EU imposes sanctions on seven individuals and three organizations in Southeast Asia over human rights issues

In connection with Youth Day, a meeting was held at the Senate with 45 volunteers from the Academy of Young Volunteers, as well as volunteers from the student associations 'IXLOS' and 'Golden Wing'.

Goals of the Event

The main focus of the event was to familiarize young people with the work of parliament, enhance their legal knowledge, broaden their understanding of the legislative process, and encourage participation in public administration.

Information on Senate Operations

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Science, Education, and Healthcare, Odiljon Mamatkarimov, provided detailed information about the constitutional powers of the upper house, the process of law review and approval, the activities of committees, and the main directions of parliamentary oversight.

Issues regarding reforms within the state policy towards youth in the country, conditions created for youth education and employment, and measures of state support were also addressed.

Discussion of Educational Issues

During the conversation, comprehensive explanations were given regarding reforms in higher education, science, and innovation, improving the quality of education, developing international cooperation, as well as benefits and opportunities provided by current legislation to ensure the right of persons with disabilities to education.

Volunteers received detailed answers from specialists to their questions concerning education, youth policy, social protection, and parliamentary activities, and they also presented a number of their own suggestions and opinions.

Emotional and psychological abuse includes constant criticism, humiliation, intimidation, gaslighting, and emotional manipulation. Unlike physical violence, which leaves obvious marks, emotional abuse operates covertly, manifesting through deliberately condescending compliments, detachment, or distortion of the past, causing a person to doubt their own memory.

Consequences of psychological impact

The main tragedy of psychological abuse is that it forces the victim to become their own worst enemy, teaching them to apologize for their valid feelings. Understanding emotional abuse means recognizing it as a systematic destruction of self-esteem, and recognizing this destructive pattern is the most important first step toward restoring personal truth.

Sibongile Dondo noted that if she could go back, she would share one truth with her little girl self: 'It is not your fault.' She also emphasized that although many believe emotional abuse only happens between partners, parents can also be a source of psychological abuse.

An anonymous victim of violence observed that family should be a safe haven, yet it is often there that the deepest pain is experienced. Sibonelo Nkube stated that the strongest pain arises when someone who made you feel uniquely valuable yesterday leaves you feeling completely forgotten today.

Breaking stereotypes about violence

Furthermore, Nkube pointed out the common misconception that violence is perpetrated exclusively by men, adding: 'I cared about her very much, but I am glad I found the strength to leave that relationship.' Christina Erasmus advised to 'break the cycle of inherited dysfunction by actively studying healthier ways of living instead of recreating the painful patterns you experienced.' She explained that she tried to start new relationships believing she was healed, but her excessive defensiveness ultimately led her to become an aggressor herself.

The path to personal recovery

Healing from emotional abuse is a gentle and persistent restoration, not a linear process. Leaving or realizing the harm is just the initial stage; the real work happens afterward, when a person learns to trust their own voice again.

Steps to healing

This recovery path involves several stages. First, it is restoring the connection with intuition, as psychological control interrupts the connection with natural instincts. Healing requires learning to listen to the body's signals again and trusting oneself.

Second, it is dismantling the inner critic implanted due to emotional abuse, which repeats the abuser's criticism even after they are gone. One should start with small steps: validating daily decisions, such as choosing clothes, food, or activities, without seeking external approval.

Third, it is necessary to mourn reality, not just the lost connection. True recovery involves grieving two things: the relationships one wishes to have, and the emotional energy spent trying to fix everything. The feeling of a combination of relief and deep sadness is completely natural.

Finally, achieving freedom through daily micro-choices. When one has lived under tension for a long time, even minor decisions can paralyze. Regaining independence starts with ordinary details: for example, the ability to say 'no' to small requests without lengthy explanations or changing plans simply because you feel tired.

True recovery does not require erasing the past or pretending the wound never existed. It means reaching a state where past traumas no longer dictate the ability to experience happiness, peace, and fulfilling relationships. Healing is a subtle yet brave choice in favor of protecting boundaries, believing in intuition, and regaining control over one's life on one's own terms.

As Mandela Month concludes, organizations working directly in the most vulnerable areas of Gauteng are strongly urging South Africans not to cease charitable giving after July, emphasizing that children experiencing violence and trauma require daily support.

Activity in Westbury

This sentiment was reflected on July 29th when The Star, in collaboration with the Hope SA Foundation, donated hygiene kits to 95 children at the Slovo Centre of Excellence. This early childhood development center provides educational support, daily meals, and after-school care for children from the surrounding community.

Community Challenges

Despite this initiative being part of Mandela Month, local leaders stated that the most serious issues facing children in Westbury cannot be solved solely through one-off events. The Together Action Group (TAG), which has served Westbury and neighboring areas for 25 years, notes that violence and the emotional impact of these issues have become major difficulties for families in the area.

Operations Manager Rhoda van Buren reported that the organization continues to provide daily support—including homework assistance, nutrition, and developmental programs—to about 80–90 children. However, many of these children arrive carrying a heavy emotional burden caused by the violence occurring around them. Van Buren cited an example, noting that five shootings occurred in just that week, and another person was killed the following morning.

Need for Psychological Support

She stressed that children are increasingly subjected to early-life violence, making access to emotional and psychological support as vital as receiving food and education. Van Buren pointed to a shortage of social workers needed to support traumatized children. While organizations often receive donations in the form of food and clothing, support that helps children cope with trauma remains extremely limited.

Calls to Action

The head of the Hope SA Foundation, Namrita Sivasankar, noted that the challenges faced by Westbury mirror those of many vulnerable communities across South Africa, where NGOs are forced to fill gaps with limited resources. She added that the government must address these issues, as the organization itself receives no support from the Department of Social Development. Sivasankar insisted that Mandela Day should stimulate long-term action, not just one-time gestures, calling for it to become a daily practice rather than merely a subject for media photos and social media posts.

She urged South Africans to continue helping in any way possible, asserting that significant change often begins with small acts of kindness, and advised people to start acting without waiting for a lottery win.

Future of Partnership

Both organizations expressed hope that their collaboration will encourage individuals, businesses, and communities to continue supporting vulnerable children long after Mandela Month concludes.