Model+UN

**The United Nations Symbol**
(Copied from Mr. Green's given articles) =[|HIV/AIDS Study Guide]= =Cape Verde= == =CAPE VERDE: Switch in donors disrupts AIDS funding= Photo: [|Zoe Eisenstein/PlusNews] HIV/AIDS message on the streets of Sal island, Cape Verde PRAIA, 11 September 2009 (PlusNews) - People living with HIV in Cape Verde are worried that the HIV/AIDS programme may be disrupted by a change in funders. The World Bank pulled out in June after supporting the programme for seven years, and a US$5.3 million grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has not yet arrived.

The government was hoping to sign a contract with the Global Fund in September to complete the transition, but "Negotiations have yet to be concluded and there is no confirmation on when the donation will be made official," said Marcela Rojo, the Global Fund's spokesperson in Geneva.

"We are worried," said Daniel Delgado, president of the Esperança ("Hope" in Portuguese) Association, an NGO in the municipality of Santa Cruz, on Santiago Island, which relies on government-disbursed donor funds to distribute food parcels to orphans, HIV-positive people and their families. "The latest funds received were only enough to pay past-due bills," he told IRIN/PlusNews.

Zaida*, 40, an HIV-positive beneficiary of the food parcel programme, said she had not received anything in August: "I'm unemployed and I don't know what's going to happen to me from here on."


 * ARVs guaranteed until January**

The national HIV/AIDS programme of Cape Verde, a small archipelago off Senegal in West Africa, has managed to reduce HIV prevalence from one percent to 0.8 percent and is seen as a model for other African countries.

Zaida is among the 405 HIV-positive people receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, while 631 orphans are given psychosocial support and another 260 families affected by HIV receive food parcels.

Minister of Health Basílio Mosso Ramos said the transition between donors would not have any affect on the support provided to people living with HIV and their families because the government would take responsibility for supplying ARVs and support to AIDS orphans if the first disbursement of the Global Fund grant was delayed.

Cape Verde has enough HIV test kits and ARVs to last until January 2010, but Ramos warned that a lack of funds could jeopardize the ordering of new stocks, which could take months to arrive and be distributed.


 * Problems**

"As CCS-SIDA [Coordination Committee for the Fight Against AIDS] is no longer performing the same role that it had alongside the World Bank, and because there were not enough resources to pay all of the employees, it was necessary to reduce the committee to a minimal structure," said Ramos. The CCS-SIDA staff of nine was reduced to five when World Bank funding ended in June.

He acknowledged that the government had relied on the experience of CCS-SIDA staff to successfully apply for a Global Fund grant. "The Global Fund's management requirements are much stricter than those of the World Bank - proof of this is that Cape Verde's proposal was only accepted in the eighth [funding] round," he commented.

CCS-SIDA will be the main recipient of grant money destined for the public sector, while an NGO platform will manage funds to be channelled to non-governmental HIV/AIDS organizations.

Ramos said a mission to the country by Global Fund representatives in July had found "weaknesses" and CCS-SIDA was instructed to improve its procedures for acquiring goods and services, while the NGO platform was asked to strengthen its human resource capacity and improve accounting practices.

Another Global Fund mission, expected in the next few weeks, will monitor improvements. Although no date has been set for signing the contract, the Global Fund's Rojo was confident that "the Fund will work with Cape Verde so that the first disbursement comes as quickly as possible in order to guarantee the ARV purchase process."

(Copied from Mr Green's articles)
 * Not her real name

Young People Against HIV/AIDS
Through the Association Djunta Mô Pa Tchada Grande and a number of local partners, Lourenço Andrade organised a successful HIV/AIDS awareness campaign in Cape Verde. As such a project had never been done before in their country, the positive feedback from participants has encouraged them to conduct the same activities again in 2006. The project took place on the island of Santiago, in the Achada Grande Frente neighbourhood. It was implemented in two phases, over three months, and revolved around soccer and basketball tournaments that were followed by a conference on HIV/AIDS featuring presentations by a doctor and a psychologist. These activities attracted the participation of the youths in the neighbourhood, and then information on HIV/AIDS was also shared through the following activities: The primary objectives of this project were to hold soccer and basketball tournament for the youth of the aforementioned neighborhood in order to create a sense of friendship among the youth as well as to provide a way for them to fill their free time and raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among the participants. Based on the success of the activities, these objectives have been met and similar activities will be planned in the future. "At times, the activities continued until midnight but people were not tired. Instead it was such a good atmosphere that no one wanted to go home. The several hundred partcipants consisted almost entirely of youths and some participants even came from other regions of the capital city of Praia to take part […] […] In general, the obtained results were positive, with a large social impact, involving a large number of young people and others from the neighborhood and exceeding our expections. During the activities the good behaviour and response from the public and a strong participation from the youth was evident. The interest expressed by the people and the success of the activities calls for the continuation of initiatives such as this." - Ivandro Jr. Monteiro Moniz, President of the Association Djunta Mô Pa Tchada Grande [|Project Report][.pdf 56Kb] Evaluation of the project, translated into English from Portuguese.
 * Debates
 * Quiz competitions
 * Dance performances
 * Distribution of information at the sport tournaments
 * Distribution of information door-to-door

Led by Qadir Mahamoodally, the Savanne Regional Youth Council implemented a 3-day HIV/AIDS awareness workshop in Mauritius with the aim of sensitizing regional youth leaders in the disease and reducing stigmatization in the community. The residential workshop took place on 16-18 March 2007, at the Senior Citizen Recreational Centre at Pointe aux Sable and was so popular that it far exceeded expectations. Eighty-five participants eventually took part, much more than the expected 50, which resulted unfortunately in many others being declined. The debates and discussion sessions held by professionals included topics such as: It was expected that after the workshop the participants would return to their region and implement a project to sensitize their community. Examples of these projects included a music concert, visits to deprived areas and a football tournament where HIV/AIDS information were distributed amongst the participants. As mentioned by Qadir in his final report, "This project has given us the chance to learn lots of new things regarding HIV/AIDS. It is rare to get such a type of workshop here in Mauritius where you got so many youngsters interested in participating. Normally, such workshops are organized by big organizations dealing directly with HIV/AIDS but it was the first time that a youth organization had organized it. Even the minister of youth and sports, Honorable Sylvio Tang was very satisfied with this workshop and has make an appeal to other youth organizations to follow this good initiative."
 * The current HIV/AIDS situation in Mauritius;
 * How to protect oneself against HIV/AIDS;
 * People living with AIDS;
 * How to write-up and implement projects.

[|Final Report] [.pdf 283Kb] Overview of the different activities and outcomes of the project JUKEWJIMA (Jumuiya Ya Kuendeleza Elimu Jimbo La Makudunchi) is an organisation in Zanzibar with the main goal of improving the quality of both primary and secondary education in the Makunduchi Constituency. Ameir M. Ussi led the project but involved youth in the management and implementation of the project and they also submitted a report concerning their involvement. "The focus of this project was to raise awareness amongst teachers and students in particular and the community in general about the issue of HIV/AIDS especially in the area of infection/transmission, effects and stigmatization and discrimination. This objective was planned to be met by implementing 4 main activities with 5 subsidiary tasks. The project activities were undertaken in all nine schools of Makunduchi constituency namely; Kiongoni, Kusini, Makunduchi Secondary, Miwaleni, Kajengwa Mtende, Kizimkazi Mkunguni, Kizimkazi Dimbani and Kibuteni. Each school had to invite a minimum of 60 students in all activities of the project. The project then was expected to involve more than 540 students that is about 10.9% of the total number of students in the constituency (4947)." The main activities of this project included: Although South District is one of the least HIV/AIDS infected district among ten districts in Zanzibar, the need for imparting HIV/AIDS knowledge could not be escaped. Implementing such a project which focus on both prevention and care is necessary so that no new infection can be reported and those who are living with the viruses being supported accordingly. JUKEWJIMA attempted to undertake this initiative to young people especially those in schools as part of its basic role in the constituency. The methods used to portray the HIV/AIDS message to students were acceptable to both students and education authorities in the district. The community at its side was very impressed to the initiative taken by JUKEJIMA and call for further development of such health educative programs. As the project seems to meet its immediate objectives, the impact of the knowledge will be observed after a while. [|Final Report] [.pdf 138Kb] [|Youth Report] [.pdf 89Kb]
 * Organise viewing of films relating to HIV/AIDS followed by discussions.
 * Conduct mini lectures sessions accompanied by role plays.
 * Organise competition among youth for song/jingle highlighting HIV/AIDS issues.
 * Organise two panel discussions on HIV/AIDS issues involving youth from local peer counseling groups.

[|Cape Verde Article on Migration]

( [] ) Population 429,474 (July 2010 est.)

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics
The following demographic statistics are from the [|CIA World Factbook], unless otherwise indicated.

Age structure
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 80,594/female 79,126)15-64 years: 55.3% (male 113,450/female 119,423)65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,542/female 17,844) (2006 est.)0-14 years: 35.2% (male 76,012/female 74,993)15-64 years: 58.5% (male 123,376/female 127,653)65 years and over: 6.4% (male 10,040/female 17,400) (2010 est.)

Median age
Total: 21.1 yearsMale: 20.4 yearsFemale: 20.9 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate
0.561% (2009 est.)

Birth rate
23.5 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate
6.22 deaths/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Net migration rate
-11.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)

Urbanization
Urban population: 60% of total population (2008)Rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleUnder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/femaleTotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 41.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsMale: 47.39 deaths/1,000 live birthsFemale: 35.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 71.61 yearsMale: 68.27 yearsFemale: 75.05 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate
2.54 children born/woman (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS
Adult prevalence rate: 0.035% (2001 est.)People living with HIV/AIDS: 775 (2001)Deaths: 225 (as of 2001)

Nationality
Noun: Cape Verdean(s)Adjective: Cape Verdean

Religions
Main article: [|Religion in Cape Verde] Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly [|Church of the Nazarene]), [|Buddhist] 0.2% [//[|citation needed]//]

Languages
[|Portuguese], [|Creole]

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and writeTotal population: 76.6%Male: 85.8%Female: 69.2% (2003 est.)

Education expenditures
6.3% of GDP (2006)

[]

**Introduction**
country comprising a group of islands that lie 385 miles (620 km) off the west coast of [|Africa]. Praia, on São Tiago, is the capital. Cape Verde is named for the westernmost cape of Africa, which is located in nearby [|Senegal] and is the nearest point on the continent. The largest port in the islands is located at Mindelo, on São Vicente. Its deepwater harbour accommodates sizable vessels and has been used as a fueling station since the 19th century. 

Land
Cape Verde consists of nine inhabited islands, one uninhabited island, and various islets, located between 14°30 and 17°30 N and between 22°30 and 25°30 W. The archipelago is divided into the Barlavento (Windward) group to the north and the Sotavento (Leeward) group to the south. The Barlavento Islands include Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia (which is uninhabited), São Nicolau, Sal, and Boa Vista, together with the islets of Raso and Branco. The Sotavento Islands include Maio, São Tiago (Santiago), Fogo, and Brava and the three islets called the Rombos—Grande, Luís Carneiro, and Cima. The terrain of the Cape Verde islands varies from the geologically older, flatter islands in the east and the newer, more mountainous islands in the west. The eastern islands of Boa Vista, Maio, and Sal, for example, have been heavily eroded by the wind over time and are very sandy and flat. The others are very rocky, jagged, and mountainous. Fogo (“Fire”) Island's active volcano, Pico, rises 9,281 feet (2,829 metres) and is the highest point of the archipelago. On the northern island of Santo Antão, Tope de Coroa reaches 6,493 feet (1,979 meters). There are few permanent watercourses in the islands, which generally suffer from seasonal rains, cyclical drought, and chronic water shortages. When precipitation does occur, it is often in the form of torrential downpours that cause significant damage through water erosion, flooding, and the destruction of containment dams. Cape Verde's soils, primarily volcanic or igneous in origin, are generally shallow, coarse, and rocky. Almost a quarter of the land area is rock of volcanic origin; basalt is a common type. More than three-fifths of the land is arid and lacking in humus and thus is suitable only for rough grazing; sand and limestone outcrops are common in these areas. Only a fraction of the total area has proper humus and sufficient water supplies for significant irrigation agriculture. Soil loss through wind and water erosion is a serious challenge. Since independence a nationwide campaign to prevent erosion—e.g., by promoting reforestation—has been under way.
 * Relief, drainage, and soils**

Generally moderate, the climate is characterized by stable temperatures with extreme aridity. February is the coolest month, with temperatures in the low 70s F (low 20s C); August and September are the hottest and wettest months, with temperatures in the low 80s F (high 20s C). The islands are profoundly affected by the two-season nature of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), a belt of converging trade winds and rising air that encircles Earth near the Equator. Winter winds from Europe are cool and dry, but in the summer months, the ITCZ front moves to the north and the Guinea current brings more heat and moisture, which can result in increased precipitation, especially in the higher elevations of the more mountainous islands. Precipitation levels are a function of how far north the ITCZ progresses and how much tropical moisture it carries and are, as a result, unpredictable: years may go by with little or no precipitation. The clashing fronts near Cape Verde generate hurricanes that travel westward across the [|Atlantic Ocean] to the Caribbean and the eastern coast of the [|United States].
 * Climate**

On most of the larger islands, elevations are great enough to generate precipitation on the windward slopes; grasses and some pine plantations are found in these relatively moist locations. The leeward slopes, however, exhibit a characteristic rain-shadow effect that produces desert conditions, and the sparse shrub cover almost disappears. The shrubs remaining in these areas are mostly thorny or bitter; some are toxic. Agriculture is practiced either in a limited way at high elevations or by intense terracing of the sharp-cut valleys. Some xerophilous (desert-type) plants are found rooted in the brackish subsoil of Maio, Sal, and Boa Vista. The scarcity of water limits the number of land turtles in the archipelago, but two species of sea turtles lay their eggs on the sandy shores of the uninhabited islets. There are many geckos and lizards and several species of skinks, including a rare and endangered giant skink. There are a number of species of butterflies, but none is endemic, and all the species are of African origin. There are more than 100 known species of birds, of which only a portion, including four species of petrels and two of shearwaters, breed regularly. Other bird species include the greater flamingo, the frigate bird and the buzzard (both nearly extinct), the Egyptian vulture, the Cape Verde Islands kite, and the red-billed tropic bird. Several other birds are represented by local species, of which the kingfisher is among the most conspicuous. The only truly endemic species, however, are the cane warbler and the Raso lark, which is restricted to Raso, one of the smallest uninhabited islets. The rest of the birds are overseas migrants. Remarkably, gulls and terns do not breed on the islands. Mammals of Cape Verde include the feral goats found on Fogo, the descendants of domestic goats that were taken to the islands. The islands' rodent population probably originated with rodents carried on early ships. Monkeys, introduced from the African continent, are also present on the islands. The long-eared bat is the only indigenous mammal.
 * Plant and animal life**



People
The overwhelming majority of the population of Cape Verde is of mixed European and African descent and is often referred to as //mestiço// or Crioulo. There is also a sizable African minority, which includes the Fulani (Fulbe), the Balante, and the Mandyako peoples. A small population of European origin includes those of Portuguese descent (especially from the Algarve, a historical province, and the Azores islands), as well as those of Italian, French, and English descent. There is also a substantial number that traces its roots to Sephardic Jews who were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th and 16th centuries during the Inquisition and were among the islands' early settlers, or to other groups of Jews—mainly tradesmen—who arrived in the 19th century from [|Morocco].
 * Ethnic groups**

Although Portuguese is the official language and is used in formal situations, Crioulo, one of the oldest of the Portuguese creole languages, is by far the most widely spoken. The different dialects of Crioulo that exist on the islands may be broadly divided into Sotavento and Barlavento groups. There has been a struggle to legitimate and regularize Crioulo orthography in a dictionary and in schools.
 * Languages**

The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, but a flourishing Protestant mission is based in Praia with a publishing venture in Fogo. In practice, Catholicism is often enriched with African elements. The celebration of saints' days, for example, may be accompanied by drumming, processionals, masks, and dancing in African styles, particularly on São Tiago. Although many Cape Verdeans can trace Jewish ancestry, virtually none are practicing.
 * Religion**

The proportion of Cape Verdeans living in rural areas has declined consistently since the mid-20th century. By the early 2000s, the majority of the population was urban and concentrated particularly in the centres of Praia and Mindelo. Some two-fifths of the population remained rural, living in small villages and individual households in remote fertile valleys or in coastal towns and villages.
 * Settlement patterns**

Cape Verde's population-growth rate is below both the regional and world averages. A steady emigration of young males seeking employment abroad and one of the lowest birth rates in sub-Saharan Africa have been responsible for dampening Cape Verde's population growth. Life expectancy on average exceeds the regional and global averages for both genders. On the whole the Cape Verdean population is relatively young, with some two-fifths of the population under 15 years of age. The group of diasporic Cape Verdeans throughout the world exceeds the national population. The pattern of out-migration is very old, with many Cape Verdeans having left the islands as a result of the slave trade or to work as seamen on [|whaling] and sealing ships or serve as migrant labourers in either [|New England] (where many attracted by whaling would settle) or the islands of [|São Tomé and Príncipe]. During the period of Portuguese colonialism, many Cape Verdeans served throughout Lusophone Africa as middle-level colonial officials and workers. Many Cape Verdeans work as merchant mariners or longshoremen in the major diasporic communities in [|Dakar], Seneg., southeastern New England, [|Rotterdam], and [|Lisbon]. Some Cape Verdean women have sought employment as domestic workers in countries such as [|Italy], [|Portugal], and Spain.
 * Demographic trends**



Economy
After independence, the government played a central role in Cape Verde's economy and created several state-owned businesses, which ultimately was a limiting factor in the country's economic growth. Dramatic changes to the Cape Verdean economic structure, especially from the mid-1990s, have since guided the country toward a market economy. As a result of these reforms, the number of state-owned businesses declined significantly, with numerous interests such as utilities companies, banks, tourism-sector entities, and other enterprises having been privatized by the early 2000s. Cape Verde's service-oriented economy is centred on commerce, trade, transport, and public services. The revenue from the country's international airports, emigrants' remittances, and, increasingly, tourism are all important and have enabled the balance of payments to stay generally positive despite imports' far exceeding exports. Agriculture in Cape Verde is limited by the severe and recurrent droughts that affect the islands. The harsh conditions have long posed serious challenges to agricultural pursuits, resulting in irregular crop output and periodic bouts of large-scale famine. Poor grazing practices for sheep and goats and little effort toward reforestation and water conservation under the centuries of Portuguese colonialism only aggravated this poor ecological condition. The postcolonial governments have made a major effort to plant drought-resistant acacia trees and build dikes, retaining dams, and terracing in order to curb intense water erosion, improve water retention in the subsoil, and improve and expand the limited areas available for subsistence and small-scale commercial farming. Crops grown for local consumption include corn (maize), sugarcane, castor beans, broad beans, potatoes, and peanuts (groundnuts). There is a heavy reliance on imported foodstuffs, however, and the importation of food has long been an absolute necessity. Although Cape Verde's fishing capabilities are not fully exploited, fish is important for both domestic consumption and export, and both tuna and lobster are caught. Use of firewood as a source of fuel has placed a strain on Cape Verde's woodland resources. While the use of wood fuel continued to increase in the late 20th century, because of governmental reforestation efforts, the level of forested area on the islands was simultaneously on the increase. At the beginning of the 21st century, about one-fifth of Cape Verde was forested.
 * Agriculture, forestry, and fishing**

Cape Verde has few natural resources. Supplies of sand, limestone, puzzolane (a cement or plaster additive), and salt are of some commercial and utilitarian value. Its very limited water supply is a grave liability, and there are no domestic sources of energy except firewood, wind, and sunlight. The country on the whole relies on imported petroleum fuel; on the local level, most domestic energy needs are met by the use of firewood, although the resulting demand placed upon these resources poses an environmental threat. Experimental approaches toward energy supply are under investigation, and the potential of Cape Verde's renewable energy resources has been recognized.
 * Resources and power**

Only a few small-scale industries exist in Cape Verde. These include sewing, textiles, ceramics, mining, timber, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. Tuna fish canning takes place in some areas, and the processing of frozen seafood such as lobster has been profitable.
 * Manufacturing**

Banco de Cabo Verde is the central bank and issues the Cape Verdean currency, the escudo. There are several foreign banks and a stock exchange. The privatization in the late 1990s of a number of financial enterprises, such as banking and insurance institutions, accompanied a broader initiative to privatize state holdings in other economic sectors that was already under way.
 * Finance**

Fish, salt, puzzolane, rum, animal hides, bananas, and coffee are exported, but none in very large quantities. As Cape Verde is heavily dependent on imported food, its principal imports include cereals, fruits and vegetables, beverages, and other foodstuffs. Fuel and building materials are also important. Portugal and Spain are the country's most important trade partners, although it also maintains significant trade linkages with other countries, such as The Netherlands, [|Belgium], and the United States.
 * Trade**

Services account for a substantial proportion of the gross domestic product. The draw of nautical sports such as sailing and fishing and the attraction of the islands' biodiversity have contributed to an increase in tourism to the islands, particularly by European visitors.
 * Services**

Industrial activity, including construction, employs a significant proportion of the labour force. In spite of the fact that Cape Verde is not self-sufficient in food production, more than one-fifth of the labour force is devoted to agricultural pursuits. High unemployment is one of the major factors driving the country's emigration pattern. The constitution guarantees workers the right of association, and the country's unions are grouped under two umbrella organizations, the Council of Free Labor Unions and the National Union of Cape Verde Workers. Although labourers are also nominally guaranteed the right to strike, government interference has been noted. Unions are also permitted to forge international connections, and some are affiliated with organizations abroad. Tax revenues account for a significant proportion of the Cape Verdean budget. Of these, consumption taxes and taxes on income and profits provide the most sizable contributions.
 * Labour and taxation**

The majority of roads in Cape Verde are paved, and there are no railways. All the inhabited islands have airports. There is international air service to destinations such as Lisbon, Boston, Rome, Paris, [|Brazil], and points in western Africa. Within the islands, regular ferries and planes provide local service. There is a small national shipping line and a national airline, Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde. Porto Grande, the country's primary port, is located at Mindelo, on São Vicente; other ports include those located at Praia, on São Tiago, and Palmeira, on Sal. [|Telephone] service in Cape Verde is generally good, and cellular telephone use is expanding. Compared with the regional average, the proportion of available personal computers relative to the population is quite high, and cybercafes can be found in larger towns and cities.
 * Transportation and telecommunications**



Government and society
A constitution, promulgated in 1992 and subsequently revised, established the president as head of state. The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term, renewable once. The president, in consultation with the popularly elected National Assembly, appoints the prime minister. The prime minister then recommends members of the National Assembly to the president for appointment to the Council of Ministers.
 * Constitutional framework**

On the local level, Cape Verde is divided into //concelhos// (municipalities). While some islands constitute their own municipality, others, such as São Vicente, Fogo, and Santo Antão, are divided into several. Local administration takes place under an assembly, which is elected to proportionally represent the residents of the administrative unit, and a collegial executive body.
 * Local government**

The Supreme Court of Justice is the highest court and oversees a network of courts at the local level. It consists of a minimum of five judges—one appointed by the president, one elected by the National Assembly, and the remainder appointed by the Supreme Council of Magistrates. Other courts include a Court of Audit, which monitors the legality of public expenditure, military courts, and fiscal and customs courts. The independence of the judiciary is guaranteed by the constitution.
 * Justice**

The president and the National Assembly—and at the local level of government, councils—are all elected by universal adult suffrage. The constitution does not limit eligibility to civil service positions or elected office, and a number of women have held posts in the National Assembly and cabinet. After independence in 1975, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (Partido Africano para a Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde; PAIGC) was the ruling party of both Cape Verde and [|Guinea-Bissau]. Following a political split between the two countries in 1980, the Cape Verdean branch of the party, the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (Partido Africano da Independência de Cabo Verde; PAICV), was the sole legal political party in the country until dissent within the PAICV led to the formation of the Movement for Democracy (Movimento para a Democracia; MpD), which won the democratic elections of 1990.
 * Political process**

Cape Verde's security apparatus includes an army, which is by far its largest division, as well a coast guard and an air force. Service in the armed forces is determined by selective conscription. General law enforcement falls under the domain of the Public Order Police.
 * Security**

Major health problems include infant diarrhea and upper respiratory infection caused by poor hygiene, particularly the lack of piped and treated water. Maternal and child health programs have been instituted and include widespread campaigns of inoculation against childhood diseases. As a result, infant mortality in Cape Verde is among the very lowest in the region. Cape Verde has a relatively low prevalence of HIV/ AIDS. Cholera has been known to occur periodically; limited cases of malaria have been noted in São Tiago; and leprosy appears from time to time. Dressing stations with a rotating circuit doctor operate in remote areas. Clinics and health posts are operated at the local level with regional hospitals. There are central hospitals in the towns of Mindelo and Praia. Water for public consumption is supplied either by precipitation, from storage cisterns or deep wells, or, in the larger towns, by desalinization facilities. Some groundwater sources are sulfurous; others, mainly on São Vicente and Boa Vista, are slightly salty because of the low water tables.
 * Health and welfare**

According to official policy, compulsory primary education begins at age six or seven and lasts for six years. It is followed by secondary schooling, which is divided into two phases of three and two years, respectively. Universities located in Cape Verde include the Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde (2001) and the University of Cape Verde (2006). There are also institutes for teaching and nurse training and for engineering and maritime technology. Although approximately two-thirds of Cape Verdeans were illiterate at independence, literacy was greatly improved in the decades that followed. By the early 2000s, almost four-fifths of the population was literate, although there was an appreciable a disparity between male and female literacy levels.
 * Education**



Cultural life
Although five centuries of Portuguese colonial culture have dominated the islands, traditions from Africa are also present. The two are much blended in the cultural life of Cape Verde, evidence of which is apparent in the country's literary, musical, and artistic production. A number of the holidays celebrated in Cape Verde—including [|Easter], the Feast of the Assumption, All Saints' Day, and Christmas—reflect the country's majority Roman Catholic tradition. Other holidays include National Heroes' Day, Children's Day, and [|Independence Day], which are observed on January 20, June 1, and July 5, respectively. The cultural synthesis that forms Cape Verdean artistic tradition is notable in the rich body of oral narratives known as Nho Lobo tales, for example, which include the characters of Ti Lobo and Chibinho, both of whom have their counterparts in western African folklore. Musical traditions from Africa are reborn in Cape Verde as //batuko// (derived from the Portuguese verb meaning “to beat”), a genre that features polyrhythm and call and response performed by a group of women. European traditions are revealed in the //morna//, a lament comparable to the Portuguese fado, and the mazurka. Other styles include the //funana//, a fast-paced genre that features the //gaita//, an accordion-like instrument, and the //finaçon//, often performed by women in conjunction with a //batuko// session. Cesaria Evora, one of Cape Verde's most popular musicians, is famous both within the islands and abroad for her //mornas// and //coladeras// ( //mornas// with a faster tempo). Since the late 19th century, Cape Verde has produced some outstanding writers and poets. Between 1936 and 1960 the cultural magazine //Claridade// (“Clarity”) was the centre of an artistic movement that marked a break with Portuguese literary traditions and established a Cape Verdean identity. Baltasar Lopes da Silva, who used the pseudonym Osvaldo Alcântara for his poetry, and Eugénio Tavares are key figures from this period. Subsequent writers have extended the movement's interest in the Crioulo culture to use that language as well as Portuguese.
 * The arts**

There is an ethnographic museum of culture and history in Praia. The National Historic Archive, which contains important documents, including some that relate to the history of the slave trade, is located in Praia. Cultural influences from the colonial era are evident in the town of Cidade Velha, located on the island of São Tiago. Initially founded as Ribeira Grande by Portuguese settlers in the 15th century, the town is noted for the many examples of colonial architecture found in its historic centre, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009.
 * Cultural institutions**

Although Cape Verdeans enjoy a variety of sports, football (soccer) is perhaps the most popular. Matches are played at all levels of society, from pickup street games with improvised balls, fields, and nets to interscholastic rivalries and competitions between the Sotavento and Barlavento islands. Interest in basketball is growing. Long-distance running, swimming, and the traditional African board game of //ouri// are popular pastimes. Windsurfing, fishing, cycling, golfing, hiking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, and scuba diving are common resort activities. In their various diaspora communities, many Cape Verdeans have distinguished themselves in sports and athletic achievements, especially in football, boxing, and baseball. Cape Verde's Olympic committee was formed in 1989 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1993. The team subsequently made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Summer Games in [|Atlanta].
 * Sports and recreation**

Television and radio stations offer programming in both Portuguese and Crioulo. Print media such as //A Semana//, //Terra Nova//, and //Voz di Povo//—all issued in Portuguese—are published. Freedom of the press, guaranteed by the constitution, is generally honoured. The Cape Verdean Institute of Books and Records is a publishing house that specializes in works on Cape Verdean history and culture. Portuguese and foreign-language books have a small but established market.
 * Media and publishing**



History
Although there is no conclusive evidence that the islands were inhabited before the arrival of the Portuguese, cases may be made for visits by Phoenicians, Moors, and Africans in previous centuries. It was Portuguese navigators such as Diogo Gomes and Diogo Afonso, Venetian explorer Alvise Ca' da Mosto, and Genoese navigators such as António and Bartólomeu da Noli, however, who began to report on the islands in the mid-15th century, shortly before a plan of active colonization and settlement was launched. In 1462 the first settlers from Portugal landed on São Tiago, subsequently founding there the oldest European city in the tropics—Ribeira Grande (now Cidade Velha). Sugar was planted in an attempt to emulate the success of the earlier settlement of Madeira. Cape Verde's dry climate was less favourable, but, with the development of transatlantic slave trade, the importance and the wealth of the islands increased. Cape Verde served an increasingly important role as an offshore entrepôt with the development of the triangular trade, by which manufactured goods from Europe were traded for slaves, who were sold in turn to plantations in the New World in exchange for the raw materials produced there; with these, the ships returned home. Cape Verde was thus a centre for the trade of cheap manufactured items, firearms, rum, cloth, and the like in exchange for slaves, ivory, and gold. Cape Verde was especially known for its //pano// cloths, usually constructed of six strips of fabric made from [|cotton] that was grown, dyed dark indigo, and woven on narrow looms by slaves in Cape Verde; the cloths were a valuable form of currency for the slave trade on the mainland. Tens of thousands of slaves were exported from the coast to the islands and then on to the New World, especially to northern Brazil. Portuguese efforts to monopolize exploration and trade along the western African coast were disrupted by those who saw the potential of the wealth of Africa for their own interests, and smuggling was rife. Although the slave trade was controlled through the crown-issued monopoly contracts, in the late 16th century the English and Spanish began to wear away the Portuguese monopoly. In addition, the prosperity of Ribeira Grande attracted pirates, who attacked the city in 1541. The English later attacked it twice—in 1585 and 1592—the first time under the command of [|Sir Francis Drake]. After a French attack in 1712, it was decided to move the capital to Praia. With the transfer officially complete in 1770, Ribeira Grande began its long slow decline. The waning of the slave trade—the Portuguese rulers and merchants reluctantly abandoned the industry in 1876—coupled with increasing drought slowly sapped the islands' prosperity. In the early 1800s Cape Verde experienced not only recurrent drought and famine but government corruption and maladministration as well. In the mid-1850s, the islands enjoyed a period of economic optimism as the age of steam replaced the age of sail, and large long-distance oceanic vessels needed strategic coaling stations such as Mindelo could provide. As a result, Cape Verde was briefly the site of great port activity, before the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cut severely into this business. For the wider population there was little relief or improvement, and emigration from the islands became the norm: faced with the prospect of drought and starvation at home, the poorest Cape Verdeans commonly traveled south to work as agricultural labourers picking bananas and cocoa beans in São Tomé and Príncipe; others found maritime work on whaling ships.
 * Early and colonial history**

The long-standing joint colonial administration of Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau was terminated in 1879, when both became separate Portuguese territories. Amid the contemporary African decolonization movement, their status was modified in 1951 to “overseas provinces,” and their inhabitants were officially granted full Portuguese citizenship in 1961. Not perceiving these changes as meaningful, however, some members of the colonial population began to agitate for complete independence from Portugal for both Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. One such group, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde; PAIGC) was founded in [|Bissau] in 1956 and headed by [|Amílcar Cabral], a gifted revolutionary leader and theoretician. Its goal was to achieve independence by using peaceful means of protest; in 1959, however, the Portuguese responded with violence and arrests, which convinced the PAIGC that only a path of armed struggle would be sufficient to end the colonial and fascist regime. After a period of military training and political preparation, the PAIGC launched its armed campaign in January 1963 and showed steady military progress thereafter. On Jan. 20, 1973, Cabral was assassinated; later that year, on September 24, Guinea-Bissau declared independence. This event—compounded by the other lengthy wars in Portuguese colonies—precipitated a crisis in Portugal that resulted in a successful coup there on April 25, 1974. Portugal's new government soon began negotiating with African nationalist movements.
 * Struggle for independence**

Full independence was achieved in Cape Verde on July 5, 1975. Aristides Pereira, the PAIGC secretary-general, and Pedro Pires, a military commander, became the first president and prime minister, respectively. A military coup in Guinea-Bissau in 1980, deeply resented in Cape Verde, broke the political unity between the two countries. The PAIGC subsequently split, with the Cape Verdean branch thereafter known as the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (Partido Africano para a Independência de Cabo Verde; PAICV). Pereira and Pires remained in power in the one-party state until PAICV dissidents were permitted to form a second party, the Movement for Democracy (Movimento para a Democracia; MpD), which was organized from as early as March 1990 and emerged victorious in the two-party elections of January 1991. In the presidential election held the following month, Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro, backed by the MpD, won a decisive victory; he was reelected in February 1996 in an election marked by a low turnout and in which he was the only candidate. During Monteiro's tenure, the country continued to experience economic struggles, and both the MpD and the PAICV held the troubled economy to be their primary concern. During the legislative and [|presidential elections] of 2001, the PAICV was returned to power, with Pires winning the second round of balloting to secure the presidency despite allegations of irregularities by his opponent, former prime minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon Carvalho Veiga. That same year, food shortages—a common predicament for the country—worsened considerably, and the government relied heavily on foreign aid and food imports to feed the country. Veiga and Pires faced each other once again in the presidential election of 2006, in which Pires—with diasporic support—very narrowly secured reelection. The poverty and high rates of unemployment that plagued Cape Verde in the 1990s continued into the 2000s, even as the government made strides in reaching economic goals. In the 21st century, the country continued to successfully pursue political and economic relationships around the globe, courting foreign investors and creating and maintaining diplomatic ties in the international community. W. Mary Bannerman Caroline Sarah Shaw Richard Andrew Lobban
 * Independence**

Next, you should develop an understanding of the issues that will be debated at your Model UN conference. Many conferences send out background materials or issue briefs, which can help jumpstart your research. You may want to look at the sources cited in these materials for more in-depth information. If the conference background materials pose questions, you should answer them with your country information in mind. Here are some additional questions to help guide your research:
 * What is the problem? How does it affect your country?
 * What has your country done to combat the problem?
 * What are the various “sides” in the debate?
 * Which aspects of the issue are most important to your country?
 * If your country is not involved with the issue, how can it become involved?
 * How will your country shape the debate at the conference?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-position: 0px 5px; color: #000000; list-style-type: none; margin: 1.6em 0px 1.6em 14px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 14px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What arguments will other countries make?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-position: 0px 5px; color: #000000; list-style-type: none; margin: 1.6em 0px 1.6em 14px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 14px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How do the positions of other countries affect your country’s position?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; background-position: 0px 5px; color: #000000; list-style-type: none; margin: 1.6em 0px 1.6em 14px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 14px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Is there evidence or statistics that might help to back up your country’s position?