It is one of 33 recommendations in the first report of the governing body’s new Human Rights Advisory Board.

The panel, including representatives from the UN, trade unions and sponsors, was created to provide independent advice on Fifa’s responsibilities.

“Our first report sets a baseline,” the advisory board said.

“We recognise that Fifa has taken important steps, particularly by adopting a new Human Rights Policy, fighting discrimination connected to matches and integrating human rights requirements into the 2026 Fifa World Cup bidding documents.

“We also make 33 detailed recommendations on issues Fifa should focus on, including, as a priority, building on what has been done to date by continuing to strengthen efforts to address risks to workers’ rights on World Cup stadium construction sites in Russia and Qatar.

“We highlight the long-term commitment required from Fifa to build systems at the operational level that can proactively identify and respond to the most severe human rights risks.”

Fifa – along with other global sports institutions – has come under increasing pressure to make human rights more of a priority.

Last year it announced that for the first time it was organising a system, together with the Russian authorities, to monitor labour conditions at stadiums being built or renovated for the 2018 World Cup.

However, its effectiveness has been criticised by rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Meanwhile, Fifa president Gianni Infantino admitted in May there had been human rights abuses of North Korean workers involved in the construction of the Zenit Arena in St Petersburg.

In September, HWR warned that migrant construction workers in Qatar, including those building stadiums for the 2022 World Cup, were working in potentially life-threatening heat and humidity.

This week however, the International Labor Organization (ILO) ended a potential investigation of Qatar after it pledged to protect the rights of migrant workers.

Praising Qatar’s commitment “to ensuring fundamental principles and rights at work for all workers and the resulting breakthrough to end the ‘kafala’ sponsorship system,” the ILO’s governing body said it would monitor progress for three years.

Qatar relies heavily on a workforce of about two million migrant workers from Asia to expand its infrastructure. The gas-rich emirate has committed tens of billions of dollars to construction of stadiums, hotels and transport projects linked to the 2022 World Cup.

“This report shows that Fifa is making important progress in integrating respect for human rights throughout its wide range of activities,” Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura said.

“We are taking a pioneering role in that regard and feel privileged to be able to count on the outstanding support of the advisory board members. They validate the important progress that is taking place and challenge us where more is still to be done.”

–

Source: BBC

The post World Cup: FIFA urged to strengthen workers’ rights in Russia & Qatar appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This was recommended by CAF’s Marketing and TV team on Wednesday at the two-day African Football Symposium in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.

The team said it had agreed on the increasing of the AFCON teams “from 16 to 24 and to have from 20 to 21 African teams in addition to 3 or 4 invitees from other continents”.

Amongst proposal also includes taking the 2023 edition to countries who already have the infrastructure and have money to stage a grand competition.

Countries that we were put on the table included U.S.A or Qatar who will be hosting the 2022 edition of the World Cup thus will have the facilities available.

CAF Marketing team are looking to create new and innovative ways to make Africa’s flagship competition more attractive but these recommendations will first have to be passed by the executive committee.

There has been a long standing debate about the timing of the Africa Cup of Nations with European clubs complaining about key players leaving in the middle of the season.

There are 55 CAF executive committee members in Rabat Morocco for the historic Symposium.

–

By: Rahman Osman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post New CAF President to open AFCON to non African countries appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is according to Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botwe.

She contends that the physical presence of the Ghanaian state in Kuwait would help government deal better with the numerous instances of Ghanaian domestic workers in that country who are subjected to human rights abuses.

She also indicated that so far 800 Ghanaians had turned themselves in at the Saudi Mission to be brought back home.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6gBsj42zs8zoUY1HNe1nB1QzITY94Cjk”]Speaking to Citi News, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway said “very soon, we will have a physical presence in Kuwait.”

“I can also tell you that we are at the very final stage of opening a mission. It shouldn’t take us more than a month or two,” she added.

On claims of maltreatment against some Ghanaian deportees in Qatar, the Minister said her outfit has taken the matter up.

“So far, I have had meetings with the foreign missions here and I have complained and expressed government’s displeasure about the way our nationals are being treated. I’ve had meeting with ambassadors of the Gulf region.”

“So they are aware that we are not happy with it. just a couple of days ago, when the Qatari ambassador presented his letters of credence to the president, the present also expressed that state government’s concern  about what is happening to our nationals who go there. And also asked him that the authorities are aware of the fact that we are not happy with what is happening and we want to engage them on this particular matter. So it’s not just Qatar so all the gulf state. We will continue to do what we can to ensure that our citizens are safe, protected and their rights are protected within the gulf region,” she added.

There have been a series of reports on of maltreatment of Ghanaian recruits who work as house-helps in that Kuwait.

Meanwhile, National Security has been tasked to probe allegations of maltreatment meted out to some 63 Ghanaians who were recently deported.

According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, this has become necessary due to conflicting reports received from the deportees and the US Embassy on the treatment on the board a chartered flight to Ghana.

“This particular matter is the word of the US authorities against that of the Ghanaians who were repatriated but we haven’t instituted any investigation into the matter because that lies in the domain of the national security and we expect them to do so,” she added.

–

By: Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ghana to set up mission in Kuwait to check abuse of women appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The initial deadline for Qatar to agree to the group’s 13 demands, including the shutting down of the Al Jazeera news network, expired on Sunday.

The Gulf state, which denies funding extremism, is expected to submit a formal response later.

It has called the demands an “affront to international law”.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani arrived in Kuwait on Monday to deliver a formal response in a letter, according to Al Jazeera. The letter is from the emir of Qatar to the emir of Kuwait, who is the main mediator in the Gulf crisis.

In a statement released shortly beforehand, lawyers for Qatar denounced the tactics and called for international condemnation.

They said the demands were “reminiscent of the extreme and punitive conduct of ‘bully’ states that have historically resulted in war”.

“The world must unite immediately to halt the singling out of Qatar for unjustified collective punishment and humiliation and to preserve peace, security and prosperity in the region.”

On Saturday, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said the state had rejected the demands, but was ready to engage in dialogue under the right conditions.

Qatar has been under unprecedented diplomatic and economic sanctions for weeks from Saudi Arabia and its allies, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain.

On 23 June, the four countries, whose foreign ministers will meet on Wednesday to discuss the situation, set a deadline of 10 days for Qatar to agree to their requirements, which include the closure of a Turkish military base and the curbing of diplomatic relations with Iran.

The imposed restrictions have caused turmoil in Qatar, an oil- and gas-rich nation dependent on imports to meet the basic needs of its population of 2.7 million. As a result, Iran and Turkey have been increasingly supplying it with food and other goods.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain have accused Qatar of harbouring Islamist groups that they consider terrorist organisations – including the Muslim Brotherhood – and giving them a platform on the Al Jazeera satellite channel, which is funded by the Qatari state.

The four countries severed diplomatic and travel ties with Qatar one month ago, accusing it of supporting terrorism and being an ally of regional foe Iran, charges that Doha denies.

They have since threatened further sanctions.

The situation is the worst political crisis among Gulf countries in decades.

What are the other demands?

According to the Associated Press news agency, which obtained a copy of the list, Qatar must also:

• Sever all ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been banned in several Arab states
• Refuse to naturalise citizens from the four countries and expel those currently on its territory, in what the countries describe as an effort to keep Qatar from meddling in their internal affairs
• Hand over all individuals who are wanted by the four countries for terrorism
• Stop funding any extremist entities that are designated as terrorist groups by the US
• Provide detailed information about opposition figures whom Qatar has funded, ostensibly in Saudi Arabia and the other nations
• Align itself politically, economically and otherwise with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC)
• Stop funding other news outlets in addition to Al Jazeera, including Arabi21 and Middle East Eye
• Pay an unspecified sum in compensation

An unnamed official from one of the four countries told Reuters news agency that Qatar was also being asked to sever links with so-called Islamic State, al-Qaeda and Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah.

The demands have not been officially unveiled. Their publication has increased the friction between the two sides.

–

Source: BBC

The post Qatar given new deadline on Gulf demands appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Bild newspaper says it has obtained the “suppressed” 2014 report authored by former Fifa independent ethics investigator Michael Garcia.

Bild’s report includes details of a $2m (£1.6m) sum allegedly paid to the 10-year-old daughter of a Fifa official.

Garcia quit in December 2014 in protest at the handling of his report into the bidding process.

The American lawyer cited a “lack of leadership” as he left football’s world governing body, whose executives unanimously agreed to publish a “legally appropriate version” of his report.

That 42-page version cleared Qatar of corruption allegations.

Bild says it will be publishing the full details of Garcia’s 403-page report from Tuesday.

The newspaper claims:

• Three Fifa executive members were flown to a party in Rio in a private jet belonging to the Qatari federation before the vote for 2018 and 2022 hosting rights.
• The Aspire Academy in Qatar was implicated “in a decisive manner” in “the manipulation of Fifa members who had the right to vote”.

In a Facebook post, Peter Rossberg – the journalist who claims to have obtained the report – said it “does not provide the proof that the 2018 or 2022 World Cup was bought”.

He described its findings instead as “like a puzzle that only makes sense when all parts are put together”.

Fifa’s inquiry looked at the conduct of all nine bidding teams who were trying to win the right to stage the 2022 World Cup or the 2018 event, which was awarded to Russia at the same ceremony in 2010.

–

Source: BBC

The post World Cup 2022: Claims of corruption in Qatar bid published in Germany appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Yemen, Libya’s eastern-based government and the Maldives have all cut diplomatic and other ties with Qatar.

Mr Trump said he was told during his recent visit to Saudi Arabia that Qatar was funding “radical ideology”.

He added that the visit was “already paying off”.

Analysts say the timing of the move, two weeks after a visit to Saudi Arabia by Mr Trump, is crucial.

Mr Trump’s speech in the Saudi capital Riyadh, in which he blamed Iran for instability in the Middle East and urged Muslim countries to take the lead in combating radicalisation, is seen as likely to have emboldened Gulf allies to act against Qatar.

“During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology. Leaders pointed to Qatar – look!” Mr Trump tweeted on Tuesday.

He later tweeted: “So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off. They said they would take a hard line on funding… extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism!”

In the same week as Mr Trump’s Riyadh speech, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE blocked Qatari news sites, including Al Jazeera.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE gave Qatari nationals two weeks to leave, banned their own citizens from travelling to Qatar, and cut all transport links.

Qatar is backing plans for talks with its regional rivals as the diplomatic row gathers pace.

Kuwait – one of the Gulf countries not involved in the dispute – has offered to mediate talks, and Qatar said it was receptive to dialogue. Kuwait’s emir is travelling to Saudi Arabia for talks.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told Al Jazeera that his country was seeking “a dialogue of openness and honesty”.

He said Qatar would not retaliate but was unhappy with regional rivals “trying to impose their will on Qatar or intervene in its internal affairs”.

He later told the BBC that his government had told President Trump during his Middle-East trip that there was no evidence that Qatar was supporting radical Islamists.

–

Source: BBC

The post Qatar row: Trump claims credit for isolation appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They say Qatar backs terrorist groups including Islamic State (IS).

The Saudi state news agency SPA said Riyadh had closed its borders, severing land, sea and air contact with Qatar and largely isolating it.

It cited officials as saying it was to “protect its national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism”.

The unprecedented move is being seen as the most serious split yet between powerful Gulf countries, who are also close US allies.

The row comes two weeks after the same four countries blocked Qatari news sites. Controversial comments by Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, appearing to criticise Saudi Arabia, appeared online.

The government in Doha dismissed the comments as fake, attributing the report to a “shameful cybercrime”.

In the latest developments:

• The United Arab Emirates has given Qatari diplomats 48 hours to leave the country. Abu Dhabi accuses Doha of “supporting, funding and embracing terrorism, extremism and sectarian organisations,” state news agency WAM said
• The UAE state airline Etihad Airways said it would suspend all flights to and from Doha from 02:45 local time on Tuesday
• Bahrain’s state news agency said the country was cutting ties with Qatar because Doha was “shaking the security and stability of Bahrain and meddling in its affairs”
• US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, speaking in Sydney, urged the countries to resolve their differences through dialogue.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi rebels also expelled Qatar from its alliance because of Doha’s “practices that strengthen terrorism” and its support to groups “including al-Qaeda and Daesh [also known as IS], as well as dealing with the rebel militias”, according to SPA.

Qatar has provided its warplanes to carry out air strikes against the Houthi rebels.

Qatar, which is due to host the football World Cup in 2022, has so far made no public comments on the latest developments.

–

Source: BBC

The post Qatar row: Four countries cut links with Doha appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

President Akufo-Addo made this known when Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, an adviser to the Emir of Qatar, paid a courtesy call on him at the Presidency on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

The President told Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari that his main preoccupation is how to “build our economy, so as to be able to bring employment, and generate prosperity for the mass of our people. We think that a country like yours could play a very important role in helping us achieve our objectives.”

President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that, Ghana over the years, has not done a good job in developing a good relationship with Qatar, assuring that his government is determined to buck that trend.

For this reason, he stated that that “Ghana is open for business. We are trying to create a climate that will allow investors and investments into our country to feel secure – not only in terms of the standard issues of appropriation, but to feel secure to operate in a stable environment.”

Additionally, he told Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari of the many investment opportunities available for Qatari businesses in Ghana, which include participation in the country’s significant oil and gas resources, the development of the country’s infrastructure, the building of the nation’s railways, amongst others.

The building of formal, diplomatic relations between the two countries, President Akufo-Addo noted, will ensure the realization and development of these opportunities.

In his response to the remarks made by the President, Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari was grateful for the warmth reception accorded him and his delegation by President Akufo-Addo.

He indicated that, the purpose of his visit was to “bridge the relations between the two countries”, as there exists tremendous opportunities and areas of co-operation for the two countries.

The Qatari envoy noted that, he was aware “of the size of the co-operation that could exist between the two countries. So, we need to work together to explore the possibilities in all the fields you mentioned. The political will is there, and I promise you that my visit is an important step for the relations between our two countries.”

Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, on behalf of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, extended an invitation for a visit to Qatar by a delegation from Ghana, to hold bilateral discussions aimed at establishing and strengthening ties between the two countries.

He also used the opportunity of his visit to elicit Ghana’s support for his candidature for the position of Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

–

Source: Flagstaff House

The post Ghana and Qatar to deepen diplomatic ties appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.