Mahrang Baloch—Feted Worldwide, Persecuted at Home

Mahrang Baloch recently was acknowledged by the BBC as one of the most inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2024. Credit: Baloch Yakjehti Committee

Mahrang Baloch recently was acknowledged by the BBC as one of the most inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2024. Credit: Baloch Yakjehti Committee

By Zofeen Ebrahim
KARACHI, Dec 13 2024 – “This recognition by a media outlet highlights the painful stories of abductions, torture, and the genocide of the Baloch people,” said 31-year-old political activist Mahrang Baloch, speaking with IPS over the phone from Quetta, Balochistan, in reference to her inclusion on the BBC’s annual list of 100 most inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2024.

“BBC 100 Women acknowledges the toll this year has taken on women by celebrating those who—through their resilience—are pushing for change as the world changes around them,” stated the media organization.

This is the second award that Mahrang received this year. In October, she was among Time magazine’s ‘2024 Time100 Next’ list of young individuals to recognize for “advocating peacefully for Baloch rights.”

She was invited by the magazine to attend a ceremony in New York, but she was stopped at the airport from boarding the plane on October 7 “without giving me a reason” why. She stated that she was termed a “terrorist” and a “suicide bomber,” with multiple cases filed against her. “And if this were not enough, now I and my brother have been placed on the Fourth Schedule list,” she said. Introduced in 1997, the Fourth Schedule aimed to combat sectarian violence, militancy, and terrorism. Almost 4,000 Baloch have been placed in the Fourth Schedule list.

Being placed on the Fourth Schedule under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) is a serious matter, resulting in restrictions such as travel bans, frozen bank accounts, prohibitions on financial support, arms license embargoes, and employment clearance limitations.

A trained medical doctor, Mahrang began protesting against the alleged abductions and killings of innocent Baloch by Pakistani security forces in 2006, well before her father, a political activist, forcibly disappeared in 2009. His tortured body was discovered in 2011.

In 2017, her brother was abducted, and though he was released in 2018, Mahrang continued to advocate for justice for all the disappeared, despite facing threats and intimidation. In 2019, she founded the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a human rights movement dedicated to raising awareness and seeking justice for the Baloch people.

Balochistan’s history of resistance against the Pakistan government began in 1948 and continues. Pakistan’s military, paramilitary and intelligence forces have responded with kidnapping, torturing and killing tens of thousands of Baloch men.

The Voice for the Baloch Missing Persons, a non-profit organisation representing family members of those who disappeared in Balochistan, has registered approximately 7,000 cases since 2000.

“We have been fighting for our families now for over two decades, on every platform. I have appeared in courts, even the Supreme Court of Pakistan, presented our cause at every commission and committee that the government or the judiciary has set up but so far there has been no progress. In fact, in the last three months of this year alone, more Baloch individuals are being picked than in any other time,” said Nasrullah Baloch, chairman of the VBMP, speaking to IPS over the phone.

“We have no confidence in any government institution, especially the government-constituted Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CoIED), anymore to resolve our issue,” he rued.

But neither does the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). In 2020, Ian Seiderman, ICJ’s Legal and Policy Director, stated the commission (established in 2011) had failed to hold even a single perpetrator of enforced disappearance responsible.

“A commission that does not address impunity nor facilitate justice for victims and their families can certainly not be considered effective,” he said.

Since the ICJ’s policy brief, not much seems to have changed. Indeed, Mahrang asserts that the situation has deteriorated. In the past three months, “over 300 Baloch have been abducted, and seven cases of extrajudicial killings have been reported.” On the other hand, the CoIED reported that it had resolved 8,015 of the 10,285 cases it had investigated from 2011 to June 2024.

In 2021 and then again in 2022, Pakistan’s parliament tried passing a bill to criminalize enforced disappearances but it has not yet come into force. Pakistan has refused to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

Media’s Dismal Role

While the international media has given Baloch activists like Mahrang “hope” by amplifying their voices and bringing “visibility” to their “genuine” cause, she said it has failed to ignite the Pakistani media.

“Our national media has failed us,” she lamented, adding that they never supported their “genuine” cause. In such circumstances, the recognition by the international media gives her some “hope.”

Prominent journalist and author Mohammad Hanif, who has consistently highlighted the issue of missing Baloch, described Mahrang as “articulate, clearheaded, and inspirational.” He admitted that the media in Pakistan has not given the issue adequate coverage, revealing, “There were standing instructions to newsrooms not to cover it.” Furthermore, he pointed out a “clear bias among mainstream journalists against Baloch issues.”

Talat Hussain, political commentator and journalist, agreed that media coverage of enforced disappearances had been “limited and partially blacked out” but added it was not entirely absent in its coverage.

He acknowledged he had not covered the issue extensively, not because he had been asked to avoid it, but because the overwhelming news flow in Islamabad, driven by political unrest, protests, rising terrorism, and economic challenges, eclipsed everything.

However, Hussain noted that what was considered a human rights issue had become deeply politicized, increasingly intertwined with Baloch separatism. Many now view the activists as opponents of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. “This complicates efforts to recognize Mahrang solely as a human rights campaigner,” he remarked.

Farah Zia, director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, declined to equate the BYC with the separatist movement. She described women like Mahrang, who “come out to protest and even lead them,” as a refreshing phenomenon. “This completely unarmed, non-violent resistance movement makes these young women leaders extremely powerful.” Moreover, said Zia, “Even her followers are young, educated Baloch who have defied their traditional power centres, including their tribal elders.”

“They have broken many stereotypes associated with Baloch women,” agreed Zohra Yusuf, a rights activist. In 2023, Mahrang led hundreds of women on a 1,000-mile (1,600 km) march to the capital Islamabad to demand information on the whereabouts of their family members. She was arrested twice during the journey. The BBC highlighted her December 2023 march to Islamabad, where she and hundreds of women marched for “justice for their husbands, sons, and brothers.”

“The people of Balochistan see Mahrang and the BYC as a beacon of hope because they have completely lost faith in the politicians,” pointed out Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur, who has been associated with the Baloch rights struggle since 1971 and wrote about violations of their rights in newspapers till 2015, after which he said the “media stopped publishing my pieces due to state pressure.”

“There are no consequences for those implementing disappear, kill and dump policies,” said Hanif. “The state believes in its own brute colonial power.”

“Enforced disappearances will continue as there is total impunity for the perpetrators. Those associated with the intelligence and security agencies have no regard for the rule of law,” pointed out Yusuf. She said the young doctor had exhibited “positive leadership qualities by being firm on her demands without creating hatred towards anyone.”

IPS UN Bureau Report

 


!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?’http’:’https’;if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+’://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js’;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, ‘script’, ‘twitter-wjs’);  

IPS UN Bureau, IPS UN Bureau Report, Pakistan

‘We Will Not Go Quietly Into the Rising Sea,’ Tuvalu Tells International Court of Justice

Water floods in, showing how nature and people are at risk. Trees can’t grow because of salt, leaving no protection. This photo warns about climate change’s effect on our islands and atolls. It’s a clear sign we need to act to keep our world safe. Credit: Gitty Keziah Yee/Tuvalu

By Tanka Dhakal
THE HAGUE, Dec 13 2024 – Rising sea level caused by greenhouse gas emission-fueled climate change is threatening existence in coastal communities and island nations. At the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on Thursday, December 12, 2024, small island states, including Tuvalu and a Pacific-based fisheries agency detailed their ongoing existential threats caused by the climate change-induced sea level rise and impacts on fishery-based livelihood.

Tuvalu, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) both focused their oral presentations before the court on highlighting added and exacerbated struggles faced by people in the region through visual evidence and testimony of the frontline community.

At the request of Vanuatu, the UN General Assembly asked the ICJ to issue an advisory opinion on the obligations of UN member states in preventing climate change and ensuring the protection of the environment for present and future generations. While its advisory opinion will not be enforceable, the court will advise on the legal consequences for member states who have caused significant harm, particularly to small island developing states. So far, more than 100 countries and agencies have presented their case before the court.

On Thursday, island states stressed the disproportionate effects of climate change on small islands, urging the court to recognize the duty of cooperation, the stability of maritime zones, and the principle of continuity of statehood.

Climate Crisis Can not be Solved in Isolation—Tuvalu

Tuvalu, a small island nation in the South Pacific with over 11,000 people, emphasized its right to self-determination and territorial integrity at a time when it is facing an existential threat from climate change-induced sea level rise.

The low-lying island nation of Tuvalu is fighting for its existence; according to scientists, much of their land area, along with critical infrastructure, will be under water by 2050. Tuvalu urged the ICJ to issue a strong advisory opinion on states’ obligations to combat climate change and protect small island states.

Furthering the submission, Laingane Italeli Talia, Attorney General of Tuvalu, said climate change is the single greatest threat the country is facing. “It cannot be that in the face of such unprecedented and irreversible harm, international law is silent.

“Tuvalu, accordingly, asks the court to keep the unprecedented infringement on our people’s right to self-determination at the very center of his critical advisory opinion in order to help chart the pathway forward for our very survival.”

‘Annihilation Posed By Nuclear Weapons’ 

Professor Phillipa Webb, representing Tuvulu, used the analogy that the threat of disappearance faced by states like Tuvalu is like the potential annihilation posed by nuclear weapons.

“This extreme circumstance triggers all the tools that international law provides for respecting statehood, ensuring territorial integrity and protecting sovereignty over natural resources,” Webb said.

“Tuvalu’s constitution affirms that its statehood will remain in perpetuity, notwithstanding any loss to its physical territory. In the same way that the right to survival requires state continuity, the right also compels respect for territorial integrity, which encompasses a state’s permanent sovereignty over its natural resources,” Webb said, drawing on the drawing on the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States.

“Respect for territorial integrity and territorial sovereignty is an essential foundation of international relations in the context of climate change. This obliges States to prevent and mitigate transboundary environmental harm. It requires that States facilitate adaptation to climate change impacts, and these measures should not be limited to the preservation and restoration of coasts and islands but also to protecting the rights of peoples to self-determination.”

The right to self-determination includes aspects other than physical land, and the court should take this into account.

“Territorial integrity, a corollary of the right to self-determination, is not limited to physical land territory. It must be conceived as a historical and cultural norm linked to the vitality, dignity and identity of the people holding the right to self-determination to ensure respect for territorial integrity goes beyond ensuring the maintenance of physical land boundaries. Like other concepts in international law, such as cultural heritage, biodiversity and intellectual property, it covers tangible and intangible assets.”

Quoting Tuvaluan climate activist Grace Malie, Webb told the court, “Tuvalu will not go quietly into the rising sea.”

Statehood Should be Ensured—AOSIS

AOSIS submitted its case on behalf of the 39 small island and low-lying coastal developing states and urged it to consider the existential threat posed by climate change-induced sea level rise and the possibility that some states may not even have dry land in the near future.

It emphasizes the importance of equity and self-determination in the context of climate change and the need for international law to support the continuity of statehood and sovereignty.

Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr. Pa’olelei Luteru, Chair of AOSIS and Permanent Representative of Samoa to the United Nations, focused on the impact of the climate crisis on states defined by the ocean’s limited resources and geographic vulnerability.

“Small island developing states rely heavily on coastal and marine resources as key drivers of our economies,” he said. “However, climate change is disrupting the fishery sector because of warming waters and an altered marine environment.”

The AOSIS asked the court to uphold the principle of continuity of statehood as established in international law, ensuring that statehood and sovereignty endure despite physical changes to land territory.

Luteru added, “In this era of unprecedented and relentless sea level rise, international law must evolve to meet the climate crisis and the disproportionate effect that it has on states.”

Focus on Sustainability of Tuna Fisheries—FFA

Rising sea level and ocean warming are not only threatening the existence of island nations but they are also hammering a major way of livelihood, fishing. Representing the fishing community at the ICJ, FFA highlighted the state of loss of fisheries, including tuna.

Tuna fisheries are crucial for the economic, social, and cultural development of Pacific Island communities, with 47 percent of households depending on fishing as a primary or secondary source of income.

FFA, an intergovernmental agency, focuses on sustainable use of offshore fisheries resources, particularly tuna, which are facing threats to climate change impacts.

“Damage to fisheries and loss of fish stocks will have a significant negative impact on the income, livelihoods, food security and economies of Pacific small island developing states, as well as social and cultural impacts,” Pio Manoa, Deputy Director General of FFA, said.

“Climate change is driving tuna further to the east and outside of members, exclusive economic zones into the high seas, threatening the loss of economic and food security of Pacific small and developing states.”

Studies show climate change-driven redistribution of commercial tuna species will cause an economic blow to the small island states of the Western and Central Pacific, ultimately threatening the sustainability of the world’s largest tuna fishery.

By 2050, under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario, the total biomass of three tuna species in the waters of 10 of the Pacific small islands developing states members of the agency could decline by an average of 13 percent.

“The adverse consequences for the livelihood and well-being of coastal communities are profound, including their very security and survival impacts on marine resources, including offshore fisheries such as tuna,” Manoa said. “It is therefore incumbent upon the international community to take necessary action to deal with anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and their consequences.”

IPS UN Bureau Report

 


!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?’http’:’https’;if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+’://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js’;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, ‘script’, ‘twitter-wjs’);  

Nyxoah Annonce le Lancement Commercial de la Thérapie Innovante Genio® en Angleterre

Nyxoah Annonce le Lancement Commercial de la Thérapie Innovante Genio® en Angleterre

Nyxoah Annonce le Lancement Commercial de la Thérapie Innovante Genio® en Angleterre
Premiers patients implantés avec Genio à l'UCLH, Londres

Mont–Saint–Guibert, Belgique – 13 Décembre 2024, 8h05 CET / 2h05 ET – Nyxoah SA (Euronext Brussels/Nasdaq: NYXH) (« Nyxoah » ou la « Société »), une société de technologie médicale développant des alternatives thérapeutiques révolutionnaires pour l'apnée obstructive du sommeil (AOS) par la neuromodulation, a annoncé aujourd'hui le lancement commercial de son système Genio en Angleterre, marqué par les premières implantations réussies à l'University College London Hospitals (UCLH).

Le système Genio est désormais couvert par le programme SSDP (Specialised Services Devices Programme) de la NHS, ce qui permet l'accès à des thérapies innovantes par l'intermédiaire de centres d'excellence spécialisés.

Les deux premiers patients ont été implantés avec succès par M. Ryan Chin Taw Cheong, chirurgien consultant en ORL et en sommeil à l'UCLH. Commentant cette étape importante, M. Cheong a déclaré : « Nous sommes fiers d'être le premier hôpital du Royaume–Uni à proposer Genio à nos patients souffrant d'AOS. Genio est une thérapie révolutionnaire, cliniquement prouvée, qui répond aux besoins non satisfaits des personnes souffrant d'apnée obstructive du sommeil ».

Olivier Taelman, CEO de Nyxoah, a ajouté : « Aujourd'hui représente une étape importante pour Nyxoah puisque nous introduisons notre solution de neurostimulation Genio pour traiter l'apnée obstructive du sommeil en Angleterre. Félicitations à M. Cheong et à son équipe pour cette réussite remarquable. Nous sommes impatients d'étendre notre collaboration avec l'UCLH et d'autres hôpitaux de référence en Angleterre, alors que nous poursuivons notre mission de simplifier le sommeil pour les patients souffrant d'AOS. »

À propos de Nyxoah
Nyxoah réinvente le sommeil pour le milliard de personnes qui souffrent d'apnée obstructive du sommeil (AOS). Nous sommes une société de technologie médicale qui développe des alternatives de traitement révolutionnaires pour l'AOS grâce à la neuromodulation. Notre première innovation est Genio®, un dispositif de neuromodulation hypoglosse sans pile, inséré par une simple incision sous le menton et contrôlé par un dispositif portable. Grâce à notre engagement en faveur de l'innovation et des preuves cliniques, nous avons obtenu les meilleurs résultats de sa catégorie en matière de réduction du fardeau du SAOS.

Suite à l'achèvement réussi de l'étude BLAST OSA, le système Genio® a reçu son marquage CE européen en 2019. Nyxoah a réalisé deux introductions en bourse réussies : sur Euronext Bruxelles en septembre 2020 et sur le NASDAQ en juillet 2021. Suite aux résultats positifs de l'étude BETTER SLEEP, Nyxoah a reçu l'approbation du marquage CE pour l'élargissement de ses indications thérapeutiques aux patients atteints d'effondrement concentrique complet (CCC), actuellement contre–indiqués dans la thérapie des concurrents. En outre, la société a annoncé les résultats positifs de l'étude pivot DREAM IDE en vue de l'approbation de la FDA et de la commercialisation aux États–Unis.

Pour plus d'informations, veuillez consulter le rapport annuel de la société pour l'exercice 2023 et visiter le site http://www.nyxoah.com/.

Attention – Marquage CE depuis 2019. Dispositif expérimental aux États–Unis. Limité par la loi fédérale américaine à un usage expérimental aux États–Unis.

DÉCLARATIONS PROSPECTIVES

Certaines déclarations, croyances et opinions contenues dans le présent communiqué de presse sont prospectives et reflètent les attentes et croyances actuelles de Nyxoah concernant le système Genio®, les études cliniques prévues et en cours du système Genio®, les avantages potentiels du système Genio®, les objectifs de Nyxoah concernant le développement, la voie réglementaire et l'utilisation potentielle du système Genio®, l'utilité des données cliniques dans l'obtention potentielle de l'approbation de la FDA pour le système Genio®, et l'obtention potentielle de l'approbation de la FDA et l'entrée sur le marché des États–Unis. De par leur nature, les déclarations prévisionnelles impliquent un certain nombre de risques, d'incertitudes, d'hypothèses et d'autres facteurs qui pourraient faire en sorte que les résultats ou les événements réels diffèrent matériellement de ceux exprimés ou sous–entendus dans les déclarations prévisionnelles. Ces risques, incertitudes, hypothèses et facteurs pourraient avoir une incidence négative sur les résultats et les effets financiers des plans et des événements décrits dans le présent document. En outre, ces risques et incertitudes comprennent, sans s'y limiter, les risques et incertitudes énoncés dans la section « Facteurs de risque » du rapport annuel de Nyxoah sur le formulaire 20–F pour l'exercice clos le 31 décembre 2023, déposé auprès de la Securities and Exchange Commission (« SEC ») le 20 mars 2024, et des rapports ultérieurs que Nyxoah dépose auprès de la SEC. Une multitude de facteurs, y compris, mais sans s'y limiter, les changements dans la demande, la concurrence et la technologie, peuvent faire en sorte que les événements, les performances ou les résultats réels diffèrent de manière significative de tout développement anticipé. Les déclarations prospectives contenues dans le présent communiqué de presse concernant des tendances ou des activités passées ne constituent pas des garanties de performances futures et ne doivent pas être considérées comme une déclaration selon laquelle ces tendances ou activités se poursuivront à l'avenir. En outre, même si les résultats ou les développements réels sont conformes aux déclarations prospectives contenues dans le présent communiqué de presse, ces résultats ou développements peuvent ne pas être représentatifs des résultats ou développements des périodes futures. Aucune déclaration ni garantie n'est donnée quant à l'exactitude ou à la justesse de ces déclarations prospectives. Par conséquent, Nyxoah décline expressément toute obligation ou engagement de publier des mises à jour ou des révisions des énoncés prospectifs contenus dans le présent communiqué de presse à la suite d'un changement des attentes ou d'un changement des événements, conditions, hypothèses ou circonstances sur lesquels ces énoncés prospectifs sont fondés, sauf si la loi ou la réglementation l'exige expressément. Ni Nyxoah, ni ses conseillers ou représentants, ni aucune de ses filiales, ni aucun de leurs dirigeants ou employés ne garantissent que les hypothèses qui sous–tendent ces énoncés prospectifs sont exemptes d'erreurs, ni n'acceptent de responsabilité quant à l'exactitude future des énoncés prospectifs contenus dans le présent communiqué de presse ou quant à la réalisation effective des développements prévus. Vous ne devriez pas accorder une confiance excessive aux déclarations prospectives, qui ne sont valables qu'à la date du présent communiqué de presse.

Contacts :

Nyxoah
John Landry, CFO
IR@nyxoah.com

For Media
In UK
Kinfolk Communications
rebecca@wearekinfolk.co.uk
gemma@wearekinfolk.co.uk

In United States
FINN Partners – Glenn Silver
glenn.silver@finnpartners.com

In Belgium/France
Backstage Communication – Gunther De Backer
gunther@backstagecom.be

In International/Germany
MC Services – Anne Hennecke
nyxoah@mc–services.eu

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1001028519)

Nyxoah Announces Commercial Launch of Genio® Innovative Therapy in England

Nyxoah Announces Commercial Launch of Genio® Innovative Therapy in England
First patients implanted with Genio at UCLH, London

Mont–Saint–Guibert, Belgium – December 13, 2024, 8:05am CET / 2:05am ET – Nyxoah SA (Euronext Brussels/Nasdaq: NYXH) (“Nyxoah” or the “Company”), a medical technology company that develops breakthrough treatment alternatives for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) through neuromodulation, today announced the commercial launch of its Genio system in England, marked by the first successful implants performed at University College London Hospitals (UCLH).

Genio is now covered under the NHS Specialised Services Devices Programme (SSDP), enabling access to innovative therapies through specialized centers of excellence.

The first two patients were successfully implanted by Mr. Ryan Chin Taw Cheong, Consultant ENT and Sleep Surgeon at UCLH. Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Cheong said: “We are proud to be the first hospital in the UK to offer Genio to our OSA patients. Genio is a groundbreaking, clinically proven therapy that addresses the unmet needs of individuals suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea.”

Olivier Taelman, CEO of Nyxoah, added: “Today represents an important milestone for Nyxoah as we introduce our Genio neurostimulation solution to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea in England. Congratulations to Mr. Cheong and his team on this remarkable achievement. We look forward to expanding our collaboration with UCLH and other leading hospitals in England as we continue our mission to make sleep simple for OSA patients.”

About Nyxoah
Nyxoah is reinventing sleep for the billion people that suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We are a medical technology company that develops breakthrough treatment alternatives for OSA through neuromodulation. Our first innovation is Genio®, a battery–free hypoglossal neuromodulation device that is inserted through a single incision under the chin and controlled by a wearable. Through our commitment to innovation and clinical evidence, we have shown best–in–class outcomes for reducing OSA burden.

Following the successful completion of the BLAST OSA study, the Genio® system received its European CE Mark in 2019. Nyxoah completed two successful IPOs: on Euronext Brussels in September 2020 and NASDAQ in July 2021. Following the positive outcomes of the BETTER SLEEP study, Nyxoah received CE mark approval for the expansion of its therapeutic indications to Complete Concentric Collapse (CCC) patients, currently contraindicated in competitors’ therapy. Additionally, the Company announced positive outcomes from the DREAM IDE pivotal study for FDA and U.S. commercialization approval.

Caution – CE marked since 2019. Investigational device in the United States. Limited by U.S. federal law to investigational use in the United States.

FORWARD–LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward–looking, reflecting Nyxoah's current expectations and beliefs regarding the Genio® system; planned and ongoing clinical studies of the Genio® system; the potential advantages of the Genio® system; Nyxoah’s goals with respect to the development, regulatory pathway and potential use of the Genio® system; the utility of clinical data in potentially obtaining FDA approval of the Genio® system; and potential receipt of FDA approval and entrance into the U.S. market. By their nature, forward–looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward–looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. Additionally, these risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of Nyxoah’s Annual Report on Form 20–F for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 20, 2024, and subsequent reports that Nyxoah files with the SEC. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities are not guarantees of future performance and should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. In addition, even if actual results or developments are consistent with the forward–looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in future periods. No representations and warranties are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such forward–looking statements. As a result, Nyxoah expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward–looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward–looking statements are based, except if specifically required to do so by law or regulation. Neither Nyxoah nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person's officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward–looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward–looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward–looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

Contacts:

Nyxoah
John Landry, CFO
IR@nyxoah.com

For Media
In UK
Kinfolk Communications
rebecca@wearekinfolk.co.uk
gemma@wearekinfolk.co.uk

In United States
FINN Partners – Glenn Silver
glenn.silver@finnpartners.com

In Belgium/France
Backstage Communication – Gunther De Backer
gunther@backstagecom.be

In International/Germany
MC Services – Anne Hennecke
nyxoah@mc–services.eu

Attachment


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1001028519)

Afghan Women Vow To Resist Taliban Oppression Until Freedom Is Achieved

Though silenced in public, Afghan women continue their resistance in secret. Credit: Learning Together

Though silenced in public, Afghan women continue their resistance in secret. Credit: Learning Together

By External Source
Dec 13 2024 – Three years after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, women continue to face oppressive laws and systemic marginalization.

The Taliban have imposed draconian rules: women must cover their entire body from head to toe, they must not raise their voices in public, they must not pray or read the Koran aloud to each other. They have long been banned from taking up jobs outside the home or have education

Despite this, Afghan women are determined to resist. “We will continue our protests and struggles until we achieve freedom,”  defiantly declares Farzana, a member of the Afghan Women Movement.

Over the past 20 years, women in Afghanistan had achieved higher education and professional skills, but are now under greater threat from the Taliban. They have suddenly been marginalized by Taliban rule.

“During the first two years,” says Farzana, “we took to the streets to protest for our rights. Unfortunately, during these demonstrations, the Taliban arrested the protesting women, imprisoned and punished them, and there was no one to defend these women.”

Women could no longer tolerate this situation and took to the streets to demand their rights, but lately, despite the introduction of new and strict laws by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice of the Taliban, which even banned women’s voices, no street protests have been seen. It seems that silence has also plagued Afghan women.

Based on my interviews with female prisoners after their release, they were even whipped naked, raped, and their family members mysteriously murdered.

“We are secretly active in protest groups,” Farzana explains. “We are not allowed to roam the streets. We have been sharing our protests with the media individually from home for some time now. The Taliban cannot silence our voices. We will continue our protests and struggles until we reach freedom”.

Malalai, another female protester, says: “The Taliban even send spies to our homes under various pretexts, with masked faces, claiming they are people on routine government duties. They have our photos and videos with them, and they identify and arrest us.”

 

Though silenced in public, Afghan women continue their resistance in secret. Credit: Learning Together

Though silenced in public, Afghan women continue their resistance in secret. Credit: Learning Together

 

Malalai also says that the Taliban have installed cameras on top of every high building, supposedly for security cameras, but their real purpose is to monitor women. Recently, several women have been unexpectedly arrested and imprisoned.

“The Taliban are afraid of us because we expose the oppression on the people, women, and ethnic minorities”, says Malalai adding: “The Taliban have imposed pressure and strict rules on women. Women cannot even go on the streets without a Mahram – a male family member. We are interrogated if a few of us are seen standing together on the streets. They check our cell phones and punish us”.

“The Taliban have a strangle-choke on us. They are shamelessly violating our human rights, the rights of ethnic minorities and that of our families in full view of the United Nations and other countries.

“We women will continue our struggle despite the pressures and oppression of a world-known terrorist group. We will act on our slogans of bread-work-freedom”.

Sabera, another female protester, highlights the Taliban’s tactics of intimidation and control. “Taliban’s intelligence agents are arresting women who are against them. Through phone calls and photos that they gather from the demonstrations, they identify the women protesters during house-to-house searches. Also, they forcibly collect copies of people’s identity cards and passports to identify the women protesters – their declared opponents.”

Although we protested for our rights, many women protesters, both single and married, are currently imprisoned by the Taliban and are facing severe punishment, with no one following up on their situation.

Currently, due to many challenges, we are holding protests in secret locations with our faces covered, and then we must flee to another country.

The Taliban commit a lot more atrocities and oppression in the distant provinces further away from the cities. They forcibly tax the people twice their annual income.

If people do not obey the dictate of the Taliban, they forcibly enter their homes and snatch away their daughters. They also rape their wives and daughters and force them to move out of their residential areas.

“We can no longer tolerate this oppression. We will continue our fight,” says Sabera.

Those interviewed say the women in Afghanistan are fighting bravely against the tyranny and harsh laws of the Taliban, but they do not have any support.

“In spite of poverty and unemployment, we continue our journey at our own expense,” says Sabera.

The women are appealing to the United Nations and human rights organizations to stop supporting and to not recognize the Taliban regime.

“We are very disappointed that our voices do not reach the world from this dark pit,” says Sabera.

The European Union is shocked at the laws passed by the Taliban that limits women’s freedom of speech and, essentially restricts women’s life to within the house.

“Possible recognition would require that the Taliban comply in all respects with both its obligations towards the citizens of Afghanistan and Afghanistan’s international obligations,” an European Council press release states.

The EU continues to support Afghan women and girls and all those threatened by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Taliban, on the other hand, also refuse to cooperate with the UN-supported UNAMA aid operation

Excerpt:

The author is an Afghanistan-based female journalist, trained with Finnish support before the Taliban take-over. Her identity is withheld for security reasons

Small Island States Put Faith in International Court’s ‘Wayfinding’ Advisory Opinion

Protest for climate justice. Two hundred 200 women gathered at Mt. Yasur, an active volcano on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. Credit: Greenpeace & Ben Bohane

Protest for climate justice. Two hundred 200 women gathered at Mt. Yasur, an active volcano on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. Credit: Greenpeace & Ben Bohane

By Umar Manzoor Shah
THE HAGUE, Dec 13 2024 – The “crazy, weird and at some point (what seemed like) insurmountable” plan to ask the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on the obligations of UN member states regarding climate change was a success, Vishal Prasad, a representative for the. Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) said at a post-hearing press conference today (December 13).

“We have taken the world’s biggest problem to the world’s highest court,” Prasad said, and this should be a source of inspiration to young people who may find what’s happening about them depressing.

He said he was moved by the experience of telling the ICJ their story from a youth’s perspective.

Yet, Cristelle Pratt, Assistant Secretary-General, Organization of African Caribbean and Pacific States, said some of the testimony that was presented in court was dubious.

“Despite the overwhelming consensus that the relevant conduct is unlawful, a small minority of participants have had the audacity to double down on the limb of their innocence. They have done this in two ways. First, they have argued that the legal question being asked to the court is strictly forward-looking in nature and does not concern itself with historical emissions,” Pratt said.

“Second, they have argued that the only legal obligations binding on them do not, in fact, require them to account for their historical emissions, including by reparations, let alone oblige them to stop emitting beyond their pitiful privileges. In essence, these states have invited the court to absolve them of a moral responsibility.”

During a fortnight of hearings, countries and organizations have given their arguments in a case that was initiated at the request of Vanuatu in which the UN General Assembly asked the ICJ to issue an advisory opinion on the obligations of UN member states in preventing climate change and ensuring the protection of the environment for present and future generations.

During the final day of hearing, the court continued to hear testimony of the impact of climate change, particularly on small island states.

Tuvalu’s Attorney-General, Eselealofa Apinelum, speaking on behalf of the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS), reminded the court that there was still time.

“There is still time to avert the worst impacts if only states can make the necessary cuts to their greenhouse gas emissions. The court can, and indeed must, provide specific and pivotal guidance on states’ obligations in this regard.”

Speaking on behalf of COSIS, an intergovernmental organization with a mandate to clarify the rules and principles of international law concerning climate change, Professor Payam Akhavan reminded the court that “significant harm has already occurred, and without decisive action, it will only get worse. These impacts touch on every aspect of island life. The major polluters are destroying the future of our people.”

He continued, “The court can provide the critical guidance needed to align international law with the best available science and ensure accountability for the harm caused by greenhouse gas emissions.”

Dr. Stuart Minchin, Director-General of the Pacific Community (SPC), said the court could provide a solid foundation for the future.

“Pacific leaders aptly describe our region as the Blue Pacific Continent. It’s 98 percent ocean—it contains 30 percent of the world’s exclusive economic zones and over 60 percent of the world’s tuna stocks.”

Climate change posed a particular risk to these islands, as half of the population lived 5 km from the coastline, which highlights the consequence of extreme sea-level events in the region.

“The science is clear: Climate change is already causing existential impacts to the peoples and communities of our vast Pacific region, and meaningful action is required to reduce its impacts as a matter of urgency,” Minchin said.

“Under no scientific scenarios can we continue to pursue a future underpinned by fossil fuels and still expect to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. We need to act now to ensure the livelihoods and self-determination of Pacific people and cultures are protected for future generations.”

Coral Pasisi, Director of Climate Change at SPC, said the loss and damage were economic, cultural and social.

“The loss and damage already experienced, together with the associated impacts on culture, traditional practice, and knowledge, have both extreme economic and non-economic implications,” Pasisi said. “Cyclone Heta in 2004 caused economic damages in Niue alone, equating to five times the GDP of our country, an unimaginable and irreparable loss, including the destruction of our only museum and over 90 percent of our cultural artifacts.”

Prasad had earlier told the court that, “In the Pacific, we have always looked to the stars. Our ancestors navigated the vastness of the ocean and traveled immense distances. Today, the world needs wayfinders, those who can guide us towards a path that protects our homes, upholds our rights, and preserves our dignity.”

Now was the time for the reinvention of this time-honored tradition.

“This practice, wayfinding, is more than just a method of navigation. It is a relationship. It connects those who came before with those who will follow. Every decision mattered, not only for the journey in that moment but for the future that it shaped.”

IPS UN Bureau Report

 


!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?’http’:’https’;if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+’://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js’;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, ‘script’, ‘twitter-wjs’);  

Standing Up for Science with Science Communication

Most scientists lack training in effective science communication, and their use of jargon often hinders public understanding and trust in scientific papers and findings. Credit: Shutterstock

Most scientists lack training in effective science communication, and their use of jargon often hinders public understanding and trust in scientific papers and findings. Credit: Shutterstock

By Esther Ngumbi
URBANA, Illinois, US, Dec 13 2024 – New research shows that AI-generated summaries of scientific writing made the information more approachable and easier to understand, and thus created more public engagement with the information. This is notable because most scientists aren’t trained in science communication tactics and so their jargon affects many people’s ability to understand and trust scientific papers and findings.

Science communication has always been an important part of the scientific process because discoveries, solutions and findings that can help solve our world’s greatest challenges cannot be adopted or understood by the public without clear communication.  Communicating science well also can shape and inform public policy.

Scientists, therefore, have a responsibility to make sure that they communicate their knowledge and findings in a way that the public and policymakers can understand, but too often that is not happening.

Scientists have a responsibility to make sure that they communicate their knowledge and findings in a way that the public and policymakers can understand, but too often that is not happening

Due to the importance of science communication, it is necessary for scientists to be trained in science communication. That is why I started a science communications course at my university.

I have taught it for over 4 years and cover topics like the art of writing opinion pieces and creating science stories, communicating science to different audiences through careful use of metaphors and minimal use of jargon.

Additionally, the class covers topics such as communicating science using social media and communicating with politicians and creating visual science stories.  Students who have taken the class have continued to use the skills learned in class in their careers while others went on to become science communicators

The people who need to learn these skills include recent PhD graduates, post-doctoral fellows, assistant professors, newly tenured and full professors.

There are several resources including textbooks, science communication workshops, and many trusted organizations and institutions to which scientists can turn. Science communication newbies can also turn to social media including Bluesky social and Instagram to meet other science communication enthusiasts.

Notably, there are institutions and organizations to which scientists can turn. The American Association for the Advancement of Science, for example has developed a communication toolkit to help science communication newbies.

The OpED project has programs to help people learn how to write OpEds and a few times a year, they offer science communication workshops.  Moreover, most universities also have webpages listing science communication resources.

For example, Duke University has a webpage listing the resources available including science communication workshops, events and classes.

Communicating science effectively via OpEds, blogs, and social media outlets is not only important for reaching the public and policy makers, but it can help scientists themselves, too.

First, through public publishing and engagement, scientists can establish their own reputation. Journalists and policymakers will often reach out to whatever expert they can easily find, and being active on social media and op-ed pages will make a person easier to find.

Being a consistent public voice – backed up by good work – can help establish someone as an expert in their field. Moreover, scientists that regularly and consistently participate in science communication can track its impact and include that on tenure promotion packages.

This happened to me. Being consistent with writing over 150 OpEds, since 2015, for example has helped to advance my career.

Second, communicating science publicly help a person build a professional network, which can lead to peers reaching out for collaborations and co-writing of grant proposals.

It can lead to people recommending each other for awards or invitations to speak on panels, workshops or to give plenary talks.

This has been my experience, and I’ve received a few invitations thanks to my public writing. For instance, I was invited to give a plenary talk at the annual 2019 British Ecological Society, and I’ve been invited to speak at various universities.

In 2021, I was awarded the American Association for the Advancement of Science Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science.

Third, communicating science can help a scientist grow their skills and become better at speaking and writing in publicly accessible language. And it can help scientists learn to become better at capitalizing on newsworthy moments. In addition, this can also facilitate the building of trust among different communities and the public.

Fourth, it can allow scientists to offer a public service and provide accurate information about their discoveries and recent scientific and technological advancements to reporters and policymakers.

Of course, for new beginners, it can be overwhelming to join the science communication bandwagon. Not only may it be unfamiliar and a new skill to develop, but there are concerns like being unable to control what happens to your writing or how it is used once it’s published, or the fact that science is ever evolving, and new information may agree or disagree with previously held truths. But the benefits outweigh the negatives.

Science communication is critical for conveying important scientific information. Scientists must stand up for science. When scientists become better science communicators, the public, society, and scientists benefit.

Esther Ngumbi, PhD is Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, African American Studies Department, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign