GS PAPER: II

African Union (AU) Admitted as New Member of G20

Why in the news?

Recently, the African Union (AU) was admitted as a new member of the G20, a group of the world’s 20 largest economies.

• India was the country that floated the idea of including the AU.

What is the AU?

• The AU is an intergovernmental organisation of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. Launched on July 9, 2002, the grouping is the successor of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which was formed in 1963.
• The AU’s secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Addis Ababa.
• Collectively, the group has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $3 trillion, and some 14 billion people.

Why was the AU formed?

• The AU’s predecessor, the OAU, aimed to bring African nations together and resolve common issues through collective action.
• Its main focus, however, was to help liberate the colonised countries on the continent. To do so, the OAU mustered diplomatic support and provided logistical aid to liberation movements across Africa.
• OAU’s efforts helped numerous African nations gain independence from their European colonists, but it failed to boost political and economic integration among its member countries. Therefore, it was decided to reform the OAU during the mid-1990s, which ultimately led to the formation of the AU.

What are the objectives of the AU?

• Achieve greater unity and solidarity between African countries and their people.
• Accelerate the process of political and socio-economic integration of the continent.
• Address the multifaceted social, economic, and political problems that African nations have been facing.
• Promote peace and security in the region.
• Protect and promote human rights.
• Accelerate economic growth and development.

What are its achievements?

• The AU’s efforts have also resulted in resolving conflicts in Africa. Last year, it brokered a peace deal between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) almost two years after the entities began fighting.
• The African Continental Free Trade Area, which came into force in 2021, is yet another achievement of the organisation.

Conclusion:

The admission of the AU to the G20 is a significant development. It is a recognition of the AU’s growing importance on the global stage and its potential to play a leading role in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

GS PAPER – II

G-20 statement on health: India’s 3 priorities

Why in news?

Recently, the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration released that mentions all three health priorities of India’s G20 presidency.

• India was able to build consensus on all three of its priorities, and it also managed to launch a proposed repository of scalable digital health platforms.

The Three Health Priorities:

• Strengthening primary healthcare, health workforce, and essential health services to better-than-pre-pandemic levels, ideally within the next two to three years.
• Focusing on epidemics such as tuberculosis and AIDS, and research on long COVID.
• Stressing the importance of one health approach — where diseases in animals, plants, and humans are tracked by the same mechanism — with focus on tackling antimicrobial resistance.

Other Highlights on Health Initiative:

• India committed to developing a platform for sharing scalable digital health solutions under the World Health Organisation (WHO) that can be utilized by its member states. This culminated in the launch of Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH).
• India has committed to offering its vaccine management platform CoWIN, its telemedicine platform e-Sanjeevani, and its Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission platform as digital public goods to others.
• India’s G20 presidency also pushed for integration of evidence-based traditional medicine practices with modern medicine.

India’s G20 presidency has achieved significant success on its health priorities. The consensus reached on all three priorities and the launch of the Global Initiative on Digital Health is major achievements.

GS PAPER – II

Sexual Intercourse on false promise of marriage: Section 69 of the BNS

Why in news?

The recently proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, identifies “sexual intercourse on false promise of marriage” as an offence.

• Chapter 5 of the Bill, titled “Offences against Woman and Children,” describes ‘sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means, etc.
• The BNS is still in the proposed stage, but it is a significant step forward in the fight against gender-based violence. If passed into law, it will send a strong message that sexual intercourse on false promises of marriage is a serious crime that will be punished.

What is Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023?

Section 69 of the BNS creates two violations: one by deceitful means, and one by a “false promise to marry.”

• Deceitful means will include the “false promise of employment or promotion, inducement, or marrying after suppressing identity.”
• The false promise to marry will be attracted only when a man makes a promise to marry a woman, with the intention of breaking it, for the purpose of getting her consent and sexually exploiting her.

Impact of the move:

Positive Impact:

• Increased protection for women: The law will make it easier for women to report and prosecute cases of sexual intercourse on false promises of marriage. This will help to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice and that victims receive the support they need.
• Reduced incidence of abuse: The law is likely to deter men from making false promises of marriage in order to have sex with women. This will help create a safer environment for women and girls.
• Increased awareness: The law will raise awareness of this issue and encourage women to speak out if they have been abused. This will help break the silence around sexual violence and create a more supportive environment for victims.

Negative Impact:

• Increased stigma: The law could lead to increased stigma and discrimination against men who are accused of sexual intercourse on false promises of marriage. This could make it more difficult for men to seek help or support if they are falsely accused.
• Unintended consequences: It is possible that the law could have unintended consequences. For example, it could discourage men from making any promises of marriage, even if they are genuine. This could make it more difficult for women to find partners and get married.
• Challenges in enforcement: It may be challenging to enforce the law, especially in cases where there is no clear evidence that the man made a false promise of marriage with the intention of exploiting the woman.

The Way Forward:

• Overall, the proposed law is a positive development that has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of women. However, it is important to be aware of the potential negative impacts of the law and to take steps to mitigate these risks.
• It is also important to note that the law is still in the proposed stage, and it is possible that some of the negative impacts could be addressed before the law is passed. For example, the law could be amended to include specific safeguards to protect men who are falsely accused.

GS PAPER – III

What is Crown Shyness?

Why in news?

Recently, Botanists have suggested that Crown Shyness could be the result of buds at the end of twigs being able to sense light from the neighbouring tree and refusing to grow in that direction.

What is Crown Shyness?

• Crown shyness is a phenomenon in which the crowns of trees in a forest do not touch each other.
• This creates a distinctive pattern of gaps and spaces between the trees.

Crown shyness is thought to be caused by a number of factors, including competition for light, wind, and the release of chemicals by the trees.

What are the benefits of Crown Shyness?

• Reduced competition for light: Crown shyness allows more sunlight to reach the lower levels of the forest, which benefits understory plants and animals.
• Increased wind resistance: The gaps between the trees help to reduce wind speed and turbulence, which can damage trees and make them more susceptible to pests and diseases.
• Reduced risk of fire: Crown shyness can help to prevent fires from spreading from tree to tree.
• Improved air quality: Crown shyness can help to improve air quality by reducing pollutants and allergens.

Conclusion

Crown shyness is a fascinating phenomenon that has a number of benefits for forests. It is a reminder of the interconnectedness of nature and the importance of biodiversity.