation “due to the lack of help for those in danger,” said the family’s lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, at a news conference in Vendin. le-Vieil (Pas-de-Calais), where the schoolboy who committed suicide on May 12 was educated. The fourth targets the social network Facebook “totally flawed” According to the lawyer.

Four minors have been charged with “school harassment that led to suicide” as part of a judicial investigation, the Bethune prosecutor announced on May 25. The main person was charged with “death threats”. All of them were under judicial control. The rectory of Lille Academy announced last week the opening of an administrative investigation and admitted that the school services could. “go to next” A young girl whom the institution knew how to harass.

“We condemn the inertia of the authorities, which seem to resent the fact that a 13-year-old girl hanged herself and her parents, who have been warning for months, have been completely abandoned.said M.^e Debuisson. “I tried everything, I did everything. We didn’t help, they let us go, completely. No support before, during or after”said Lindsey’s mother, Betty. “If they would have helped us, I am sure that my daughter would have been among us. »

” Very slow response from social networks »

Minister of Education Pap Ndiaye on Thursday evening assessed that it was a “Collective Failure”. This is the chain of events: the main instigator of the violence was first temporarily eliminated on November 14 (…), then finally eliminated on February 27, and we got the tragedy of May 12.reports Pap Ndiaye on BFMTV, who addresses the problem “cyber harassment”which in this case was taken from bullying at school.

“Mom got it, Lindsay got it, the nurse got it, CPE got it (Educational Senior Advisor), by the director” Following the harassment report, Pas-de-Calais academic director Jean-Roger Ribault said at a press conference on May 26. “We made a protocol, it gave us a disciplinary council, this disciplinary council made it possible to exclude one of the main authors of the incident.he added. “Unfortunately, it turned out to be insufficient. »

For Pap Ndiaye, social networks “have their share of responsibility”. According to him, it is necessary “The pressure is more accentuated”. “We’re going to consult with other ministries and act very strongly on social media, because beyond what they can say, we know that their response is very slow and certainly not what we expect from them.”, he hammered. The minister also confirmed that he followed “personally” Lindsay’s suicide file. Based on the judicial and administrative investigation, he assured that he was painting “If necessary, all the conclusions regarding the staff and especially the general conclusions about the way we can move forward”.

there “The family needs answers, we need to give them” In turn, the government spokesman, Olivier Veran, announced on Thursday while moving to Pas-de-Calais. he insisted “Parental Responsibility” In the fight against bullying.

A support department has been functioning in the college since May 15, and on May 24, a white march was organized in memory of the young girl.

Pope Ndiae announced a “Strengthening the Anti-Harassment Unit”, without further details. The school bullying prevention system, the Program Against Bullying in Schools (pHARE), which has been tested in primary schools and colleges in six academies since 2019, is due to complete its rollout this year. According to the ministry, 91% of colleges and 64% of schools are already involved in this program, in addition to other anti-bullying measures such as 30 20 emergency numbers (for families and victims) and 30 18 (cyberbullying). .