Gaza Crisis: Women and Children Dying as the International Community Plays Watch and See

More than 100 people have died in the Gaza Strip in six days of violence as Israel continues its bombardment of area. Among the dead are  children and women. Keep updated at Al Jazeera 

Palestinians gather around a destroyed house after an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip November 19, 2012 REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

An Israeli shoots a video at the scene after a rocket fired by Palestinians 
in Gaza landed in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod, November 18, 2012. Rueters/Nir Bias

Palestinians gather around a destroyed house after an Israeli  air strike in 
Gaza City, November 18, 2012, REUTERS/ Shuiab Salem

A Palestinian man kisses the body of one of his children during their funeral in the northern Gaza Strip  November 18, 2012,. Two children, Jumana Abu Sefan, 18 month old and her brother Tamer, three and half year old were killed  in a Israeli air strike on Sunday. REUTERS/ Mohammed Salem

A wounded Palestinian lies on a hospital bed after an Israeli air strike in northern Gaza Strip, November 17, 2012. REUTERS/Ali Hassan 

2011 International Year for People of African Descent

UN Declaration- 2011 International Year for People of African Descent

Introduction

On 18 December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year beginning on 1 January 2011 the International Year for People of African Descent. The Year aims at strengthening national action and regional and international cooperation for the benefit of people of African descent. This includes their full enjoyment of economic, cultural, social, civil and political rights, their participation and integration in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society, and the promotion of a greater knowledge of and respect for their diverse heritage and culture.

Around 200 million people who identify themselves as being of African descent live in the Americas. Many millions more live in other parts of the world, outside of the African continent. In proclaiming this International Year, the international community is recognising that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.

The main objective of the Year is to raise awareness of the challenges facing people of African descent. It is hoped that the Year will foster discussions that will generate proposals for solutions to tackle these challenges.